Jasminum nudiflorum, the winter jasmine, is a deciduous flowering shrub native to China. A member of the Oleaceae family, this species of Jasmine has no fragrance, unlike Jasminum floridum, J. humile, and J. officinale, amongst others.

Hardy in zones 6-9 this winter bloomer tends to be one of the first flowers of the season. The solitary flowers appear on the bare stems. The Latin species name, nudiflorum literally means "naked flower". In Chinese, it is also named Yingchun which means "the flower that welcomes Spring".

Plant in full sun with plenty of space, as this plant can sucker and layer itself, forming a thicket or sorts. You can train it against a wall or use as a ground cover. It can also be grown as a bonsai and is very tolerant of wiring methods.

Jasminum nudiflorum tolerates hard pruning and can be pruned in spring, or any time, because it grows really fast!

I was first introduced to this plant as an intern at Montrose Gardens, where the large hedge lined the driveway and served as a safe haven for clematis vines to meander through, which added great interest through the summer when the winter jasmine is just green.

Overall, this is a relatively low maintenance plant, provided you give it enough room to not micromanage its growth. Once established, winter jasmine is very drought tolerant, disease and pest free, and it doesn’t seem to attract browsing mammals, like deer.