Question
HI will,
I don't know a thing about gardening and I purchased a jasmine tree which is about 2 and a half feet tall. I want to plant it  in my back yard but I live in Ontario, Canada and according to zoning maps it grows best in the southern states. The temperature here is between -30 in the winter and  40 in the summer (if you are American, that is between 18 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit). will this tree die if I plant it here? Or will it just grow as well? I would appreciate your information. Thank-you.

Amy Nickerson

Answer
Hi Amy,

Most Jasmine are tropical in origin and will not survive sub-freezing temperatures. However there are some colder weather species, such as J. nudiflorum and J. officinale, that  can withstand winters in Zone 6, which includes some areas around the Great Lakes where temps do not drop below -10 F. I believe Ontario is Zone 4 or 5, which is too cold.

If you have a cold weather Jasmine species, then you may be on the bubble, but there is a substantial risk if your temps drop much below zero F. Personally, I wouldn't risk it unless I was in a very experimental mood and willing to lose the tree.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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