Variegated Jasmine

Variegated Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Tricolor') does everything star jasmine is loved for, then adds foliage worth looking at all year: green leaves splashed cream, with new growth flushing pink. It climbs to about 3m on a support or spreads 1.5m as a groundcover, and in late spring and summer it covers itself in the same perfumed white pinwheel flowers as the plain form. Frost hardy and drought tolerant, it grows almost anywhere in the country.

Why you'll love it

• Colour without flowers. The cream and pink variegation lifts fences, walls and pots even in the months when nothing is blooming.
• That jasmine perfume. The white spring and summer flowers carry the classic star jasmine scent across a courtyard, and bees and butterflies work them all season.
• Climber, groundcover or spiller. Wires turn it into a screen, open ground turns it into a weed suppressing mat, and a pot edge turns it into a trailing feature.
• Tough beyond its looks. Frost hardy, drought tolerant once established, heat tolerant and comfortable in coastal salt wind.
• Slower and neater than plain star jasmine. The variegated form is less rampant, which makes it the better choice for pots, balconies and small spaces.

Where it works best

Screening on a frame. Trained on wires or mesh it dresses a fence or blank wall in a 3m curtain of foliage. Plant 1m apart for full coverage.

Groundcover. Left unsupported it knits into a dense cover under trees and along banks. The same 1m spacing closes over in a couple of seasons.

Pots, balconies and borders. It thrives in containers, trailing over the rim or climbing a small obelisk, and its restrained habit keeps borders tidy.

Growing Variegated Jasmine in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the strongest variegation and heaviest flowering; light shade is fine with slightly greener growth. It performs from the subtropics through warm and cool temperate zones and Mediterranean climates, and shrugs off frost.

Soil. Any reasonable garden soil with drainage. In pots, use a premium potting mix.

Water and feed. Water deeply once or twice a week through the first summer, then only in extended dry spells. Feed with a controlled release fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. Trim any time after flowering to keep it inside its bounds. Wear gloves: the stems bleed a milky sap that can irritate skin.

What to expect when it arrives

Plants ship in sizes from tubes through 140mm, 180mm and 200mm pots (the multi-plant packs are the economical way to cover a fence or bank) up to 300mm and 400mm stock with instant presence. Some sizes are grown to order and show as backorder; we confirm timing with you before anything ships. Delivery is Australia wide, from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Expect it to spend its first weeks settling roots, then run once the weather warms.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse all climbing plants
• More plants proven in pots
• Plants for coastal gardens

Common questions

Is it as vigorous as ordinary star jasmine?

No, and that is usually the point. Expect a slightly slower, more compact plant that is easier to keep neat in pots and small courtyards, while still covering a fence panel within a few seasons.

Does it need a trellis to climb?

Yes. It twines rather than sticks, so give it wires, mesh or a frame. Against a bare rendered wall with nothing to grip, it will simply mound and spill.

Is it safe around pets?

The milky sap is a mild irritant, so we do not list it as a pet friendly plant. It is not regarded as seriously poisonous, but discourage chewing and wash hands after pruning.

Why is my variegation fading?

Too much shade. Move the plant, or thin whatever is shading it, and the new growth will return to strong cream and pink.