Confederate Jasmine



Confederate Jasmine at the well.



 Confederate Jasmine is also know as star jasmine. It grows in zones 7 - 10. I may be a Yankee but I love my confederate jasmine! I have researched it on the Internet and do not agree with everything I read, so this is what I know to be true about this wonderful vine.

  It is hardy in Raleigh, NC, zone 7 on the "map ". It is evergreen and has wonderful, fragrant, white flowers in early spring. It seems to be very drought tolerant once established and likes sun or part sun.

We had a very cold winter last and it did brown a bit but not so much that it bothered the plant or myself. What you see in the picture is actually two plants, one planted on each  side of the "well". The plant on the left was a lot slower to get going than the one on the right but they are both doing just fine now. The plants are 4 or 5 years old. I consider it a moderate grower. The Carolina Jasmine is much more aggressive. I have that on my back fence.

Confederate jasmine does need to be pruned once or twice in the summer growing season and it does have a sticky milky substance that oozes out when you cut it. Other than that it is fairly maintenance free.

I love that it is evergreen and the leaves are thick, dark green. Definitely a gardeners keeper in my book!



 

Spinach Vine

Red Malabar Spinach, Basella alba "Rubra" also know as spinach vine is not truly spinach but a plant that has a taste similar to that of spinach. It is easy to grow  in the ground or in a pot on the deck. It does require full to part sun and something to climb on as it will grow from 8 to 12 feet tall. I have read that it is a perennial in  zones 7b to 11 but I also read that it re-seeds very easily and that it is only truly perennial in the tropics.  The leaves are eaten raw in salads or on a sandwich. They are also used in soups  to help thicken the broth or in stir-fries with garlic and chili peppers. I am sure the uses are up to the individual cook. The leaves are high in  vitamins A and C and have a good amount of iron and calcium.

I have yet to try any of the leaves on my plant, I was/am so fascinated by the plant itself! I do think a stir-fry is on the menu very soon! One other note, this plant can be invasive in very warm climates. For more information go to http://www.bbg.org/ (the Brooklyn Botanic Garden).