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Scientific: Jasminum mesnyi
Common: primrose jasmine, Chinese jasmine
Family: Oleaceae
Origin: southwestern China

Pronounciation: Jazz-MI-num MES-nee-i

Hardiness zones
Sunset
12-24
USDA 8-11

Landscape Use: Covering or screen for fences, walls, or embankments, floral accent, oriental landscape design themes, local historical landscape gardens, Chinese and Japanese gardens, mesic or oasis landscape design themes.

Form & Character: Spreading, sprawling, informal, wild, stiff, yet refined.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, herbaceous, broadleaf perennial semi-vining shrub that needs support unless grown as a bank cover. Without support, primrose jasmine sprawls lke a small Yellowstone geyser to around 5 to 10 feet tall with equal or greater spread.

Foliage/Texture: Opposite, glaborus, dark green trifoliate leaves, each 1- to 3-inches long, green stems angular to square becoming woody with age; medium texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Flowers are trumpet-shaped with open yellow flower petals that are borne in early spring on wood grown the previous summer. Flowers can be semi-double with 6 to 10 petals per flower, almost 2-inches across, and sweetly fragrant; fruit inconspicuous.

Seasonal Color: A beautiful full display of yellow flowers in early spring, flowers are fragrant.

Temperature: Cold tolerant in Phoenix, yet is stressed by the hottest of Phoenix summer days.

Light: Full sun to partial shade, no western exposures.

Soil: Tolerant of some alkalinity. However, grows best in a rich organic soil that is well drained.

Watering: In Phoenix, primrose jasmine needs ample water during the summer months in particular.

Pruning: Prune only lightly after bloom by heading back or singly removing older canes. DO NOT SHEAR!!!....why? because sheared primrose jasmine look ridiculous.

Propagation: Softwood stem cuttings are relatively easy to root under mist. In moist situations, branches will often take root with prolonged ground contact.

Disease and Pests: None

Additional comments: Primrose jasmine is found in older parts of the Phoenix area in landscapes with other plant materials from several decades ago. In today's world of local 'sustainable' desert landscapes littered with chronically-sheared (abused) native or desert-adapted plant materials, primrose jasmine as become a bit of a historical plant of interest for unconventional 'period piece' landscape gardens. 'Full Moon' and 'Gold Tip' (variegated) are outstanding primrose jasmine cultivars.