Night-Blooming Jasmine: How to Grow Cestrum Nocturnum

Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum) is a flowering plant that belongs to the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. Night-blooming jasmine is an evergreen shrub that displays glossy green leaves and tiny white flowers. Native to the West Indies in the Caribbean, night-blooming jasmine grows best in USDA hardiness zones nine through eleven. In these growing zones, night-blooming jasmine attracts various pollinators.

Other common names for this plant include night jasmine, night-blooming jessamine, night-flowering jasmine, lady of the night, and queen of the night. As the name would suggest, the blooms of night-blooming jasmine open at night. That said, the night-blooming jasmine plant is not a true jasmine but a member of the same family as tomatoes and peppers. At maturity, these flowering plants reach eight feet tall and three feet wide. Night-blooming jasmine does well in containers and greenhouses with plenty of sun and warmth. It also makes a good companion plant for beautyberry, plumbago, yucca, lantana, and sweet potato vine.

Follow these general growers’ tips to successfully plant night-blooming jasmine.

1. 1. Choose a sunny location. Find a sunny spot in your backyard, as night-blooming jasmine does best in full sun. Partial shade is fine for night-blooming jasmine, but be sure to expose your plants to at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Night-blooming jasmine emits a strong, sweet fragrance. Many growers place their plants in containers on sunny porches or near windows for this reason.
2. 2. Space your plants appropriately. Provide between four and six feet of space between your night-blooming jasmine plants. Ample space allows the roots to spread out and take hold.
3. 3. Use well-draining soil. Well-draining, sandy soil with an injection of nutrient-dense compost will help your night-blooming jasmine grow.
4. 4. Water your plant regularly at first. These thirsty plants require weekly watering as they take root. Saturate the soil and make sure it stays constantly moist.
5. 5. Monitor the temperature. Ideally, you will plant your night-blooming jasmine in the spring once the threat of frost has passed, but bring your plant inside if there is any threat of frost or extreme cold.

Night-blooming jasmine care involves several strategies for optimal growth.

1. 1. Repotting: If your night-blooming jasmine is in a container, be sure to repot it every two years to prevent root-bound conditions.
2. 2. Watering: Frequent watering is essential for night-blooming jasmine. Water a few times a week, especially as your plants are taking root. Once they become established, you can reduce waterings in the dormant winter months.
3. 3. Fertilizing: Monthly fertilizing is ideal for night-blooming jasmine plants as they take root. As they grow into mature plants, feed your night-blooming jasmine once a year, preferably when the growing season starts in early spring.
4. 4. Temperature: As tropical plants, night-blooming jasmine thrive in mild temperatures with relatively high humidity. Keep your night-blooming jasmine out of extreme temperatures—especially freezing cold.
5. 5. Pruning: Prune your night-blooming jasmine after the flowering season, ideally in September. Proper pruning encourages bushy new growth while also minimizing the risk of the plant becoming invasive.
6. 6. Propagation: Night-blooming jasmine propagates well in moist soil or water. Collect the clippings after pruning your plant and keep them in water until new roots sprout. Then transplant the cuttings to fresh soil.
7. 7. Pests: Aphids and caterpillars are the most common pests to attack night-blooming jasmine. If an infestation occurs, treat your plants with a gentle insecticidal soap or neem solution for pest control.

Night-blooming jasmine is toxic to humans and animals. All parts of the plant are poisonous and may cause gastrointestinal symptoms if ingested. In addition, the sweet fragrance of night-blooming jasmine flowers may cause respiratory problems in some people as well as headaches and nausea.

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