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Cestrum

Phonetic Spelling
SES-trum
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Cultivated from Cestrum diurum and Cestrum noctornum, Orange Peel is a sprawling shrub with tubular flowers that put on a show from spring until the first frost.  Odorless during the daytime, the flowers will give off a fragrance during the evening and nighttime hours.  

Growing to a height of up to 6' tall and 7' wide, in the southernmost portion of the US it will remain an evergreen through the winter months.  It will not reach its full height and width in locations that are not considered tropical or semi-tropical, but will quickly grow as a perennial and reach 4' tall during the growing season.  It will die back to the ground as the first frost hits.  Placement of a loose mulch around the base of the plant will protect it through the winter months in preparation for its spring regrowth.  In the most northern portion of the US, they are often grown as an annual and due to its limited summer growth, can be grown in containers.  

Its showy flowers are tubular, greenish-white, greenish yellow, or cream-colored and attract a wide variety of pollinators including hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, while deer are repelled by the toxicity of the foliage and flowers.  

Once established, it is moderately drought resistant.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious issues.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Souto Sun Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#showy flowers#poisonous#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#fall flowers#low maintenance#spring flowers#fall interest#rabbit resistant#summer flowers#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#long bloom time#summer interest#spring interest#humidity tolerant#showy
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#showy flowers#poisonous#fragrant flowers#heat tolerant#fall flowers#low maintenance#spring flowers#fall interest#rabbit resistant#summer flowers#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#long bloom time#summer interest#spring interest#humidity tolerant#showy
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Cestrum
    Family:
    Solanaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used in the landscape.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Florida to Tropical America
    Wildlife Value:
    Caterpillars of several Lepidoptera species use this plant as a food source.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Buffer
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    Screening
    Wildlife Food Source
    Edibility:
    Fruit
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Edible
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is a small, purple or white berry that matures in September.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Orange
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Long Bloom Season
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Clusters of tubular, orange, greenish-white, greenish yellow, or cream flowers are aromatic during the nighttime hours
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Its leaves are alternate, simple, with a smooth-margin.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Meadow
    Patio
    Recreational Play Area
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Barrier
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heat
    Humidity
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Headache, dizziness, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, muscular spasms and nervousness, high temperature, salivation and sweating, paralysis and coma.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Solanine-type glyco-alkaloids and atropine-like alkaloids
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Fruits