Carolina jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens)

Also known as: Yellow jessamine, Gelsemium

Carolina jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a vine native to the southern United States and Central America. Known for its attractive yellow flowers, it is also referred to as Yellow Jessamine, Carolina Jessamine, Evening Trumpetflower, and Woodbine. While it is a popular choice for gardens, all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested and can cause skin irritation, making it a potentially risky houseplant, especially for households with pets or children.

In This Article

Care Tips Water Sunlight Temperature Soil Fertilize Prune Propagation Repotting Toxicity

Attributes of Carolina jasmine

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Vine

Plant Height

3 m to 6 m

Spread

90 cm to 1.8 m

Leaf Color

Green Yellow Red Gold Purple

Flower Size

2.5 cm to 3 cm

Flower Color

Yellow Gold

Images of Carolina jasmine

Quickly Identify Carolina jasmine

Evergreen vine with thin, wiry stems for climbing and support.

Distinctive golden yellow, funnel-shaped flowers in axillary positions.

Oppositely arranged, lanceolate leaves with a glossy surface.

Dry, dehiscent capsule fruit with winged seeds, persistent and laterally compressed.

Flexible green to red-brown stem, twining in growth habit, less than 1 inch in diameter.

Scientific Classification of Carolina jasmine

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Gentianales

Family

Logania

Genus

Trumpetflower

Species

Carolina jasmine

Planting and Growing of Carolina jasmine

Care Difficulty

Easy

Watering Schedule

Every 4 days

Sunlight Requirements

Full sun

Sunshine Duration

6-12 hours

Ideal Temperature

60-75℉

Soil Type

Potting Mix, Peat Mix

Soil pH

6.5-7.5

Fertilizer Type

Balanced

Pruning Season

Spring, Summer

Pruning Area

Branches, Leaves

Pruning Frequency

2 times a year

Repotting Season

Spring

Pot Type

Plastic, Ceramic

How to Water Carolina jasmine?

For Gelsemium sempervirens, it's important to water until the soil is moist but not waterlogged. You should aim to provide about 500 milliliters of water at each session, ensuring the water penetrates deeply into the soil, encouraging a robust root system. It's better to water thoroughly and less frequently than to give frequent shallow sprinkles.

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What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Carolina jasmine?

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun, Partial sun

Duration of light: At least 6 hours

Gelsemium sempervirens thrives in an ideal range of full sun to partial sun. Receiving this amount of light daily fosters optimal photosynthesis, enhancing foliage density and flowering. Proper light ensures a healthy and vigorous plant life.

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What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Carolina jasmine?

Ideal Temperature: 60 ~ 75℉

The ideal temperature range for Gelsemium sempervirens, also known as Carolina jessamine, is between 60°F and 75°F. This range provides optimal conditions for the plant's health and blooming performance, allowing it to thrive with good air circulation, adequate sunlight, and moderate humidity.

What Soil is Best for Carolina jasmine?

Soil type: Sandy loam, Loam, Acidic soil

Soil PH: 6.5 ~ 7.5

Gelsemium sempervirens thrives in well-draining soils to prevent root rot. Good drainage ensures the roots receive adequate air and stay healthy, providing the plant with more vigor. This plant benefits from soil enriched with organic matter. Nutrient-rich soil promotes better blooming and growth, offering more vibrant and abundant flowers. Maintaining a soil pH between 6.5 and 7.5 helps Gelsemium sempervirens optimize nutrient uptake, enhancing its overall health and flowering ability. More About Soil→

How to Fertilize Carolina jasmine?

Fertilizer type: Balanced

For Gelsemium sempervirens, it is ideal to use a balanced 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer. When using liquid fertilizer, dilute it to half strength to avoid plant burn. Typically, apply about 1/4 cup of this diluted solution per plant. For slow-release fertilizers, sprinkle a handful around the base, ensuring not to let it touch the stem to avoid rotting. More About Fertilizing Techniques→

How to Prune Carolina jasmine?

