Yellow jessamine, Carolina jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens
Loganiaceae


Landscape Uses:

Vine for a fence or other support. Can also be allowed to climb trees.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Widely available at native plant nurseries in central and northeast Florida. Also available in Naples at Everglades Native Designs.
Description:
Twining evergreen vine to 20 feet with dark green leaves 1 inch long. Bright yellow trumpet shaped flowers. Plant can be aggressive.
Height:
Vine climbing 20 feet or more.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Southern United States south to Sarasota, De Soto, Highlands, Osceola, and Brevard counties. Populations also in Martin and Palm Beach counties.
Habitats:
Woodland edges, hammocks, flatwoods.
Soils:
Moist to dry, well-drained sandy soils, with or without humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low to moderate; it can grow in nutrient poor soils or soils with some organic content.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
Yellow.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
Late winter and early spring.
Fruit:
Dry pods.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and large bees.
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page. The plant is poisonous if swallowed but not to the touch. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Chuck McCartney
Forest & Kim Starr
Forest & Kim Starr