Cestrum acuminatum
Care, watering, light and tips for Cestrum acuminatum on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Solanaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 4 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 10–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Cestrum acuminatum
Cestrum acuminatum, also known as Lewis cestrum, is an ornamental evergreen or semi-deciduous shrub, valued for its clusters of tubular, greenish-white to cream-colored flowers, which often emit a soft fragrance at night. Its habit can be upright or slightly arching, making it ideal for informal hedges, mixed borders, or as a specimen plant in temperate to subtropical gardens.
Native range
South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay)
Care tips
It prefers full sun to partial shade, with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight for optimal flowering. Watering should be regular, keeping the substrate moist but not waterlogged, especially during growth and flowering periods; reduce frequency in winter. It requires well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Avoid excessive and severe pruning, as it flowers on new wood and drastic pruning could reduce blooming.
How to save a dying Cestrum acuminatum
- Warning signs
- Yellow leaves falling, soft or dry stems, no flowering.
- First aid
- Check watering (moist but not waterlogged soil), prune dead branches, move to bright partial shade.
- What kills it
- Overwatering causing root rot or extreme drought and lack of humidity.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't completely rotted and green stems remain, it can re-sprout.