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230 Species in Genus Cestrum

Cestrum | Monsteraholic
September 16 – Cestrum
"Cestrum, the night-blooming jasmine, defines September 16."
Cestrum symbolizes mystery and allure. Your presence is captivating, often leaving people enchanted by your charm. Like its fragrant blooms that come alive at night, you have a way of shining brightest in unexpected moments, bringing beauty and intrigue wherever you go.

The Enchanting World of Cestrum: A Gardener’s Perspective

My name is Ferb Vu, and I’ve always been drawn to the captivating allure of the plant world. Among the myriad of genera that grace our planet, there’s one that holds a special place in my heart: Cestrum. This diverse genus, belonging to the Solanaceae family, boasts a captivating array of flowering shrubs that have enchanted gardeners and botanists alike for centuries.

A Tapestry of Colors and Fragrances

Cestrum, also known as jessamine due to its fragrant flowers, encompasses roughly 230 species. These evergreen shrubs are native to the warm temperate and tropical regions of the Americas, stretching from the southernmost United States down to central Chile. They are renowned for their vibrant, tubular flowers, which bloom in clusters and exude an intoxicating fragrance, especially in the evenings.

The genus showcases a rich tapestry of colors, with blossoms ranging from pure white and delicate yellows to fiery reds and deep purples:

