Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter Flowering  Jasmine) - January 7th 

The Winter Jasmine - Jasminum nudiflorum is an extremely hardy plant for growing against wall - up trellis - or even (rarely) as a free standing shrub. Starts flowering in December in earnest and positively vibrates with masses of yellow blooms in January and beyond.

Happy in moderate shade but at best in full sun. It responds well to having its stems baked by the sun in the summer months.  A dry root-zone area is not a problem - which is why it is often grown against a wall. Can be grown as a low arching climber (relaxed shrub!!) or trained 2 3 metres up a wall!

The long flowering stems lend themselves to the art of floral arranging indoors. This type of Jasmine will not fill the room with heady scent - such as its white summer flowering cousins.

The foliage is insignificant though attractive if viewed closely, and in any event winter flowering Jasmine flowers on bare stems before the foliage emerges.

Non-Scented, but a wealth of bright yellow flowers on bare stems in winter.

The Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is easy to grow, and accommodates bad treatment without so much as a petal dropping. This is probably the main reason why Jasminum nudiflorum, the Winter Flowering Jasmine , is so often left to its own devices in life - other than receiving the odd (!) cutting back.

 Jasminum nudiflorum  will grow in most soils, in most aspects, dry or moist, sun or part shade. This particular jasmine is a shrub - a scrawling shrub at that, but not a true climber like many of the other Jasmines. That having been said, it can easily be trained to grow up a trellis - or the finest I have seen - as two plants trained as an arch over a front door of a cottage. The Winter Jasmine simply needs training wherever you want it to go - along wires, up a trellis or scrambling along at the foot of a dark or sunny wall.

 It will even tolerate either slightly acid, or slightly limy soil. It is usually grown as a 'wall' shrub, and is certainly magnificent on a sunny wall, where the wood can ripen ready to burst into flower in the depth of winter - or from mid-autumn. It is not called the Winter flowering Jasmine for nothing.

It responds well to a little bit of attention by way of feeding and 'proper' pruning. (Pruning guide). If grown against wall, then mulch throughout the growing season to offset the effects of 'drying out' at the base of most walls.

It can also be grown as a shrub - albeit a bit lax in habit of growth - and gives a welcome burst of golden yellow in mid-winter.  Grow Jasminum nudiflorum  up a trellis, or over a pergola. Be patient, and help it along with a regular feed of fertilizer such as Fish Blood & Bonemeal. It will repay you with its robust winter flowering habit!

Scrambling Groundcover Plant

Winter Jasmine can be used as a ground cover plant in a shady place - especially at the top of a bank or 'trailing down over a retaining wall. It is not dense groundcover, but if left to spread will prevent all but the most persistent of weeds.

Propagation: -  is easy. Simply peg down a few of the arching stems and cut from parent once rooted. It is not unusual to find a few shoots that have rooted into the ground without any input from yourself - very obliging. Alternatively, take semi rip or ripe catting later in the year and place 2 or 3 in a small pot of compost, cover with a clear polythene bag and place in a cool position - out of direct sunshine.

• Pruning: - Jasminum nudiflorum - the Winter Jasmine - is easy to prune.

The winter jasmine is not too fussy about where to grow, Against a fence, up and arch, or rambling over an old tree stump are all good places.

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