This popular plant is perfect for those who may not have a big outdoor space as it’s a climber and will make your garden smell and look amazing all summer long
15:30, 14 Mar 2026Updated 15:30, 14 Mar 2026
The easy plant will make your garden smell amazing(Image: Aalok Aich / 500px via Getty Images)
Summer is well on the way – and what better way to embrace the warmer weather than to start sprucing up your garden?
Keen gardeners will be proudly making their way outside with their pruners, trowels and shovels in hand ready to plant some flowers to relish in over the summer months.
However there’s one plant everyone should sow that will keep gardens smelling amazing all summer long – and will also be a pretty edition to anyone’s outdoor space. Experts recommend starting with star jasmine, or Trachelospermum jasminoides.
With a rich vanilla scent, it can be planted in a pot, perfect for people with smaller gardens or patios, or can be put directly into the ground.
READ MORE: Robins will keep visiting your garden if you place 1 fruit outdoors in March
The plant will flower all summer long(Image: Konstantinos Livadas via Getty Images)
According to Homes and Garden, star jasmine will provide a “strong fragrance and a lovely, delicate look”. It’s perfect for trailing over trellises and fences as a classic climber plant which also means it’s ideal for smaller gardens as it will grow vertically. Another bonus is that it’s a reliable winter plant too, as the verstatile leaves will remain even when it gets cold.
“The scent of star jasmine intensifies in the evenings and reminds me of balmy summer nights at home – but its evergreen foliage provides interest and freshness in the colder seasons. I have always planted my star jasmine in containers, so that I can move them around,’ says Rachel. ‘This was ideal when we moved house several years ago, and I was able to bring them with me,” says Head of Gardens, Rachel Bull.
But she recommended re-potting every two years and replenish the soil as it eventually starts to lack nutrients. The expert further explained that re-potting into something a little bigger will also mean it will carry on growing and producing more flowers.
So if you’re tempted to plant some star jasmine, Rachel suggested spring is the best time as it will flower later in the season. She also said it’s important to consider sunlight and temperature as they like being in direct light and warmth. Making sure to reprune in late spring or early summer will help the plant regrow quickly and keep your outdoor smelling and looking amazing.
“I’ve found that getting the watering right is the key to a healthy star jasmine plant. Too little water and I’ve had lots of leaves turning red and falling off my plants,” Rachel added.
Now, you can make your outdoor space even more appealing by attracting birds with a simple food they adore. According to Martin Cormican, known as Martin’s Birdwatch on Instagram, the key to drawing robins into your garden during March is simply leaving out some apple. Whilst other fruits work well too, this appears to be a firm favourite.
To tempt them, offer small, fresh apple slices or pop them onto a bird platform feeder. Robins naturally feast on berries and fruits from trees and shrubs, explaining their attraction to fruit. They’re especially fond of it throughout the spring period.
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