Species Overview

Native to: tropical West Africa

The genus Jasminum, of the Oleaceae or olive family, contains over 200 species of vines or shrubs with opposite leaves, many with fragrant flowers, native to the warmer parts of the Old World. Gold Coast Jasmine was introduced to Florida in the early 1920s via horticulture and has escaped cultivation in South Florida.

Species Characteristics

Family: Oleaceae

Habit: scrambling woody shrub or vine, evergreen to 8 m tall.

Leaves: opposite, simple, oval, glossy, 5-7 cm long.

Flowers: night-blooming, star-shaped, flowers, white, very fragrant, tubular with 5-9 terminal lobes.

Fruit: small, round, fleshy black, 2 lobed berry.

Distribution in Florida: South Florida

Impacts

This jasmine produces a large number of bird and mammal-dispersed seeds with very high germination rates. It vigorously invades intact, undisturbed hardwood forests and can climb high into the tree canopy of mature forests, completely enshrouding native vegetation and reducing native plant diversity.

Do not plant.

Hand pull seedlings.

More research needed.

No known biological control agents.

Cut stump: 50% Garlon 3A or 10% Garlon 4. Basal bark: 10% Garlon 4. It is helpful to pull runners back to the main stem, cut, and apply Garlon 3A or Garlon 4 to the cut stem. Re-treatment of areas is usually necessary. Foliar: 5% glyphosate product. Reach out to your local UF IFAS Extension for further assistance with management recommendations. Additional management recommendations can be found in the EDIS Publication Integrated Management of Non-Native Plants in Natural Areas of Florida.