Jasminum nudiflorum
Winter jasmine is a hardy, arching shrub that flowers on bare green stems in late winter. Bright yellow blooms appear before leaves and have little to no scent. It tolerates cold better than most jasmines and can be trained on walls or let spill over banks. Choose it to bridge the color gap from midwinter into early spring.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: deciduous arching shrub; can be trained as a scrambling vine
- Height × spread: 3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m) × 6–10 ft (1.8–3 m); to 10–15 ft (3–4.5 m) if trained
- Bloom window: late winter to early spring
- Color & flower form: bright yellow, tubular‑star single flowers on bare stems
- Fragrance: 0 none
- USDA hardiness: zones 6–10
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown, unknown, native to Tibet and Central China
- Awards/registration: RHS Award of Garden Merit
- Pet safety: safe
How it differs
- Earliest bloom among common jasmines in cultivation.
- Yellow, scentless flowers versus the white, fragrant summer jasmines.
- Shrubby, self‑layering habit suitable for slopes rather than tall pergolas.
Strengths
- Cold tolerant and reliable winter color
- Takes training or cascading uses
- Low pest pressure in the landscape
Care in one minute
- Site: full sun for heaviest bloom; light shade reduces flowers.
- Soil: adaptable but best in well‑drained loam; neutral to slightly alkaline.
- Water: moderate; drought tolerant once established.
- Prune: trim after flowering; remove older stems to maintain arching habit.
- Overwinter: generally hardy; mulch roots in colder parts of zone 6.
Watch‑outs
- Can spread by layering if not managed
- Needs sun for best flowering
- Non‑fragrant; plant near other winter interest if scent is desired
Best uses (tags)
slopes, walls, early‑season, low‑maintenance
Provenance note
Native to Tibet and central China; introduced to Western gardens in the 19th century and valued for winter bloom.
References
- Royal Horticultural Society — Jasminum nudiflorum
- Missouri Botanical Garden — Jasminum nudiflorum
- NC State Extension — Jasminum nudiflorum
- ASPCA — Jasmine (Jasminum species) non‑toxic to pets
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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