Trachelospermum asiaticum Theta - Asian Jasmine

The Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Theta' is a surprising newcomer to the kingdom of these pretty climbing plants commonly known as star jasmines. This one, with modest dimensions, behaves like a small vine, or spreads as a unusual and graphic evergreen ground cover. Its small dark, shiny leaves with silver veins in the centre take on beautiful reddish hues in the cold and shade, and are adorned with a few pleasantly scented white-cream flowers during the summer. It can be planted in the ground in regions with mild winters, near a fence, trellis, or for an even more surprising effect, in a planter or large pot on the terrace where it will happily overflow.

The Trachelospermum asiaticum, also known as yellow false jasmine, is a Japanese and Korean cousin of the Chinese Trachelospermum jasminoides. The recently obtained selection 'Theta' is interesting for its compact growth, its more or less climbing, trailing, or cascading habit depending on the case, and its unusual foliage. All these plants belong to the Apocynaceae family. This small voluble vine produces stems not exceeding 2m (7ft) in length. They bear small, simple leaves, about 4-5 cm (2in) long and 1 cm (<1in) wide on average, entire, very narrow and sagittate, with a pointed tip. Their colour is a dark green, with a glossy finish, marked by a green-silver zone along the central vein. As soon as the temperatures drop and throughout the winter, they turn purple-violet. The flowering, not very abundant in this variety, takes place from May-June to July, on mature plants. A few small star-shaped, helicoidal, white-cream flowers appear in the axils of the leaves or at the tips of the branches. Their fragrance, reminiscent of jasmine, is however much sweeter, strongly impregnated with vanilla and biscuit.

This 'Theta' false jasmine, moderately hardy (down to -10°C (14°F)), is an accommodating plant that prefers well-drained soils that remain moist. It surprises and seduces with the unique graphic design of its foliage, especially when overflowing from a large pot on the terrace or covering the ground at the edge of a pathway, for example. In this use, it can be accompanied by spring-flowering bulbs such as narcissus, hyacinths, grape hyacinths, or tulips, which will pierce through the mass of its foliage. In return, once their flowering is over, the foliage will elegantly conceal the remnants of their yellowed vegetation. With relatively slow growth, this Trachelospermum asiaticum can also eventually cover a not too extensive trellis or a small pergola. Growing it in a pot allows for winter protection. It can easily be stored in an unheated conservatory to enjoy its beautiful winter foliage.