Jasmine on the Move

This is Asiatic Jasmine. This is a hardy evergreen vine-like woody plant. It is native to Japan and Korea, hence its common name. The vines create a thick, tangled blanket that chokes out other weeds. It makes a great ground cover. It isn't picky about soil. It survives drought. It survived our freezing temperatures. It seems to thrive in our relentless sun and heat. It doesn't seem to mind if the dogs curl up in it, where they are almost covered by the runners (although I do occasionally wonder if there are any snakes curled up in their as well!). I recently learned that in the spring you should actually mow it! This is supposed to encourage new growth. Judging by the looks of our jasmine patches, I'm not sure it needs much encouragement!  

We are putting a small patio between the pool area and the garage. The guys were here to begin the preparation a few days ago. I asked if they might be able to save some of the Jasmine as I wanted to move it to the other side of the house. They dug it out in large slabs and hauled it around the house with the tractor. The information on transplanting jasmine suggests handling the roots gently - ha! These hunks were dug out and partially dragged into place. The information about planting also suggests doing so in spring when temperatures are lower. I think it was 95° the day they moved it, with a heat index over 103°. Not exactly cool.  I needed the Mister on his tractor to push the heavy slabs; they were almost 10" thick and included the greenery and vines, the roots and a fair amount of dirt. As best as I could I jig-sawed the pieces together., filled the edges and cracks with soil, and watered the heck out of it. I'll see just how hardy this plant can be, given time! 

This is the bank that was previously planted in Cast Iron Plant.

I moved many of the plants to a shadier area in our garden in May.

Cast Iron Plants, according to what I've read, do not care to be moved. They don't like their roots to be disturbed. Well, it was either disturb their roots by moving them, or watch they struggle in the newly sunny area created when some trees had to be removed. 

I can't say that the Cast Iron Plants are now thriving, but they haven't died, and don't look like they are struggling. The newly moved Asiatic Jasmine is in the background of this picture.