Cestrum Species, Night Blooming Jasmine, Night Scented Jessamine, Queen of the Night

On Sep 4, 2017, GrandmaBlack from Elizabethtown, PA wrote:

I am growing one for the first time in Pennsylvania USA zone 6b. I found it at my local farmers market. It smells wonderful!

On Aug 29, 2016, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote:

This species is a large, coarse, rangy, and rather dowdy looking woody shrub. It does not twine or climb. It is not related to the true jasmines, though to some the scent is similar.

This shrub is grown for the nocturnal scent of its flowers and not for their appearance. The flowers are not showy, and the scent can travel long distances on the air---many find it overwhelming close up. (Also, some find the scent highly disagreeable, like burning rubber etc.) Place it where its fragrance can be appreciated in the evening, but not in a visually prominent spot.

Under favorable conditions, this shrub can rebloom every six weeks for much of the year.

It responds well to occasional hard pruning.

This is widely naturalized in tropical cl... read moreimates and in some places is considered invasive. The white fruits are eaten and the seeds dispersed by birds. It can form impenetrable thickets in some woodlands, especially on the islands of the south Pacific, including Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand. It has also naturalized in India, China, and Japan. Its sale has been banned in parts of Australia. http://issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=851&fr=1&sts...

On Jul 13, 2016, Maria_Valdes from Tampa, FL wrote:

I love my Jasmine plant. It is in bloom most of the time. My plant is in the back yard, and the perfume is all over my front yard too, it is great.
I came here looking for information on how to grow more plants from it. I have not really noticed seeds on it. Where would I find the seeds?
I also want to bring to your attention that this plant grows in Tampa Florida.
It is not on the list provided. Maybe somebody from Dave's Garden can add it to the list.

Thanks

On Aug 17, 2015, esanita from Tyaskin, MD (Zone 7a) wrote:

I live in zone 7a, so Cestrum nocturnum is a house plant for me. I have bought several from different places over the years and found that the fragrance is stronger on some plants and much milder on others. So it depends on the particular plant you get. This is a shrub, not a vine. To propagate it, just cut off a stem, remove lower leaves, and stick it in water till roots form -- it doesn't take very long. It does need hard pruning if grown as a house plant. I love the fragrance.

On Aug 12, 2015, mattkjackson from Seattle, WA wrote:

This plant is vigorous and fast-growing for me. I planted a cutting in a container during the spring, and it has already grown large enough that I have pruned it back several times to avoid it growing lanky (it's mid-August as I write this.) We are experiencing an unusual dry, hot summer for the Seattle area, and Cestrum nocturnum is tolerating it well, though cannot handle the full sunlight of days over 85 degrees without wilting significantly. Heavy watering helps the plant recover over the cooler evenings, though it seems to tolerate being dry several days in a row just fine, perking back up once I water it. I think the heat is the catalyst that triggered it to explode into bloom for the first time this week. And since that has started, I no longer have positive thoughts on this plant. ... read moreThe flowers are dreadfully scented, and I cannot stand having the plant within smelling-range. It is a massive disappointment, as I love scented plants and grow gardenias, jasmine, and trachelospermum, and often keep a bowl of cut casablanca or stargazer lilies in my apartment for their sweet scent. Many rave about night-blooming jasmine and its fragrance, but I will take a hard pass. Obviously, fragrance and people's reaction to it are entirely subjective, but as far as I am concerned, this plant is wretched and foul, and does not belong in my garden, and especially not my apartment. I'm replacing it with another gardenia, I expect. It is no substitute for any true jasmine.

On Nov 24, 2014, gdnally from Fort Myers, FL wrote:

I have 4 Night Blooming Jasmine and I love the fragrance, however I am having a problem with two of the plants and was hoping someone could help me. Two of the plants bloom and thrive very well but two are struggling and have yet to bloom. I have had all 4 for several years and they were all planted at the same time. At first only one plant bloomed, then another, but two of the plants have not. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you

On Jul 1, 2014, Phytowarrior from Brisbane,
Australia wrote:

I remember growing up by the ocean in Sydney (Australia) that during the summer months whilst doing my homework late at night I would be intoxicated by a scent that could only be described as summer permeating the second story window yet during the day could never see any flowers which produced the scent.

It wasn't until almost a decade later that I learnt this heavenly scent was from the night flowering Cestrum nocturnum.

