Yellow Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Yellow Jessamine:
- Phonetic Spelling
- gel-SEM-ee-um sem-per-VEE-renz
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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.
- Profile Video:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Flava'
- 'Leo'
- 'Major Wheeler'
- 'Margapata'
- 'Pride of Augusta'
double flowers
- 'Flava'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Flava'
- 'Leo'
- 'Major Wheeler'
- 'Margapata'
- 'Pride of Augusta'
double flowers
- 'Flava'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Gelsemium
- Species:
- sempervirens
- Family:
- Loganiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE. U.S.A. to Honduras
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- 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 Food Source
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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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
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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
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- thin, flattened capsule fruit
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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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:
- Poisonous
- Problem for Children
- Weedy
- Similar but less problematic plants:
-
Lonicera japonica
- Gelsemium sempervirens is often confused with:
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Allamanda cathartica
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Gelsemium rankinii
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
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Juniperus virginiana
-
Ilex vomitoria
-
Prunus caroliniana
