False Jasmine Plant Care
Gelsemium elegans (Gardner & Champ.) Benth.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Gelsemium elegans, commonly known as heartbreak grass, is a poisonous plant of the family Gelsemiaceae found in China and other Asian countries. It contains toxic alkaloids such as gelsemine, gelsenicine, gelsevirine, koumine and 14-Hydroxygelsenicine.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–85°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for False Jasmine?
Water False Jasmine every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–85°F (10–29°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Where Is the False Jasmine Native To?
What Is the False Jasmine?
False Jasmine (Gelsemium elegans) belongs to the Gelsemiaceae family within the Gelsemium genus. False Jasmine is native to China and other Asian countries. False Jasmine is also known as Carolina Jasmine, Yellow Jasmine, Gelsemium.
False Jasmine displays a climbing vine growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 5 ft. False Jasmine produces fragrant yellow trumpet-shaped flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a False Jasmine?
Gelsemium elegans requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the False Jasmine Need?
False Jasmine thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the False Jasmine Prefer?
Gelsemium elegans grows best at temperatures of 50–85°F. False Jasmine prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–85°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a False Jasmine?
Well-draining, acidic soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for False Jasmine to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a False Jasmine?
Feed False Jasmine every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a False Jasmine?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a False Jasmine?
False Jasmine can be propagated through seeds, softwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to rankin's yellow jessamine plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the False Jasmine Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Toxic to humans and pets
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the False Jasmine?
False Jasmine is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the False Jasmine Need?
False Jasmine grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. False Jasmine is native to China and other Asian countries. In cooler regions, grow False Jasmine as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
False Jasmine is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Gelsemium genus — compare its care with other Gelsemium species on PlantoScan.
Gelsemium is part of the Gelsemiaceae plant family — browse all Gelsemiaceae genera and species.
False Jasmine thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Gelsemium elegans (Gardner & Champ.) Benth., family Gelsemiaceae (first published in J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 1: 90 (1856)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: False Jasmine is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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