Purple cestrum (Cestrum ovalifolium)
Care, watering, light and tips for Purple cestrum 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 Purple cestrum
Cestrum ovalifolium, commonly known as ovalleaf cestrum or purple cestrum, is a fast-growing shrub that produces abundant clusters of intense violet, tubular flowers. Its dark green foliage and prolonged blooming make it ideal for hedges, screens, or as a specimen plant in warm climates. It attracts pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds.
Native range
South America, specifically Chile and Argentina.
Care tips
It requires full sun for optimal flowering, although it tolerates some partial shade. Watering should be regular, keeping the substrate moist but not waterlogged, especially during flowering periods. It prefers fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils. A common mistake is not pruning it annually after flowering to maintain its shape and promote denser blooms.
How to save a dying Purple cestrum
- Warning signs
- Yellow or dropping leaves, soft black shoots, no blooms.
- First aid
- Check drainage. Prune dead branches. Protect from severe cold and waterlogging.
- What kills it
- Overwatering (especially in winter) and prolonged frosts. Sensitive to lack of light.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly. Good drainage and winter protection are key.