  1. Cestrum abeggii Urb. & Ekman
  2. Cestrum aberrans J.F.Macbr.
  3. Cestrum acuminatum Francey
  4. Cestrum acutifolium Alain
  5. Cestrum affine Kunth
  6. Cestrum alternifolium (L.) O.E.Schulz
  7. Cestrum amistadense A.K.Monro
  8. Cestrum anagyris Dunal
  9. Cestrum angulosum Urb.
  10. Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl. Plant FAQs: Cestrum Aurantiacum – Orange Jessamine
  11. Cestrum auriculatum L’Hér.
  12. Cestrum azuense Urb. & Ekman
  13. Cestrum bahamense Britton
  14. Cestrum benthamii Miers
  15. Cestrum bicolor Urb.
  16. Cestrum bigibbosum Pittier
  17. Cestrum bracteatum Link & Otto
  18. Cestrum brevifolium Urb.
  19. Cestrum brunneopurpureum Francey
  20. Cestrum buxifolium Kunth
  21. Cestrum buxoides Ekman ex Urb.
  22. Cestrum cahosianum Urb. & Ekman
  23. Cestrum capsulare Carvalho & A.Schnoor
  24. Cestrum chiangii Mont.-Castro
  25. Cestrum chiapense Brandegee
  26. Cestrum chimborazinum Francey
  27. Cestrum chiriquianum Francey
  28. Cestrum citrifolium Retz.
  29. Cestrum cobanense Francey
  30. Cestrum coelophlebium O.E.Schulz
  31. Cestrum colombianum Francey
  32. Cestrum commune C.V.Morton ex Mont.-Castro
  33. Cestrum confertifolium Francey
  34. Cestrum conglomeratum Ruiz & Pav.
  35. Cestrum contrerasianum A.K.Monro
  36. Cestrum corcovadense Miers
  37. Cestrum cordatum Schott ex Sendt.
  38. Cestrum coriaceum Miers
  39. Cestrum corymbosum Schltdl.
  40. Cestrum cristinae D.A.Soto
  41. Cestrum cuneifolium Francey
  42. Cestrum cuspidatissimum Francey
  43. Cestrum cuspidatum Sendtn.
  44. Cestrum daphnoides Griseb.
  45. Cestrum darcyanum C.Benítez de Rojas & Sawyer
  46. Cestrum darienense A.K.Monro
  47. Cestrum dasyanthum Donn.Sm.
  48. Cestrum decurrens Francey
  49. Cestrum diurnum L.
  50. Cestrum domingense O.E.Schulz
  51. Cestrum dumetorum Schltdl.
  52. Cestrum dunalii Francey
  53. Cestrum ecuadorense Francey
  54. Cestrum ehrenbergii Schltdl. ex Dunal
  55. Cestrum ekmanii Urb. & O.E.Schulz
  56. Cestrum elegans (Brongn. ex Neumann) Schltdl.
  57. Cestrum elegantissimum C.V.Morton
  58. Cestrum endlicheri Miers
  59. Cestrum endresii Francey
  60. Cestrum eriochiton Sendtn.
  61. Cestrum euanthes Schltdl.
  62. Cestrum evanidum C.V.Morton
  63. Cestrum falcatum Francey
  64. Cestrum farinosum Urb. & Ekman
  65. Cestrum fasciculatum (Schltdl.) Miers
  66. Cestrum ferrugineum A.Rich.
  67. Cestrum filipes Urb. & Ekman
  68. Cestrum flavescens Greenm.
  69. Cestrum flavinervium Francey
  70. Cestrum formosum C.V.Morton
  71. Cestrum forsythii Dunal
  72. Cestrum fragile Francey
  73. Cestrum franceyi C.V.Morton
  74. Cestrum fraternum C.V.Morton
  75. Cestrum fulvescens Fernald
  76. Cestrum galeottianum Francey
  77. Cestrum gardneri Sendtn.
  78. Cestrum gilliae A.K.Monro
  79. Cestrum glabrescens (C.V.Morton) Steyerm. & Maguire
  80. Cestrum glabrum Francey
  81. Cestrum glanduliferum Kerber ex Francey
  82. Cestrum glaucophyllum Francey
  83. Cestrum glomeratum Schott ex Sendt.
  84. Cestrum gracile Francey
  85. Cestrum granadense Francey
  86. Cestrum grandifolium Francey
  87. Cestrum guaraniticum Chodat & Hassl.
  88. Cestrum guatemalense Francey
  89. Cestrum hartwegii Dunal
  90. Cestrum hassleri Francey
  91. Cestrum heterophyllum Urb.
  92. Cestrum hirtellum Schltdl.
  93. Cestrum hirtum Sw.
  94. Cestrum hotteanum Urb. & Ekman
  95. Cestrum humboldtii Francey
  96. Cestrum humile Urb. & Ekman
  97. Cestrum imbricatum Rusby
  98. Cestrum inclusum Urb.
  99. Cestrum intermedium Sendtn.
  100. Cestrum irazuense Kuntze
  101. Cestrum jacaltenanginum Loes.
  102. Cestrum jaramillanum Benítez & D’Arcy
  103. Cestrum jimenezii Alain
  104. Cestrum johnniegentryanum D’Arcy
  105. Cestrum killipii Francey
  106. Cestrum knappiae A.K.Monro
  107. Cestrum kunthii Francey
  108. Cestrum laevifolium Francey
  109. Cestrum laevigatum Schltdl.
  110. Cestrum lanceolatum Miers
  111. Cestrum langeanum D’Arcy
  112. Cestrum latifolium Lam.
  113. Cestrum laxum Benth.
  114. Cestrum lehmannii Francey
  115. Cestrum lentii A.K.Monro
  116. Cestrum lindenii Dunal
  117. Cestrum linearifolium Urb.
  118. Cestrum longiflorum Ruiz & Pav.
  119. Cestrum lozadae Cruz Durán & S.Valencia
  120. Cestrum lucidum Francey
  121. Cestrum luteovirescens Francey
  122. Cestrum macbridei Francey
  123. Cestrum macrophyllum Vent.
  124. Cestrum magnifolium Francey
  125. Cestrum mancoi J.F.Macbr.
  126. Cestrum mariquitense Kunth
  127. Cestrum marmoratum Urb. & Ekman
  128. Cestrum martii Sendtn.
  129. Cestrum megalophyllum Dunal
  130. Cestrum memorabile Witasek
  131. Cestrum mexicanum Francey
  132. Cestrum micans Francey
  133. Cestrum microcalyx Francey
  134. Cestrum milciomejiae Zanoni
  135. Cestrum miradorense Francey
  136. Cestrum moaense Borhidi & O.Muñiz
  137. Cestrum mononeurum Urb. & Ekman
  138. Cestrum moquinianum Dunal
  139. Cestrum morae Hunz.
  140. Cestrum morretense Toledo ex Handro
  141. Cestrum mortonianum J.L.Gentry
  142. Cestrum mositicum Toledo
  143. Cestrum mutisii Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.
  144. Cestrum neblinense D’Arcy
  145. Cestrum neibensis Alain
  146. Cestrum nemanthum Dunal
  147. Cestrum nitidum M.Martens & Galeotti
  148. Cestrum nocturnum L. – Plant FAQs: Cestrum Nocturnum
  149. Cestrum oblongifolium Schltdl.
  150. Cestrum obovatum Sendtn.
  151. Cestrum obscurum Francey
  152. Cestrum ochraceum Francey
  153. Cestrum olivaceum Francey
  154. Cestrum osnoense J.F.Macbr.
  155. Cestrum ovale (Sendtn.) Francey
  156. Cestrum ovalifolium Francey
  157. Cestrum ovatolanceolatum Francey
  158. Cestrum pacificum Brandegee
  159. Cestrum pallidissimum Francey
  160. Cestrum palmeri Francey
  161. Cestrum pariense Steyerm.
  162. Cestrum parqui (Lam.) L’Hér.
  163. Cestrum pauciflorum Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.
  164. Cestrum pedicellatum Sendtn.
  165. Cestrum pennellii Francey
  166. Cestrum petiolare Kunth
  167. Cestrum pinetorum Britton
  168. Cestrum pitonianum Urb. & Ekman
  169. Cestrum poasanum Donn.Sm.
  170. Cestrum polyanthum Sendtn.
  171. Cestrum porphyreum Dunal
  172. Cestrum potaliifolium Dunal
  173. Cestrum pseudopedicellatum Francey
  174. Cestrum psittacinum Stapf
  175. Cestrum psychotrifolium Schltdl.
  176. Cestrum pulverulentum Francey
  177. Cestrum quitense Francey
  178. Cestrum racemosum Ruiz & Pav.
  179. Cestrum raimondianum Francey
  180. Cestrum ramulosum Francey
  181. Cestrum reflexum Sendtn.
  182. Cestrum reticulatum Francey
  183. Cestrum retrofractum Dunal
  184. Cestrum rigidifolium Francey
  185. Cestrum rigidum Rusby
  186. Cestrum roseum Kunth
  187. Cestrum rugulosum Francey
  188. Cestrum ruizteranianum Benítez & D’Arcy
  189. Cestrum salicifolium Jacq.
  190. Cestrum salzmannii Dunal
  191. Cestrum santanderianum Francey
  192. Cestrum scandens Vahl
  193. Cestrum schiedei Francey
  194. Cestrum schlechtendalii G.Don
  195. Cestrum schulzianum Francey
  196. Cestrum sessiliflorum Schott ex Sendt.
  197. Cestrum skutchii C.V.Morton
  198. Cestrum sotonunezii Mont.-Castro
  199. Cestrum sparsiflorum Britton ex Rusby
  200. Cestrum sphaerocarpum O.E.Schulz
  201. Cestrum sprucei Francey
  202. Cestrum strictum Schott ex Sendt.
  203. Cestrum strigilatum Ruiz & Pav.
  204. Cestrum stuebelii Hieron. ex Francey
  205. Cestrum subcordatum Francey
  206. Cestrum subpulverulentum Mart.
  207. Cestrum subumbellatum Vig.-Silva & M.Nee
  208. Cestrum subuniflorum Dunal
  209. Cestrum taylorii Britton & P.Wilson
  210. Cestrum tenuifolium Francey
  211. Cestrum thyrsoideum Kunth
  212. Cestrum tillettii Benítez & D’Arcy
  213. Cestrum toledii Carvalho & A.Schnoor
  214. Cestrum tomentosum L.f.
  215. Cestrum tubulosum Sendtn.
  216. Cestrum tuerckheimii O.E.Schulz
  217. Cestrum turquinense Urb.
  218. Cestrum uhdei Dammer ex Francey
  219. Cestrum undulatum Ruiz & Pav.
  220. Cestrum validum Francey
  221. Cestrum velutinum Hiern
  222. Cestrum vestitum Hook.
  223. Cestrum viminale Sendtn.
  224. Cestrum violaceum Urb.
  225. Cestrum virgaurea Urb. & Ekman
  226. Cestrum viride Moric. ex Dunal
  227. Cestrum viridifolium Francey
  228. Cestrum weberbaueri Francey
  229. Cestrum yucatanense Francey
  230. Cestrum zarucchianum D’Arcy, Brako & Zarucchi

