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Shrubs

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

Synonyms

Cestrum purpureum (Lindl.) Standl.
Cestrum paniculatum

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Loam

Sand

Chalk

Moisture

Well–drained, Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Solanaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Pendulous weeping, Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful of eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
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

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