Italian yellow jasmine has a botanical joke built into its name: the species epithet humile means low-growing, yet this evergreen sprawler can push to 20 feet and, in favorable conditions, take on a tree-like form entirely. Native to a long arc from Iran through to central China, it is one of the recently separated Chrysojasminum genus, distinguished from the classic jasmines by its alternate leaves. The small, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers arrive in summer — sometimes scentless, sometimes lightly fragrant — followed by glossy black berries in the fall that add a further season of interest.

Despite its potential size, Italian yellow jasmine is accommodating in the garden: it tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, grows in sun to part shade, and handles heat and drought once established. With 3 to 7 leaflets per leaf and evergreen foliage, it reads as lush through most of the year. Borders, foundation plantings, cottage gardens, and dry or Asian-style gardens all give it room to perform. Butterflies are drawn to the flowers. Aphids and scale may appear but rarely constitute a serious problem.