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Climber Wall Shrub

Jasminum officinale
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

common jasmine

A large, usually deciduous, climber reaching up to 12m in height, with green branches bearing mid-green leaves with 7-9 leaflets. Very fragrant, white flowers 2cm in width open in terminal clusters of 3 to 10 in summer and early autumn, sometimes followed by blackish-purple fruits

Other common names
common white jasmine
jessamine
see morepoet's jasmine
poet's jessamine
summer jasmine
true jasmine

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Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
1.5–2.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer White Green
Autumn White Black
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Oleaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Climbing
Genus

Jasminum are evergreen or deciduous shrubs, many climbing by twining stems bearing usually pinnate leaves, and star-shaped white, pink or yellow flowers, which are sometimes very fragrant. Fruit a black berry

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

To bring out the sweet fragrance of the flowers, the ideal planting position should be warm, sunny and sheltered but it will cope with partial shade and colder positions provided the soil is well-drained

Propagation

Propagate by layering, hardwood cuttings or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Coastal
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wall side borders
  • Climber and wall shrubs
Pruning

Prune out thin, old shoots after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, scale insects and mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mite under glass

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)

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