Red Night Blooming Cestrum Plant Live, 2 Starter Plants 5-8″ Tall

Overview

Introduce an enchanting aroma and vibrant color to your garden with the red night blooming cestrum. This captivating live plant, often referred to as Crimson Jasmine due to its fragrant, tubular flowers, is a must-have for any enthusiast seeking a unique tropical shrub. Originating from the Cestrum genus, this particular variety, Newell’s Red, stands out with its rich crimson blooms that unfurl from spring through fall, releasing their intoxicating scent as dusk settles. It’s a perennial, evergreen shrub characterized by its velvety, gray-green leaves, providing year-round visual interest even when not in bloom. Aside from its beautiful flowers, the plant also produces ornamental berries, adding another layer of appeal. Whether you’re looking to create a fragrant evening retreat or simply add a splash of exotic color, the red night blooming cestrum is an excellent choice for zones 9-11, thriving in various sun conditions.

This striking plant is not just a feast for the eyes but also an olfactory delight, making it a popular choice for planting near patios, windows, or entryways where its evening fragrance can be fully appreciated. It’s relatively easy to care for once established, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels. The arching growth habit contributes to a graceful appearance, allowing it to be used as a standalone specimen, part of a mixed border, or even as an informal hedge. Prepare to be mesmerized by the nightly show of fragrance and color this beautiful tropical flowering shrub provides.

Key Benefits

The red night blooming cestrum offers a multitude of benefits, making it a stellar addition to various garden settings. Its unique characteristics provide both aesthetic and sensory pleasure, enhancing the outdoor living experience.

• Exotic Fragrance: One of its most celebrated features, the crimson flowers release a powerful, sweet fragrance primarily during the evening and night, transforming your garden into a serene and aromatic sanctuary.
• Vibrant Crimson Blooms: The long, tubular, and tightly clustered red flowers provide a stunning visual impact, adding a bold splash of color to your landscape from spring through fall.
• Evergreen Foliage: This perennial shrub maintains its velvety, gray-green leaves throughout the year, offering continuous greenery and structure to your garden.
• Attracts Pollinators: The fragrant blossoms are known to attract beneficial pollinators such as moths and hummingbirds, contributing to a healthy garden ecosystem.
• Versatile Landscaping: With its arching growth habit and mature size, it can be used as a specimen plant, in mixed borders, or to create an informal, fragrant hedge, enhancing garden design.
• Adaptable to Sun Conditions: Thrives in a range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade, offering flexibility in placement within your garden.
• Low Maintenance Once Established: After its initial establishment period, the red night blooming cestrum is relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal intervention to flourish.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your red night blooming cestrum is straightforward, ensuring a vibrant and fragrant display for many seasons. This plant thrives in warm climates and appreciates consistent attention to its basic needs. For sunlight, it is remarkably adaptable, performing well in full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can prevent leaf scorch, while in cooler zones, more sun will encourage prolific blooming. Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, or bright, filtered sun throughout the day. Watering should be regular, especially during dry spells and the blooming season. The soil should be kept consistently moist but never waterlogged. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings to prevent root rot. Good drainage is crucial for the health of this shrub.

The ideal soil type for the crimson jasmine plant is a well-draining, fertile loam. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost to improve drainage and aeration. For sandy soils, adding compost will help retain moisture and nutrients. This plant is hardy in USDA Zones 9-11, preferring temperatures above 20°F (-6°C). In areas with occasional light frost, it may die back but often regrows from the roots in spring. Fertilize the plant with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring and again in mid-summer to support its vigorous growth and abundant flowering. Pruning can be done after the main flush of blooms to maintain shape, control size, and encourage bushier growth. Watch out for common pests like aphids or whiteflies, treating them with insecticidal soap if necessary. Understanding cestrum plant care will ensure your shrub remains healthy and produces its stunning fragrant flowers.

Size & Details

Your order will include 2 starter plants of red night blooming cestrum, each measuring approximately 5-8 inches tall from the base of the plant to the tip of its highest leaf. These are young, healthy plants ready to establish in your garden. The plant is shipped without a pot to minimize shipping costs and ensure safe transit, allowing you to plant them directly into your desired location upon arrival. Once mature, this shrub typically reaches a height of 8-10 feet and a similar width, forming an arching, rounded bush. Its growth rate is moderate, allowing it to establish and begin blooming within its first few seasons. The tightly clustered, long, tubular crimson flowers appear from spring through fall, followed by ornamental berries. With proper care, these starter plants will quickly grow into magnificent, fragrant specimens. The tropical flowering shrub is a fantastic addition to any garden seeking a burst of color and an enchanting evening aroma.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The red night blooming cestrum typically matures to a height of 8-10 feet and a width of 8-10 feet, forming an arching, bushy shrub. Its size can be managed with regular pruning.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This is primarily an outdoor plant, especially in USDA Zones 9-11. In colder zones, it can be grown in a container and brought indoors during winter, but it prefers outdoor conditions.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: The red night blooming cestrum prefers full sun to partial shade. In very hot climates, partial afternoon shade is beneficial. It needs at least 4-6 hours of direct or filtered sunlight daily.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, this cestrum plant is relatively low maintenance. It requires regular watering, especially during dry periods, and occasional fertilization to thrive.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: You will receive 2 healthy starter plants, each 5-8 inches tall. They are shipped without a pot to ensure safe and efficient delivery, ready for planting upon arrival.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: With proper care, young plants can begin to produce flowers within their first year or two, with blooming periods from spring through fall once established.
• Q: What’s the best time to plant this shrub? A: The best time to plant the crimson jasmine plant is in spring or early fall, allowing it time to establish its root system before extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: Can I grow this in a container? A: Yes, the red night blooming cestrum can be grown in a large container, especially in areas outside its hardiness zones. Ensure the container has good drainage and use a high-quality potting mix.
• Q: Is the fragrance strong? A: Yes, the fragrance of the night-blooming flowers is quite strong and sweet, especially noticeable in the evening hours. It’s a key feature of this lovely shrub.
• Q: What are the USDA hardiness zones for this plant? A: This plant is best suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11, where it can be grown as a perennial evergreen.