White Jasmine

BUSH INVADER

Jasminum polyanthum

family: OLEACEAE

Description

• Vigorous fast-growing evergreen twining climber from China with tough wiry stems.
• Leaves are compound with 5 to 7 shiny leathery leaflets.
• Clusters of highly scented allergenic tubular flowers are produced in spring. They are pink in bud and open white and star-like.
• Stems travel long distances across the ground, frequently rooting down at leaf nodes (layering) to form new plants.

Dispersal

Seeds are rarely produced; the plant spreads mainly vegetatively by layering and suckering from the roots. Often dumped.

Impact on Bushland

Climbs rapidly into the tree canopy and covers vegetation at all levels, blocking light and restricting growth. Weight may bring down trees. Often grows with other vines. Potentially a serious weed in rainforests and along creeklines.

Distribution

Throughout the Blue Mountains.

Alternative Planting

Native Plants
Wonga Wonga Vine (Pandorea pandorana)
Purple Twining Pea
(Hardenbergia violacea)
Old Man's Beard (Clematis aristata)
Dusky Coral Pea (Kennedia rubicunda)
Wombat Berry (Eustrephus latifolius)
Yellow Passion-flower
(Passiflora herbertiana)

Exotic alternatives
Madagascar Jasmine
(Stephanotis floribunda)
Carolina Jessamine
(Gelsemium sempervirens)

Control

As for Vines and Scramblers.
Remove complete root system.
Pulling out of trees and shrubs may cause damage.