While it has been grown in the Southeastern United States for centuries, hence the name, it is not native to the region. This beautiful and fragrant vine is native to Asia. It's also not a true jasmine, nor is it to be confused with jessamine, another climbing, flowering vine... clear as mud?
Confederate Star Jasmine does produce fragrant star shaped flowers. The one shown in this picture is especially exciting because it's the first time this particular vine has bloomed. We took several cuttings from Meredithe's cousin Tisha's house last Spring and this was the only one to survive. This Spring it added two more lateral vines and has now produced it's first flower.
It had lived in a container for a year while we babied it, but we put it in the ground a few weeks ago. We chose a spot at the base of four big pines that will eventually be right in front of the house. The vines should climb the trees up to about 30 feet. If we chose to we could prune off any climbing vines and use it as a groundcover or short shrub, but the trees are large enough to support it for years.
This specimen is special because of it's origins and the species as a whole is special to us, as we planted it on either side of the arbor for the wedding. Hopefully in just a few short years it will climb over the entire arbor and several large pines around the house. I can't wait for the sweet smell of jasmine on those hot Spring and Summer evenings!
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