CESTRUM NOCTURNUM Queen of the Night

[peterbates]

Hi all...I have just purchased this plant on line and it was received in good condition.Regretfully, no care instructions were included. I have looked on the WEB for info but it appears conflicting. Can anyone please advise on the proper care of this plant ; IE watering, feeding, re-potting etc. It is an Xmas gift for my wife and I dont wish to incur her wrath !!!! :-)...It will live in the Conservatory in Winter and hopefuly, outside when it gets warmer.
Thanks in advance to you all.

Peter B

[Miranda]

I'm not familiar with this plant, Peter, but there is a page of info here: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2128/ - it has a lot of comments from people who grow it. Hope it helps.

[peterbates]

Miranda...MAMY thanks for that excellent lead. Quite a lot to ingest there but I think I'll ask my wife to study the comments as she will be looking after it. It seems the night fragrance is particularly beautiful.. so I can't wait for it to get going.
Thanks again, as always, for your help.

Peter

[Paul Narramore]

I'm tempted to place Cestrum nocturnum on my 'Must Have' list but after looking at various websites, there seems to be conflicting opinion as to it's hardiness in the UK. Most, including the RHS, say it's tender yet the Americans reckon it will stand frost and will recover. What are your feelings on this, Peter?

[peterbates]

Hi Paul...Yes, I too have looked at a lot of web sites ( mostly USA) and found the same. I have only just purchased ours and our thinking is that we shall keep the Jasmine in the conservatory in the colder periods ( even tho' it does get cool in there in winter) and possibly put it outside in the Spring. The description makes a great deal of its night time scent so I guess the 'baby-sitting' will be well worth it. Im now anxious to learn how to care for it properly particularly re re-potting and feeding. My suggestion would be to go ahead and try!!! You might be amazed :-)..

Peter

[Paul Narramore]

As this will grow to 10ft Peter, I guess you have a big conservatory? :-D
I have other semi-hardy plants such as Oleander and a Tree Fern which 'should' be protected if I believe everything I read, however they stay out all winter and off they go again in the spring. One failure was a Banana Tree which I lazily wrapped in bubble wrap instead of the recommended chicken wire and straw. This year it's offspring is clad in fleece and straw. I think I will go for it.....

[Miranda]

I think it might do better in sandy soil as it's probably the winter wet that does for it in the UK. I'd be tempted to mollycoddle it over winter.

Thinking back, I'm sure I had this plant when I was working in Taiwan, though I didn't have a name for it then. The clusters of flowers were slightly waxy looking and had the most incredible perfume. It was the only flowering plant I found that reliably stood up to the rich dark smells from the open drains in the street.

[Paul Narramore]

Well this does seem to be a popular shrub. Ignoring the nurseries elling them for £25 - £30, I contacted two nurseries in my county where I could collect them without paying postage and packing. One had lost their stock plant and had had a lot of difficulty replacing it. Another nursery, selling it for £8.50, had sold so many during the autumn that they were retaining the remainder until the spring. I was also advised NOT to consider them hardy enough for our climate here in the South East, so it sounds like a large pot of ericaceous compost against a south-facing wall, but brought in during the winter.

[floribunda]

Is that generally true of other Jasmine varieties as well? I have one that seems to handle winter quite well...

[Paul Narramore]

No. Summer Jasmine (J. officinale) and Winter Jasmine (J. nudiflorum) are tough as old boots. There are also many other varieties but I'm not sure of the hardiness of these.

[Katz]

Hi everyone! I've just registered because of this thread...

I searched for years to find a Cestrum Nocturnum in England. At last, I found one (on ebay!) about 10 inches tall and "wind-pruned", but alive and sporting two thin stems. (One piece was broken off.) I would not risk putting it back outside, but kept it indoors. As I did not know what compost to use I left it in its transparent plastic bag, made drainage holes, and treated it like my orchids!:o (ie a good soak, and then drain and water again when nearly dry). They will wilt when too dry.

I gave it only spring-water at room temperature. (The broken piece was put in water also.) After a week, I thought I could smell sweet incense one night - just an occasional mysterious waft. In the morning, it was gone, but the next night there it was again, stronger this time, so I hunted for the source of the scent, and to my amazement, there hiding behind a leaf were two perfect little stars! They were barely 4mm across.

