Confederate Jasmine – Surviving Winter?

Q: Each year my Confederate jasmine dies back a bit and I prune it and it comes back just fine. It didn’t survive this winter. Is there a tougher vine that we could put where this one is?

A: Despite your loss, I think you should consider planting another Confederate jasmine. You may again get several mild winters in a row to enjoy it. Look particularly for the variety ‘Madison’, which is reputed to be more cold hardy that the regular species plant. This is my choice this spring. Plant expert Ashton Ritchie lives in Serenbe and planted ‘Madison’ a few years ago. He says his vine expired in their extreme cold weather so he substituted evergreen clematis on his arbor.