Carolina Jessamine

Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina Jessamine) is the state flower of South Carolina.

It's an early flowering vine, producing nectar favored by early-emerging carpenter bees and Tiger Swallowtail butterflies (both have been visiting over the last couple of days. 

Carolina jessamine

I have one on a trellis outside my study window and it's amazing now.  The lower bit doesn't look like much (the dormant pipevine, Aristolochia macrophylla, is showing bare stems, at the moment).

I've posted about the Carolina Jessamine before at this time of year. This post was on March 30, 2009.

This was the view then.  (My photo today blew out the view beyond!)  It's become much more prolific since, I realize.  It's big.

March 30, 2009 view