Marcus, Joseph A.
Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) St. Hil.
Carolina jessamine, Yellow jessamine, Evening trumpetflower, Poor man's rope
Loganiaceae (Pinkroot Family)
Native from Virginia and Florida west to Arkansas and east Texas and south to Guatemala, Carolina jessamine is a twining,
evergreen vine, 10-20 ft. long, that will climb trees, scramble over fences and structures, or develop a mound of tangled stems if left to its own devices. Lustrous, dark-green foliage develops a slight yellow or purple cast in winter.
Axillary clusters of very fragrant, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers. The
fruit is a 1 1/2 in. long capsule.
This high-climbing
vine is very common in parts of the South, frequently found in abandoned fields and climbing high into the canopies of pine forests. It is quite adaptable and tenacious, with no serious disease or insect problems. These qualities, along with its glossy,
evergreen leaves and waxy, trumpet-shaped flowers, have made it a mainstay of the suburban landscape in the Southeast. The flowers, leaves, and roots are poisonous and may be lethal to livestock. Rankins Yellow Jessamine, also known as Swamp Jessamine (
G. rankinii), with odorless flowers, occurs in swamps from North Carolina to Florida.
Image Gallery:
30 photo(s) available
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Vine Root Type: Tap Leaf Retention: Evergreen Leaf Complexity: Simple Leaf Shape: Lanceolate Leaf Venation: Pinnate Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous Leaf Margin: Entire Leaf Apex: Acute Leaf Texture: Waxy
Size Notes: 10-20
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flowers 1 to 1.5 inches long
Fruit: Brown
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Dec
Bloom Notes: Usually blooms briefly in early spring, but can start as early as December and then bloom again briefly in early fall.
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TN , TX , VA
Native Distribution: S.e.VA to FL, w. to AR & TX, south to Guatemala, Zones 7 to 8
Native Habitat: Dry to wet thickets, woods, fence rows or hammocks
USDA Native Status: L48(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8) , Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. pH adaptable. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay.
Conditions Comments: The best flowering occurs in full sun.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: An aromatic, showy
evergreen vine with ornamental blooms and glossy leaves. Can trail along the ground to form a carpet, climb to create a screen, cover walls, columns, and arbors, and twine on fences & other plants.
Use Wildlife: Flowers attract hummingbirds and Spicebush Swallowtail Butterflies.
Warning: The flowers, leaves, and roots are poisonous and may be lethal to livestock.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds , Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Moderate
2010-01-19
