Gelsemium sempervirens

Born in the South, Gelsemium sempervirens, commonly called the Carolina jessamine is a terrific native vine for Carolina landscapes. Admired for its sweetly scented, canary yellow flowers, this vine really puts on a show from February to April, depending on the weather. The golden, trumpet-shaped blooms are 1½ inches long and seen in small clusters, with narrow, glossy evergreen foliage. The foliage bronzes in winter.

Carolina jessamine is tolerant of wind, short periods of drought and moderately salt tolerant. Carolina jasmine is winter hardy to USDA Zones 7-10 where it is best grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun. It will tolerate light shade, but best flowering and growth occur in the full sun. Plants will grow as a twining vine or if unsupported as a bushy ground cover.

Carolina jessamine can be trained to arbors and trellises and is often found in wooded areas growing up tree trunks. The jessamine has a modest growth rate until well-established; it generally takes three to four growing seasons for the vines to cover an average-sized arbor.

This landscape plant will become 20 feet or taller when allowed to grow untrained. Occasionally, older jessamine vines become top heavy or sparse. This can be remedied by pruning the vines soon after they finish flowering.

Found in the forest or natural areas in open woods and thickets; can become weedy in disturbed areas along roadsides. Landscape as a cultivated, flowering, woody vine. The Carolina jessamine is the state flower of South Carolina.

HIGHLY TOXIC MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! 

Fire Risk: This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home.  Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home. 

Family name Gelseminaceae (formerly Loganiaceae)

Quick ID Hints:

• Thin, wiry, evergreen vine that climbs by twining
• Leaves are shiny green, opposite and lanceolate
• Persistent fruit is a flattened, dehiscent capsule
• Flowers are golden yellow, funnelform, axillary

Evergreen vine to 20', climbing by nutation

Blooms in spring and sometimes also in the fall; fruit flat, green, upon dehiscence, each of the two valves splits apically and appears 4-lobed; native vine that can become a noxious weed in landscape if not controlled; used on trellis, arbor, fences, planters, & porch columns, screens; roots and bark are poisonous. 

Confused with honeysuckle vines which have different flowers and broader leaves with a lower L/W ratio; confused as seedling with Vinca minor with shorter, obtuse leaves, violaceous flowers, non-climbing stems, and with Euonymous fortunei with toothed leaves. 

Tolerates wet soils; tolerates sun or shade; tolerates acid or slightly alkaline soil; prefers moist, well-drained, organically enriched soils; no serious pest/disease problems.