FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:
Leaf shape varies little. Entire plant is toxic.
Synonym(s): Bigonia sempervirens
Description: Slender woody evergreen vine, to 3 m long, sometimes climbing to treetops.
Leaves: Opposite, lance-shaped, shiny leaves with entire margins.
Flowers/Fruit: Clusters of showy yellow flowers, on new growth. Fruits are elongated, splitting capsules. Blooms February to early May; fruits September to November.
Habit and Range: Occurs both in moist and dry areas, in hardwood and pine forests, along fencerows, and in bottomlands. Found statewide.
COMMON CONFUSIONS:
Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina jessamine) leaves could potentially be confused with Bignonia capreolata (crossvine), which has thinner, duller leaves with heart-shaped bases, red and yellow flowers, and generally grows in shady locations climbing trees.
Link to side-by-side comparisons page