10 years after first discovering this plant the time came to plant out the garden & restore defined green borders and privacy from the neighbours - I decided what could be a better buffer along one of the fence lines than Lady Of The Night!

I loved that within 1 year of planting 1 ft high specimens did we have 5ft high plan... read morets - within 2 years they were 8ft high - all i did was heavily water them when new - nothing else.

They are beautiful informal bushy plants that are great alone or planted in a row to form a green privacy border/informal hedge.

1metre apart is optimal spacing - simply trim after flowering once a year - that's all you need to do - they will do the rest.

On Aug 29, 2013, Rita61 from Rock Hill, SC (Zone 8a) wrote:

I love my Night Blooming Jasmine. I keep it outside during the Spring and Summer and bring it on my enclosed porch in the Fall. It blooms all through the Winter and my porch smells heavenly. I live in South Carolina and have no problems with it at all.

On May 12, 2013, premanand from Bhubaneswar,
India wrote:

The Night-Queen or Raat ki Rani (as known in INDIA) is a very good sceneted plant. Here at India this plant don't need any extra care as it will grow in full sunlight or even in shadow. But due to its strong scent you should plant it a little distance from your window as it is just like heavenly feeling if you get the light smell. Remember to cut the over grown parts regularly as the new branches will flower soon.

On Jun 11, 2012, TheMTChelle from Cocoa, FL wrote:

I bought what I believe to be Night Blooming Jasmine (it was labeled such at Walmart) last fall. It is growing rapidly, the vines wrapping and twining around a trellis I purchased just for the plant. It grows and grows, but no blooms! It's now June. Can anyone advise how long it takes for this plant to bloom? Also, why would some people report blooms with no smell? Are some plants cheap and poorly cultivated or something, depending on where you buy them? Any and all advice welcome! :)

On Jun 11, 2011, susankewn from Marco de Canaveses,
Portugal (Zone 9a) wrote:

After reading this page last year, I decided I would try to find a plant - I love fragrance! After much hunting I found a really nice sized one - about 2 feet tall - by accident in a very small nursery.

I placed in on our balcony and was rewarded by it's strong 'bubblegum' like smell! It is a pleasant smell and I was looking forward to seeing an even bigger plant this year. Unfortunately, our winter was much colder than normal - we went down to -7˚ C which is pretty unheard of here in northern Portugal. And to my regret it was very dead this spring.

My husband and I were visiting the UK and family for a month, and we set up the automatic watering system and had not removed this plant from the system. We arrived back to find .... 'a weed' growing... read more in the pot, which I was just going to throw out .. A day or two later, I was talking to my husband, looking through the window onto the balcony .. and ..saw ... a long stalk with many leaves.. and then noticed a few smaller ones! I rushed out in midsentence to discover that once I had pulled out the grass seedlings THERE was my Night Scented Jasmine !!! Talk about hardy !! I was amazed! I am keeping my eye on it and am going to repot it shortly! Fingers crossed everyone !!

On May 11, 2011, SkeptikSharon from Ontario, CA (Zone 8b) wrote:

My neighbor has a large specimen of this plant growing right next to the fence line (chain link fence). It definitely grows thick and requires pruning. I have never once noticed a smell to the night blooming jasmine, and now I am curious about what it is supposed to smell like and why this one wouldn't really smell. I do love the beautiful little flowers on it, whether they last long or not. I am going to try to grow one from cuttings from this one to fill in a corner of my backyard that is in need of something.

On Nov 26, 2010, deepseas72 from Houma, LA (Zone 9a) wrote:

Can anything be more heavenly than the scent of Night Blooming Jasmine on a sultry summer night? It makes one pause and search eagerly for the source. Hummingbird moths adore it. To view the plant in the light of day, you would never suspect it of greatness. It is utterly ordinary and unremarkable in appearance, but if you have a spare corner in the yard, you will never regret planting it. The sweet memories associated with it's scent will stay with you for a lifetime.

On Oct 28, 2010, beachwalker520 from New Smyrna Beach, FL wrote:

When my husband and I honeymooned in Bermuda almost 40 years ago, I took away with me the memory of the night blooming jasmine, along with a bottle of the perfume. Seeing the plant at a local nursery I thought it would add a scent which was lacking in our back yard. I placed it right off the sliders of our bedroom so it could perfume that wing of the house. It has bloomed and grown nicely, but no scent. If it doesn't provide some after growing another year I will probably relocate it somewhere else.

On Oct 25, 2010, LeslieT from Bellaire, TX wrote:

I loved the smell of this plant (would NEVER plant it too close to a house). However, despite having bought at least two, if not three, labeled specimens of this plant from reputable nurseries, I never ONCE got one that had any fragrance at all! What I got were lanky, unattractive climbing shrubs with ZERO smell at night.

As for the so-called, good-smelling Confederate Jasmine, I find it nauseating (and my neighbor has a fence full of the nasty stuff), weedy and a total pest. I HATE it. I dread every spring, but at least it doesn't bloom for long. But, I have to pay people to keep it OUT of my yard.
Leslie

On Jun 4, 2010, cwstang from Sioux Falls, SD wrote:

I purchased 2 Night Jasmines from a grower in LA. They arrived in great shape. Several weeks later, I looked closely and noted a small web. Looking closer, there were VERY small dots on the leaves. Then I noticed they moved. Assuming SUPER small spider mites, I went to a local plant store and purchased a product specific for killing spider mites. After spraying the plants, I'm not sure how well it worked. Is there a good test besides a magifying glass? I've read on the internet they're hard to get rid of. Do you recommend repeated applications of the spray and if so, how often?

I intend to keep my plants indoors, as we live in SD. They appear to be growing OK, but I'm concerned that that'll need more sun as they grow. I have them next to the morning window where t... read morehey get approximately 2-4 hours of "summer" sunlight. It was time to move them to a larger pot, so I purchased plastic pots with drains holes, and new potting soil that retains the water longer. As I was removing the 2nd plant from it's old pot, the top new growth snapped off. I plugged it into the dirt hoping it will survive until I can get an answer to this problem. Will it survive if I do nothing but water it? Will I need to purchase a rooting product? Am I wasting my time, as this was about a 3" top?

As for watering. The lower leaves tend to yellow and fall off. Is this normal? I don't feel I've overwatered yet I believe yellow leaves are a sign of too much water. So now I wait for the leaves to droop before watering. Anyone have a suggestion on this topic?

I am using a basic liquid house plant Miracle Grow product, but I'm concerned as to whether this is the best product for this plant. Any specific products you can recommend?

How long or better yet, what does it take for my plant to flower? It's only about a foot tall at the moment. Is it a matter of size, season, feeding, light? I'm anxious to get that great smell I had when I had them while living in FL.

I'm sorry for not having read through all the postings, as I'm sure some if not all these issues have been brought up before. Your help on my newbie green thumb will be greatly appreciated.

I believe my experience with this plant has been detailed. My experience with them is zero, so I'm learning the hard way. Trial and error.

On Oct 31, 2009, AuraRatihWidya from Bogor,
Indonesia wrote:

Halo, it's Very glad to be a part of here, I'm a woman, love an art, love anythings, love cute animals or others, painting, ceramic maker, landscaper, gardener and farmer too, who planted this Jasmine Blooming Night, all over again...I loved the smell very well, I really really love it...I always waiting when my lovely plant become having full flower... I have 4 big three, and many little others....It's proudly if I having friends or new guest like usually come to my garden house than asking what perfumed that I used ??...from the car park until the bath room smell lovely......but remember, I always Thank to God who created this lovely plant for our lovely memories....and thank you for 'Dave' gardens...you are lovely too....

On Jun 8, 2009, sotxmariachi from San Antonio, TX wrote:

Just love this plant, the fragrance is beyond heavenly. I bought mine 3 years ago at a local nursery and every year it seems to bloom more and more. It blooms 3 to 4 times during the year. I have noticed it does love lots of water, and our hot Texas summer doesn't seem to bother it as long as it watered daily. I have mine in a 14 inch plastic pot. Also it has survived so far our San Antonio winters, it does lose it leaves but has always bounces back quite well once it starts to warm up, which around here is March.

On Apr 20, 2009, MacFL from Longboat Key, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

First off, I LOVE the scent of Night Blooming Jasmine. I have ever since I lived in southern CA, where there were very popular.

I am now living in Longboat Key, FL and have recently purchased a NBJ from a very reputable, online nursery for my garden. It arrived in PERFECT condition. Since its arrival, I have had the hardest time acclimating this plant to being outside. I initially tried to immediately plant the 2 foot plant into my indigenous soil but it did not tolerate the full sun or perhaps heat, (although it's not that hot here yet), and within 24 hours, I had to uproot it and plant it into a container and bring it indoors. It nearly died.

I resurrected this plant by bringing it indoors and placing it under a 150W CFL Ecobulb, which it loves! I keep my i... read morendoors at 75-78 degrees. I give this plant about 8 to 10 hours of the ecobulb everyday, and it does well under it! If I take it out onto my fully shaded porch, it starts to wilt within an hour! Today was my most recent attempt. I placed it out into full shade, with the following conditions: Temp 80 degrees F, Winds S @ 5 mph, and 66% humidity. Within an hour it was starting to wilt and trying to die again.

All the best!

Mac
Longboat Key, FL
Zone 9b

On Dec 17, 2008, leeflea51 from Golden, MS (Zone 7a) wrote:

I have planted C. nocturnum for 6 consecutive years now. They are planted in a 24x24" container and I place it on the deck with a NE exposure. I feed it once every 2 week with bloom boosting plant food. If chlorosis occurs, I add an iron supplement. Of course, in my zone (7a) it is not root hardy so I must order each spring. I cut it back after each flowering cycle and can get 3 flushes of blooms before frost.
The scent to me is wonderful and I don't find it overpowering at all.
Of course, since all parts are toxic, I'd avoid planting it where children and pets have access to it. Lee

On Oct 2, 2008, robcorreia from San Diego, CA (Zone 10b) wrote:

I absolutely love this plant. It's a must for any moon garden, and the fragrance wafts in the air at night.
I have it in a sheltered warm spot, against a north facing fence, and it gets reflected heat from a brick pathway.
I doesn't like to go dry and it loves acid fertilizer (as use camellia/azalea fertilizer).

On Aug 5, 2008, dootgrrl from Crockett, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:

As opposed to popular belief, this plant is NOT deer resistant. I know a deer will eat anything if it's hungry enough. But they still chose to strip my 3 NBJ's down to the main stem instead of other plants in the yard that were supposedly "deer candy." They were 3' tall...not exactly young twigs.

On Jul 18, 2008, xaia from Kitchener,
Canada wrote:

I purchased 2 small plugs of Night Blooming Jessamine in March of this year. After 5 months (2 of which were spent indoors) it is over a foot tall and growing like crazy! The main stem is getting 'woodier' and it's starting to send out many side shoots from the bottom! It hasn't even bloomed yet and I'm absolutely enthralled by it! I'll post pictures!!

Updated July 25, 2010:

I successfully overwintered my Cestrum nocturnum in my spare bedroom under grow lights in front of a North facing window this past winter. I had started off with 3 small cuttings in a 10" pot in the summer of '09. The lights I used were a 65W Sylvania Spot-Gro bulb and a 65W compact fluorescent bulb, interchangeably and on a timer. I had placed my plant on a pebble tray and had a humidif... read moreier going constantly, keeping the ambient humidity between 50-70%. I realized from past attempts at growing the "Queen of the Night" that the plant benefits greatly from staying relatively moist, only drying out slightly in between waterings, which was done once a week. I had allowed previous plants to go 'bone dry' as many texts that I had read recommended doing, only to end up losing the plant altogether. Figuring the nursery from which I bought my small cuttings from was an hour and a half away, I challenged myself to learn how to grow the plant successfully to save driving out there for replacements all the time! Anyway, due to the fact that the plant's growth had slowed down significantly in the shorter winter days and that it had dropped the bulk of its leaves (which is normal from what I read), I would fertilize it every second watering or once every 2 weeks with fish emulsion fertilizer (5-1-1) just to supply it with some micronutrients. I also experimented with 10-15-10 fertilizer which gave the plant a boost to send out new root growth and a little extra foliar growth. I had to maintain the plants size however. It would send out 3 foot canes in search of stronger levels of light, all laden with large, rather thin leaves. The plant handled the occassional pruning with ease (got lots of cuttings out of it!) and to balance its shape I'd turn it daily so that it wouldn't stretch towards the window. By late winter I had switched to using 30-10-10 fertilizer to encourage strong foliar growth for the upcoming spring season. My plant was very much alive, just quite large and airy. I cared for it diligently until the beginning of June when I decided that it would make the trip outside. By now the temperatures outdoors were just getting into the high teens. I've recently repotted it into a larger container and to date my plant has filled out gorgeously! Every node where a leaf had sadly fallen in the winter is a side shoot smothered in thick, succulent leaves well adapted to the full sun location it is in on my deck! Asides from watering it daily, it gets periodic rainfall, and when it isn't raining the humidity is quite high (tonight being 100%). I fertilized it once a week with 5-15-5 liquid transplanter (15mL to 1 litre of water) to stimulate good root formation, and now that the day length is slowly growing shorter, I am also incorporating a little 10-54-10 bloom builder weekly to stimulate blooming. I find that insect pests are hardly an issue, any fungus gnats were taken care of with glue traps in the winter, and the only other thing I've used on it is Neem oil. It may sound like a delicate and demanding plant, but in fact it is very tough and extremely forgiving in nature! I will always want to have one growing near by! All the work for the love of that delicious scent is well worth it!!

