Practical
Plants

Trachelospermum asiaticum

Japanese Star Jasmine

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
evergreen
Growth rate
slow
Height
6 m
Spread
6 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Young buds - cooked[1][4]. No more details are given, we do not know if it is the leaf or flower buds that are referred to.

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

Can be grown as a ground cover plant in a sunny position[6]. One of the most common ground cover plants used in Texas[11].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber, Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Thickets in hills and low mountains, C. and S. Japan[12]. Growing in scrub and climbing up trees in the forest[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 6 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame. Ensure that the milky sap, which is excreted from the heel when the cutting is taken, has dried out before the cutting is inserted in the soil. Fair to good percentage[13]. Layering in summer[6].

Cultivation

Requires a well-drained moderately retentive soil in full sun or with part-day shade[7]. Requires a good humus-rich soil[2]. Succeeds in moderately alkaline or acid soils[8]. Requires the protection of a wall[2]. Plants are not very hardy outside the milder areas of Britain[3], but they can tolerate temperatures down to about -15°c when grown in a suitable position that makes sure the wood is fully ripened[7]. Young plants are particularly susceptible to cold winds[8]. A twining plant[5]. Plants are self-clinging on walls according to other reports[3][7]. The plant is of slow to moderate growth[8]. Flowers are produced on short laterals that grow from old wood[7]. The flowers have a sweet refreshing perfume[9].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  5. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  10. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

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  11. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  12. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

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  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

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