Overview
Cestrum is a pendulous weeping, bushy conservatory greenhouse in the genus Cestrum, part of the Solanaceae family, with evergreen foliage. Cestrum grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates loam and sand soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H3. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal garden, coastal, sub-tropical, patio and container plants, flower borders and beds, conservatory and greenhouse and climber and wall shrubs. It is native to Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles and Windward Is..
About
Cestrum is a genus of — depending on authority — 150-250 species of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae. They are native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Americas, from the southernmost United States south to the Bío-Bío Region in central Chile.
About the genus
Cestrum is a genus of — depending on authority — 150-250 species of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae. They are native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Americas, from the southernmost United States south to the Bío-Bío Region in central Chile. They are colloquially known as cestrums or jessamines.
Wikipedia contributors, "Cestrum", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Cestrum
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Cestrum
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
Cestrum size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Conservatory Greenhouse, Shrubs
- Habit
- Pendulous weeping, Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Coastal, Sub-tropical, Patio and container plants, Flower borders and beds, Conservatory and greenhouse, Climber and wall shrubs
- Native to
- Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Is.
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Cestrum
- Propagation
- Seed, Softwood cuttings, Semi-ripe cuttings
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Cestrum?
Cestrum prefers full sun and partial shade. It suits sheltered positions.
What soil does Cestrum need?
Cestrum grows best in loam and sand soil. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained to well-drained.
Is Cestrum hardy in the UK?
Cestrum has an RHS hardiness rating of H3, meaning it is half-hardy, tolerating -5 to 1°C, and may need winter protection in colder areas.
How do I propagate Cestrum?
Seed, Softwood cuttings, Semi-ripe cuttings.
More in the Cestrum genus
- Cestrum fasciculatum
- Cestrum parquiwillow-leaved jessamine
- Cestrum x cultum 'Cretan Pink'
- Cestrum elegans var. smithii