Red Cestrum Cestrum 'Newellii'

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Cestrum 'Newellii', commonly known as the Newell's Jessamine, is a vibrant and ornamental plant known for its striking and colorful appearance. The plant exhibits a bushy and dense growth habit with stems that can be both erect and semi-woody. Its foliage consists of elongated, narrow leaves that are deep green in color, adding a lush backdrop to the flowers. The leaves appear slightly glossy, with smooth edges, and they are alternately arranged along the stems which gives the plant a full and hearty look. The most eye-catching feature of Newell's Jessamine is its flowers. It bears tubular blooms that create a spectacular display. The flowers are typically a rich, ruby-red or deep pink in color, which stands out vividly against the dark green leaves. They are grouped in clusters, which gives the impression of a dramatic burst of color. These clusters are quite showy and they attract various pollinators, such as hummingbirds and butterflies, to the garden. After the blooming season, the plant may also produce berries, which are small and may add to the ornamental value of the plant, though typically the flowers are the main attraction. The overall impression of Cestrum 'Newellii' is of a vibrant, colorful, and dynamic plant that provides stunning visual interest and could be a beautiful addition to any garden space where it can be accommodated.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Solanaceae
- Synonyms
  Newell's Jessamine, Red Cestrum, Pink Cestrum
- Common names
  Cestrum 'Newellii'
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Red Cestrum can be toxic to humans if ingested. All parts of the Red Cestrum plant contain toxic substances and can cause symptoms if eaten. These symptoms might include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, more serious symptoms such as hallucinations, respiratory problems, and seizures could occur. Extreme poisonings can be fatal, so medical attention should be sought immediately if ingestion is suspected.
- To pets
  Similar to its effects on humans, the Red Cestrum is toxic to pets. Ingesting any part of this plant can result in symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and possible neurological symptoms such as tremors or seizures in pets. In severe cases, ingestion can lead to respiratory failure or even death. It is critical to keep pets away from this plant and to seek veterinary care immediately if they are suspected of ingesting any part of it.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Red
- Height
  6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 meters)
- Spread
  2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters)
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  8
- Native area
  Mexico

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attract Hummingbirds: Cestrum 'Newellii', also known as Red Cestrum, is known to attract hummingbirds due to its tubular flowers filled with nectar.
- Ornamental Value: The bright, showy clusters of red flowers make it an attractive addition to gardens and landscapes.
- Night Fragrance: The plant is known for its sweet fragrance at night, which can create a pleasant atmosphere in evening gardens.
- Extended Blooming Season: Red Cestrum blooms for a long period, which can provide visual interest for much of the year depending on the climate.
- Easy Cultivation: It is generally easy to grow and care for, with a relatively fast growth rate.
- Drought Tolerance: As a hardy shrub, it can survive periods of drought once established, making it suitable for various climates and water-wise gardens.
- Ease of Propagation: Cestrum 'Newellii' can be easily propagated from cuttings, allowing gardeners to produce more plants economically.
- Versatility in Landscaping: It can be used as a standalone specimen, as part of a border, or as a backdrop for other plants in a mixed bed.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Privacy Screening: Cestrum 'Newellii', commonly known as the Red Cestrum, can grow quickly and densely, making it suitable for creating a natural privacy screen in a garden or between properties.
- Nocturnal Wildlife Attraction: The flowers of the Red Cestrum are known to attract nocturnal pollinators like moths, which can benefit the nighttime ecosystem in a garden.
- Hedges: Due to its dense growth habit, the Red Cestrum can be trimmed and maintained as a formal or informal hedge in landscaping.
- Sound Barrier: When planted in mass along roads or noisy areas, the Red Cestrum can help reduce sound pollution with its thick foliage.
- Windbreak: The plant's robustness allows it to be used as a windbreak to protect more sensitive plants and reduce soil erosion.
- Thematic Gardens: The vibrant red flowers can be used as part of a color-themed garden design or to add a tropical feel to temperate gardens.
- Backdrops: The height and fullness of the Red Cestrum make it an excellent backdrop for shorter, contrasting plants in a layered garden design.
- Container Planting: Smaller varieties of Red Cestrum can be grown in large containers to add color to patios, balconies, and outdoor sitting areas.
- Potential Insect Repellant: The strong fragrance of Red Cestrum flowers might deter certain insects from the immediate area where it is planted.
