Gelsemium sempervirens

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling

gel-SEM-ee-um sem-per-VEE-renz

This plant has high severity poison characteristics.

Description

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!

Profile Video:

Cultivars:

'Flava'
'Leo'
'Major Wheeler'
'Margapata'
'Pride of Augusta'
double flowers

Tags:

#fragrant #evergreen #showy flowers #yellow #birds #pollinators #poisonous #fragrant flowers #wildlife plant #yellow flowers #salt tolerant #winter interest #apvg #show stopper #trellis #arbor #coastal #highly beneficial coastal plants #cpp

Cultivars:

'Flava'
'Leo'
'Major Wheeler'
'Margapata'
'Pride of Augusta'
double flowers

Tags:

Attributes:
Genus:

Gelsemium

Species:

sempervirens

Family:

Loganiaceae

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Country Or Region Of Origin:

SE. U.S.A. to Honduras

Wildlife Value:

This plant is highly resistant to damage from deer. Areas of dense growth provide extreme weather and winter cover. Its flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Play Value:

Wildlife Enhancement

Climbing Method:

Twining

Dimensions:

Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.

Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Ground Cover

Native Plant

Poisonous

Vine

Leaf Characteristics:

Broadleaf Evergreen

Semi-evergreen

Habit/Form:

Creeping

Spreading

Growth Rate:

Medium

Texture:

Medium

Cultural Conditions:
Light:

Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Soil Texture:

High Organic Matter

Soil Drainage:

Good Drainage

Available Space To Plant:

6-feet-12 feet

12-24 feet

24-60 feet

NC Region:

Coastal

Piedmont

Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:

6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Fruit:
Display/Harvest Time:

Fall

Fruit Type:

Capsule

Fruit Length:

< 1 inch

Fruit Width:

< 1 inch

Fruit Description:

thin, flattened capsule fruit

Flowers:
Flower Color:

Gold/Yellow

Flower Inflorescence:

Cyme

Flower Value To Gardener:

Fragrant

Showy

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Flower Shape:

Funnel

Flower Petals:

4-5 petals/rays

fused petals

Flower Size:

1-3 inches

Flower Description:

The Carolina jasmine has bright, fragrant, funnel-shaped, yellow flowers (to 1.5” long) that appear either solitary or in clusters (cymes) in late winter to early spring (February – April depending on location). Its flowers often serve as a demonstrative signal that winter is coming to an end.

Leaves:
Leaf Characteristics:

Broadleaf Evergreen

Semi-evergreen

Leaf Color:

Gold/Yellow

Green

Purple/Lavender

Leaf Feel:

Glossy

Leaf Value To Gardener:

Long-lasting

Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:

Gold/Yellow

Purple/Lavender

Leaf Type:

Simple

Hairs Present:

No

Leaf Length:

1-3 inches

Leaf Width:

< 1 inch

Leaf Description:

The Carolina jasmine has shiny, lanceolate, light green leaves (to 1-3” long) which are evergreen but may develop yellow to purple hues in winter. The plants are semi-evergreen toward the northern limits of their growing range.

Stem:
Stem Is Aromatic:

No

Landscape:
Landscape Location:

Naturalized Area

Vertical Spaces

Woodland

Landscape Theme:

Butterfly Garden

Native Garden

Pollinator Garden

Winter Garden

Design Feature:

Screen/Privacy

Specimen

Attracts:

Butterflies

Hummingbirds

Pollinators

Resistance To Challenges:

Deer

Salt

Problems:

Problem for Children

Weedy

Poison:
Poison Severity:

High

Poison Symptoms:

Sweating, nausea, muscular weakness, dilated pupils, lowered temperature, convulsions, respiratory failure

Poison Toxic Principle:

Alkaloids

Causes Contact Dermatitis:

No

Poison Part:

Flowers

Fruits

Leaves

Roots

Seeds

Stems