PlantFiles: Orange Cestrum, Yellow Shrub Jessamine
Cestrum aurantiacum

My gardener brought me three of these plants for a fence screening here in Nor. Ca. A former Victorian era favorite, they have been unavailable from wholesalers for decades. East Bay Nursery propagated a number of cuttings from a 50-yr-old shrub growing in an old-timer's garden and it is finally available again. A rangy plant, it needs staking and pruning to look its best. Here on the West Coast it is evergreen, vigorous and hardy, and blooms continuously. You are supposed to prune it after it stops flowering. However, I have both the red and orange cestrums--both types in bloom within 6 wks after being planted from 1-gall containers, and they are now in their fourth month of bloom with no end in sight. Flower best with regular water, mulching, nicely self-cleaning (you don't need to deadhead). Need very little care, no pest problems, ultimate height said to be 15'T x 8'W.

Easy to grow (especially when you're given rooted cuttings!) The hummingbirds have really enjoyed these plants this summer; I hope we have a mild enough winter that they come back next year.