swamp jessamine Loganiaceae Gelsemium rankinii Small symbol: GERA4 Leaf: Opposite, simple, oblong to lanceolate, sharp tip, evergreen, entire margins, somewhat thickened, 1 to 3 inches long, during growing season green but more yellowish green in winter. Flower: Very attractive, not fragrant, bright yellow, bell-shaped, with five short rounded lobes, 1 inch long, solitary or in small clusters, appearing October and November and again in March and April. Fruit: Capsules, 1/2 inch long, somewhat flattened, appear in the summer. Twig: Slender, hairless, solid pith, green or reddish brown, very tough and wiry, buds have loose scales. Bark: Brown to reddish brown, becoming fissured and somewhat flutted appearing. Form: Twining vine that scrambles over bushes and fences. It becomes quite dense in full sunlight. Looks like: false jessamine - Japanese honeysuckle Additional Range Information: Gelsemium rankinii is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting swamp jessamine. More: Fall Color External Links: USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson