The variegated star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides cv. variegatum) [tray kel o sper' mum jaz mi noy' des] is a fragrant vine native to China and Southeast Asia. This vine is almost an institution in the southern U.S. Its cultivation predates the Civil War era (1861-1865); the plant is often called the Confederate jasmine.

The petals of the star jasmine are off-set and fold length-wise giving the flowers a pinwheel appearance. The vine has no tendrils; it climbs by twining around its support.

The star jasmine is not related to the jasmines used in perfumes. It is in the Apocynaceae or dogbane family known for its toxic alkaloids. A related species in Mexico, Trachelospermum stans, was used as a pesticide to kill cucarachas.

This vine was originally named by John Lindley, an early orchid classifier, but the genus name selected (Rhynchospermum--nose-seed) had been previously used to classify a group of composites (daisy family). Charles Antoine Lemaire, a French botanist who specialized in cactus, renamed the vines, Trachelospermum meaning necked-seed.

Lemaire is best known for elevating the standard of botanical books. He was the first to introduce high-quality color plates in his text, Iconographie descriptive des cactees, as well as complete descriptions of each cactus. His book was published from 1841 to 1847, but is now exceptionally rare. There are only 11 known copies remaining.