Product Review
Fast, large growing, flowering tropical shrub with arching limbs. Matures at about 6 to 8 feet. Related to Night Blooming Jasmine (Cestrums are a different species). Blooms during the warm season with clusters of tubular dusty lilac to purple flowers. Nice plant for beginning gardeners. Easy to grow, quick to establish. Recommended for growing outdoors in Zones 8B, 9, 10, 11. Considered root hardy in 8B, so plant early in the season and mulch well ahead of first frost.
- Cestrum is a genus of approximately 150-250 species of flowering plants in the Solanaceae plant family. They are native to warm tropical to semi-tropical areas of the Americas. A small number of these are cultivated as ornamental plants. Those are commonly called Jasmines or Jessamins due to the jasmine-like fragrance and resemblance of some flowers to true Jasmines. However, Cestrums are botanically unrelated to the Jasminum species.
- Purple Cestrum (Cestrum purpureum): A large, upright bush with showy, drooping clusters of waxy, tubular lilac-purple flowers. The blooms are open during the day, are lightly fragrant at night, and appear in cycles throughout the warm season. Its a versatile choice for a large hedge, mixed perennial beds, or a potted plant.
- Care: When mature, plant in fertile, well-draining soil in full sun to light partial afternoon shade. Water as needed to maintain consistent soil moisture. Feed a good quality, slow-release, bloom-boosting fertilizer with the initial planting and repeat annually in Spring. Prune after flowering to maintain size and shape. Monitor for common plant problems and treat appropriately as needed.
- Indoor Growing: While this plant can be grown as a large container plant indefinitely, it is not well-suited for the average indoor environment. It requires abundant sunlight and space and is best enjoyed as a seasonal container plant in colder climates that must be protected from frost. Modification to the average indoor growing spaces are typically required for successful overwintering.
- Climate: Cestrums are tropical to semi-tropical plants recommended for outdoor growing in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 11. Cold protection is recommended in all Zones for optimum appearance, earliest flowering, and overall good health.
