Carolina Jessamine

Gelsemium sempervirens

Carolina Jessamine is a climber for focal point, structure, suited to full sun to partial shade and loam or sandy soil, flowering Feb, Mar, Apr.

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 10a, so check it suits your area before planting.

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

Border Builder uses Carolina 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.
• 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
• Appalachian Sedgeto edge in front
• Atamasco Rain Lilyto edge in front
• Barren Strawberryto edge in front
• Cherokee Sedgeto edge in front

Garden styles

Foundation planting Native Woodland