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Italian Yellow Jasmine

Chrysojasminum humile (kry-so-jaz-MY-num HEW-mi-lee)

Family: Oleaceae Non-native Understory

Italian yellow jasmine is a showy, evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub from Iran to central China. 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 “low-growing.” Though it prefers well-drained soil it tolerates a range of conditions and grows in sun to part shade and can be heat- and drought-tolerant. It is a semi-evergreen or evergreen, scrambling or sprawling shrub that grows to 20 feet and can take on a tree-like form (making a mockery of the “low-growing” epithet). The leaves have 3 to 7 leaflets. The small, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers appear in summer. They may be scentless or slightly fragrant. Flowers are followed by glossy black berries in the fall. Italian yellow jasmine works in borders and foundation plantings. It is suitable for cottage, Asian or dry 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, 52 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 2 - Understory
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.

Often confused with Chrysojasminum parkeri

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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 drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding; Multi-stemmed; Multi-trunked; Vase
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dark green leaves with 3-7 leaflets.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Trumpet
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
slightly fragrant or not fragrant, yellow, trumpet-shaped.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Glossy black berries.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southern Iran to Central China
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths
Play value
Attractive Flowers
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Berry
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Patio; Pool/Hardscape; Riparian
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden
Design feature
Barrier; Flowering Tree; Foundation Planting; Small Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#evergreen #heat tolerant #drought tolerant #mounding #yellow flowers #full sun tolerant #shrub #fragrant flowers #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #partial shade tolerant
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants; Cottony Camellia Scale Insect; Indian Wax Scale Insect
Other problems
Cyclamen Mite and Broad Mite in Ornamental Plants
Problems
Weak Wood
Resistant to
Drought; Heat

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.