Trachelospermum jasminoides var. pubescens ("Keteikakazura")

Japanese name: ケテイカカズラ （毛定家葛）
Scientific name: Trachelospermum jasminoides var. pubescens

[Overview]
An evergreen woody climber found mainly in laurel forests.
The stem grows long and climbs trees and rock walls with aerial roots.
Young branches, the undersides of the leaves, the inflorescences and other parts are densely hairy.
Leaves are simple and opposite, elliptic, 4–8 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, with entire margins and a glossy upper surface.
The petiole is short.
Cymes bear flowers 2–2.5 cm across.
The corolla is 5-lobed and twisted in one direction; it is white and fragrant.
The throat of the flower is usually hairy.
In the corolla tube, the thick part and the narrow part are almost the same length.
The sepals are about 0.5 cm long.
The fruit is a follicle 10–15 cm long, borne in pairs, which splits open when ripe.
The seeds have long white hairs.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or layering; both are easy.
It prefers sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained, moderately moist soil.
Direct summer sun can scorch the leaves, so move potted plants to partial shade in summer.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
If fertilizer is applied at planting, no further fertilizing is particularly necessary, but for potted plants you may place slow-release fertilizer on the soil in spring and autumn or give liquid fertilizer.
Flower buds form in summer, so frequent pruning prevents flowering; if you want to enjoy the flowers, prune only immediately after flowering.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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