Plant Profile: Carolina Jessamine By Craig Huegel Reprinted from The Understory, Jan.-Feb. 1993 (Illustration © Cathy Vogelsong) Central Florida winters are the least interesting time of year for the native plant landscape. Although it is not as cold here as it is farther north, our deciduous trees and shrubs lose their leaves and even the evergreen ones go mostly dormant. To make matters worse, the many flowers that we've come to associate with Florida living are a rare commodity. One of the best exceptions, however, is the Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens). Found throughout Florida, Carolina jessamine is a very woody vine without tendrils. It grows upward by twining and, if allowed to, it will climb into the canopy of the largest shade trees. It also is used frequently along a fence or as a ground cover. In these situations, it can be pruned and maintained in a confined area. Like many vines, however, Carolina jessamine may sucker and show up in areas of your landscape where it was not intended. This is especially true if its roots are disturbed by nearby mowing or digging. The best rule of thumb before using this vine is to carefully consider your landscape needs and objectives. Carolina jessamine has many attributes that warrant its use in the home landscape. First among these is its dramatic show of lemon yellow blooms during the winter and early spring. The vines are literally awash with the tubular 1 to 1-1/2 inch long flowers for many weeks and their rich fragrance adds another dimension to its show of color. In the wild, it frequently creates a yellow canopy in the nearly leafless hardwood hammocks where it most commonly grows. It is in this landscape setting that I find it most attractive, but it is more easily admired when seen up close along a fence or around a mailbox or other ornamental feature. Placing its blooms high above the ground also protects children from poisoning themselves by eating the blossoms. For although the sweet fragrance may make it enticing, the nectar is poisonous to people. Bees are eagerly attracted to it also, but the honey is toxic. Another positive attribute of Carolina jessamine is that it is evergreen and the rich green foliage looks attractive year-round. This is especially true when it is given a mostly sunny location. Too much shade will cause it to grow less densely and the leaves will not be as deep a green. It will not look good in full sun, however, unless it receives ample moisture. Carolina jessamine tends to grow naturally in partly shaded hammock habitats in rich moist soil. It is very adaptable, though, when used in the landscape and is quite drought tolerant. It does not tolerate salt. Vines are a common feature of many home landscapes. Carolina jessamine is an excellent choice given an understanding of both its positive and negative attributes.