Are you into flowers that smell amazing? If so, you’re in for a treat with Night-Blooming Jasmine!
Not only does this gorgeous plant have an immersive fragrance, but it also adds a dreamy vibe to your space when the sun goes down.

If you have an outdoor or indoor plant space that could use a little boost and feel like Night Jasmine could be an ideal pick, stick around for all the tips to keep this beautiful plant healthy and thriving!
Night Blooming Jasmine: An Overview
Night Blooming Jasmine, or Cestrum Nocturnum if you want to get fancy, is an eye-catching evergreen shrub that brings a sweet smell to your garden and blooms at night. Even though it has “jasmine” in its name, it’s not really a jasmine at all! It’s part of the nightshade family, which is the same group that includes tomatoes and potatoes.
These flowers are tubular and open up when the sun goes down, filling the air with a strong scent that attracts moths and butterflies. It’s pretty magical! This fast-growing shrub comes from the West Indies and South America, and you might hear it called night jasmine, queen of the night, or lady of the night.
Salient Features of Night Blooming Jasmine Plant

Night Jasmine flower is a pretty plant with some standout features.
- First off, it’s famous for its sweet-smelling flowers that bloom at night, filling the air with an amazing scent that attracts moths and butterflies. This fast-growing evergreen shrub can get pretty tall, usually between 6 and 15 feet, and has a sprawling look that makes it a real showstopper in any garden.
- The shiny green leaves create a lush backdrop for its tubular flowers, which are typically greenish-white to yellow. As it matures, it also grows small white berries that add an extra touch of charm.
- Blooming Jasmine loves warm, tropical climates and does best in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11. It’s pretty adaptable, thriving in different soil types and requiring minimal care, which makes it a favorite among gardeners.
- Regardless of where you want to place this stunning beauty—in your garden or a lovely indoor plant—the Night Jasmine Plant makes an impression and shines through. Its beauty reaches the peak, especially when those fragrant blooms open up under the moonlight, creating a magical vibe that’s hard to resist.
A Quick Feature Checklist on Night Jasmine Flower
This checklist provides a concise overview of the night blooming jasmine plant, highlighting its key features and considerations for cultivation.
Botanical Name | Cestrum Nocturnum |
Common Names |
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Family | It belongs to the Solanaceae family, which also includes tomatoes and potatoes. |
Plant Type | Evergreen shrub |
Mature Size | Grows between 6–15 feet tall and 4–8 feet wide, making it suitable for large landscapes or ornamental purposes. |
Sunlight Requirements | Thrives in full sun to partial shade. It requires at least a few hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth. |
Soil Requirements | Prefers moist, well-drained, and fertile soil, ensuring healthy growth and abundant blooming. |
Bloom Time | Produces flowers in spring and summer, with its signature fragrance most prominent at night. |
Flower Characteristics | Tubular flowers in greenish-white to yellow hues that emit an intense, sweet fragrance during the evening and night. |
Native Area | Indigenous to South America and the Caribbean, thriving in warm and humid climates. |
Pollinator Attraction | Its strong nighttime fragrance attracts pollinators like moths and butterflies. |
Toxicity | Poisonous to humans and animals, with all parts of the plant, particularly the berries, containing toxins that can cause gastrointestinal distress if ingested. |
Garden Suitability | Commonly grown as an ornamental shrub for its fragrance, making it a favorite in gardens, patios, and terraces. |
Growth Habit | Fast-growing and can spread quickly, requiring proper pruning and care to prevent it from becoming invasive. |
Versatility | Can be grown outdoors in warm climates or as a container plant in cooler regions, making it adaptable to various gardening setups. |
Care Tip | Night-Blooming Jasmine requires regular watering and occasional pruning to maintain its lush appearance and control its growth. |
Other Crucial Details on Night-Blooming Jasmine
Night-Blooming Jasmine is famous for its smell, making it stand out from most flowers. There are a few cool reasons why its scent is so interesting:

- Blooms Only in the Evening: Other flowers are open during the day while the night-blooming jasmine blooms its precious little tubular flowers at sunset only, and then they share its sweet smell. The secretive nature of the behavior makes it a more mysterious and exciting plant.
- Perfume: This fragrance is chokingly heady, filling up an entire garden or patio. It is perfect for spending evenings in quietude or with company in a dreamy, captivating atmosphere.
- Pollinators: Not just humans benefit from the scent of this plant; moths and butterflies will also find a night visit very seductive, enriching the diversity of your garden.
Whether they’re put in pots next to windows, on porches, or just grown planted along garden paths, the perfume of night-blooming jasmine makes every atmospheric space perfect for an outside retreat. Nevertheless, it is overpoweringly frenetic for some people, especially inside places.
Night-blooming jasmine has become a go-to for gardeners looking to add some magic to their evenings, thanks to its ability to attract with both its stunning look and captivating scent.
How to Plant Night Blooming Jasmine?
