Groundcover
Asian jasmine
Trachelospermum asiaticum · Apocynaceae
Also called: Asiatic jasmine, Dwarf jasmine, Japanese star jasmine
Asian jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) is a moderate-water groundcover well suited to Tucson and the low desert.
Asian jasmine at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Partial shade to filtered sun in Tucson; needs afternoon shade in the low desert — full reflected/western sun scorches the foliage. Best on the north/east side or under filtered tree canopy
- Mature size
- 6-18 in tall as a groundcover, spreading several feet wide; will also climb low if supported
- Growth rate
- Moderate; spreads by trailing/rooting stems to form a dense mat 6-18 in deep
- Bloom
- Small creamy-yellow/white, lightly fragrant star-shaped flowers (bloom is minor; grown for foliage), Late spring; sparse and often non-blooming when kept sheared as groundcover
- Cold hardiness
- Evergreen; hardy in 9a-9b. Foliage may bronze or suffer minor tip burn in hard Tucson frosts but recovers in spring. Roughly hardy to the low-to-mid 20s F
- Soil
- Prefers well-drained soil amended with organic matter; dislikes Tucson's heavy caliche/alkaline soil without improvement. Amend planting area with compost and provide good drainage
- Native range
- Eastern Asia (Japan, Korea)
- Best used as
- Evergreen groundcover, Slope/bank cover and erosion control, Understory/shade beds, Lawn substitute in shaded areas, Filler under trees and large shrubs
- Wildlife
- Modest pollinator value when allowed to bloom; generally deer-resistant due to the sap
- Toxicity
- Toxic — in the dogbane/oleander family (Apocynaceae); milky sap can irritate skin and the plant is considered toxic if ingested. Keep clippings/sap away from pets and children; wear gloves when pruning
How to grow Asian jasmine in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Keep consistently moist while establishing, then water deeply 1-2 times per week in summer and every 10-14 days in cooler months; it is not a true desert plant and will brown/burn if allowed to dry out in heat. Mulch heavily to conserve moisture and cool roots. Moderate water use — higher than true desert groundcovers.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder: apply a balanced or slow-release fertilizer in spring and again in early summer. Chelated iron and soil sulfur help counter chlorosis (yellowing with green veins) common in Tucson's alkaline soil. Mulch with organic matter to lower pH at the surface.
Pruning & care
Shear or mow back hard in late winter/early spring to renew density and remove winter-bronzed or burned foliage; trim runners during the growing season to keep it in bounds. Tolerates hard renewal pruning.
Notes
A tough, dense evergreen groundcover, but in the low desert it MUST have afternoon/filtered shade and regular water and soil improvement — in full reflected Tucson sun it scorches badly. Best in shaded courtyards, north/east exposures, and under tree canopy. More heat- and drought-tolerant than turf but a clear step above true desert groundcovers in water and care. Do not confuse with star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), which is showier-flowered and even more shade/water dependent here.
Sources: University of Arizona / Pima County Cooperative Extension (groundcovers for the low desert); AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Arizona Master Gardener references; North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (Trachelospermum asiaticum)