| Hi, I really want to purchase a Jasmine Vine. Which varieties survive Texas zone 8 winters? Which ones have the strongest scent? Also, if I grow it from seed, will it produce flowers? |
| There are two different jasmines that grow well in your part of Texas: Confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is an "energetic" evergreen vine, and is popular in your gardening region. It will use its aerial roots to clamber 40 feet up a tree trunk or wall. Its glossy green leaves are oval and 2 inches long. In April and May, the vine's new growth is light green. White pinwheel flowers that are very fragrant appear at the end of May. Confederate jasmine is not picky about its growing conditions, but it prefers well-drained soil and bright sun to part shade. It is drought tolerant after it becomes established. Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac) is a bushy vine or scrambling shrub with shiny dark green leaves and fragrant little white flowers. Some of the evergreen leaves are in whorls of three and others are in opposite pairs. The long, angular shoots twist and twine as they clamber and sprawl over and through any support they can find. The waxy snow white flowers are about 1 in, borne in clusters of 3-12, and intensely fragrant. They fade to pink as they age. Arabian jasmine blooms throughout the summer - and almost continuously in warm climates. The fruits are small black berries, but are seldom formed in cultivation. By far, the most common form of Arabian jasmine in cultivation is 'Grand Duke of Tuscany' (sometimes called 'Flore Pleno'), which has double flowers that look like miniature gardenias. Expect an Arabian jasmine to grow no more than 6-10 ft high and just as wide in frostfree areas; smaller when it has to regrow from roots following a winter freeze. In my opinion, the Arabian jasmine has the strongest scent. You can start a plant from seed and it will bloom 2-3 years after planting. Enjoy your garden! |
