Gelsemium sempervirens, commonly known as False Jasmine, False Jessamine, or Carolina Jessamine, is a lovely evergreen twining vine often found in open woods, thickets, or winding along roadsides. This charming vine bursts forth with bright, fragrant, funnel-shaped yellow flowers, reaching up to 1.5″ long, either sprinkled individually or gathered in delightful clusters from late winter to early spring (February – April, depending on where you are). These cheerful blooms often signal the delightful arrival of spring, marking the end of winter’s chill.
Carolina Jessamine can reach an impressive length of up to 20 feet on its wiry reddish-brown stems. If you choose to let it grow as a bushy ground cover, it will reach about 3 feet tall and can sprawl joyfully by sending out runners. The plant showcases shiny, lanceolate, light green leaves, measuring 1-3″ long, that stay evergreen throughout the seasons but may have purple hues in winter. In the northern stretches of its range, this plant is semi-evergreen. Both its flowers and foliage can be poisonous if ingested.
Prune in early spring to maintain shape. Prevent complete soil dryness. Maintain mulch layer. Fertilize 2 to 3 times during the growing season with organic rose food. Appreciates moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil, pH adaptable.
In 1924, Carolina jessamine was designated as the official flower of South Carolina.
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Height: 12′-20′ Spread 3′-6′ Bloom: February-May Light: Full Sun-Part Shade Water: Medium Zone: 7-10 Origin: Texas and southern U.S., Mexico, Guatemala
