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Tried and True Native Plant Selections
for the Mid-Atlantic
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Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina or Yellow Jessamine)
The fragrant, yellow bells of Carolina Jessamine are a sure sign of spring. A profusion of flowers appears for several months, and the glossy, pointed leaves remain attractive all year. This native* is at home in the U.S. southeastern and Gulf states south to Honduras. It is South Carolina’s state flower.
*In the Mid-Atlantic Region, it is native only in VA where it is common in the southern and central Coastal Plain and rare in the adjacent outer Piedmont. It is not native to NoVA. You can view the VA counties in which it has been reported here.
Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants:
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets