How to Prune Carolina Jasmine

Carolina jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens), also called a Carolina jessamine, is known for its twining growth up trellises, arbors and fences. It blooms yellow fragrant flowers for several months beginning in the winter and is a rapid grower. To keep a Carolina jasmine young, healthy and full of blooms, conduct regular prunings. As with most flowering plants, you should prune a Carolina jasmine with clean, sharp garden clippers or shears and cut just above a set of leaves.

Hand clippers or shears

Instructions

- 1
  Prune back a Carolina jasmine to shape after it is finished flowering. Flowering may end in the winter or in the spring, depending on the climate. Also remove dead and damaged stems at this time.
- 2
  Cut back old, weak vines to about 3 feet above ground level after flowering if the vine is top heavy. Also prune the vine back if it is thin and sparse to encourage branching.
- 3
  Remove one-fourth of the stems every two to three years to keep a Carolina jasmine young and healthy. This helps avoid a top-heavy, old vine. Cut the stems back to the ground. Choose the oldest, nonproductive and any misshapen or out-of-control stems.
- 4
  Prune back a Carolina jasmine after flowering to 3 feet to keep it as a ground cover rather than a tall, climbing vine.
- 5
  Cut back a Carolina jasmine throughout the growing season, if necessary, to keep it under control and in a confined space.

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