JASMINE

J. humile 'Revolutum' (Italian jasmine); J. mesnyi (primrose jasmine)

Evergreen jasmines can be treated either as shrubs or vines. They will grow in graceful mounds with long arching branches, or they can be fastened against a wall or trellis (they will not climb by themselves). As shrubs they grow 6 to 10 feet tall, usually with an equal spread, in four to five years and bear yellow flowers and dark green leaves. Italian jasmine has clusters of up to a dozen fragrant 1-inch flowers from midsummer to fall; its leaves consist of three to seven leaflets. Primrose jasmine bears solitary 2-inch flowers that are lushly petaled and faintly scented from fall until spring; its leaves are divided into three leaflets.

Italian jasmine is hardy to Zone 8; primrose jasmine is hardy to Zone 9. Both thrive in full sun or light shade in almost any moist soil. If growth is weak or the leaves are pale, scatter a handful of 5-10-5 fertilizer under the plants in the spring. To encourage lateral branching and greater flower production, nip off the ends of canes that become too long. If plants become overgrown, prune them back as much as desired in early spring.