What's up with my Confederate Jasmin?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Coyle on July 11, 2008 at 3:31pm

I wouldn't give up on it, as it does seem to be coming back to some degree. Confederate jasmine is on the weaker end of being marginally hardy here. Southern exposure, protect from wind, mulch it over in winter and place it near something that provides radiant heat like the side of a house, or a large stone.

For the most vigorous growth, I'd actually keep it in a pot. Cut it back over winter and store it out of the wind in an unheated enclosure. Less likely to receive root damage from the cold that way, and will therefore grow in a much more robust fashion than if it had been planted in the ground.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Clark on July 11, 2008 at 3:34pm

If I put it in a big planter and move it into an unheated space in winter after cutting it back, won't it at some point outgrow the pot and have to be moved outdoors?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Coyle on July 11, 2008 at 3:45pm

No. Confederate Jasmine does just fine with root pruning. This will help maintain the size of your plant at something manageable for long term care.

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Permalink Reply by GardenThymeGirl on July 11, 2008 at 4:42pm

Paul,

I read in a commercial nursery magazine a few years back that three out of five plants taken home from a nursery/retail garden center etc. don't make it past a year. Some of this is possibly due to lack of knowledge on the person buying it and also from the one who sold it. There are some helpers in the nursery/garden centers that really don't know much about plants, but they have great customer service skills. Sometimes I will ask for advice just to "hear" what the the person has to say that is selling me a plant(s). I agree with Michael--everyone has a different microclimate in their yard. I tend to put "hardier" plants in my yard so I don't have to worry as much about them. GTG

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Permalink Reply by Beth Hill on July 15, 2008 at 1:17pm

I also bought a plant in Atlanta several years ago. For the first year, it did quite well (planted in a protected area away from wind on the SE side of a small enclosed yard). It wintered over pretty well that winter. In 2007, when we had the dreadful Spring freeze, much of the bark split and the plant has not recovered well enough to climb either last year or this year although it is still living. I knew it was a long-shot when I bought it. If you are determined to keep trying, I would plant it in a protected South location, near the house where it will get strong sun all year. Mulching the root area heavily should help some. I have been successful in having Ginger lillies outside and they should not winter over here. I think that I and a friend who also has them outside, have both planted in the above described area. Mine also get some warm air during the winter that comes from the heating system. Yes, you can find microclimates but sometimes, warmer climate plants will not survive here.

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Permalink Reply by Barbara on April 4, 2010 at 7:24am

Give up? Probably.
I've found that nurseries, in an effort to sell stock, will push the edge of credibility.
Years ago I bought two Brown Turkey figs, based on the assurance by Starks (The catalog nursery) that they would live.
Well, yea, they did live.
What they didn't say was that just a touch of frost would kill them to the ground.
They came back up each year, but figs only bear on second year branches.
So basically, they didn't lie to me, but who wants a fig tree that will never have any figs?

Sounds like you have just the same problem with the jasmine.

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