Sometimes things get confused due to lack of a scientific name. In my case, I speak of trachelospermum jasminoides, which is identified as being both confederate jasmine AND star jasmine. In the south it is referred to frequently as "confederate," and the USDA Plants data base shows it native to the entire states of Lousisiana and Florida, but does not show it as native to Alabama....which I consider as a slap to our southern heritage! :) It is also shown to be hardy to zone 8A at least. I do not think this particular trachelospermum is a true jasmine, it is more likely just a jasmine scented plant, thus they added the "jasminoides" to it, but I'm not a botanist or a horticulturist, so cannot speak for the intent in nomenclature. I would recommend checking on the scientific name of any plant, since anyone may mistakenly call a white blooming 5-petaled scented dark green vine a "star" jasmine because they think that is what it is. But trachelospermum jasminoides, AKA star jasmine, AKA confederate jasmine, is a pretty tough customer, and has endured the last two years of really cold winters here in Mobile (zone 8B) unprotected, although I must admit the plants were mature and huge, and did have a little bit of browning on a few outer leaves. Besides the 100 foot of these planted on my 7 foot tall privacy fence, they are just new last fall and have not grown that much (they take off and GO their second year), I also have these: The massive column of dark green is ONE PLANT of trachelospermum jasminoides, over 8 foot tall and about 4 foot in diameter plus many runners on the ground looking for things to wrap around and climb. It does not attach via platelets like ivy, it just twines and climbs: Here is that plant in full bloom ...ONE plant: And this is what that ONE PLANT looked like in April 2008, I think the 2nd spring after I planted it: after the second year, stand back, because it will be settled into its site and ready to reach for the skies!!

I live in Virginia Beach, VA and posted a while ago about my confederate jasmines surviving here. Here is the latest update: Madison is supposed to be more cold tolerant than the other varieties. For the past 6 or so years they have all grown happily outside in the ground. This winter (since my last post) the temps got very cold (down to the low teens with wind chill causing single digit "feel"). My Madison jasmines suffered tremendously. All of the leaves "burned" and for all practical purposes appear dead. Strangely, the "other" confederate jasmines fared much better. Although some got a few burned leaves, most show not a whole lot of damage at all and are now starting to show bloom growth. The only difference between the two varieties is the Madison was planted on the front of my house and the 10 or so others in the back. I'm stumped but think it perhaps had something to do with the direction of the wind.

Gee Somebody read my mind lol. Was just going to start a thread on the correct way to grow Steph..My experience seems about like others. Grows and flowers just not very well. Puglvr See your growing in a pot which is where I had the best luck with mine. My last move was into the shadehouse on the east side planted directly in the soil. Gets runoff from fert given to orchids but still just limps along lol Find it rather disgusting as a nursery near me grows one up the side of the office and it flowers so much it obscures the leaves.several times a year so I know it can be done. I gets dappled shade improved soil,regular water . Big deal I've done all that lol. Oh well ,If I live long enough maybe I'll find the secret for my yard?? gary

Hi All - First posting here. I stumbled in here, after searching for info on ground cover that grows rapidly and vertically. I live in the Metro Atlanta area, specifically about 30 minutes SW of the airport in Newnan. Our lot slopes up from the street, and our back yard has always been nearly non-existent. It went back maybe 10-15 feet, was uneven, and full of rocks. I had someone come in and do some grading to get a fairly flat surface, and 15-20 feet from the back of the house, so we could actually use part of the back yard. One spot was used to put a cheap pool (You can see it's still filling in the pic). Grading is a lot cheaper than building retaining walls, so that's not in my plan, at least not for a year or two. What I want to do is find something that I can plant at the base of this vertical slope (the loose dirt will be removed), and have it grow up the slope vertically, and hopefully root into it as it grows, to aid in holding it in place. Ultimately, I'd like it to continue to the upper part which has always been weeds, and cover that, choking out the unattractive weeds, and making it more maintenance free. It sounds like Confederate Jasmine may be what I'm looking for. As you can see in the picture, I am surrounded by hard, compacted clay, and to make it more fun, it's probably the rockiest soil I've seen here, and I've been in this area most of my life. How long do you think it would take Confederate Jasmine to grow to the top of the bare area (maybe 7' at the corner peak)? This area is in full Sun from maybe 11AM till just about dusk each day. Would it grow straight up, or would it fan out and grow up and out at the same pace? Should I plant it just at the base? How far apart should I plant it, and how is Confederate Jasmine sold? Thanks in advance!