Gelsemium sempervirens

Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a hardy twining evergreen perennial vine found naturally from Virginia south to Florida and then westward to Arkansas and east Texas. The foliage of this vine is a lustrous green and it produces a golden yellow, fragrant trumpet-shaped flower. The seed pods are approximately 1.5 inches long. The Carolina jessamine will grow to a height of 15-20 feet if it can.

The Carolina jessamine needs moderate amounts of water, will grow in full sun or partial shade, and is cold and heat tolerant. It needs moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil and flowers best in full sun.

This vine can be very aggressive and will overgrow nearly anything in its way, including small plants, trees, outbuildings, and driveways. With proper pruning, it is a wonderful addition to any backyard.

This plant blooms in the early spring, but with the proper growth conditions will bloom far earlier, including in December.

Habitat Value

The flowers of the Carolina jessamine attract native bees, hummingbirds, and several species of butterflies, including the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.

This vine has no serious disease or insect problems.

The Carolina jessamine’s nectar is known to be toxic to honey bees if ingested by them in too great quantities. The honey made from Carolina jessamine is also said to toxic to humans. The flowers, leaves, and roots are also toxic to humans.

Landscape Value

Written by Matt Whitaker for WMWA Landscape Architects

As ornamental plants go, Carolina jessamine is at the top of its class. Luckily for native plant enthusiasts, it is also one of our best native southeast species. It is a hardy, evergreen that has striking early spring blooms making it an ideal ornamental vine. It will grow in almost any type of soil except wet. I have seen it thriving on the sandy coastal plain. I was amazed to see it in DC covered in bloom on the west side of a bodega in Adams Morgan in an unusually warm March. You may have spotted it on the fence at Rembrandt’s in the Bluff View district. It is common in the wild and in cultivation. Yearly pruning is required to keep it looking its best. It tends to get top-heavy if grown where it does not get full sun. In the forest, it will quickly climb to the top of trees on a narrow leafless stem to make a second ‘canopy’ that is only noticeable when in bloom. It also makes a decent groundcover if you are willing to keep it trimmed off trees and shrubs.