Practical
Plants

Trachelospermum jasminoides

Star Jasmine

an evergreen member of the Trachelospermum genus in the family Apocynaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaf is restorative and tonic[5][10]. This plant is especially useful for the aged[5]. The flowering stem is analgesic, antibacterial, antirheumatic, antispasmodic, depurative, emmenagogue, febrifuge, resolvent, tonic and vasodilator[4][10]. A decoction is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, sore throats and various boils and abscesses[2][4]. The seed is cardiotonic and haemostatic[10]. The whole plant is cooked with other foods and used to treat rheumatism[10].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Restorative
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vasodilator

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.
Habitat
Found as a weed in Chinese gardens where it grows on walls and trees[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[7]. The plant self-layers, sending out roots from leaf nodes and stem tips wherever they touch the ground[11].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained moderately retentive soil in full sun or with part-day shade[8]. Requires a good humus-rich soil[1]. Succeeds in moderately acid or alkaline soils[9]. Requires the protection of a wall[1]. Plants are not very hardy outside the milder areas of Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c when grown against a wall[8]. They tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c according to other reports[9][12]. Plants are slow-growing when they are young and they are then more susceptible to damage by frost and cold winds[1][9]. They may put on no new growth for the first 2 - 3 years after planting out[9]. A twining plant[6]. Plants are self-clinging on walls according to other reports[3][8]. Flowers are produced on short laterals that grow from old wood[8]. The flowers are deliciously scented[11].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  4. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

Edit this page