Gelsemium sempervirens

Product Info

Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
Jessamine Family

This evergreen, twining vine is one of the first signs of spring when its canary yellow flowers begin to open in February. After the long bloom time, the plant remains extremely attractive with its dark, glossy green leaves that take on red tones in the cooler months. Flowering is best in full sun, but it can tolerate close to full shade. It can easily climb trellises or trees, but can also make a great evergreen groundcover. Plant will sucker and  root into the ground where nodes touch soil–this can provide erosion control on steep slopes. Vine can also be made to trail downwards over walls.

Blooms: Yellow, 4-8 weeks, Feb-April
Leaves: Dark green, glossy, red tones in winter, evergreen
Height: 10-20’
Space: 4-6’
Soil: Average-Moist
Exposure: Full sun-Part sun-Part shade-Shade
Fauna: Hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, winter cover for animals
Seeds: 1.5” brown flattened capsule contains dozens of papery seeds
Zone: 6-10
Deer Resistance: High
Native Status: NC Native, common in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, uncommon in the Mountains
Provenance: NC, seed grown