Jasminum beesianum

Jasminum beesianum, the red jasmine or Bee's jasmine, breaks the mold of a genus known for white and yellow flowers. This vigorous, semi-evergreen twining climber from the mountains of Yunnan and Sichuan carries small, star-shaped blooms in a deep rose to velvet-red, an unusual color among the jasmines, softly and sweetly fragrant, opening in late spring over slender stems and small, pointed green leaves.

The red flowers are followed by shining black berries, another departure from the familiar jasmines, and the plant climbs and scrambles readily up a fence, trellis, or arbor, or tumbles down a bank, building a dense tangle of fine stems in a season. Named for the Bees Ltd. nursery that introduced many Chinese plants to Western gardens in the early twentieth century, red jasmine remains an uncommon and collectible vine.

Give red jasmine a support and full sun to part shade, in ordinary well-drained soil, and the vine grows quickly and flowers freely. Hardy to about zone 7, the plant takes light frost but appreciates a sheltered spot in the colder end of the range, and can be cut back after flowering to keep it in bounds.

Use red jasmine on a trellis, arbor, fence, or pergola near a path or seating area where the rosy, fragrant flowers can be enjoyed at close range, or let the vine cascade over a wall or bank. Pair with white or yellow jasmines for a run of contrasting color and scent, or grow among other flowering climbers. The late-spring bloom and unusual red color make the plant a fine conversation piece.

Flower photo courtesy of Tom Christian.