Jasminum nudiflorum aka Winter Jasmine

Jasminum nudiflorum, or winter jasmine, belongs to the olive family. This deciduous shrub comes from southeast Tibet and central China. It grows in thickets, ravines, and on slopes. Its long branches arch out to form a broad mound. They can root where they touch the ground, forming colonies. The plant grows fast and can look untidy without pruning.

Size depends on how gardeners grow and support it. Unsupported shrubs reach about 3–4 feet [0.9–1.2 metres] tall. RHS gives a garden height of 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres]. Its listed spread also reaches 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres]. Trained plants can reach 10–15 feet [3–4.6 metres] tall. Young stems are slender, smooth, green, and square in section. Older bark turns grey to reddish brown and becomes scaly. The glossy green leaves grow in opposite pairs. Each leaf has three small leaflets with smooth edges. Leaves appear after flowering and give little autumn colour.

Bright yellow flowers open on bare stems in winter and spring. North Carolina State records flowering in January and February. Oregon State reports that bloom can start in early winter. The flowers lack scent and have six petals. They form tubes or funnels about one inch across. Their colour stands out against the green, leafless stems. Plants seldom bear fruit in gardens. When fruit develops, it forms a black berry with two lobes.

Grow winter jasmine in sun or partial shade with good drainage. Deep shade reduces the number of flowers. It accepts sand, loam, clay, and chalk, including poor soils. It also tolerates acid, neutral, and alkaline soil. A sheltered site suits it, with moderate watering. RHS rates its UK hardiness as H5. North Carolina State lists USDA zones 6–10. Gardeners use it to cover banks and help hold soil. Its trailing stems can spill over walls and terraces. Supports allow gardeners to train it upward. Prune after flowering, since last year's stems carry the flowers. Layering and semi-hardwood cuttings offer ways to raise new plants.

Winter jasmine has few serious pest or disease problems. Aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, and Japanese beetles may attack it. Red spider mites can occur under glass. Honey fungus is a rare risk. Plants For A Future lists no known edible uses or hazards. North Carolina State identifies it as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Plants For A Future also records a medicinal use to promote sweating.