Pruning Time: Spring, Summer

Start by removing any dead or damaged vines. Use sharp pruning shears to make clean cuts and avoid damaging the healthy parts of the plant. This step ensures that the plant redirects energy to vigorous growth. Proceed to shape the plant by cutting back excessively long vines. Trim them back to a lateral branch to encourage more compact growth and a bushy appearance, ensuring the plant doesn't become too wild or unwieldy. After the initial spring bloom, a light trim can stimulate further flowers. This also helps the plant prepare for the next bloom cycle, ensuring your Gelsemium sempervirens remains a perennial beauty in the garden. More About Pruning Techniques→

How to Propagate Carolina jasmine plant?

Propagate Time: Early spring, Spring, Late spring, Early summer

Choose healthy and semi-hardwood stems approximately 10-15 cm long. Use sterilized pruning shears to make a clean cut just below a leaf node to ensure optimal rooting.

Dip the cut end of the cuttings into a rooting hormone powder or gel to promote root growth. This step is especially critical for plants that are more challenging to root.

Insert the treated cuttings into a well-draining potting mix, ensuring at least two nodes are buried. Maintain slight moisture and provide indirect sunlight to encourage rooting.

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How to Repot Carolina jasmine plant?

Repotting frequency: Once every 2-3 years

Repot Gelsemium sempervirens when you notice roots emerging from the drainage holes of the current pot or if its growth has significantly slowed. This indicates the plant has become root-bound and requires more space to flourish. Spring is an ideal time for repotting as the plant is entering its active growth phase and can recover more quickly from the disturbance.

Select a pot that is just one size larger than the current one to avoid excessive soil that retains water. Ensure the pot has ample drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. Opting for a slightly wider pot can encourage healthy lateral growth of the roots, providing better stability for the plant.

Choose a well-draining acidic soil mix, such as a mix designed for azaleas or gardenias. This type of soil ensures that excess moisture can escape, preventing root rot, while the acidity matches the plant's natural preferences, promoting healthier growth and vibrant blooms.

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Toxicity of Carolina jasmine

Is Carolina jasmine toxic to humans?

Carolina jasmine possesses extremely toxic alkaloids throughout every component of the plant, which includes its seeds, leaves, stems, flowers, roots, and fruits. Ingesting any part of this plant could result in poisoning. The symptoms associated with this toxicity encompass sweating, nausea, weakness, dilated pupils, reduced body temperature, convulsions, and in severe cases, respiratory failure. This plant is commonly found in wooded areas and disturbed habitats, and is additionally grown as an ornamental species in various landscapes, making accidental ingestion a likely scenario.

Is Carolina jasmine toxic to cat?

Carolina jasmine is a poisonous plant that presents a significant danger to the health of cats. If felines ingest any part of this plant, they may suffer from poisoning. Exposure can result in physical distress signs, such as gastrointestinal issues, which often manifest through various symptoms indicating discomfort. It is essential to identify these signs promptly, and should the first symptoms of poisoning appear, immediate action is required to take the affected cat to a veterinary clinic for urgent care.

Is Carolina jasmine toxic to dog?

Carolina jasmine is a highly toxic plant that presents a considerable danger to dogs. Any part of this plant can cause poisoning in dogs who consume it, as all sections are identified as toxic. Even small quantities of carolina jasmine can lead to various symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breathing, and more severe complications such as seizures or paralysis. Due to the serious health threats linked to carolina jasmine, it is essential for dog owners to prevent their animals from accessing this plant and to watch closely for any signs of unintentional ingestion. If poisoning is suspected, prompt veterinary attention is vital to secure the best possible outcome for the affected dog.

WARNING

The judgment on toxicity and danger is for reference only. We DO NOT GUARANTEE any accuracy of such judgment. Therefore, you SHALL NOT rely on such judgment. It is IMPORTANT TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE in advance when necessary.

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