JASMINUM NUDIFLORUM - The winter jasmine

Winter Jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum

Commonly known as the Winter Jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum is hardy, deciduous, ornamental flowering shrub native to western China. It is often grown as a wall shrub and although not a true climbing plant it is usually found tied to cane in the climbing plant section when purchasing from plant retailers.

Winter Jasmine botanical illustration

It was first introduced to western science in 1844 by famed plant hunter and botanist Robert Fortune (1812 – 1880). It was subsequently named and described in 1846 by English botanist John Lindley (1799 – 1865).

Under favourable conditions Jasminum nudiflorum can reach an approximately height of 3 metres. It has smooth, trifoliate, dark-green leaves on arching green shoots. It is noted for its bright-yellow blooms which appear on usually leafless stems from November until April. The species name 'nudiflorum' reflects this, being Latin for 'naked flower'. The flowers are approximately 1 cm across, appearing in small clusters from the axils of the previous year's leaves.

You can grow Jasminum nudiflorum in any ordinary, well-drained garden soil in either full sun or partial shade. However unlike many other ornamental jasmines, Jasminum nudiflorum will not support itself when grown against a wall of trellis etc, so it will need to be tied-in by hand.

When grown as a shrub in the borders the habit of Jasminum nudiflorum can be quite straggly so cut back the flowered shoots to below where the flowering started as soon as the flowers have finished. For wall trained specimens, shape the flowered growth with a pair of shears, again once the plant has finished flowering.

Jasminum nudiflorum received the Award of Garden Merit in 1984 from the Royal Horticultural Society, London.

Main image Jean-Jacques MILAN - CC BY-SA 3.0
Leaf image Pancrat - CC BY-SA 3.0

For related articles click onto the following links:
HOW TO GROW WINTER JASMINE
HOW TO PROPAGATE CHOISYA TERNATA 'SUNDANCE' FROM CUTTINGS
JASMINUM BEESIANUM
JASMINUM NUDIFLORUM - The winter jasmine