Plant night-blooming jasmine after frost, with the top of the root ball even with the soil. Leave about 3 to 6 feet between plants.
Plant after frost, with the crown at soil level
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring after frost, or any frost-free month while the soil is workable | Do not set a tender shrub into frozen ground |
| Hole | A little wider than the root ball, and no deeper | Do not bury the stem deeper than it grew in the pot |
| Spacing | About 3 to 6 feet between plants | Do not pack a hedge tighter than the shrub can fill |
| Florida | Skip this shrub, or pick up berries so birds do not start a thicket | Do not dump fruit into wild ground |
Plant night-blooming jasmine in spring after frost, or in any frost-free month where winter stays mild. Knock the plant from its pot and set the top of the root ball even with the surrounding soil. Leave about 3 to 6 feet between plants so the shrub can fill. [1] In Florida it can seed into wild ground, so it is not a recommended landscape plant there. Pick up the berries so birds and dumped fruit do not start a thicket. [2]
- Plant in spring after frost, or whenever the soil is workable in a frost-free garden. Do not set a tender shrub into frozen ground.
- Choose a sheltered, sunny or part-shade spot with soil that drains. A wall-side bed or a patio edge is fine if water does not stand. [3]
- Dig a hole a little wider than the root ball, and no deeper. Set the soil line even with the surrounding soil. Planting deeper than it grew in the pot is the usual cause of stem rot.
- Backfill with the same soil, mixed with a little compost if the ground is poor. Water when the hole is half full, let it drain, then finish filling and water again. Do not fertilize at planting.
- Leave about 3 to 6 feet between plants. Water to settle the soil, then keep the moisture even through the first season.
If a freeze kills the top, wait for new shoots from the crown before you pull the plant. Mulch after a freeze can help a planted shrub in a mild winter, but a pot you can move is the surer start where frost is routine. [4] Water and prune after it is in the ground on How to Grow Night-Blooming Jasmine.
When do I plant night-blooming jasmine?
Plant in spring after frost, or in a frost-free month, with the crown at soil level. Leave about 3 to 6 feet between plants.
Can I plant night-blooming jasmine in Florida?
University of Florida does not recommend it, because it can naturalize. If you already have one, pick up the berries so they do not spread.
Plant after frost with the crown at soil level, leave room to fill, and pick up berries so they do not spread.
FAQ
Can I plant it in a pot instead of the ground?
Yes. A large pot with a drainage hole is the usual start where frost hits, so you can bring it in. Set the root ball at the same depth it grew in the nursery pot.
How far from a bedroom window should I plant it?
Keep it near a patio you use at night, not under a bedroom window. The night scent can fill a small room.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cestrum/ - [2] University of Florida IFAS -
https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/cestrum-nocturnum/ - [3] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/3457/cestrum-nocturnum/details - [4] University of Arkansas Extension -
https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/in-the-garden/reference-desk/tropicals/jasmine.aspx
This note is part of Cestrum Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors