Is the Confederate Jasmine Star Toxic?

Star jasmine is often called confederate jasmine because of its widespread use in the southeastern United States. It is an attractive and safe landscaping option.

Confederate Jasmine

Confederate jasmine's dark green leaves turn purple in the winter. Each white flower has five petals that resemble a pinwheel. It grows well in climates where temperatures rarely drop below freezing.

Toxicity

While not an edible flower like squash blossoms or nasturtium, the flower, leaves and stems of the confederate jasmine are not toxic. If your dog, cat or a livestock animal grazes on your plant, it will not make them seriously ill nor harm them.

Considerations

While a confederate jasmine plant is not toxic, eating any unfamiliar food can upset an animal's digestive system. Common symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. If your dog or cat becomes ill after eating a star jasmine plant, make sure your pet has access to plenty of water, and keep it away from the plant in the future.

Plant Confederate Jasmine

Confederate jasmine can be planted year-round in USDA zones 9 and 10. In most areas, confederate jasmine does well with full sun, but this plant may require partial shade in the warmer parts of USDA zones 9 and 10, due to potential heat damage. While you can put container-grown confederate jasmine into the ground all year in most warm climates, planting in fall or winter may produce better results for the next year. Expect confederate jasmine to flower during June and July. Confederate jasmine can also be grown indoors in a container, though it may require heavy staking or pruning to conserve space. Place container-grown plants outside in bright sun whenever possible. If new leaf buds appear, the cutting has rooted successfully and you can then transplant it to a spot in the yard.