Cestrum Species, China Berry, Chinese Inkberry, Day-Blooming Cestrum, Day Jasmine

On Jul 28, 2020, 999aardvark from Miami, FL wrote:

Birds and butterflies love this plant. However it is an invasive species of such concern that the sale and planting of it is prohibited anywhere in Miami-Dade County.

On Oct 16, 2007, astcgirl from Chichester, NH (Zone 5b) wrote:

I bought this plant from Top Tropicals, their website doesn't say it's poisonous, I should've looked here first! I have little kids so really didn't want this plant around after I received it and read that infact it was poisonous, but I said I'd put it out of reach and keep and eye on it, if it was outstanding when it flowered and really did smell like chocolate I'd keep it. It flowered the other day and I must say, if I had no knowledge of it smelling like chocolate, I would not have guessed it, I guess it does very faintly if you close your eyes and really imagine it. I personally am a little disappointed and was hoping for more of a richer smell. It is very fussy with wanting water, I pretty much have to water it every day here in Florida 9b, it is in a small pot so maybe that contribut... read morees to the dryness. It's on my to go list right now. I guess everyone has their own personal taste in smells....It's not a bad smell but not even close to all the other pretty addictive flowers ie. Jasmines, Stephanotis', roses I have.

Update May2008: after repotting, it grew quickly, it's not as fussy with wanting water anymore. It's starting to grow on me.

On Aug 10, 2005, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

I have not grown this plant so I am unable to rate it other than give it a neutral rating. Other common names for this plant include willow jasmine, wild jasmine, hierba santa, white day-blooming cestrum and white chocolate jasmine. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that has, having escaped cultivation, become widely distributed and naturalized in Florida, Texas and California and grows in Hawaii after being introduced from the West Indies. In Texas, its natural habitat is in the Edwards Plateau region. It is considered a “serious threat” to natural areas in south Florida and can form dense thickets. It is most commonly found in dry soils, but benefits from even moisture. Although it will take full sun, it grows best in part shade. It is supposed to be hardy to Zone 8.

... read more Day jasmine has an upright habit attaining a height of between 5 to 10 feet tall (in Florida, some are 16 feet tall) and 2 to 3 feet wide. The leaves are dark green and glossy. One inch, tubular, white, fragrant blooms appear in clusters in the summer. The bloom petals are bent backwards. The blooms are mildly fragrant during the day and the fragrance intensifies in the late evening and after dark. The blooms are followed by 1/4 inch green fruit which turn a glossy black or eggplant purple. The fruits are poisonous (affect the nervous system) to humans and other mammals.

Cattle or horses eating day jasmine absorb excessive amounts of calcium which leads to a high calcium concentration in the blood and tissue calcinosis. If the animals eat the plants for lomg periods, calcification of the elastic tissues of the arteries, tendons and ligaments occurs. Due to the high blood calcium concentration and the resultant inhibition of normal bone resorption excessive bone formation occurs. With horses, plant-induced calcinosis causes chronic weight loss despite normal appetite along with a generalized stiffness. This leads to severe lameness and prolonged periods of lying down. Unfortunately, recovery from plant-induced severe calcinosis rarely happens; although, recovery is likely for those horses that are not severely affected if they are denied further access to the plants and are given a good diet. Be caredul to not place cattle or horses in pastures or pens wwhere they are able to eat any of the Cestrum species.