Question
I live in St louis missouri, and I just purchased the above plant from a local chain store. They call it a star jasmine, but it looks like it is a much more woody plant than the one I have already - I think it is a great plant for outdoors in temperate or warm climates, but am not sure. Please help. thanks, Jane

Answer
Jane,

There are many varieties of jasmine and they are often confused. It could be that you have 2 totally different plants and in that case I suspect that the newest one is the Star Jasmine also known as Confederate Jasmine that as you suspect is also a great vine for outdoors in Zone 9 or warmer. It is frost tender so I am afraid it will not survive outside in your area year around. It is also will make a beautiful bonsai tree as you can see in the following websites: http://www.bonsaitrees.com/detail.php?id=481

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bonsai/msg0823583119599.html

The following site gives more info on this plant: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trachelospermum_jasminoides

The other plant that you have had longer could just be a younger plant that has not had a chance to become a woody plant yet or could be a different variety of jasmine. If you go to Google and just put in the word Jasmine then just click on the word images and compare the pictures of the different types of jasmine to what you have you may be able to figure out what you have. Good luck.

Darlene