Updated August 17, 2010:

My Night Blooming Jessamine is in full bloom! It's many little 'stars' are out, petals reflexed, with waves of fragrance permeating the air in my backyard!! How I would love to bottle the scent!!!

Updated September 3, 2010:

I remember there being hummingbird moths visiting my Night Blooming Jessamine at night, now I have little green berries developing all over the plant which will hopefully mature to white and be filled with seeds!

Updated September 12, 2012:

Wow, what more can I say.. the Night Blooming Jessamine has put on the most spectacular display of blooms this year, it is just smothered! It is even blooming an inch above the soil line from the many small side shoots coming off the older wood! It has all the good stuff on the go at the moment, flowers, new growth, and berries even. I did prune it hard after its first big flush of bloom this summer, taking off 1/3 of the growth all over. Because I live in Canada, it will sadly be containerized for the rest of its years, moving in and out from winter to summer, but even so it is my pride and joy and worth every effort! It looks amazing in its urn and had reached 4 feet tall by 5 feet wide before I got the pruners out! It is stunning and still has a handsome shape even after a good trim.The hard prune really made it perform, the more axillary branches you get, the more flowers. So if you are shy with the pruning, don't be! As an aside: I had started the Day Blooming Jessamine (Cestrum diurnum) from seed in February of this year.. 8 months later that too has bloomed at the same time as the Night Blooming Jessamine and I have cross-pollinated the two in hopes of acquiring the hybrid 'Orange Peel', which is the orange-blooming child of the two white-flowering parents! Cestrums are awesome plants, with 3 species so far in my collection, several pot fulls of cuttings that make wonderful gifts, I am still very much in love with the genus! I have plans on getting some of the more colourful Cestrums soon, but certainly nothing could possibly out do the fine, rich cacao fragrance from diurnum during the day, and sweet, euphoric incense from nocturnum at night! Who needs air freshener when you own a Cestrum, really?!

On Apr 28, 2008, ejanelli from San Francisco, CA wrote:

I'm sorry to be a pedant in this regard, but I've been a gardener for over 60 years, and it's only recently that I have ever heard this plant referred to as night-blooming JASMINE. In the past it was always JESSAMINE, which may, in itself be a corruption of the word jasmine. The reason this troubles me is that the more we simplify and use the same word for more and more plants, the less information we convey. For example, there are four totally different plants, different genera in fact, that are referred to as "flowering orange" in my area ( S.F. Bay). What confusion!

On Feb 29, 2008, GAtwood from Katy, TX wrote:

I don't have one of these now (want one!), but there was one in the backyard at my former residence. One night I was walking and as I turned on my block this wonderful fragrance just hit me.

I was 4 houses away and it got stronger as I got near my house. Then I realized it was my Night Blooming Jasmine I was smelling halfway down the block!!

Yes, it is very strong! Nothing like walking out on a warm night and experiencing the heady smell of jasmine.

On Jan 26, 2008, Spectra from Chico, CA wrote:

If heaven has a scent, it has to be night blooming jasmine!

