Yellow cestrum (Cestrum flavescens)
Care, watering, light and tips for Yellow cestrum on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Solanaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 10–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Yellow cestrum
Cestrum flavescens, commonly known as Gediondilla, is a shrub or small tree belonging to the Solanaceae family, native to America. Its pale yellow to cream tubular flowers, often fragrant at dusk, are clustered in terminal or axillary inflorescences. It is ideal for tropical and subtropical gardens, flowering hedges, or as a specimen plant, where its bright green foliage and flowers will attract pollinators.
Native range
South America (Argentina, Brazil, 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 needs well-drained, fertile, and slightly acidic to neutral soil. A common mistake is excessive and late pruning, which can reduce flowering by removing flower buds.
How to save a dying Yellow cestrum
- Warning signs
- Yellowing leaves falling, soft and wilting stems, no flowering or premature flower drop.
- First aid
- Check drainage and moisture. If potted, consider repotting to a well-draining pot. Prune dry branches.
- What kills it
- Overwatering (causes root rot) or lack of light. Does not tolerate waterlogging.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots are not completely rotted. Act quickly to adjust watering and sun exposure.