Festooning fences and trees with its slender vines and bright yellow flowers, Yellow Jessamine, sometimes called Carolina Jessamine, is one of the most beautiful vines of the South.
These trailing or climbing woody vines are quite common in the Southeast in open woodlands and thickets, and along roadsides; and the blossoms occur in sufficient numbers to make the plant quite showy.
The evergreen leaves are in pairs one to three inches long, entire, and pointed at the tips. Yellow Jessamine begins blooming in February to early March. The fragrant flowers are funnel-shaped with five spreading, rounded lobes. It is easy to grow and can be used in many ways. Do not be tempted to chew the leaves as they contain a toxic compound.
Several different shrubs and vines with fragrant flowers have been called Jasmine. This plant gets its botanical name from the Latinized form of gelsemina, the Italian name for the true jasmine.
It is the State Flower of South Carolina.