Gelsemium sempervirens

Yellow jasmine or Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) may be confused with Japanese honeysuckle. Carolina jessamine has thinner leaves and hairless stems. It is semi-evergreen and has lovely dark green, glossy foliage. The showy clusters of flowers in early spring are bright yellow and very fragrant. Carolina jessamine is a great landscape alternative to Lonicera japonica.

Lonicera spp.

Invasive Japanese honeysuckle also resembles our native honeysuckle vines, Lonicera sempervirens, coral honeysuckle, and Lonicera flava, yellow honeysuckle.

The native vines usually have reddish hairless stems and do not form extensive infestations. Yellow honeysuckle has true yellow flowers and is state listed as rare (Threatened) in Tennessee.

Coral honeysuckle is loaded with rich red flowers in May and flowers sporadically into the fall. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Birds eat the fruit. There are several cultivars available, including a yellow flowering variety.