Jasmine is a much-loved plant that is admired for its fragrant scent and dainty, star-shaped blooms. It’s not difficult to grow this lovely plant in your own garden. The vining varieties are probably the most well-known, as they climb and twine around structures like pergolas, arbors, and trellises, displaying their pretty flowers and filling the air with their sweet perfume. However, don’t overlook the charming shrub varieties! While they may be smaller in size, these jasmine plants have sturdy stems that can be trained to grow vertically on walls and fences, making them a great choice for espalier gardening.
We provide links to vendors to assist you in finding relevant products, and if you make a purchase through one of our links, we may receive a commission. Additionally, some shrubs can serve as effective slope stabilizers or ground covers by rooting readily where they touch the ground and forming dense barriers and hedges. The flowers of these shrubs are usually small and star-shaped, appearing in colors such as pink, white, and yellow, and are a popular attraction for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds while being resistant to deer. While most jasmine species bloom during the summer, some are winter-flowering and provide an early food source for pollinators. It’s important to note that not all jasmine plants have a fragrance, so be sure to check the plant specifications before purchasing. Most tender perennials are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11, with a few thriving in cooler regions. However, if you live outside of their climate range, many varieties grow well in containers and make excellent year-round houseplants or indoor winter guests. To learn more about caring for jasmine plants, refer to our guide on planting and growing them. In this article, we will review 13 popular types of jasmine vines and shrubs suitable for home and garden use, including Azorean, Forest, Pink, Poet’s, Spanish, Stephan, Angel Wing, Arabian, Dwarf, Indian, Italian, Showy, and Winter. Vining types require a trellis or other upright structure for support, featuring thin and willow-like stems that climb by tightly wrapping shoots around the support in upward spirals, without tendrils or suckers.
To help your plants grow, use a trellis and gently wrap the stems around it using plant clips, twine, or garden velcro. As the stem tips become tender, they will seek out and wrap around supports on their own. Throughout the growing season, ensure that stray stems are tucked in, and prune the plants after flowering to keep them neat. One popular type of vine is the Azorean or lemon-scented jasmine (J. azoricum), which is native to the Portuguese island of Madeira. It is an evergreen vine with beautiful white flowers that emit a sweet and lemony scent.
Gorgeous pink buds that grow in clusters transform into exquisite star-shaped flowers that grace the plants from late spring to autumn. These plants can grow up to 10 to 12 feet and make for stunning climbers on arbors, screens, and trellises. Notably, J. azoricum is a recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). This lemon-scented variety thrives best in Zones 10 to 12, although it also makes an excellent indoor or glasshouse specimen. Another species, J. abyssinicum, is a forest climber that’s evergreen and grows in the high-altitude forest canopies found in central to south Africa.
Partial shade is a great environment for vines, especially those with glossy, dark green leaves and panicles of pink buds that bloom into sweetly fragrant white flowers from midsummer to fall. These fast-growing vines can reach 16 to 18 feet in height and need a strong arbor or trellis to climb on. They are also excellent as a scrambling cover-up or dense screen and can thrive in Zones 8 to 11. The pink species known as J. polyanthum is highly floriferous and originally from the forested valleys of southwest China. It features an abundance of burgundy pink buds that transform into intensely fragrant, pink or white star-shaped flowers, making it a delightful choice.
During late winter and early spring, a speedy evergreen climber blooms, reaching a height of 15 to 20 feet in no time. This plant can be used to cover arbors, pergolas, porches, posts, and trellises. It’s also a winner of the AGM award and is a well-liked houseplant, but those who choose to cultivate it indoors need to regularly prune it. This plant is durable in Zones 8 to 11.
The Nature Hills Nursery offers #5 container plants of Pink Jasmine that you can purchase. Poet’s Jasmine, also known as true jasmine (J. officinale), is a highly sought-after species originating from the central Asian mountains of the Caucasus and Hindu Kush.
This beautiful climbing plant is a stunning addition to any garden. Its vines start with clusters of pink buds, which then flourish into lovely white star-shaped flowers that emit a wonderful fragrance all summer long. The plant has three AGM-winning cultivars: ‘Argenteovariegatum,’ Fiona Sunrise (also known as ‘Frojas’), and ‘Inverleith.’ Growing at an impressive rate, the Spanish or Catalan jasmine can reach anywhere from 15 to 40 feet. It is especially impressive when it climbs up and over arbors, pergolas, porches, and trellises. With attentive pruning, this species can also thrive as an indoor plant. It is hardy in Zones 8 to 11. Originally from northeast Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and south Asia, this deciduous to semi-evergreen vine has glossy dark green leaves, pink-tinted buds, and among the largest flowers of all species, blooming from midsummer to fall.
The winner of another AGM award, this plant is an exceptional climber that can be used on arbors, trellises, and screens. It also looks great when intertwined with climbing roses. This particular species is suitable for growing in containers on decks, patios, or seating areas, and it’s even a good option for indoor cultivation. The vines can grow between eight to 12 feet tall and are hardy in Zones 10 to 12. Stephan jasmine, also known as J.×stephanense, is a dense, twining vine that produces an abundance of fragrant pink flowers during the summer months. It’s a natural hybrid of J. beesianum and J. officinale.
Stephan, a type of evergreen vine, is native to the high-altitude forests of southwest China and is known for its resilience. It grows rapidly, reaching a height of 20 feet, making it a perfect climber for structures like arbors, pergolas, porches, and trellises. Although there is some debate regarding its hardiness, most nurseries classify it as suitable for Zones 7 to 10. However, there are several reports of Stephan plants thriving in Zones 5 and 6, although this may be due to their acclimation in protected sites. Recently, I purchased a couple of Stephan plants that were rated for Zone 5, and I’m excited to see how they’ll fare in my garden.
