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Common Yellow Jasmine

Chrysojasminum fruticans (kry-so-jaz-MY-num FROO-tih-kanz)

Family: Oleaceae Non-native Shrub

Common yellow jasmine is a showy, evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub from the Europe and Mediterranean Basin to Asia Minor. It is a member of the olive family (Oleaceae), although it differs from other members of the family by having alternate, not opposite, leaves. This feature makes it easy to distinguish species of Chrysojasminun from yellow-flowered jasmines ( Jasminum ) such as winter jasmine ( Jasminum nudiflorum ) . Chrysojasminum is a genus recently separated from Jasminum . The genus name means “golden Jasminum ,” and the species epithet means “shrubby.” This shrub grows best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Common yellow jasmine is a small, evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub with yellow, slightly fragrant flowers that appear in spring and early autumn. The flowers are in clusters of one to four. The flowers are followed by glossy black berries that remain on the plant from autumn through winter. At 3 to 6 feet in height, it is perfect for borders and foundation plantings. It is suitable for cottage, pollinator or shade gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally free of serious pests and diseases. Insect pests may include aphids, scale insects and mealybugs.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 45 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub Optimal soil pH Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Open
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Shiny, delicate, mostly trifoliate leaves.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Small 5-petaled trumpet flowers are produced heavily in spring, then a light bloom in fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit detail
Black berries
Stem detail
Slender, four-angled stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Mediterranean to Northern Iran
Attracts
Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Winter
Fruit type
Berry
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Pollinator Garden; Shade Garden
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting
Garden tags
#semi-evergreen #yellow flowers #full sun tolerant #shrub #foundation planting #evergreen shrub #moist soil #border planting #well-drained soil #fragrant flowers #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #partial shade tolerant
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Indian Wax Scale Insect; Cottony Camellia Scale Insect; Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants
Other problems
Cyclamen Mite and Broad Mite in Ornamental Plants
Problems
Weak Wood

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.