I first smelled this beautiful fragrance in Corona Del Mar many years ago. I was walking to the beach one evening with some friends and we were all amazed that the entire town smelled like this flower. When I moved to Northern Calif. I had to take one with me. I've started dozens of new plants for family and friends from cuttings. I have to water deeply everyday in the summer or it wilts and the blossoms fall off. Once every week to ten days in the winter is sufficient. I almost lost it one year to aphids. My gardner gave it a shot of rose food and Safer Soap and it came back heathier than ever. I feed it once a month in the blooming season.

When I'm out-of-town during the warm months I make my chil... read moredren swear that they'll water everyday. They joke that I love my jasmine more than I love them.

On Sep 24, 2007, vossner from East Texas,
United States (Zone 8a) wrote:

I love the strong frag of this plant but I can see where overexposure to this scent might give some a headache. Easy to root. Mine are thirsty plants, if you ignore they get yellow and limp quickly. best to plant near water source or in moist area of garden

UPDATE: Oct 2013. I continue to like this plant but after a few years I am glad I didn't plant too close to the house. These days, I can see where the frag would be absolutely nauseating if too close. DH cannot stand it, he says it smells like urine and I can see when somebody might pick up on that strain of scent. Planted from a distance, the aroma is subtle and sweet and tolerable.

On Aug 26, 2007, tarantella from Durham, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:

I purchased two of these plants this past spring from a nursery in Lafayette, LA. They are planted in containers on my deck following the suggested size pots. They have reached about three feet and shown no blooms. I was so looking forward to having this plant and am puzzled by the lack of bloom. The enclosed directions said to let them dry out before watering which I have done. They look healthy enough, just no blooms. It is a puzzle, would appreciate any suggestions.

On Jul 21, 2007, gregrice from Altamonte Springs, FL wrote:

I have had night blooming jasmines for years. I live in Central FLorida and have had no problem growing the NBJ. My only problem is finding a place big enough for the plant. The one I currently have is about 12' X 12'. I used to have it in my courtyard, but it outgrew that area. So I moved it to the backyard. I didn't like being transplanted and didn't put out many blooms that summer, but the next year, it was growing like a weed.
I have never heard that it attracts snakes. Where I live there are plenty of snakes, but I don't see any more or less than normal.
Right now, July 2007, it is blooming and puts out a fragrance that can be smelled throughtout the neighborhood at night. The fragrance is only over powering if you get near the plant.

On May 7, 2007, zville123 from Zanesville, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:

This is my first year trying this plant (as a potted plant, of course). Since I love fragrant plants, I'm looking forward to experiencing the aroma of this plant this summer. I have limited space to over-winter plants...with limited sun light.

The fragrance is wonderful. Best enjoyed outside. Even a small cutting was overpowering in the house. Even got my husband's attention. He's asked that we get more for 2008 since we didn't overwinter ours.

On Mar 29, 2007, amichael from Cortlandt Manor, NY wrote:

I heard jasmine -- queen of night -- are known to attract snakes. I was wondering is someone else has heard this as well?

On Jan 3, 2007, jonathanm from Los Angeles, CA wrote:

I am confused as to when I can expect to see flowers on our Star Jasmines.
We bought a several huge ones to plant outside and cover some wooden fences.
They arrived in June/July (with a few flowers on them), and now it is January, and we have yet to see any new flowers.
Is this typical?
I am in Los Angeles, btw.
Thanks

On Oct 24, 2006, jasminetom from Ocala, FL wrote:

I live in Ocala, Florida and I have had great luck with the night blooming jasmine. It is a year old. It bloomed five times from spring to end of October. I cut it back and it let loose with literally thousands of blossoms coating every stalk and making a fantastic scent in the whole neighborhood! The regenerated leaves bushed out fast and the whole thing has been a great joy!
Then these black moths would come at night and take the pollen for about an hour. At first I thought they were hummingbirds, with fast wings and moving that way. Then I found one sleeping and it was a moth.

On Aug 29, 2006, glfields from Saint Paul, MN wrote:

I have wintered over a one year plant indoors in St. Paul (Zone 4b) and planted cuttings (rooting compound was necessary) to get enough plants to really get the scent in my yard. Fragrant flowering did not occur until early August. The indoor plant flowered once in January for a fragrant (and maybe overwhelming) surprise.

