"...By Any Other Name, It Would Smell As Sweet..."

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare speaks of roses and surnames.

Carolina Jessamine

But, I’ve just learned that the vine blooming with yellow tubular flowers growing so prolifically now in the wilds and in cultivated gardens is not Carolina Jasmine after all. It’s not even in the jasmine family. Rather, it’s official name is Carolina Jessamine; and South Carolina dubbed this bloom its state flower in 1924.

In 1906, the Daughters of the Confederacy of Anderson, SC, adopted the flower as their organization’s official emblem. To add to this honor, Teresa Strickland penned a poem entitled “Legend of the Yellow Jessamine.” It begins, “No flower that blooms hold such perfume,/As kindness and sympathy won./Wherever there grows the sheltering pine/Is clinging a Yellow Jessamine vine.” Shortly thereafter, the ladies began their campaign for the state’s adoption of this fragrant bloom.

According to the Lady Bird Wildflower Center, Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is native from Virginia south to Florida, west to Arkansas and east Texas and south to Guatemala.

The Center writes, “It is a twining, evergreen vine that will climb trees, scramble over fences and structures or develop a mound of tangled stems if left to its own devices…It is quite adaptable and tenacious, with no serious disease or insect problems…It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.”

Because of its sweet fragrance which attracts the butterflies, birds and humans, many have dubbed it Carolina Jasmine.

However, it’s biggest problem, according to all experts, is that all parts of the plant are poisonous to humans. The experts warn that parents watch children in proximity to the plant. Although colors and size of flowers differ, children might think it’s another variety of honeysuckle.

Honeysuckle

In fact, if people decide to plant sprawling vines in their yards, they should consider the honeysuckle which used to be such a treat to discover as a child. Does today’s child even notice the flowers, much less know to suck the nectar from the tubular bloom?

Regardless of the memories it generates, some states like New York, Texas, Massachusetts and New Hampshire have prohibited sales of the plant for ornamental gardens. They consider it as much a nuisance as kudzu.

While many of the 180 varieties are native, the most popular, the Japanese Honeysuckle, according to Steve Bender, the Grumpy Gardener, writing for Southern Living, was introduced to this country from Asia in 1823; it spread rapidly across the Southeast. Although Bender acknowledges that his childhood memories of the plant are as pleasurable as mine, he suggests that those, wishing to capture the sweet fragrance of this flowering vine, plant instead a magnolia tree whose blossoms also fill the air with aromatic scent.

Jasmine

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, about 200 species of the sweet smelling Jasmine with names like star, Confederate, poet’s, winter, exist. All varieties began in the East. With the Arab trade network, the plant was introduced to Europe in the 1500s and the budding perfume industry embraced it. Because of the active trading network, it gradually made itself popular around the world.

In addition to its use in gardens and perfumes, it has become popular as a tea and as a girl’s name. None of its true varieties in the Oleceae family are poisonous. And few flowers smell as sweet as jasmine.

Flower lovers the world over often assign qualities to blossoms. Carolina jessamine symbolizes the pureness of gold; honeysuckle, happiness; and jasmine, of course, love. But all are appreciated for their sweet, sweet fragrances.

Author Anne Rice says, “In the spring of 1988, I returned to New Orleans, and as soon as I smelled the air, I knew I was home. It was rich, almost sweet, like the scent of jasmine and roses around our old courtyard. I walked the streets, savoring that long lost perfume.”

2020