Asiatic jasmine is an evergreen, vine-like woody plant that is commonly used in Florida landscapes due to its hardiness and drought tolerance. It is a low maintenance groundcover that is great for mass plantings and turf grass alternatives.

Characteristics
Despite the name, this plant is not related to the common jasmine plant. This climbing groundcover has small, dark green, leathery leaves with brownish-red vines. The vines slowly extend across the ground and create a dense, tangled blanket. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and are between 1-2 inches in length.

The plant will grow to at least 3 feet wide and between 6 and 18 inches tall. Asiatic jasmine has small pinwheel-shaped yellow flowers, but rarely blooms in Florida.

Once established, Asiatic jasmine requires very little maintenance to keep it looking nice. Most people use this groundcover where turfgrass won’t grow, as Asiatic jasmine will tolerate many growing conditions and suppresses weed growth.

Planting and Care
Asiatic jasmine requires little upkeep and will keep its beauty throughout the year. Plants should be placed one and a half feet apart and will take two growing seasons to fill in completely. This plant will tolerate many soils, but prefers well-draining, moist soil when first planted. Once established it is drought tolerant and extremely hardy.

The plant needs little watering; with regular rainfall, extra irrigation is rarely needed. A slow-feeding fertilizer should only be applied three to four times a year for the first year, after that fertilizer should only be applied once a year in the spring when the plant is actively growing.