On Aug 14, 2005, grikdog from St. Paul, MN (Zone 4a) wrote:

I can only grow this as a house plant but it grows well indoors. After a couple of years you have a house shrub. The flowers are unbelievably fragrant at night. In the morning it isn't as pleasant - I think I read somewhere that in Somalia it is called Lady of the Night because as much as you enjoy the fragrance in the evening it is too much to face in the morning. Afterwards the plant has small attractive white berries.

It grows easily from cuttings and from seed. It blooms while quite small.

This is one of my favorite plants and if you put it outdoors the hummingbird moths cannot resist it.

On Jan 30, 2005, innyanga from Perth,
Australia wrote:

We live in Perth, Western Australia (where it's now mid summer). We enjoy a Mediterranean climate. Our Night Blooming Jasmine is at least 10 years old. When we moved in 9 years ago we almost pulled it out, as we brushed past it on our way into the shed and hated the smell of the leaves! (Do others relate to this?) So glad we didn't. Now it is about 15 feet tall, and we look forward to the gorgeous fragrance each summer. The only problem is that it's now quite straggly. How severely can it be pruned?

On Sep 1, 2004, KDePetrillo from North Scituate, RI (Zone 6a) wrote:

I grow this in a cool greenhouse in Zone 5/6 -- the scent is HEAVENLY!! Nothing like it!

On Jul 27, 2004, thebigsee from Canoga Park, CA wrote:

In my humble opinion this is the worst plant I've ever put in my garden! I live in L.A. and planted it against an east-facing wall to hide the wall and provide its famous scent in the evening. The plants grew quickly and one even survived a messy transplant with little dieback. But despite the fact that they get good sun and nice shade in the afternoon, and despite following a garden expert's advice on feeding and watering, the plants are generally yellowy and weak-looking, not the lush shrub I was hoping for. Then, the famous scent came -- and did it ever! I love the scent of jasmine but this plant was far from the delicate feminine fragrance I've known from star jasmine and trachleospermum -- it was an in-your-face, overpowering, cheap body lotion sort of experience. Then, worst of... read more all, the plants became infested with this awful gnats that swarm with the slightest provocation. So these shrubs are being pulled-out this weekend and I tell you, I won't miss them!

On Jun 24, 2004, dacoolv from Vermillion, SD wrote:

My night blooming jasmine is now 2 years old and is growing in southern-most South Dakota. I do overwinter it inside a sunny-south facing porch-enclosure during the coldest winter months. However, it is outside most of the year. Several times I have forgotten it outside and it has survived snow, ice, and other freezing weather. When it is growing inside, it can get spindly, however, if you pinch out the branches as soon as it turns nice out, it will come back in no time. It LOVES fish emulsion fertilizer which gives the leaves a dark-green color and silky sheen. People always stop and ask me what it is : ) If you keep them trimmed back, the frangrance isn't so overpowering--its a good way to control the smell at a level that you like.

On May 12, 2004, Habakkuk from Orlando, FL wrote:

I started my plant from a clipping rooted in a cup of water. It barely developed root buds in the water, but as soon as I stuck it in potting soil it took off.

I've had some problem with aphids and the tiny ants that have a symbiotic relationship with them. I cut back the damaged portions and treated the plant with Safer Soap, but had to repeat the treatment later in the season. It froze to the ground (I'm in Orlando, Florida) a couple of seasons ago, but it's come back strong, about 3 feet in diameter at it's largest.

It blooms its little brains out. You can smell it all over the back yard. I have a pretty sensitive case of hay fever, but the night blooming jasmine must not be on my allergin list - it's never bothered my nose/lungs. I occasionally w... read moreater it and every once in a great while give it a shot of Peter's Plant food.

On May 1, 2004, MotherRose wrote:

I loved this plant because of what i have hared about it so far. i planted 4 of them each in a different location. Complete shade, partial shade and full sun light just to get, at least one, to bloom. i appreciate any info on how to make this plant a success. i am getting a fifth plant to grow in house. i have great success with Jasmine but not with the night queen so far. i live in Saudi Arabia where temp. can go up to 50 C in the summer days (July - Aug) and drops to 40 C at night with humidity approaching 90-100% sometimes. it cools down to 10 C during winter time. Any help tips appreciated (watering frequency, location, fertilizer etc.) thanx :). i have posted a picture with one in full sun light.

On Mar 14, 2004, syerunkar wrote:

This is my most favourite flower, one of the things I miss most since I have left India. The fragrance is unbelievably addictive, mystic and unforgettable.

