Screening a Narrow Area

Lack of privacy or the need to block an unsightly view are familiar problems to many home owners, but often there's not enough space to construct garden beds and plant shrubs and trees. Don looked at a very good screen of star jasmine growing on a steel frame. Climbers like star jasmine are an excellent solution to the problem of screening in a narrow area: they don't take up much space but they still provide a dense and attractive barrier.

Plant details

Common name: Star jasmine
Botanic name: Trachelospermum jasminoides
Description: Vigorous evergreen climber with glossy green leaves and hanging clusters of pure white, sweetly scented flowers from late October to late December.
Best climate: Star jasmine grows in most parts of Australia except for the cold mountain areas.

Best look:

• grown on a wire frame as a screen
• trained over an arch or pergola
• spilling over retaining walls
• containers
• standards
• ground cover
  

Good points:

• pretty white flowers
• sensational vanilla-like perfume
• attractive evergreen foliage

Care:

Star jasmine does best in an open sunny position, but it will also flower in part shade. It will grow in any moderately fertile, well drained soil. Prune after flowering to remove spent flowers and keep growth under control.

Getting started:

Ask at your local nursery for help selecting the best climber for your particular area and situation. Star jasmine is readily available at nurseries and garden centres. It costs around $7-$8 for 200mm (8") pots.

Copyright CTC Productions 1999