|
Yellow jessamine is a high-climbing, woody vine that is known
by several names, including Carolina jessamine, poor man's rope,
or yellow jasmin. It has also been referred to as The Pride
of Augusta, because it is found abundantly near Augusta,
Georgia. One of the most notable characteristics of the plant is the fragrant flowers that send a sweet, prevailing scent through the wintery woods. |
 |
|
|
From a distance, the plant may be confused with Cat's-claw vine
(Macfadyena unguis-cati), which has larger flowers and
compound, opposite leaves and is an invasive vine from the West
Indies and South America. Yellow jessamine is a native plant
in the southeastern United States. Jessamine is easy to grow and is used as a landscape plant. It is often seen vining around mailboxes with its wiry stems and attractive blossoms. It can be cultivated in full sun to grow fuller, denser plants and is frequently used as a ground cover or a trellis decoration. Yellow jessamine has been used by herbalists to treat eye ailments and as natural, perfumed hair oil. The essential oils of the plant are extracted for use in the perfume industry, since the pleasant odor is difficult to reproduce synthetically. All parts of this plant are extremely poisonous, especially to livestock, if eaten; however, the bright yellow spring blossoms are a source of nectar for butterflies and deer often browse on the vegetation for food and fiber. Jessamine is common in the coastal plains and Piedmont regions from Virginia to South Florida and west to Arkansas and Texas. |
||