The amazing thing about the plant is that there appears to be no fragrance when you go near it, but the breeze will bring you the amazing strong fragrance once in a while.

Apart from insects and bugs, the plant is often known to attract snakes.

The flowers are delicate and can stay in a vase for a night or two if given good water. The fragrance is released only in the dark.

Please let me know if someone has information about getting the seeds in Europe. It would also be great if someone could share his/her experience with growing it in the cold west-european weather.

On Nov 10, 2003, samkar from Lake Lure, NC wrote:

I have grown it outside and in pots here in the mountains of North Carolina (U.S.)

On Sep 25, 2003, willem wrote:

The Queen of the Night is also known in the Sub-Continent as RAAT KI RANI. A pride to have in the garden in India and Pakistan. People dress themselves with these deep intoxicating flowers.

On Sep 14, 2003, colson40 from Labelle, FL wrote:

So far it's been no-care plant for me.

On Jul 9, 2003, diprato from Morrisville, PA wrote:

2003- I grew my Night Jasmine from a seed. It is now 2 1/2 years old and the roots have outgrown its fourth container. I don't think I can get a much bigger container inside for the winter (I'm on the edge of zone 6/7 in southeastern Pennsylvania (U.S.) I sure wish I could plant it outside (and protect it somehow) so it can really thrive (and hopefully bloom more), but I am afraid to lose it to the winter.

(I decided to plant it outside.)
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AUGUST 2004 - First year results of my experiment:

Can Night Jasmine grow in Zone 6 (USA)?

Well, I planted my 2.5 foot tall Night Jasmine outside on the south wall of the house where it flourished and bloomed profusely la... read morest summer. It grew to nearly five foot. In autumn I mulched it heavily (about 8 inches) and hoped for the best. I also took 6 cuttings (for inside)and they rooted with ease. The entire plant died all the way down to the ground (we had one of our worst winters ever last year) but it came back in mid-June. I also planted the cuttings around it this summer and the entire clump is now about 2 feet tall, but it has not bloomed yet.

One thing is sure, this plant is very tough, a lot hardier than you might think. We had temps down to 0 degrees (or lower) some nights last winter.

More people should try this plant in the north, the fragrance is wonderful.

I hope it blooms this year before the frost, and that it survives the winter again.

Will keep you all posted on results.

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OCT 2005

Sorry to report my night Jasmine did not come back this past spring. So it came back from the winter one year (last year), but I guess it was too weak to come back for a second : (

On May 31, 2003, Chrysalid wrote:

This plant is used in Spain to deter mosquitoes at nighttime, as well as other flying insects like flies.

On Apr 21, 2003, judycei wrote:

I have enjoyed this plant since buying my first home, where there are two of the night blooming jasmines, one each on the front and rear of my home.

The once-enjoyable aroma has become unbearable and I find I am having allergic reactions and believe it is the Night-Blooming Jasmine. Usually I keep it trimmed back as it is in front of my son's window so that he gets a view of our yard, but it has gone crazy in the last month with new growth and is nearly as tall as my house.

On Mar 7, 2003, jacaranda wrote:

In Puerto Rico, to my surprise, this tree is not very common. It is incredible how the seeds and flowers atract all kind of birds and insects. Hummingbirds, bees, butterflyes come frequently to eat the seeds or suck the nectar. It is hard to believe, unless one has the chance to see it.

The only drawback is the high amount of seeds that fall on the ground/pots and become seedlings really fast. It is the price to pay for having the pleasure of watching other living organisms interacting with a tree. A tree like this at least in the tropics, makes a common garden, a habitat.

On Dec 21, 2002, CaliK8 from van nuys, CA wrote:

To me, the scent is to die for! It brings strong memories of summer childhood.

I was ready to prune it during the holiday break, as we're in the middle of winter in Los Angeles, California (U.S.) and suddenly the scent was so strong I had get a flashlight and find the source! It's more full of flowers that at the peak of summer, even though this morning I had ice on my car!

On Oct 21, 2002, ejrobinson wrote:

While night blooming jasmine is a gorgeous plant with charming blooms, the scent also produces severe allergic reactions in some individuals. Please be aware of this, especially when planting near a child's window or a neighbor's fence. Nighttime allergy and asthma attacks can be very serious. Thank you!