It’s a bit chilly this morning with a cold snap on the way, but signs of spring are all around! Carolina Jessamine or Carolina Jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is blooming along roadsides, powerlines, and woodland edges. I often find this native evergreen vine climbing up pine trees, with its dense yellow blooms in a sunny patch at the top of the trees. Before long, the fallen petals will dot the ground, giving you a reminder to look up. It also grows well in gardens, where it will cover a trellis or form a ground cover in sunny spots. The yellow flowers smell great and they’re visited by a variety of native bees and butterflies. In the wild, Carolina Jessamine is native to the Tidewater of Virginia, the non-mountainous regions of the Carolinas, and across the Gulf Coast states.
With all of these great features, it’s easy to see why Carolina Jessamine is the South Carolina state flower. It’s widely available at native plant sales, greenhouses, and other suppliers. See the comments for planting information (note that all parts of Carolina Jasmine are poisonous, if that’s a concern).
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