To successfully grow night-blooming jasmine, follow these steps:
- Choose the Right Location: Although it may withstand little shade, night-blooming jasmine grows best in sunny locations. Make sure the plant gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day for optimal effects. Consider placing it close to windows or outside seating spaces if you’re growing it for its scent.
- Prepare the Soil : This plant thrives in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. The greatest soil to encourage healthy root development is sandy soil combined with compost.
- Distance: Plants should be spaced 4–6 feet apart to allow for their widely dispersing roots and avoid crowding.
- Watering: Maintain a constant moisture content in the soil, particularly throughout the establishing stage. Avoid water logging while watering deeply.
- Taking Temperature into Account: Jasmine that blooms at night does well in warm climates. If frost is predicted, think about growing it in a container so you can bring it inside during cold months.
Night blooming Jasmine Plant Care
For your night-blooming jasmine to stay healthy and produce an abundance of blossoms, proper maintenance is necessary. Here are some pointers:
- Light Needs: Although it can withstand little shade, this plant prefers full light. The quantity of flowers may be diminished by inadequate sunshine.
- Watering: Especially during the growing season, night-blooming jasmine needs to be watered often. However, since the plant goes into hibernation over the winter, you can water it less frequently.
- The Fertilizer: During the establishment phase, give the plant a monthly dose of a balanced fertilizer. To encourage new growth and flowering, mature plants benefit from an annual feeding in the early spring.
- Humidity and Temperature: This tropical shrub thrives in high humidity and warm temperatures. Although it can tolerate temperatures as low as 25 °F, it should be shielded from extended cold exposure.
- Pruning: Prune the plant annually in the fall after flowering. This encourages compact, bushy growth and helps control its invasive tendencies by reducing seed dispersal.
- Repotting: If grown in containers, repot the plant every two years to prevent root-bound conditions and refresh the soil.
Propagation of Night-Blooming Jasmine
Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum) is highly favored by gardeners for its captivating nighttime fragrance and ease of propagation. It can be propagated through stem cuttings or seeds, depending on your preference and timeline.
Propagation from Stem Cuttings
To propagate through cuttings, select a healthy, 6–8 inch-long, non-flowering stem. Make a clean cut below a leaf node, remove lower leaves, and optionally dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Plant the cutting in a well-draining potting mix, ensuring at least one node is below the soil.
Cover it with a plastic bag or container to maintain humidity, and place it in bright, indirect light. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Roots should develop within 4–6 weeks, after which the cutting can be transplanted into a larger pot or the garden.
Propagation from Night blooming Jasmine Seeds
To propagate by seeds, collect ripe berries and extract the seeds. Soak them in warm water for 24 hours to improve germination. Sow the seeds on moist compost without fully covering them. Keep the soil consistently moist and maintain a warm environment (around 75°F). Germination may take several weeks. Once seedlings develop true leaves, transplant them into pots or directly into the garden.
Both methods allow you to enjoy this amazing plant in your garden.
Is Night-Blooming Jasmine Toxic?

Yes, all parts of the night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum), including its leaves, stems, flowers, and berries, are toxic to humans and animals. The plant contains alkaloids and other compounds that can cause adverse reactions if ingested.
Ingesting any part of the plant, particularly the berries, may lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. For pets, especially cats and dogs, consumption can result in similar symptoms and may sometimes require immediate veterinary attention due to their smaller body size and increased sensitivity.
In addition to its toxic nature, the plant’s intense fragrance, especially at night, can cause discomfort for some people. Prolonged exposure to its scent in poorly ventilated spaces may trigger headaches, dizziness, or respiratory irritation in individuals sensitive to strong odors.
When handling night-blooming jasmine, it’s advisable to wear gloves to avoid potential skin irritation. Always wash your hands thoroughly after contact with the plant. To ensure safety, plant it in areas that are less accessible to children and pets, and educate your family or household members about its potential risks.
Benefits of Growing Night-Blooming Jasmine
Growing night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum Nocturnum) offers numerous advantages, making it a popular choice for gardens, patios, and even indoor spaces.
- Fragrance: The plant’s captivating scent is one of its most cherished features. Its alluring, sweet aroma fills the night air, creating a soothing and relaxing ambiance. This makes it an excellent addition to outdoor spaces, where you can enjoy its perfume during evening hours.
- Pollinator Attraction: Night-blooming jasmine is a magnet for nocturnal pollinators such as moths and butterflies. By planting it, you not only enhance the beauty of your garden but also contribute to local biodiversity. Pollinators play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, and this plant is an excellent way to support them.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, night-blooming jasmine is relatively low-maintenance. It thrives in well-drained soil and requires regular watering, but it can tolerate short periods of drought. Occasional pruning keeps its growth in check and encourages lush blooms.
- Versatility: This plant adapts well to different settings. Whether grown as a dense hedge, in decorative containers, or indoors near a sunny window, night-blooming jasmine adds charm and elegance. Its compact growth habit makes it suitable for small gardens or urban spaces.
Adding night-blooming jasmine to your garden or home is a delightful way to combine beauty, fragrance, and ecological benefits.
