What soil does Star jasmine grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Is Star jasmine hardy?

Hardy down to -12 °C (USDA zone 8, RHS H5). Outdoors in this country it only survives with winter protection, or in a pot overwintered frost-free.

Is Star jasmine toxic to dogs?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to dogs.

Is Star jasmine toxic to cats?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to cats.

When does Star jasmine flower?

Flowering: May–August, white.

How much water does Star jasmine need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

What should I plant instead of Star jasmine?

We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. For a similar purpose we recommend: Common ivy, Persian ivy.

Star jasmine

Trachelospermum jasminoides

Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a climber. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -12 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Non-toxic to dogs and cats. Sold in local shops from about €18. We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens.

Illustration of Star jasmine — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Star jasmine is an evergreen twining climber with glossy, leathery leaves and intensely fragrant white star-shaped flowers in early summer. It has to be trained on a trellis, wires or a pergola, as it does not cling to walls by itself. It is frost-tender: outdoors it survives only in the mildest, sheltered spots against a south-facing wall, so it is better kept in a large container and moved somewhere frost-free for winter.

We do not recommend this plant

We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. Further down we show what to plant instead.

Watch out for

It is not reliably hardy in Central Europe: below about -10 to -12 °C the shoots are killed, and in longer cold spells the whole plant, so it does not survive the usual winter lows of -15 to -25 °C outdoors. Keep it in a container and overwinter it in a bright, cool, frost-free place (roughly 3 to 12 °C) with little water; the roots of a potted plant are damaged by even lighter frost. Planted out, try it only against a wind-sheltered south-facing wall with a thick mulch and winter wrapping, and expect dieback. Cold, dry winter wind scorches the leaves. Under cover it can get scale insects, mealybugs and red spider mite. It bleeds a sticky milky sap when pruned.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 1.5 m
Hardiness: down to -12 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–August, white

Group	Climber
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	3–9 m × 1–5 m
Hardiness	down to -12 °C (USDA 8, RHS H5)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	May–August, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	100 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic
For cats	Non-toxic
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €18

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

What to plant instead

Recommended plants that do the same job, with similar characteristics.

Common ivy

Hedera helix 10 m × 3 m after 10 years

Common ivy provides year-round greenery over shady ground, fences and walls. Keep its vigorous growth within bounds with regular trimming, and avoid…

Climber

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about €3

Persian ivy

Hedera colchica 6 m × 3 m after 10 years

Persian ivy has the largest leaves of any ivy: leathery, heart-shaped and up to 20 to 25 cm long, green all winter, and it is mostly sold in yellow or…

Climber

Part shade

Shade

from about €10

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
25-50 cm	approx. €18

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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