Cestrum roseum
Care, watering, light and tips for Cestrum roseum 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 roseum
Cestrum roseum, commonly known as Hediondilla, is an ornamental evergreen shrub valued for its clusters of intense pink, tubular flowers that bloom for much of the year. Its dark green foliage and dense growth make it ideal for hedges, borders, or as a focal point in tropical and subtropical gardens, adding a vibrant splash of color. Despite its common name suggesting an unpleasant smell, this is more noticeable when the leaves are rubbed, not from the flowers themselves.
Native range
South America (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay)
Care tips
It requires full sun to partial shade for optimal flowering, though in very hot climates it will appreciate some afternoon sun protection. Watering should be regular, keeping the substrate moist but not waterlogged, especially during flowering periods. It prefers fertile, well-drained, and slightly acidic soils. A common mistake is excessive and late pruning, as it flowers on new wood; it's best to prune lightly after the main bloom to encourage new growth.
How to save a dying Cestrum roseum
- Warning signs
- Yellowing or dropping leaves, unopened or falling flowers, soft stems.
- First aid
- Check drainage and soil moisture. Prune damaged stems. Move to indirect light.
- What kills it
- Overwatering (root rot) or prolonged drought. Lack of adequate light.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act fast and correct the cause. It's resilient but needs care.