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Swamp Jasmine

Gelsemium rankinii (gel-SEM-ee-um rank-EN-ee-eye)

Family: Gelseminaceae Native Vine (vertical)

Swamp jasmine is a woody twining vine in the Gelseminaceae family native to the southern US. It can be found in swampy areas of forests and natural land and is often cultivated in landscapes. It is found most notably in the swamps of the Black and Waccamaw rivers. This plant can be grown in sun to partial shade and needs rich, acidic, moist to wet soil. It offers wildlife enhancement and is resistant to damage by deer. Tolerant of occasional flooding. The vine usually grow to 10 feet tall but can reach 20 feet and spread 3 to 20 feet. It will climb trees or climb over shrubs. It is evergreen with simple, opposite leaves and a smooth margin. Its showy yellow flowers, which bloom in the spring and fall, are funnel-shaped with 5 lobes and are not aromatic. Its fruit is a thin, flattened capsule. The flowers, leaves, and roots of this plant are toxic. This plant is classified as an NC Special Concern species. Use Swamp jasmine on any vertical surface. It can be used for screening and privacy or in a native pollinator or woodland garden. Avoid planting around children or pets. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally problem-free but occasionally affected by aphids, spider mites, slugs and snails. Fungal diseases such as rust, blight, and anthracnose are also possible, but uncommon.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 60 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 6 - Vine (vertical) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Gelsemium sempervirens

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Native Plant; Perennial; Poisonous; Vine
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth; Waxy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Waxy lanceolate leaves with entire margins and acute apex are 1 to 3 inches long.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Funnel
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Funnel-shaped 1-1.5 inch yellow flowers in spring and fall from March-April and also October. Not fragrant
Bloom time
Fall; Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Thin, flattened capsule. Fruits are available from September to October.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southern USA, NC
Distribution
AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Vertical Spaces; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Screen/Privacy
Garden tags
#evergreen #yellow flowers #poisonous #showy flowers #native vine #native garden #small mammals #food source herbage #food source nectar #food source pollen #mammals #NC native #hummingbird friendly #Piedmont Mountains FAC #Coastal FACW #butterfly friendly #pollinator plant #bird friendly #privacy #semi-evergreen #Audubon #bee friendly #vine #fence #trellis #problem for children #problem for dogs
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Dogs
Resistant to
Deer
Poison severity
High
Poison parts
Bark; Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
Sweating, nausea, muscular weakness, dilated pupils, lowered temperature, convulsions, and respiratory failure.
Toxic principle
Alkaloids
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
High severity poison; parts: Bark; Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.