This little miracle of a plant continued to produce flowers, for weeks, rested during the very cold spell, and now it is absolutely covered in buds again. The first one is just beginning to open....and I'm really excited! The broken piece, covered in buds, also has a root 5mm long! These treasures are more precious than gems to me! I would not risk any frost at all for small young plants.

The scent is powerful and unique - not like the climbing garden jasmine at all. The flowers are exquisitely marked, tiny "shooting stars", pale apple-white, (creamy/slightly greenish), borne singly, in two's three's or clusters. Well worth taking close-up photos. Utterly delightful!

I understand they need a ph of 6.5, gritty, loamy soil, which drains well.

Regards
Katz

[Katz]

I thought you might like to see this photo of my Cestrum Nocturnum flowers...
Regards
Katz

[Paul Narramore]

Right, that's it then, I shall get one in the New Year :-)

[peterbates]

:Hi...Have just read your last informative post about this Jasmine..Seems like you have it well and truly in hand..I'm still battling with ours..I have re-potted it from the original post it arrived in: given 1 feed of Miracle Grow as advised by the nursery I bought it from: watered it sparingly... AND STILL THE LEAVES CONTINUE TO BROWN AND FALL OFF :-(..WE keep it on a shelf in the conservatory so it has plently of light and it doesnt get too cold or warm at this time of year..I'm rather tempted to put it outside to see how it fares... but I think my wife would kill me if it died completely...So.. Pray tell.. exactly WHAT is the secret of your success ???

Regards Peter B :)

[Katz]

Right, that's it then, I shall get one in the New Year :-)

Hi Paul - Good luck with your plant when you get it!

[Katz]

:Hi...Have just read your last informative post about this Jasmine..Seems like you have it well and truly in hand..I'm still battling with ours..I have re-potted it from the original post it arrived in: given 1 feed of Miracle Grow as advised by the nursery I bought it from: watered it sparingly... AND STILL THE LEAVES CONTINUE TO BROWN AND FALL OFF :-(..WE keep it on a shelf in the conservatory so it has plently of light and it doesnt get too cold or warm at this time of year..I'm rather tempted to put it outside to see how it fares... but I think my wife would kill me if it died completely...So.. Pray tell.. exactly WHAT is the secret of your success ???

Regards Peter B :)

Well I'm keeping everything crossed for my jasmine because I'd hate to lose it! I wish I had a secret to share, but I have little to offer except a hunch!

My hunch is that this plant does not like change, and that being moved from the nursery to one of our homes is a big enough change for it to cope with. Maybe my plant is flowering because I have not added anything different - I have not fed it or potted it up.

Being in flower, it needs more water than most plants in the winter months, so I have given it what it needs. When it gets thirsty, it's leaves begin to droop so I give it spring water. That's all! It is 6 feet from an east-facing window in our cottage so gets less daylight than a conservatory plant.

I intend to pot it up in the early Spring, but not before doing a ph test on the soil it is in, and feeling it to see what type it is. It has been growing as well as
flowering... and the little rooted cutting has also grown while flowering.

Q) Have you inspected your plant's roots for damage/disease/grubs? (There may have been damage BEFORE you bought it, which caused the leaves to fall afterwards.)

If there is none, maybe it is just objecting to change, or possibly it is doing an "autumn" drop if it got autumn conditions (lower light/cooler temperature)! I really wish I could be of more help. If I discover anything more about Cestrum Nocturnum I shall surely share it with you. I do hope your plant recovers.Try bottled spring water...maybe that's the "secret"! I'll try to post another picture or two, so you'll see there's no molly-coddling, but it is indoors.

[Lilipad]

This plant is not a jasmine it is a member of the family Solanaceae and is highly poisonous as are other members such as datura and brugmansia.
It grows widely in Spain and you can buy a four feet plant in the garden centres for 4 euros or near enough 2.50 sterling so it would appear the prices quoted in the UK are over the top.
It is easy to grow in Spain but I am not sure of its chances in a pot. It is usually cut back after flowering as the leaves become discoloured and unattractive. The scent is wonderful.

[Patricia]

Hi,
Ive got a Dames de noche (Cestrum Nocturnum) that I bought in Spain this year and I repotted it when I got home. 10 weeks later and it doesnt look happy and I wonder if it needs ericacious compost. Ive only used rain water on it.
Regards Pat

[Hespie]

Just unpacked my Cestrum Nocturnum, purchased from Jungle Seeds - it's a splendidly healthy plant, around 24 inches tall with several side shoots. I just hope I can keep it that way :o

I've re-potted it into a slightly larger pot, with Wests compost, a sprinkling of slow-release plant food and a drink of seaweed feed (more or less) as advised by the nursery.