- Temporary Filler: While slower-growing plants mature, the fast-growing Red Cestrum can be used to fill in gaps in new garden beds or landscapes.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant_name is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant_name is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Passion: Often with its vibrant red or pink flowers, Cestrum 'Newellii', commonly known as the Red Cestrum, is symbolically tied to feelings of ardor and intense emotion, much like the color of its blooms.
- Enchantment: The striking appearance and sweet fragrance of the Red Cestrum can represent a bewitching allure, ensnaring the senses in the same way that the plant captivates hummingbirds and night-flying insects.
- Nighttime Beauty: As the Red Cestrum often releases its fragrance at night, it symbolizes the allure and mystery of the evening, and the beauty that can be found even in the absence of daylight.
- Adaptability: Given the plant's ability to thrive in various conditions, it represents resilience and the ability to adapt to one’s environment.
- Warning: Like many plants with toxic properties, the Red Cestrum serves as a symbol of caution, reminding us that beauty can sometimes be deceiving and potentially harmful.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Red jessamine should be watered moderately, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Typically, watering once a week is sufficient, but this may vary depending on the climate and environment. During the growing season, in spring and summer, the plant can require up to one gallon of water per week, especially in drier conditions. In the cooler months, reduce the water to half a gallon every two weeks as the plant enters a dormant phase and requires less moisture.
Light
Red jessamine thrives best in full sun to partial shade. It should be placed in a spot where it can receive at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. If indoors, a south-facing window is ideal, whereas if planted outside, an area that gets sun for the majority of the day will help promote optimal growth and flowering.
Temperature
Red jessamine prefers a temperature range between 65°F and 85°F for optimal growth. It can tolerate minimum temperatures down to the low 40s°F but should be protected from frost. In regions with cold winters, it is best to move the plant indoors or provide adequate frost protection to ensure its survival.
Pruning
Prune red jessamine to maintain shape, encourage bushier growth, and enhance flowering. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring, before new growth starts. Trim back the previous year's growth by approximately one-third. Deadheading spent flowers can also be done as needed throughout the growing season to keep the plant tidy and to encourage further blooming.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Red cestrum prefers well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter. A balanced mix of two parts garden soil, one part peat, and one part perlite or sand is ideal. The soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0.
Repotting
Red cestrum should be repotted every 2-3 years or when it has outgrown its current container. Spring is the best time for repotting to allow the plant to recover during the growing season.
Humidity & Misting
The red cestrum thrives at average to high humidity levels, ideally between 40-60%. If indoor air is too dry, misting the foliage can help maintain a suitable humidity level.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure bright, indirect light and maintain humidity for indoor red cestrum growth.
- Outdoor
  Place red cestrum in a sunny to partly shaded spot, shelter from harsh winds.
- Hardiness zone
  8-10 USDA
Life cycle
The Red Cestrum or Cestrum 'Newellii' begins its life cycle as a seed, which, when in favourable conditions, germinates and sprouts into a seedling. The seedling then grows into a juvenile plant, gradually developing its root system and foliage. As the plant matures, it reaches the vegetative stage where it focuses on leaf and stem growth. Upon entering the flowering stage, the Red Cestrum produces clusters of tubular, reddish-pink flowers, which after pollination, lead to the formation of berries containing new seeds. These seeds can then be dispersed to start a new life cycle or the plant can propagate vegetatively through cuttings. In optimal conditions, the Red Cestrum can behave as a perennial, while in colder regions it might be treated as an annual or semi-hardy shrub, potentially necessitating replanting if it does not survive the winter.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- Red cestrum, or Cestrum 'Newellii', can be propagated through semi-ripe stem cuttings. The best time for propagation is late spring to early summer when the plant's growth is most vigorous. To propagate, one should select a healthy, non-flowering stem and make a cutting about 4 to 6 inches long. Strip the lower leaves, leaving a couple of leaves at the top, and dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth. The cutting should then be planted in a pot filled with a mix of peat and perlite or sand, ensuring the soil stays moist but not waterlogged. Place the pot in indirect light and maintain a consistent temperature of around 70°F (about 21°C). Rooting typically occurs in 4 to 8 weeks, after which the new plant can be gradually acclimated to more light and eventually transplanted outdoors if desired.