Winter jasmine is a sprawling, deciduous, perennial shrub in the olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to Tibet and central China. The specific epithet, nudiflorum, means “naked flowering” and highlights the fact that the flowers appear before the leaves.
Winter jasmine prefers full sun to partial shade. It will grow in heavy shade, but the floral display will be reduced. It prefers well-drained soils, but it is adaptable to a variety of soil types and does well in poor soils. The cane-like, rapid growth creates colonies that look messy if unpruned. It can be rejuvenated by severe pruning after flowering. When pruning, keep in mind that flowers will appear on old (last year’s) growth.
Winter jasmine grows up to 4 feet tall. If it is grown as a vine, it will reach 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. It has long arching branches and willowy stems. In January or February, bright yellow tubular or funnel-shaped blooms appear before the leaves have emerged. The shrub makes a dense green mound during the summer. This plant roots easily where arching branches touch the soil. The leaves are opposite and have trifoliate leaves. The stems are square and green. If fruits occur, they are shiny, black, lobed berries.
Winter jasmine is closely related to another yellow-flowered jasmine, primrose jasmine (J. mesnyi). The difference between the two is that the leaves are deciduous and appear after flowering in winter jasmine, whereas the leaves of primrose jasmine are evergreen.
Consider the winter jasmine for mass plantings as a ground cover for slopes or banks. It may be used on a terrace or stone walls as a trailing vine. Training the vine to grow on a trellis, pergolas, or support structure will add interest to the late winter landscape.
Winter jasmine breeding is almost non-existent due to its utilitarian nature….it’s a blue collared plant that’s typically used for soil erosion control or used in mass plantings like a ground cover…hence the lack of genetic variability. There are a few cultivars in the trade:
Jasminum nudiflorum ‘Mystique’
- A variety of Jasminum nudiflorum with variegated cream and green leaves
- The flowers are bright yellow and wavy-petaled
- Can be trained to grow on a trellis or obelisk
- Can be used as a ground cover
