Cestrum nocturnum
Night-blooming jessamine
(c) Will Cornwell, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Solanaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Not Native
Cestrum nocturnum (Night-blooming jessamine) is a non-native California shrub / tree in the Solanaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Night-blooming jessamine is a naturalized shrub found in southern coastal California in disturbed areas at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from February to October, this plant produces green-white flowers approximately 20 millimeters long with delicate 2.5 to 3 millimeter lobes. Growing 2 to 5 meters tall with sparse minute hairs, it develops an open structure with spreading branches. Its leaves are approximately 4 to 10 centimeters long, elliptical in shape with pointed tips. The fruit is white, 6 to 10 millimeters in length, containing 4 to 5 black seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: native to Mexico, Central America
Bloom period
Cestrum nocturnum blooms Feb-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Nicotiana: Cestrum is a woody shrub; Nicotiana is typically herbaceous.; vs Lonicera: Cestrum has nightshade-family flowers with 5 stamens; Lonicera honeysuckles have irregular tubular flowers with protruding stamens.; vs Iochroma: Cestrum has narrow funnel flowers; Iochroma has wider tubular flowers in hanging clusters.; vs Fuchsia: Cestrum has funnel nightshade flowers; Fuchsia has distinctive hanging flowers with separated petals and long stamens.; vs Salpichroa: Cestrum is an erect shrub; Salpichroa is a trailing or climbing vine.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cestrum nocturnum native to California?
No. Cestrum nocturnum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Cestrum nocturnum bloom?
Cestrum nocturnum blooms Feb-Oct.
What plant family does Cestrum nocturnum belong to?
Cestrum nocturnum is in the Solanaceae family, genus Cestrum.
What habitat does Cestrum nocturnum grow in?
Cestrum nocturnum grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.