Carolina Jessamine - Gelsemium sempervirens

[@terrivance8750]

Thank you, Jim! 😊

[@roxiebollinger1814]

The fragrance is breathtaking! I've had it for 20 yrs in Springfield MO (6b); easy to propagate so I have 2 on the privacy fence. Most people have never seen one around here. Mine was mail-order - it was unfamiliar to me at the time; so glad I tried it!

[@JM-lo8xu]

Panning the frame up into the sky @ 1:21 is immensely helpful! I'm in the same zone with varying amounts of shade and sun. I have a spot along a fence where I've been wanting more vertical breaks using trellises. Thanks for sharing!

[@bizzybee852]

Great info on a beautiful and fragrant native evergreen vine. We close on our "new" 1920's arts and craft home located in a small rural farm community in Southeast Georgia this Friday, January 17th. Our new home has a huge front porch that wraps around the side of the house and I am considering planting Carolina Jasmine to allow it to grow up the porch railing to provide privacy from the side street. This information was really helpful, thank you.

[@olligo330]

I have it growing in 6B. Stays evergreen though does bronze out. The spot is morning sun only and protected by a Japanese maple and my porch on either side of it. Vigorous grower, I cut it back 3 or more times to keep it covering the porch rail. The bottom is getting some kind of leaf spot or rust but top is beautiful.

[@careyjohnston4176]

This vine is useful in many ways . Because of its thick growth can be planted on a chain link fence to provide privacy . Can be grown into large deciduous trees for the sweet smell in spring. I have seen it grown down a high concrete wall where it hung down the wall and was trimmed creating an interesting look and breaking up the stark look of the wall . Anyways I love this vine and there are varieties with double blooms and those with different colors of yellow some lighter and some darker. After established it takes to pruning very well but will thin out at the base most times .

[@cincytropics]

I grow it here in Cincinnati zone 6b. It gets frozen back every few years but regrows!

[@wesgrooms1215]

Good to hear - I’m planting it in the spring in 6b and wondered if it could handle it.

[@lrieke8300]

Yes have successfully used as a privacy fence extender. Some varieties are more flowering than others. Very pleased with informal natural appearance on fence. In Nashville.

[@carolynlingor]

I grow it on a metal gazebo here in my California Zone 8b garden, planted in 2007. It took 3 years for it to cover the gazebo and looked beautiful 12 months of the year, but developed a thick mat of dead leaves and undergrowth because I never pruned it until early summer of 2023 when we cut it back to the beginning edge of the top of the gazebo to get rid of all the dead stuff and discovered a thriving metropolis of thousands of earwigs...raining down on our heads and into our clothes. 😂 What a nasty job! It has been very slow to recover and hasn't sent any new growth over the top of the gazebo yet. We have high hopes that it takes off this year. We never intended to cut it back quite that far, but it became difficult to tell the live growth from the dead at a certain point. Gardening is always an adventure and learning experience.

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thank you Jim. ❄️⛄️💚🙃

[@mcook9529]

I planted one years ago on an arbor here in the Triad and it’s spectacular! Love the information on your videos!

[@awildapproach]

I love this plant! I have mine in a more dry spot, so it stays relatively compact in comparison, but since you mention its love of more moisture, I may give it more water in the summers to boost its growth. Lovely one you have shown in this video!

[@stephaniesharkey3538]

I used to have it . Grown in afternoon part shade / sun exposure. Pretty vine! 🌼

[@jennifergreene8891]

Thank you Jim and Stephany for sharing this. I definitely want to get one this spring (Zone 9b Texas Gulf Coast) beautiful 😍 😊

[@kso808]

I have one of these over an arch trellis that I got from a neighbor’s cutting with roots

[@veronicabyrd3699]

Jim I have had this plant in my yard for 4 years. It grows but, it only produces a handful of blooms. What can I do to get more blooms. My husband has talked me out of digging it up and throwing it away. Thank you!

[@careyjohnston4176]

You can find varieties of this vine and many many others at Brushwood nursery.

[@josheaton3384]

I wish he had addressed the cousin of this one, Gelsemium rankinii (Swamp Jessamine), which is often included together in a pot with sempervirens. The two grow together and rankinii gives you that repeat blooming in summer and fall. The flowers are very similar but do not have that great fragrance of sempervirens.

[@ninalovett7839]

How far down to the ground can I cut it? The bottom is very woody and I would like it to flower closer to the ground.

[@zorrokitty5666]

The poison concern comes around from little kids eating the fragrant flowers and thinking it’s Honeysuckle. It can make their stomach upset and maybe throw up

[@ЮлиянНиколов-н2у]

🎉😮😊

[@troygoss6400]

Living in 6b, Carolina jasmine doesn't reliablely bloom. I still think it's worth planting.

[@KatharsisderWelt]

I hate this plant! When I bought my house, this plant had take over the entire yard. Its so bad that if you are walking around the yard, the vine will trip you. I have fallen over so many times. Its also choking so many of the trees around here. I refuse to spray it though. I don't want poisons in the yard.