Rankin's yellow jessamine Plant Care
Gelsemium rankinii Small
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Gelsemium rankinii, the Rankin's trumpetflower or swamp jessamine, is a twining vine in the family Gelsemiaceae, native to the southeastern United States from Louisiana to the Carolinas.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–85°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Rankin's yellow jessamine?
Water Rankin's yellow jessamine 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 Rankin's yellow jessamine Native To?
What Is the Rankin's yellow jessamine?
Rankin's yellow jessamine (Gelsemium rankinii) belongs to the Gelsemiaceae family within the Gelsemium genus. Rankin's yellow jessamine is native to the southeastern United States from Louisiana to the Carolinas. Rankin's yellow jessamine is also known as Swamp jessamine.
Rankin's yellow jessamine displays a climbing vine growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 5 ft. Rankin's yellow jessamine produces fragrant yellow trumpet-shaped flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Rankin's yellow jessamine?
Gelsemium rankinii 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 Rankin's yellow jessamine Need?
Rankin's yellow jessamine thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Rankin's yellow jessamine Prefer?
Gelsemium rankinii grows best at temperatures of 50–85°F. Rankin's yellow jessamine prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–85°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Rankin's yellow jessamine?
Well-draining, acidic soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Rankin's yellow jessamine to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Rankin's yellow jessamine?
Feed Rankin's yellow jessamine 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 Rankin's yellow jessamine?
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 Rankin's yellow jessamine?
Rankin's yellow jessamine can be propagated through seeds, softwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to false jasmine plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Rankin's yellow jessamine 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 Rankin's yellow jessamine?
Rankin's yellow jessamine 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 Rankin's yellow jessamine Need?
Rankin's yellow jessamine grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Rankin's yellow jessamine is native to the southeastern United States from Louisiana to the Carolinas. In cooler regions, grow Rankin's yellow jessamine as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Rankin's yellow jessamine 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.
Rankin's yellow jessamine 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 rankinii Small, family Gelsemiaceae (first published in Addisonia 13: 37 (1928)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Rankin's yellow jessamine 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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