It's sitting in the conservatory and I'm sitting watching it with everything crossed!

[Wee Izzy]

Hi everyone, I'm new here:)
I've spent the last five years living in Spain. When I returned to Scotland earlier this year I brought cuttings of Cestrum Nocturnum with me as I just love this plant. The scent is Heavenly. Cuttings root easily in either water or a sand/compost mix, though woody cuttings take a lot longer. The soil in my garden in Spain is heavily alkaline and here it is acidic, and the plant seems happy in either environment. I'm experimenting this year to see if it will survive the mild winters we get in this part of Scotland so have planted two outdoors, am keeping some in the unheated greenhouse and the rest in the house. I have twenty odd rooted cuttings so far. It doesn't seem bothered what water it gets so long as it gets some. In Spain the tap water was very hard and here it is soft, so we will see.

[Hespie]

Thanks Izzy, your post has cheered me :D

So far, my plant seems to be doing okay. It has grown about 6 inches in the two weeks since I received it, so this morning I chopped the top off to encourage the side shoots - I'm plucking up the courage to snip those back a bit too.

Only one yellow leaf so far!

[Wee Izzy]

Hope you planted the top you cut off in another pot. Can't have too many, that's my motto! The young side shoots will root really easily so go ahead and snip them off:)
By the way, if anyone on this forum loses their Cestrum, Dama de Noche, Lady of the Night, call it whatever, I will be happy to send on cuttings either rooted or unrooted, whichever is preferred:)

[Fidgi-Julia]

I have grown these at various homes for years in NZ. They are a 'must have' in my book. I adore them.

Quick screens, beautiful fragrance (stronger at nights); can be straggly in winter (deciduous) but come away again in Spring. Just break or cut off the dead wood as required - it will come away again.

Yes can grow to 10' IF YOU LET THEM. I have some I have allowed to grow that high (for privacy) and others I keep trimmed regularly. I've grown in various soil types ie sandy, clay and good soil (where I am now).

They also self seed so easy to replace if necessary or add to your collection.

Enjoy :-)

ps: I always plant one near my lounge and bedrooms to get the benefit of fragrance at night in summer. Also beautiful in early morning. Well worth it.

[gilbertoshana]

Hi all...I have just purchased this plant on line and it was received in good condition.Regretfully, no care instructions were included. I have looked on the WEB for info but it appears conflicting. Can anyone please advise on the proper care of this plant ; IE watering, feeding, re-potting etc. It is an Xmas gift for my wife and I dont wish to incur her wrath !!!! :-)...It will live in the Conservatory in Winter and hopefuly, outside when it gets warmer.
Thanks in advance to you all.

Peter B
please will u tell from where you bought the CESTRUM NOCTURNUM Queen of the Night and how much is it
thanks
Gilbert

[Spike]

Hi all...Spikes the name, very interested in all your cmments on CESTRUM NOCTURNUM.

gilbertoshana please will u tell from where you bought the CESTRUM NOCTURNUM Queen of the Night and how much is it
thanks
Gilbert I just bought one from Reads Nursery in Lodden Norfolk NR14 6QW It cost £18.90 including postage, arrived within 3 days.

[vikas_agrawal]

Hope you planted the top you cut off in another pot. Can't have too many, that's my motto! The young side shoots will root really easily so go ahead and snip them off:)
By the way, if anyone on this forum loses their Cestrum, Dama de Noche, Lady of the Night, call it whatever, I will be happy to send on cuttings either rooted or unrooted, whichever is preferred:)

Hi Wee Izzy, How do I contact you? Would you be able to send rooted/unrooted cuttings of Cestrum Nocturnum? I live in Hounslow, London.

Thanks & Regards
Vikas Agrawal

[suelees]

Like Spike I've just bought one from Reads Nursery in Norfolk.

The p&p was very expensive making it £18.90 in total :eek: which seems extortionate for what's considered a weed in the countries where it proliferates.

Vikas if I can get a cutting to root I can let you have this for the cost of p&p (and no - not at Read's rates !).

I'm new to the site so I don't know how you can get my email as I don't want to put it here for the world to see - I've already had far too many offers for 'extensions' !!

Sue

[suelees]

Vikas I've just sussed it - if you click on my name you'll get a drop down to send a private email