Swamp Jessamine

Gelsemium rankinii

Swamp Jessamine is a climber for focal point, structure, suited to full sun to partial shade and loam or moist ground, flowering Mar, Apr, May.

Where to use it in a border

At around 600 cm, it sits best toward the back of a border, or on its own as a focal point with room around it. Give it about 180 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 7a to 9b, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of full sun, wet soil, evergreen plants, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Swamp Jessamine's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
• It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• Alumroot 'Palace Purple'to edge in front
• Anise/Blue Sageto edge in front
• Barren Strawberryto edge in front
• Cherokee Sedgeto edge in front
• Coral Bells 'Autumn Bride'to edge in front
• Coral Bells 'Dale's Strain'to edge in front

Garden styles

Foundation planting Native Woodland