Will My Star Jasmine Live Through The Winter? I Have…
Terri Asked
Will my Star Jasmine live through the winter? I have heard that they can in some parts of Kentucky.
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Terri in Kentucky: The scent of a jasmine flower is quite intoxicating. The Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is native to southeastern Asia and considered a tropical for anyone not gardening in zones 8-11. According to the USDA plant hardiness zone map, Kentucky gardeners are growing in zones 6a, 6b, and 7a depending on where in the state you live. This map is zoned according to the average annual extreme minimum temperatures throughout the states. So, Star Jasmine can survive outdoors with minimum temperatures of 10-15 degrees F. We certainly get colder than this anywhere you live in Kentucky, so if you want to keep this plant happy it will have to come indoors during the winter months. Unfortunately, it will not likely bloom inside but the idea to just to keep it alive so you can take it back outdoors next spring after the frost-free date for your area passes. Watch the weather this fall and bring your jasmine inside before the first frost. Find a sunny window or brightly lit room to over-winter your plant. You will not need to fertilize during this time since the light levels are so much lower and you can also cut back on your watering. Your watering schedule will depend on the temperature and humidity of your home but every 10-12 days should be fine. It will not hurt the plant if you need to cut the jasmine back to bring it indoors.
