Cestrum elegans
A strong-growing tender evergreen shrub to a height of 3m with pendulous branches and oval-shaped, green leaves up to 10cm long. The flowers are clusters of small trumpets in shades of red, purple or pink from summer to autumn. These are followed by red-purple berries
Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drained, Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Red Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | Red Purple | Green | Purple Red | |
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Pendulous weeping, Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful of eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Cestrum can be shrub or scrambling climbers, with simple, evergreen leaves and tubular or salver-shaped flowers in terminal and axillary clusters, followed by red or black berries
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Mexico
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in well-drained, rich soil in sun or partial shade. In containers in frost free greenhouse or conservatory use a peat-free John Innes No 3, and place in good light, but with shade from direct sun, with good ventilation
Propagation
Propagate by seed in spring at 13-18°C, or propagate by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Coastal
- Sub-tropical
- Patio and container plants
- Flower borders and beds
- Conservatory and greenhouse
- Climber and wall shrubs
Pruning
Pruning group 9; Tip prune young plants to encourage bushiness. Can be wall-trained To thin, remove stems that are two or three years old, from the base. If all top growth is killed by frosts, cut back to ground level to encourage new growth from the roots
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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