Carolina Jessamine – Gelsemium sempervirens ‘Margarita’ is a multi-purpose, way-good plant. It’s a vine. It’s hardy in zone 6. It’s evergreen with no winter damage, for me, from the blizzard of 2010.
Now keep in mind it COULD get winter damage in hardiness zones of 6-9, but I was amazed at how great this plant is looking this season so far! Loaded with clear yellow flowers – mini trumpets proclaiming the arrival of spring. Carolina Jessamine is extremely versatile, it can be used upright on a fence or trellis OR prostrate as a ground cover.
Preferring full sun to part shade and slightly acid soil, Gelsemium has proven deer and bunny resistant for me. This drought tolerant native vine also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds – and my wild birds think it makes a great hiding place. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. 8-12 feet tall by 1-5 feet wide. Late spring/early summer bloom.
One Comment
I would LOVE some advice on Jessamine. I bought some 2 years ago in the spring and planted it after it bloomed on a trellis. Grew a TON, and in the fall I decided I wanted a cone trellis instead, so I cut it back and put the new trellis in. (It said when I bought it that “aggressive pruning” may be necessary) The leaves mostly died back during the winter. No blooms in the fall.
Last summer I pretty much let it be. No real trimming, except off the top where it was growing off the trellis (grows a ton – lots of sun!). Again, most of the leaves died back in the winter despite it saying it’s semi evergreen). This spring….no blooms. Does it only bloom on new wood? If so, I suppose I’ll have to cut it all the way back in the fall (sad, bc I’ll have a totally empty trellis all summer) so it can bloom on new growth? (Doesn’t even bloom on new growth now.)
I want blooms, darnit! ZOne 7A, btw.