Author and award-winning garden designer Pollyanna Wilkinson has shared four useful tips for pruning star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) this summer.
If you're wondering whether your jasmine could do with a little trim (like many other plants at this time of year), the good news is that you may not need to prune it at all – as star jasmine can happily thrive without human intervention.
"You don't actually need to prune this plant at all – unless it's getting too big or unruly," Pollyanna tells her followers via Instagram, as she stands beside a young star jasmine climbing up an exterior wall.
The even better news is that if you do wish to prune this showstopper, it couldn't be more straightforward – just follow Pollyanna's expert advice...
Prune straight after flowering
First, it's important to get the timing right. "If you do want to prune it, make sure you do so straight after flowering," the garden designer says.
Depending on where you live, she continues, jasmine finishes flowering around July and August, so now would be a good opportunity to check on your plant to see if it's ready for a trim.
Cut the stems above a leaf junction
Then it's time to start snipping. "All you're going to do is grab whatever unruly stems you want to cut and bring them back by about a third and cut them at a leaf junction," Pollyanna explains.
A 'leaf junction' is an area where a set of leaves grow from the stem – so keep this in mind when pruning. Also, make sure you don't cut off more than a third of the stem.
Watch out for the sap
When you prune your jasmine, watch out for the milky, white sap oozing from the stem, "because it is an irritant", Pollyanna warns.
While it's generally considered non-toxic, the sap can still cause mild irritation for some people, which is why wearing gloves is generally recommended when pruning this plant.
Don't worry about deadheading
If you spot any wilted blossoms on a star jasmine, the garden expert says, you can just sit back and relax.
"You do not need to deadhead this plant," Pollyanna stresses. "Just let the flowers fall off on their own. In that regard, it's super low-maintenance."
Jasmine flower edit
Trachelospermum JasminoidesStar Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine, Jasmine trachelospermum
Jasminum Officinale | Common White Jasmine
Star Jasmin - Fragrant Evergreen Trachelospermum Climber Pyramid in Bud & Bloom
Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
