Carolina Jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens
Yellow trumpet flowers blanket the vine in late winter, before forsythia, with a soft honeyed scent. Semi-evergreen and easy on any fence or trellis.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Sep 248 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Sep 258 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Sep 268 AM – 2 PM
It blooms when nothing else does and smells like the first promise of spring. February never looked so good.
Carolina jessamine blooms in late winter to early spring when almost nothing else does. and when it does, the show is unmistakable. Trumpet-shaped yellow flowers cover the entire vine in a wave of color that arrives before the forsythia, often while frost is still possible. The scent is soft, sweet, and slightly honeyed. Open a window on a warm February afternoon and it drifts in. Semi-evergreen in zone 7 and warmer, the glossy dark foliage holds through mild winters and gives the vine year-round structure. It climbs by twining, so fences, trellises, and railings suit it well. Early hummingbirds and native bees find the flowers before most other plants have opened. A reliable, low-drama vine that earns its place on any structure it touches.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown carolina jessamine propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Mature size
- 8'–20' · 36-72 inches wide
- Bloom time
- Late winter to early spring
- Family
- Gelsemiaceae
- Native range
- Southeastern United States
Care notes for carolina jessamine.
Thrives in full sun to part shade, well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. Prune immediately after spring bloom. pruning later removes next year's flower buds. All parts are toxic if ingested; plant away from areas where children and pets graze. Minimal feeding required; compost at planting is sufficient.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside carolina jessamine.
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