Cultivating Cestrum: A Rewarding Endeavor

Cultivating Cestrum is a relatively straightforward endeavor, making it a popular choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. These resilient shrubs thrive in well-drained soil and prefer a sunny location, although they can tolerate some shade. Regular watering is essential, especially during dry spells, and a balanced fertilizer can promote healthy growth and abundant blooms.

While Cestrum is generally low-maintenance, it’s important to be aware of its potential toxicity. All parts of the plant contain solanine, a toxic alkaloid that can cause gastrointestinal distress and other symptoms if ingested. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep these plants out of reach of children and pets.

The Allure of Cestrum: Beyond its Beauty

Beyond its ornamental value, Cestrum has also played a role in traditional medicine and cultural practices. Some species have been used to treat various ailments, while others have been incorporated into religious ceremonies and folklore. However, it’s important to note that the medicinal use of Cestrum should be approached with caution due to its toxicity.

In the realm of gardening, Cestrum continues to captivate with its diverse range of colors, intoxicating fragrances, and ease of cultivation. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, adding a Cestrum to your collection is sure to enhance your garden with its beauty and charm.

As I continue to explore the fascinating world of Cestrum, I’m constantly amazed by its versatility and resilience. From the nocturnal magic of Cestrum nocturnum to the vibrant hues of Cestrum elegans, each species offers a unique charm that adds to the allure of this captivating genus. As a gardener, I find immense satisfaction in nurturing these plants and witnessing their exquisite blooms, a testament to the wonders of the natural world.

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