Jasmine is a flowering vine with a distinctive smell that many people find attractive. It also has small, delicate white flowers that can look stunning on fences and in garden arbors. Integrating this plant into a garden does require some planning, as when well cared for, the vine can get very large. Jasmine makes a wonderful addition to virtually all gardens in vine or shrub form, depending on the desired effect. While it may take several years for the plant to grow into a space, the final product is worth the wait.
This plant is a vine-like shrub that can be pruned and trained to grow as a bush or given an arbor or trellis to spread out on. When fully mature, it can reach 15 feet (5 meters) in height, and will spread 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters). The plant has dark green leaves and delicate, white, five-lobed flowers that release a scent in the spring.
Jasmine prefers full sun to partial shade, and will tolerate a wide range of soils, including clay, loam, alkaline, and acidic soils. It is also somewhat drought tolerant, although the leaves and flowers may begin to droop if it does not have adequate water. If the plant is being grown as a vine, it will need to be pruned to encourage upward growth while the trunk of the plant will need to be staked for support until the plant is strong enough. Plants grown as a shrub will need to be pruned frequently to encourage even growth.
When integrating jasmine into the garden, keep the scent in mind. If you have other delicately scented plants, you will not want to plant this one in their vicinity, because the odor will overpower other plants. You may want to plant it close to the house or under a bedroom window so that the scent can be enjoyed indoors as well as out. Make sure to plant the jasmine plants at least 8 feet (2.4 meters) apart so that they will not crowd each other as they grow.
Jasmine looks nice on a trellis or arbor, and some gardeners like to line paths with it, or train it to grow on gazebos and other garden features. It can be relaxing and soothing to stroll down a path lined with the plant while it is in flower, and because it rarely goes completely bare, the waxy dark green leaves will look attractive in the late summer, fall, and winter.
