All You Need to Know About the Carolina Jessamine

As early spring approaches, so do the flowers of Carolina jessamine, also called the yellow jessamine. This native vine blooms from late winter to early spring and is a lovely vine to train up fences, pergolas, and trellises. In the wild, the Carolina jessamine is typically found in open woodlands and along roadsides. Once temperatures rise, the treetops and hedgerows start twinkling with two-inch-long, yellow flowers. The trumpet-shaped flowers also put out a sweet fragrance, making the vine that much more attractive for pollinators and gardeners alike.

This native evergreen vine stays fairly bushy and compact when it's grown in full sun. In shadier spots, it will climb up trees and shrubs as it tries to get closer to the sunlight, with the vines reaching up to 20 feet. In-home gardens, it's a great vine to use on arbors, trellises, and pergolas. It covers these structures quickly but is fairly easy to keep in bounds. It can also be planted as a ground cover and works well along steep banks.