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Gardening

Vine's lush growth and resilience suited for Citrus

By JANE WEBER
Published January 1, 2007

An ideal twining vine for Citrus County would be an evergreen, multistemmed, rampant grower that can take frosty nights and hot wet summers, yet still be drought tolerant and pest resistant. Carolina jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, has these attributes and blooms reliably for a month or more in winter.

Often used to cover fences, lamp poles, trellises and arbors, this native jessamine will ramble as a ground cover then climb the nearest tree. It is not a jasmine but is commonly misnamed such. In the Gelsemiaceae family, two species of the long-lived Gelsemium genus are native to Florida.

Carolina jessamine, G. sempervirens, Latin for "always green," ranges from central Florida north to Virginia and west to Texas in hardiness zones 6 to 9. It grows naturally in flatwood, sandy scrub and hammock ecosystems.

Preferred soil is acidic and well-drained but it adapts to most garden soils. Full sunny exposure is best for blooming. Once established no extra watering is needed. It responds to irrigation with fast, lush growth and denser, showy flowers.

Several cultivars of Carolina jessamine have longer bloom seasons or are more fragrant and denser than the pure native vine. Butterscotch, a patented plant, and Lemon Drop are commonly available in 6-inch and 10-inch-diameter pots.

Swamp jessamine, G. rankinii, is a wetland species with odorless flowers common in northern Florida but not readily available in the nursery trade.

Jessamine flowers are bright yellow trumpets about 1 to 1.5 inches long. The fragrance is delicate and subtle. In my garden the buds start to swell by the end of November. Late December sees some bloom but the main flush covers the vine from mid January to late February.

Jessamine is a rich source of nectar for butterflies and the occasional hummingbird. The mid winter blooming season brings color to the garden when most needed.

Planted alongside coral honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, jessamine contrasts nicely. Both are evergreen. Jessamine's 2- to 4-inch leaves are opposite, lance-shaped, pointed and shiny dark green above. Those of coral honeysuckle are oval, opposite, 1 to 3 inches long, a paler shade and completely encircle the stem just below the flowers.

Two-feet-long red to reddish-orange tube flowers with protruding yellow stamens adorn coral honeysuckle sparsely in winter and more profusely from spring to fall. Safe to handle, all jessamine parts contain alkaloids, which are poisonous if eaten. Domestic pets normally don't nibble on distasteful jessamine.

Carolina jessamine is a great choice in woodland and naturalistic settings. It is easy to grow and needs little care. Occasional pruning could be needed to keep it tidy on a trellis. Soon it will be blossoming to herald the coming of spring. The display of bright yellow flowers is a welcome splash of color in the winter garden.

Editor's note: This weekly article is provided by Jane Weber, professional gardener, grower, consultant, designer and environmentalist. Visit her Certified Florida Yard and Backyard Wildlife Habitat, 5019 W Stargazer Lane, Dunnellon. Call (352) 465-0649.

[Last modified January 1, 2007, 06:38:41]