Margarita Carolina Jessamine

Evergreen and SO easy to grow!
Unbeatable fragrance and color-packed flowers adorn this reliable vine!
Genus: Gelsemium
Species: sempervirens
Variety: ‘Margarita’
Item Form: 1-Quart
Zone: 6 – 9
Bloom Start To End: Late Spring – Mid Summer
Habit: Vining
Plant Height: 12 ft – 18 ft
Plant Width: 8 ft – 12 ft
Bloom Size: 2 in – 3 in
Additional Characteristics: Easy Care Plants, Fragrance
Bloom Color: Yellow
Light Requirements: Part Shade, Shade
Moisture Requirements: Moist,  well-drained
Resistance: Deer Resistance, Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant
Soil Tolerance: Normal,  loamy
Uses: Beds, Border, Hedge, Ornamental, Vines and Climbers
Restrictions:
*Due to state restrictions we cannot ship to the following:
Canada, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands

At last, a Carolina Jessamine that will grow in the north! Margarita extends the hardiness range of this indescribably fragrant vine all the way through zone 6 (and even into zone 5 with good winter protection), bringing the joy of evergreen foliage, abundant yellow blossoms, and easy-care habit to thousands of gardeners never before able to grow it!

Margarita is a powerhouse of a vine, reaching 8 to 10 feet tall (or more!) and 5 feet wide, and blooming very, very heavily in late spring and early summer. No fragrance in the world equals the balmy, sweet scent of Jasmine, and Margarita transforms your patio, arbor, or sunny garden into a tropical paradise with every breath you take!

The blooms are wonderfully showy — bright yellow, trumpet-shaped, and held in big 2- to 3-inch clusters that really stand out against glossy, deep green evergreen leaves. ‘Margarita’ can withstand a bit of shade without losing any bloom strength, so feel free to let it twine up open-habit shrubs and small trees. Its traditional spots include the mailbox post (gathering up those bills and advertising flyers was never so pleasant!), lamppost, and any and all trellises, arbors, and fences. Let it tumble over a wall to surprise passersby with its scent, or have it frame an entryway so that guests step into your home with a smile!

In the perennial garden, ‘Margarita’ makes a fine backdrop to any late spring- or summer-flowering plant. I like it behind Hardy Geraniums and Daylilies, where it adds some much-needed fragrance to their colorful display! But it’s right at home with annuals, too, from Petunia to Impatiens.

Over time ‘Margarita’ will become top-heavy, so you might want to cut it back heavily right after it blooms (late summer or so) every 3 or 4 years. Beyond this, it needs no attention, tolerating heat, humidity, poor soil, and even drought (once established) in your garden! Deer and rabbits leave it alone, but nobody else will — it’s a star in any setting!

Space plants about 5 feet apart for good solid coverage. Zones 7-10.