Night Blooming Jasmine Live Plant, Cestrum Nocturnum, Set of 2, 5-8 Inch Tall

Overview

Introduce an exquisite sensory experience to your outdoor space with the night blooming jasmine live plant, scientifically known as Cestrum nocturnum. This offering includes a set of two healthy starter plants, each measuring 5-8 inches tall, ready to establish and grow into magnificent, fragrant shrubs. Often referred to as ‘Lady of the Night Jasmine’ or ‘Night-scented Cestrum’, this fast-growing woody shrub is celebrated for its unique ability to release a highly potent and sweet fragrance after dusk. The inconspicuous greenish-white or yellow tubular flowers, though not visually showy, become the star of the evening garden, enchanting anyone within their vicinity. Beyond its intoxicating scent, the night blooming jasmine live plant is a magnet for nocturnal pollinators, including various butterflies and moths, adding dynamic life to your garden.

Native to the West Indies and Central/South America, Cestrum nocturnum thrives in warm, humid conditions. It boasts a long blooming period, repeatedly flowering throughout the summer months, ensuring a continuous display of its signature nighttime aroma. These starter plants provide an excellent foundation for cultivating a privacy hedge, a fragrant border, or a stunning specimen plant near a patio or window where its scent can be fully appreciated. With proper care, these plants will quickly establish, transforming your garden into a nocturnal paradise.

Key Benefits

The night blooming jasmine live plant offers a multitude of benefits that make it a highly desirable addition to any garden. Its unique characteristics provide both aesthetic and ecological value, creating a truly special outdoor environment.

• Intense Nighttime Fragrance: The most notable feature of this plant is its powerful and sweet fragrance that intensifies after sunset, creating an enchanting atmosphere in your garden or near your home. This makes it ideal for evening gatherings or simply enjoying a peaceful night outdoors.
• Attracts Pollinators: The highly fragrant flowers are a significant draw for various nocturnal pollinators, including butterflies and moths, contributing to the biodiversity and health of your garden ecosystem.
• Fast-Growing Shrub:Cestrum nocturnum is known for its vigorous growth habit, allowing it to quickly establish and fill out your desired space, whether for privacy or ornamental purposes.
• Long Blooming Period: Enjoy the captivating scent and beauty of this plant throughout the summer, as it repeatedly produces its unique flowers over an extended season.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Perfect for planting as a standalone specimen, in mixed borders, as a fragrant hedge, or in large containers, providing flexibility in garden design. The lady of the night jasmine can adapt to various roles.
• Low Maintenance Once Established: While requiring specific conditions initially, once rooted, this plant is relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for gardeners of varying experience levels.
• Tropical Appeal: Adds a touch of tropical elegance to your landscape with its lush foliage and unique flowering habit, even in non-tropical climates when properly protected.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your night blooming jasmine live plant is straightforward, especially when you understand its preferences. These plants thrive in conditions that mimic their native tropical environment, so providing adequate sunlight, consistent moisture, and well-draining soil are key to their success. For optimal growth and prolific flowering, choose a location that receives full sun to partial shade. This means at least six hours of direct sunlight per day is ideal, though some afternoon shade can be beneficial in hotter climates to prevent leaf scorch.

When it comes to soil, the night scented cestrum prefers fertile, organically rich, and exceptionally well-draining soil. Good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot, as these are moisture-loving plants but do not appreciate sitting in soggy conditions. Amend heavy clay soils with compost or other organic matter to improve drainage and fertility. Consistent watering is vital; keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. During hot, dry periods, you may need to water daily. Reduce watering slightly in cooler months. These plants also appreciate high humidity, so consider misting the foliage if grown in a very dry environment or indoors.

The cestrum nocturnum care routine also includes regular fertilization during the growing season. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks from spring through late summer to support its rapid growth and abundant blooms. Pruning can be done after flowering to maintain shape, control size, and encourage bushier growth. In USDA zones where it is not hardy, it can be grown as an annual or overwintered indoors. Protect from frost, as it is sensitive to cold temperatures. Inspect regularly for common pests like aphids or whiteflies and treat as needed with organic insecticidal soap.

Size & Details

This offering includes two individual night blooming jasmine live plant starter plants. Each plant measures approximately 5-8 inches in height upon arrival, providing a good foundation for establishing in your garden or container. These are young, vigorous plants that, with proper care, will quickly grow into mature shrubs. Cestrum nocturnum is known for its fast growth rate and can reach heights of 8-12 feet and a spread of 3-6 feet in ideal conditions, though it can be kept smaller with regular pruning. The plants will be shipped without pots, with their root systems carefully protected to ensure a smooth transition to your garden.

The long bloom period typically extends throughout the summer and into early fall, with flowers repeatedly appearing. While the individual flowers are small, their collective fragrance is truly remarkable. Expect these plants to establish well within their first growing season and begin producing their signature night-scented blooms as they mature. The mature foliage is a vibrant green, providing an attractive backdrop even when not in bloom. This set offers a fantastic opportunity to create a stunning and aromatic feature in your landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The night blooming jasmine live plant is a fast-growing shrub that can typically reach 8-12 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide when mature in optimal conditions. Its size can be managed with regular pruning.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While primarily an outdoor plant in warmer climates (USDA zones 9-11), it can be grown in containers and brought indoors during winter in colder regions. It thrives outdoors in full sun to partial shade.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This plant requires at least six hours of direct sunlight per day for best flowering. It can tolerate partial shade, especially in very hot climates, but will produce fewer blooms.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: You will receive two healthy starter plants, each 5-8 inches tall. They will be shipped without pots, with their root systems carefully packaged to ensure freshness and minimize stress during transit.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Once established, the cestrum nocturnum care is relatively easy. It requires consistent moisture, good drainage, and protection from frost. Beginners can successfully grow this plant with attention to its basic needs.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: With proper care, your starter plants should establish quickly and may begin to produce their fragrant blooms during their first growing season, typically in summer. Flowering will increase as the plant matures.
• Q: What’s the best time to plant this night blooming jasmine live plant? A: The best time to plant is in spring or early summer after the last threat of frost has passed, allowing the plant ample time to establish before cooler weather.
• Q: Is the ‘Lady of the Night Jasmine’ drought-tolerant? A: No, the lady of the night jasmine is not drought-tolerant. It prefers consistently moist soil and will show signs of stress if allowed to dry out completely. Regular watering is essential.
• Q: What kind of soil is best for the night scented cestrum? A: It thrives in fertile, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Avoid heavy, compacted soils that retain too much water, as this can lead to root issues.
• Q: Can I grow this plant in a pot? A: Yes, the night scented cestrum grows well in large containers, which is an excellent option for gardeners in colder zones who wish to move the plant indoors during winter. Ensure the pot has good drainage.