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:
- Cestrum abeggii Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum aberrans J.F.Macbr.
- Cestrum acuminatum Francey
- Cestrum acutifolium Alain
- Cestrum affine Kunth
- Cestrum alternifolium (L.) O.E.Schulz
- Cestrum amistadense A.K.Monro
- Cestrum anagyris Dunal
- Cestrum angulosum Urb.
- Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl.
- Cestrum auriculatum L’Hér.
- Cestrum azuense Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum bahamense Britton
- Cestrum benthamii Miers
- Cestrum bicolor Urb.
- Cestrum bigibbosum Pittier
- Cestrum bracteatum Link & Otto
- Cestrum brevifolium Urb.
- Cestrum brunneopurpureum Francey
- Cestrum buxifolium Kunth
- Cestrum buxoides Ekman ex Urb.
- Cestrum cahosianum Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum capsulare Carvalho & A.Schnoor
- Cestrum chiangii Mont.-Castro
- Cestrum chiapense Brandegee
- Cestrum chimborazinum Francey
- Cestrum chiriquianum Francey
- Cestrum citrifolium Retz.
- Cestrum cobanense Francey
- Cestrum coelophlebium O.E.Schulz
- Cestrum colombianum Francey
- Cestrum commune C.V.Morton ex Mont.-Castro
- Cestrum confertifolium Francey
- Cestrum conglomeratum Ruiz & Pav.
- Cestrum contrerasianum A.K.Monro
- Cestrum corcovadense Miers
- Cestrum cordatum Schott ex Sendt.
- Cestrum coriaceum Miers
- Cestrum corymbosum Schltdl.
- Cestrum cristinae D.A.Soto
- Cestrum cuneifolium Francey
- Cestrum cuspidatissimum Francey
- Cestrum cuspidatum Sendtn.
- Cestrum daphnoides Griseb.
- Cestrum darcyanum C.BenÃtez de Rojas & Sawyer
- Cestrum darienense A.K.Monro
- Cestrum dasyanthum Donn.Sm.
- Cestrum decurrens Francey
- Cestrum diurnum L.
- Cestrum domingense O.E.Schulz
- Cestrum dumetorum Schltdl.
- Cestrum dunalii Francey
- Cestrum ecuadorense Francey
- Cestrum ehrenbergii Schltdl. ex Dunal
- Cestrum ekmanii Urb. & O.E.Schulz
- Cestrum elegans (Brongn. ex Neumann) Schltdl.
- Cestrum elegantissimum C.V.Morton
- Cestrum endlicheri Miers
- Cestrum endresii Francey
- Cestrum eriochiton Sendtn.
- Cestrum euanthes Schltdl.
- Cestrum evanidum C.V.Morton
- Cestrum falcatum Francey
- Cestrum farinosum Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum fasciculatum (Schltdl.) Miers
- Cestrum ferrugineum A.Rich.
- Cestrum filipes Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum flavescens Greenm.
- Cestrum flavinervium Francey
- Cestrum formosum C.V.Morton
- Cestrum forsythii Dunal
- Cestrum fragile Francey
- Cestrum franceyi C.V.Morton
- Cestrum fraternum C.V.Morton
- Cestrum fulvescens Fernald
- Cestrum galeottianum Francey
- Cestrum gardneri Sendtn.
- Cestrum gilliae A.K.Monro
- Cestrum glabrescens (C.V.Morton) Steyerm. & Maguire
- Cestrum glabrum Francey
- Cestrum glanduliferum Kerber ex Francey
- Cestrum glaucophyllum Francey
- Cestrum glomeratum Schott ex Sendt.
- Cestrum gracile Francey
- Cestrum granadense Francey
- Cestrum grandifolium Francey
- Cestrum guaraniticum Chodat & Hassl.
- Cestrum guatemalense Francey
- Cestrum hartwegii Dunal
- Cestrum hassleri Francey
- Cestrum heterophyllum Urb.
- Cestrum hirtellum Schltdl.
- Cestrum hirtum Sw.
- Cestrum hotteanum Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum humboldtii Francey
- Cestrum humile Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum imbricatum Rusby
- Cestrum inclusum Urb.
- Cestrum intermedium Sendtn.
- Cestrum irazuense Kuntze
- Cestrum jacaltenanginum Loes.
- Cestrum jaramillanum BenÃtez & D’Arcy
- Cestrum jimenezii Alain
- Cestrum johnniegentryanum D’Arcy
- Cestrum killipii Francey
- Cestrum knappiae A.K.Monro
- Cestrum kunthii Francey
- Cestrum laevifolium Francey
- Cestrum laevigatum Schltdl.
- Cestrum lanceolatum Miers
- Cestrum langeanum D’Arcy
- Cestrum latifolium Lam.
- Cestrum laxum Benth.
- Cestrum lehmannii Francey
- Cestrum lentii A.K.Monro
- Cestrum lindenii Dunal
- Cestrum linearifolium Urb.
