Winter Jasmine: How to Grow and Care for Winter Jasmine

Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is a deciduous shrub with bright yellow flowers that blossom in late winter and early spring. The plant’s star-shaped flowers can appear before the foliage, making these plants a great way to brighten up a garden, mainly in winter dormancy.

Winter jasmine is a member of the Oleaceae family or olive family with olive trees, lilacs, and forsythia. Originally native to Northern China, this cold-hardy shrub has become naturalized in North America and Europe and can be grown as a ground cover, border plant, or vines.

Winter jasmine plants have quick-growing light green stems and dark green leaves, perfect for filling sparse areas of your garden. Follow these steps to grow winter jasmine:

1. 1. Germinate the seeds. If starting from seed, begin growing indoors a few months before it is warm enough to transplant to your garden. Soak the seeds in water overnight before placing them in potting soil, then over the seeds in plastic wrap and put them in direct sunlight. (You can keep your winter jasmine inside as a houseplant for the first year before moving it outside, where its natural spreading can flourish.)
2. 2. Plant outdoors in early spring. If germinating from seeds, the plants will be ready to transplant to a garden or outdoor container after about four weeks, when it reaches about six inches in height. Plant winter jasmine outdoors in early spring or the fall. Planting in springtime will give you the signature late winter bloom time.
3. 3. Find a spot in your garden. You can grow winter jasmine in USDA hardiness zones six through ten. Winter jasmine grows best in partial shade to full sun—sunnier spots will likely cause fast spreading.
4. 4. Plant in well-draining soil. Winter jasmine grows best in rich, loamy, well-draining soil. To grow winter jasmine plants in pots, make sure the container is about three inches wider and deeper than the root ball, and use clay to support drainage.
5. 5. Support your plant with a trellis. Winter jasmine can be a great climber if it has the proper structural support. For your winter jasmine to grow as a vine rather than a shrub, you’ll need to provide the arching branches with a training structure like a trellis, wall, fence, or a larger tree.

Winter jasmine is a hardy and resilient plant that’s relatively low maintenance. Keep these tips in mind to get the most out of your winter jasmine plants:

1. 1. Avoid overwatering winter jasmine plants. Water your winter jasmine when the soil is dry, about twice a week. Overwatering can damage the plant, especially in the early months of growth.
2. 2. Add nutrients. Once established, winter jasmine is moderately drought tolerant. Using compost as a soil amendment can be a great way to boost the nutrients available to the plant, ensuring robust growth. You can also add mulch around the plant’s base to control weeds.
3. 3. Prune in the springtime. After it flowers, prune winter jasmine to keep it looking neat. Springtime is the best time to prune, and if you want, you can create a rounded shape that will form your winter jasmine into a great, eye-catching border plant. Winter jasmine can be invasive; pune your plants several times to control spreading.
4. 4. Protect your plant from pests. Winter jasmine is not prone to pests, but you can use insecticidal soap to rid the plant of occasional aphids or mealybugs.

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