Overview

Transform your evenings with the intoxicating aroma of the Night Blooming Jasmine live plant, scientifically known as Cestrum nocturnum. This captivating woody shrub, often grown as a vine, is celebrated for its clusters of small, greenish-white or yellowish flowers that, while unassuming by day, unleash an incredibly potent and sweet fragrance as night falls. Originating from the West Indies, this plant is a favorite among gardeners seeking to add a touch of exotic allure and a sensory experience to their outdoor spaces. The common name, fragrant night jasmine, perfectly encapsulates its most enchanting characteristic, making it a queen of the night in any garden. Whether you’re looking to create a romantic ambiance on your patio or add a unique specimen to your landscape, this plant promises an unforgettable aromatic journey.

The Night Blooming Jasmine live plant is a vigorous grower and can reach impressive heights when given proper support. Its fast growth makes it a rewarding choice for those who enjoy seeing quick results in their gardening efforts. While its powerful scent is its most famous attribute, the plant’s lush green foliage provides an attractive backdrop during the day. It’s a versatile plant that can be trained to climb trellises or allowed to sprawl as a shrub, adapting well to various garden designs. Its unique blooming habit and potent perfume ensure it stands out in any collection of flowering plants.

Key Benefits

The Night Blooming Jasmine live plant offers a multitude of benefits, primarily its unparalleled evening fragrance that enriches any outdoor setting. This plant is not only a delight for the senses but also a robust and relatively easy-to-care-for addition to your garden.

• Intoxicating Evening Fragrance: The primary allure of the Night Blooming Jasmine live plant is its powerful, sweet perfume that fills the air after sunset, creating a magical and romantic atmosphere in your garden or patio. This unique characteristic is why it’s often referred to as the fragrant night jasmine.
• Attractive Foliage: Beyond its flowers, Cestrum nocturnum boasts lush, vibrant green leaves that provide an appealing visual texture to your landscape throughout the day. The healthy foliage contributes to the plant’s overall aesthetic appeal.
• Versatile Growth Habit: This plant can be grown as an upright shrub or trained as a climbing vine, making it adaptable to various garden styles and spaces. It’s perfect for trellises, fences, or as a standalone specimen in a large container.
• Fast Growing: Enjoy rapid growth and quick establishment with this vigorous plant. Its ability to grow quickly means you won’t have to wait long to experience its full beauty and fragrance.
• Container Friendly: The Night Blooming Jasmine live plant thrives in containers, allowing you to move it indoors during colder months or position it strategically to enjoy its evening scent on porches and patios.
• Pollinator Attraction: While its fragrance targets nocturnal pollinators, the flowers can also attract moths and other night-flying insects, contributing to garden biodiversity.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, Cestrum nocturnum is relatively low-maintenance, requiring basic care to flourish and provide years of enjoyment.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Night Blooming Jasmine live plant (Cestrum nocturnum) is straightforward, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. To ensure your plant thrives and produces its famous evening fragrance, pay close attention to its light, water, and soil requirements. This plant prefers warm climates and can be quite resilient when established, though it will appreciate some protection in colder zones. Understanding the specific needs of growing Cestrum nocturnum will help you cultivate a robust and beautifully scented specimen.

For optimal growth, the Night Blooming Jasmine live plant requires plenty of sunlight. It performs best in full sun to part sun conditions, meaning it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. In very hot climates, a little afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent scorching of the leaves. Ensure the soil is consistently moist but well-draining. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, reducing frequency in cooler months. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so good drainage is crucial. A well-draining potting mix for container plants or amending garden soil with organic matter will help achieve this. The plant is hardy in USDA Zones 8b-11, where temperatures generally do not drop below 15-20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C). In colder zones, it can be grown as an annual or brought indoors during winter.

Fertilization is important for vigorous growth and abundant flowering. During the growing season (spring through summer), feed your Night Blooming Jasmine live plant every 2-4 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Pruning can be done after flowering to maintain shape, control size, and encourage bushier growth. Remove any dead or damaged branches. Common problems include spider mites or whiteflies, which can usually be managed with insecticidal soap. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues. By following these guidelines, your Cestrum nocturnum care routine will result in a healthy, fragrant plant.

Size & Details

The Night Blooming Jasmine live plant, Cestrum nocturnum, typically grows as a vine or large shrub, reaching an average mature height of 8 to 10 feet when provided with suitable support. This vigorous growth habit allows it to quickly establish itself and create a significant impact in your garden. When you receive your plant, it will be a baby plant, approximately 3-8 inches tall, shipped in a 3-inch deep pot, ready for you to nurture and grow to maturity. Its rapid growth rate means you can expect to see substantial development within its first growing season, especially with proper care and adequate sunlight.

This plant is ideal for various landscape applications, whether you choose to train it up a trellis, allow it to cascade over a wall, or cultivate it in a large container. Its versatile nature makes it suitable for both garden beds and patio living. The plant’s ability to thrive in USDA Zones 8b-11 means it is well-suited for a range of warm climates. Expect the first fragrant blooms to appear as the plant matures and establishes itself, typically within the first year or two of planting, bringing the enchanting aroma of night blooming flowers to your outdoor evenings.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Night Blooming Jasmine live plant get? A: The Night Blooming Jasmine live plant typically grows as a vine or shrub, reaching an average mature height of 8 to 10 feet. Its size can be managed with regular pruning to suit your garden space.
• Q: What size pot does the plant come in? A: Your Cestrum nocturnum care journey begins with a baby plant, 3-8 inches tall, arriving in a 3-inch deep pot, ready for transplanting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Night Blooming Jasmine live plant is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in warm climates (USDA Zones 8b-11). In colder regions, it can be grown in containers and brought indoors during winter.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This plant prefers full sun to partial sun, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and flowering.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Night Blooming Jasmine live plant is considered relatively easy to care for once established. It requires consistent watering, good drainage, and occasional fertilization.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your plant will arrive as a healthy, young specimen, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey. Some minor leaf stress from shipping is normal.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: With proper care, your Night Blooming Jasmine live plant can begin to produce its fragrant flowers within the first year or two of planting, especially during warm growing seasons.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: It is hardy in USDA Zones 8b-11. In zones colder than 8b, the plant will need protection from frost or should be brought indoors during the winter months to ensure survival.
• Q: Can the scent of the Night Blooming Jasmine be overwhelming? A: The fragrant night jasmine produces a very strong, sweet scent at night. While many find it delightful, some individuals might find it intense, particularly in enclosed spaces.
• Q: What are the best conditions for growing Cestrum nocturnum? A: Optimal conditions include full to partial sun, consistently moist but well-draining soil, and warm temperatures within its hardiness zones. Regular feeding during the growing season also promotes healthy growth.