Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Carolina Jessamine
Carolina Jessamine is an evergreen twining vine that covers itself in fragrant yellow trumpet flowers from late winter into spring, when little else is blooming. Its glossy leaves stay green all year on a trellis, fence or arbor. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flowers. In the Valley it does best with some afternoon shade.
Best for: late winter color on a trellis, fence or arbor, an evergreen screen with afternoon shade, and early flowers for bees and hummingbirds.
In the Valley it flowers from about January into April, when most of the yard is quiet. Train it along a fence or over an arch where you will see it from the house.
It twines up wires, lattice, chain link and arbor posts and stays green all year. Plant vines about 6 to 8 feet apart along a fence for a full screen.
It takes Valley heat but does best with afternoon shade and no west wall. An east facing fence or a spot shaded after lunch suits it.
Western sun is hard on it, and too much fertilizer cuts the flowers. All parts are poisonous if eaten, so keep it away from children who suck on flowers.
- Faster cover on a fence6 ft apart
- Standard fence or trellis run8 ft apart
Water new plants every few days at first, then stretch it out over about two months. Once rooted, deep water about every 7 to 10 days in summer and every 2 to 3 weeks in winter.
Plant it where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. Avoid west walls, where the late sun is hardest on it.
Wrap new stems around the support as it grows. Do any shaping right after the spring bloom.
Too much fertilizer cuts down the flowers. Feed it lightly so it keeps blooming.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
When does Carolina jessamine bloom in Phoenix?
It blooms in late winter and early spring, about January through April in the Valley. A few flowers can show up again in fall.
Is Carolina jessamine fragrant?
Yes. The yellow trumpet flowers have a sweet scent, so plant it near a gate, patio or path.
Does it need full sun?
It grows in full sun to light shade and handles Valley heat. Below about 2,000 feet, afternoon shade is best, so skip west walls and pick an east facing spot.
How big does it get?
On a support it commonly grows about 10 to 20 feet tall and spreads about 20 feet. Without a support it sprawls into a loose groundcover.
Does it climb on its own?
It twines around a support but cannot grab a flat wall. Give it wires, a trellis, an arbor or a chain link fence, and wrap new stems around it.
How often should I water it?
It needs moderate, regular water in the Valley, especially in summer. Once rooted, deep water about every 7 to 10 days in summer and every 2 to 3 weeks in winter.
When should I prune it?
Prune right after the spring flowers fade. It mostly needs light shaping and training on its support.
Should I fertilize it?
Feed it only lightly, because too much fertilizer gives it lush leaves and fewer flowers.
Is Carolina jessamine poisonous?
Yes. All parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten, including the flowers and nectar, and the sap can irritate skin. Children have been poisoned after mistaking it for honeysuckle, so plant it where kids will not pick the flowers.
Does it attract hummingbirds and bees?
Yes. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visit the early flowers, which gives them food when little else is blooming.
How cold hardy is it?
It handles Valley winters easily and stays evergreen. It is rated to about 0°F, far colder than the Valley gets.
Carolina Jessamine for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Carolina Jessamine is an evergreen twining vine known for fragrant yellow flowers in late winter and early spring. Below: where to plant it in the Valley, size, spacing, water, pruning, cold, wildlife and what to know about its sap and flowers.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Carolina jessamine in Phoenix
It handles Valley heat and blooms from about January into April. Give it afternoon shade and keep it off west walls.
How far apart do you plant Carolina jessamine?
Plant it about 6 to 8 feet apart along a fence or trellis. The closer spacing fills in faster.
Winter blooming vine for Arizona
Carolina jessamine opens fragrant yellow trumpet flowers in late winter, when little else is in bloom. Bees and hummingbirds come to them.
Watering Carolina jessamine
It needs moderate, regular water, especially in summer. Once rooted, water deeply about every 7 to 10 days in summer and every 2 to 3 weeks in winter.
When to prune Carolina jessamine
Prune right after the spring bloom. It mostly needs shaping and training on its support.
Is Carolina jessamine toxic?
All parts are poisonous if eaten, and the sap can irritate skin. It is not a honeysuckle, so do not let children suck the flowers.
Carolina jessamine on a fence
It twines up chain link, wires and lattice and stays evergreen. It cannot climb a flat wall without a support.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.