If you’re thinking of growing jasmine in colder areas, it’s a good idea to take some cuttings after they flower and keep them in a spot free from frost during winter. As for the shrub varieties of jasmine, they’re usually smaller in size and have a relaxed, scrambling, or sprawling growth pattern. Lorna Kring captured a photo of this beautiful plant.
Compared to vining types, the stems of angel wing jasmine are stiffer and do not typically entwine. However, they are great at clambering and scrambling through loose supports such as wire fences and can be easily trained or espaliered along fences, trellises, and walls. These arching stems often self-root where they touch the ground, making them excellent spillers for retaining walls, ground covers, or slope stabilizers. To ensure a neat appearance and manageable size, it’s best to prune after flowering and trim lightly throughout the growing season. Angel wing jasmine is a stunning shrub that originates from the Admiralty Islands of Papua New Guinea. This fragrant evergreen boasts beautiful long-petaled white flowers with a slight purple tinge.
During the summer season, these beautiful plants are perfect for covering large areas or adding to your collection of potted plants. They also look stunning when they cascade out of containers on your patio and around seating areas, or spill over retaining walls. These plants can grow up to 15 feet tall and are suitable for Zones 10 to 11. The Arabian variety (J. sambac) is an evergreen shrub native to southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent that produces small, shiny, white flowers with a powerful vanilla scent.
During the summer season, this plant produces single flowers that range from white to pale pink and have a simple, star-shaped appearance. However, double blooms are also available, which have wide, overlapping petals that resemble camellias. This winter-friendly species has gained an AGM award and can be grown using a trellis for semi-twining growth or as a sprawling shrub for barriers, containers, and foundations. It can also be shaped into a standard specimen and looks great as a houseplant. With a maximum height of 12 feet, this plant is suitable for Zones 9 to 11. Another species, dwarf jasmine (J. parkeri), is a cute, mounding shrub with arching stems covered in small, fragrant yellow flowers that bloom during early summer. This evergreen plant is native to northern India.
These plants grow up to two to three feet in height and width, making them ideal for low-growing barriers, borders, and hedges. They also look great cascading from containers or in rock gardens. In addition to their ornamental appeal, Indian jasmine plants make a lovely addition to floral arrangements. They are also quite hardy, thriving in Zones 9 to 10. The Indian jasmine, scientifically known as J. auriculatum, is a small climbing shrub that is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. It is commercially cultivated in India and Thailand for its essential oils which possess a delightful fragrance.
During late summer and fall, you can spot a bunch of white, star-shaped flowers that emit a delightful gardenia fragrance blooming on plants that can grow up to four to five feet tall. These plants make for excellent evergreen decorations for hedges, foundations, barriers, and containers and can thrive in areas classified as Zones 9 to 11. The Italian Jasmine, also called the Yellow Jasmine, is an evergreen shrub that originated from Iran and central China but can now be found in southern Europe due to its naturalization.
During the late spring to early fall, clusters of yellow tubular flowers bloom, releasing a lovely fragrance. If you choose not to prune these plants, they could reach a height and width of up to seven feet. An RHS Award of Garden Merit was granted to the well-known cultivar ‘Revolutum’ in 1993. These plants can be grown in Zones 7 to 9, and the showy jasmine variety (J. floridum) has bright yellow flowers that bloom from the start of summer until autumn, with a mild scent.
This shrub is originally from China and is perfect for using as a foundation plant, as well as being great for pruning into unique shapes or allowing to grow over unsightly walls. It can withstand cold weather in Zones 8-10 and has the potential to grow up to five feet tall and four feet wide. During the winter months, the winter jasmine plant blooms with bright yellow star-shaped flowers on its bare branches. Despite not having a strong fragrance, it’s still a beautiful addition to any garden or landscape.
The firm and curved branches of this plant have the tendency to grow roots wherever they make contact with the ground, resulting in dense shrubs. This versatile plant can be trimmed into a striking individual plant, trained to grow flat against a fence, trellis, or wall, or allowed to spill over a slope or retaining wall with a more natural shape.
It is a recipient of the AGM award for its outstanding performance in gardens. Its beautiful flowers bloom in the late winter and early spring, making it an ideal choice for gardeners who experience colder winters. It is a sturdy plant that can thrive in Zones 6 to 9 and can reach a maximum length of 15 feet when fully matured.
Looking to add some winter jasmine to your garden? Home Depot has got you covered with two-quart container plants available for purchase. Check out our guide to learn all about how to grow this beautiful flower. And don’t forget, both shrub and vining varieties of jasmine can thrive indoors as well!
Jasmines are popular houseplants, with the pink vining (J. polyanthum) and Spanish (J. grandiflorum) species being the most common, along with the shrubby Arabian (J. sambac) species. It’s important to prune all indoor jasmines to keep them compact, and the vining varieties require support like a hoop or trellis. Whether grown in the garden, containers, or as houseplants, jasmines are a fragrant addition to any space with their long, twining vines or sprawling shrubs.
If you’re on the hunt for eye-catching, sweet-smelling displays that reach for the sky, opt for vines that have a lengthy and slender growth pattern. On the other hand, if you require solid barriers, ground covers, or stand-alone specimens, then shrub varieties are the way to go. When it comes to indoor growing, select types that thrive in planters and can be pruned to fit your space. No matter which type you choose, ensure that you position them near windows or around outdoor seating areas to take full advantage of their stunning and aromatic blooms! However, keep in mind that not all breeds emit a fragrance, so always double-check the descriptions before making your selection. Are you currently nurturing jasmine plants? If so, let us know about your preferred variety in the comment section below and even share some pictures!