- Cestrum longiflorum Ruiz & Pav.
- Cestrum lozadae Cruz Durán & S.Valencia
- Cestrum lucidum Francey
- Cestrum luteovirescens Francey
- Cestrum macbridei Francey
- Cestrum macrophyllum Vent.
- Cestrum magnifolium Francey
- Cestrum mancoi J.F.Macbr.
- Cestrum mariquitense Kunth
- Cestrum marmoratum Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum martii Sendtn.
- Cestrum megalophyllum Dunal
- Cestrum memorabile Witasek
- Cestrum mexicanum Francey
- Cestrum micans Francey
- Cestrum microcalyx Francey
- Cestrum milciomejiae Zanoni
- Cestrum miradorense Francey
- Cestrum moaense Borhidi & O.Muñiz
- Cestrum mononeurum Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum moquinianum Dunal
- Cestrum morae Hunz.
- Cestrum morretense Toledo ex Handro
- Cestrum mortonianum J.L.Gentry
- Cestrum mositicum Toledo
- Cestrum mutisii Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.
- Cestrum neblinense D’Arcy
- Cestrum neibensis Alain
- Cestrum nemanthum Dunal
- Cestrum nitidum M.Martens & Galeotti
- Cestrum nocturnum L.
- Cestrum oblongifolium Schltdl.
- Cestrum obovatum Sendtn.
- Cestrum obscurum Francey
- Cestrum ochraceum Francey
- Cestrum olivaceum Francey
- Cestrum osnoense J.F.Macbr.
- Cestrum ovale (Sendtn.) Francey
- Cestrum ovalifolium Francey
- Cestrum ovatolanceolatum Francey
- Cestrum pacificum Brandegee
- Cestrum pallidissimum Francey
- Cestrum palmeri Francey
- Cestrum pariense Steyerm.
- Cestrum parqui (Lam.) L’Hér.
- Cestrum pauciflorum Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.
- Cestrum pedicellatum Sendtn.
- Cestrum pennellii Francey
- Cestrum petiolare Kunth
- Cestrum pinetorum Britton
- Cestrum pitonianum Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum poasanum Donn.Sm.
- Cestrum polyanthum Sendtn.
- Cestrum porphyreum Dunal
- Cestrum potaliifolium Dunal
- Cestrum pseudopedicellatum Francey
- Cestrum psittacinum Stapf
- Cestrum psychotrifolium Schltdl.
- Cestrum pulverulentum Francey
- Cestrum quitense Francey
- Cestrum racemosum Ruiz & Pav.
- Cestrum raimondianum Francey
- Cestrum ramulosum Francey
- Cestrum reflexum Sendtn.
- Cestrum reticulatum Francey
- Cestrum retrofractum Dunal
- Cestrum rigidifolium Francey
- Cestrum rigidum Rusby
- Cestrum roseum Kunth
- Cestrum rugulosum Francey
- Cestrum ruizteranianum BenÃtez & D’Arcy
- Cestrum salicifolium Jacq.
- Cestrum salzmannii Dunal
- Cestrum santanderianum Francey
- Cestrum scandens Vahl
- Cestrum schiedei Francey
- Cestrum schlechtendalii G.Don
- Cestrum schulzianum Francey
- Cestrum sessiliflorum Schott ex Sendt.
- Cestrum skutchii C.V.Morton
- Cestrum sotonunezii Mont.-Castro
- Cestrum sparsiflorum Britton ex Rusby
- Cestrum sphaerocarpum O.E.Schulz
- Cestrum sprucei Francey
- Cestrum strictum Schott ex Sendt.
- Cestrum strigilatum Ruiz & Pav.
- Cestrum stuebelii Hieron. ex Francey
- Cestrum subcordatum Francey
- Cestrum subpulverulentum Mart.
- Cestrum subumbellatum Vig.-Silva & M.Nee
- Cestrum subuniflorum Dunal
- Cestrum taylorii Britton & P.Wilson
- Cestrum tenuifolium Francey
- Cestrum thyrsoideum Kunth
- Cestrum tillettii BenÃtez & D’Arcy
- Cestrum toledii Carvalho & A.Schnoor
- Cestrum tomentosum L.f.
- Cestrum tubulosum Sendtn.
- Cestrum tuerckheimii O.E.Schulz
- Cestrum turquinense Urb.
- Cestrum uhdei Dammer ex Francey
- Cestrum undulatum Ruiz & Pav.
- Cestrum validum Francey
- Cestrum velutinum Hiern
- Cestrum vestitum Hook.
- Cestrum viminale Sendtn.
- Cestrum violaceum Urb.
- Cestrum virgaurea Urb. & Ekman
- Cestrum viride Moric. ex Dunal
- Cestrum viridifolium Francey
- Cestrum weberbaueri Francey
- Cestrum yucatanense Francey
- 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.