Backyard Nature Wednesday: Carolina jessamine

Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a native evergreen vine. It is a part of the natural ecosystem from Texas east to Florida and as far north as Virginia. It is a robust grower that has no serious diseases or pests and yet it is relatively easy to control with pruning and pulling up "volunteers." 

The vine is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Carolina "jasmine," but jasmines actually belong to a completely different genus, Jasminum.

Carolina jessamine puts on a truly spectacular display at this time of year. The vines are covered in masses of fragrant yellow trumpet-shaped flowers.

This vine is on a trellis next to my patio, so when I sit outside these days, I'm able to enjoy its wonderful fragrance. 

From every angle, the vine is covered in its wonderful blossoms.

My vine is in full sun and that's where jessamine is happiest, but it will also grow in partial shade or even full shade. And though mine grows on a trellis, it can also be allowed to sprawl and used as a ground cover.

Carolina jessamine is a drought-tolerant plant. In this area, it almost never needs extra water, but in the drier areas west of here, it could benefit from occasional supplemental watering.

This vine can grow as high as 10 to 20 feet and as much as 4 to 8 feet wide. It will thrive as far north as zone 6 and will easily adapt to a wide variety of soils.

The blossoms are fairly long-lasting, but when they finally fall, you get a carpet of yellow.
  

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