A glossy evergreen vine known for its sweetly fragrant white star-shaped flowers in spring. It is cold hardy here and stays tidy, but in Phoenix it does best on an east-facing wall or in part shade, away from hot western sun.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide. It is not a dry-garden plant and looks its best with steady moisture in well-drained soil.
Pruning
It needs little pruning beyond guiding new stems onto the trellis and trimming to control spread. Do any shaping after the spring bloom.
Feeding
Alkaline desert soil can cause iron chlorosis, which shows as yellow leaves with green veins. An iron supplement in spring corrects it.
Heat
West walls and reflected light from paving scorch the leaves. An east-facing exposure keeps it lush through summer.
How our designers use it
Fragrance near seating
Planted on a trellis by a patio, entry or bedroom window, its spring scent carries well on warm evenings.
Shady courtyards
It is one of the better evergreen vines for courtyards and walls that get only part-day sun.
As a groundcover
Left unsupported, it spreads into a low, glossy mat under trees and in shaded beds.
Good to know
Around the pool
Thornless with light litter. Its flowers attract bees in spring, so we keep it slightly back from the pool edge and seating.
Sap
Cut stems release a sticky, milky sap that can irritate sensitive skin. Wear gloves when pruning.