Challenges in Growing Night-Blooming Jasmine
While night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum Nocturnum) offers several advantages in the garden, its cultivation does come with some challenges. As a plant that is both beautiful and fast-growing, there are some factors gardeners should consider before adding it to their garden.
- Invasiveness: Night-blooming jasmine has an aggressive growth habit that can quickly turn it into a garden invader if not properly managed. It has a sprawling nature and spreads quickly, sometimes overtaking nearby plants. This makes it essential to regularly prune the shrub to keep its size under control.
- Toxicity: One of the biggest challenges with night-blooming jasmine is its toxicity. All parts of the plant, including flowers, leaves, and berries, contain toxic compounds that can be harmful if ingested. If consumed, it can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in humans and animals.
- Sensitivity to Cold: Night-blooming jasmine thrives in warm climates and is not frost-hardy. It requires temperatures above 35°F (1.6°C) to survive and grow well. In regions where temperatures dip below freezing during winter, the plant can be damaged or killed by frost.
- Pest Problems: While relatively resistant to many pests, night-blooming jasmine can occasionally suffer from aphids, caterpillars, or scale insects. Essential oils can help you protect your night jasmine from pests.
- Pruning Needs: Night-blooming jasmine’s fast-growing nature requires regular pruning. Without it, the plant may become leggy and unattractive, and its dense growth could lead to issues with air circulation and light penetration.
- Soil and Watering Sensitivity: While night-blooming jasmine is generally low maintenance, it does have specific soil and watering needs. The plant thrives in moist, well-drained soil that is rich in nutrients. Inadequate drainage or overly dry soil can stunt its growth and lead to wilting or yellowing of the leaves.
- Flowering Inconsistency: While night-blooming jasmine is known for its beautiful, fragrant blooms, its flowering may not always be as consistent as gardeners expect.
- Heavy Fragrance: While the sweet and intoxicating fragrance of night-blooming jasmine is one of its major selling points, it can sometimes become overpowering.
Uses of Night-Blooming Jasmine
Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum Nocturnum) is a plant with a wide array of uses, ranging from its ornamental beauty to its role in creating aromatic environments. Native to the West Indies, this evergreen shrub is prized for its stunning visual appeal and enchanting fragrance, which has made it a favorite in gardens, homes, and outdoor spaces.
- Ornamental Value: The tiny, tubular flowers of the night-blooming jasmine, which bloom in shades ranging from yellow to greenish-white, are renowned for their vivid, lush green leaves.
- Aromatic Gardens: The pleasant scent of night-blooming jasmine is a major factor in its popularity. In the evenings, when the blooms are in full bloom, the plant emits a strong, pleasant scent.
- Indoor Plant: Although night-blooming jasmine is typically cultivated outdoors, with the correct care, it may also flourish inside with other indoor vine plants. Because it needs a lot of sunlight, it is essential to put it in a conservatory or close to a bright window.
- Medicinal and Therapeutic Uses: Although less well-known, night-blooming jasmine has long been utilized in some cultures’ traditional medicine. Because of its relaxing scent, it is said to offer therapeutic qualities in specific areas that can help alleviate ailments, including stress and insomnia.
Closing Thoughts
A gorgeous addition to any garden, night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum Nocturnum) offers a singular fusion of eye-catching beauty and heady scent. Although its maintenance needs are somewhat simple, proper placing, watering, and trimming are essential for optimum growth.
Night-blooming jasmine will add a touch of elegance to your gardening experience, whether it is used as a border hedge, a container plant, or an inside decoration. However, it must be managed carefully because of its invasiveness and toxicity.
Is night-blooming jasmine a true jasmine?
No, night-blooming jasmine is not a true jasmine. It is a member of the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, whereas true jasmines belong to the Oleaceae family. Its name reflects its fragrant flowers rather than its botanical classification.
Can night-blooming jasmine be grown indoors?
Yes, night-blooming jasmine can be grown indoors with proper care. It requires a sunny spot, such as near a south-facing window, and a humid environment. Regular pruning helps manage its size and encourages healthy growth.
How tall can night-blooming jasmine grow?
Under ideal conditions, night-blooming jasmine can grow up to 15 feet tall. Its rapid growth and sprawling nature make it suitable for outdoor spaces or large indoor pots, though it often needs pruning to control its height.
What pests commonly affect this plant?
Night-blooming jasmine is susceptible to pests such as aphids and caterpillars. These pests can weaken the plant by feeding on its leaves and stems. Regular monitoring and eco-friendly pest control methods can help protect it.
Is night-blooming jasmine toxic to pets?
Yes, night-blooming jasmine is toxic to pets, including cats and dogs. If consumed, it can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. It is best to plant it in areas inaccessible to pets.
How often should I water night-blooming jasmine?
Water night-blooming jasmine regularly during the growing season to keep the soil moist. However, during the dormant winter months, reduce watering to prevent root rot while ensuring the soil does not dry out completely.
What is the best time to plant night-blooming jasmine?
The best time to plant night-blooming jasmine is in the spring, after the last frost. Warm weather provides ideal conditions for the plant to establish its roots and begin thriving.