WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Stephanotis floribunda, WUCOLS IV

How often to water Madagascar jasmine in California

In July on the south coast, established Madagascar jasmine in loam needs a deep watering about every 11 days: about 2.2 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.4 gallons a week. Madagascar jasmine is a slow, rope-like evergreen twining vine that in time reaches 15 to 20 feet. Shiny, leathery, dark green leaves come in pairs. Clusters of waxy, pure white, very fragrant trumpet flowers open twice a year. They are a classic of bridal bouquets, and the vine is frost sensitive.

VineRated for 3 of 6 zones

How often to water Madagascar jasmine, month by month

Your city
Plant width
2 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for Madagascar jasmine and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure plant width

A shrub with its width marked from one side to the other and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the plant, from the tips of the leaves on one side to the tips on the other.

Water the whole area the plant covers, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that area.

A wider plant means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While it is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Mix or soil dry an inch or two down at the base in summer means Madagascar jasmine needs water
  • Leaves yellowing and buds dropping after the soil dried out point to thirst
  • Leaves blackening after a cold night point to frost damage
  • Slow growth during cool weather is its normal rest, not a sign of thirst

How to water it

  • Water regularly to occasionally, keeping the root zone lightly moist
  • Keep the base of the vine cool and shaded while the top climbs into sun
  • Plant in well-drained soil with a trellis or wire support
  • Water less in cool weather, when growth slows
  • Protect it from frost in colder spots

Through the seasons

Water a new vine regularly through its first summer. Established vines want regular to occasional water in the warm months and much less in cool weather, when they rest. Flowers come in two flushes, late spring and late summer into fall. It is best in frost-free coastal southern gardens. WUCOLS rates Madagascar jasmine moderate water on the south coast, in South Inland and in the low desert. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the north-central coast, the Central Valley or the high desert.

In pots

Madagascar jasmine does well in a large pot with a trellis and seems to like a snug root ball. Use a rich, well-drained mix. In warm months, water when the top inch dries, until it drains through. Check pots every day or two in summer. Empty the saucer. In cool weather, water sparingly while growth rests. Bring it under cover if frost threatens, since cold below the 30s harms it.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
Not ratedWUCOLS does not rate Madagascar Jasmine for the Central Valley zone
A year
no figure
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses

WUCOLS lists Madagascar Jasmine as not suited to this region for the Central Valley zone, so no monthly figure is computed here.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Madagascar Jasmine: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan––0.780.78–0.78
Feb––0.810.87–0.93
Mar––1.151.3–1.52
Apr––1.41.61–1.95
May––1.611.95–2.45
Jun––1.742.29–2.79
Jul––1.982.51–2.85
Aug––1.862.33–2.6
Sep––1.491.86–2.08
Oct––1.151.33–1.49
Nov––0.840.9–0.96
Dec––0.650.68–0.68
Year––15.518.41–21.08

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 10

Rated not suited to this region in the Central Valley, like Madagascar jasmine. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

Golden Trumpet VineAllamanda catharticanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingPelican FlowerAristolochia giganteanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingWax PlantHoya carnosanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingFlame VinePyrostegia venustanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingCup-of-Gold VineSolandra maximanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingBlack-Eyed Susan VineThunbergia alatanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingSky Flower VineThunbergia grandifloranot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingCoral VineAntigonon leptopusnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingQueen's WreathPetrea volubilisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingBeauverd's Widow's-ThrillKalanchoe beauverdiinot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes Madagascar jasmine, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water Madagascar jasmine in summer?

In July, established Madagascar jasmine in loam needs a deep watering about every 11 days on the south coast and about every 9 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does Madagascar jasmine need per day?

In July on the south coast, established Madagascar jasmine needs about 0.2 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 0.8 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for Madagascar jasmine change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Madagascar jasmine separately for each of the six California climate zones: not suited to this region in the North-Central Coastal zone, not suited to this region in the Central Valley zone, moderate water in the South Coastal zone, moderate water in the South Inland zone, not suited to this region in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, moderate water in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

When does Madagascar jasmine bloom?

It blooms in two flushes, in late spring and from late summer into fall. The waxy white flowers are very fragrant. Steady warm-season water supports bloom.

Can Madagascar jasmine grow outdoors in California?

It is best in the ground or in large pots in frost-free coastal southern gardens. Elsewhere it needs frost protection. Many people grow it indoors in winter.

How do I keep Madagascar jasmine roots cool?

Plant it where the base stays shaded and the vine can climb into sun. Mulch helps. Light shade suits it.

Should I water Madagascar jasmine in winter?

When the weather is cool, growth slows and it needs very little water. Let the mix dry more between drinks. Resume regular water as it warms.

Is Madagascar jasmine the same as true jasmine?

No, it is a different plant with similar fragrant white flowers. It is a twining vine from Madagascar. It is also called bride's flower and wax flower.

More plant watering guides

Painted DaisyBlack-Eyed Susan VineSky Flower VineWandering JewMoses-in-the-CradleWhite CloverCanadian HemlockCardboard Palm

Sources