Description
Jasminum polyanthum, the many-flowered jasmine or pink jasmine, is a species of flowering plant in the olive family Oleaceae, native to China and Myanmar. A strong evergreen twining climber, it is especially noted for its abundant, highly fragrant pink to white flowers.
Watch out!
Jasminum polyanthum is an extremely vigorous, evergreen climber and is considered an invasive weed throughout Australia and New Zealand.
It does produce a showy display of fragrant, white flowers that open from pink buds in spring. But you will spend the rest of the year trying to control it.
The leaves are glossy and ovate changing from light to darker green as they age.
It climbs by twining up anything that will give it support including itself.
It is great for covering up walls and unsightly buildings however if not controlled it will cover everything else as well including trees that it will eventually kill.
It will send out suckers and layer itself and stems touching the ground will develop roots.
These plants are perhaps best grown in pots where growth is more controllable.
For those wanting to enjoy the sweet jasmine fragrance an alternative would be Trachelospermum jasminoides. It is still a vigorous climber but not as invasive as Jasminum polyanthum
Soil: Fertile, moist but well drained soil.
Maintenance: This is a high maintenance plant because of its vigorous and invasive growth habit.
Control rampant extension growth to prevent layering and stems climbing into trees and bushes. Prune after flowering. Remove suckers.