Cestrum nocturnum, commonly known as Night-blooming Jasmine, Lady of the Night, or Queen of the Night, is a captivating woody shrub. Despite its common name, it is not a true jasmine, belonging instead to the Solanaceae family, which also includes plants like tomatoes and potatoes. This plant is primarily recognized for its exceptionally potent and sweet fragrance, which becomes particularly prominent after sunset.
Aromatic Qualities
Night-blooming Jasmine is celebrated for its intensely sweet, musky, and intoxicating fragrance. Its small, tubular, creamy-white to pale green flowers release this powerful perfume in the evening, continuing throughout the night before closing in the morning. This scent can travel considerable distances, sometimes spreading up to 165 feet or even 300-500 feet from the plant.
Gardeners often place it near entryways, patios, or windows to enjoy its pervasive scent. The plant’s extract is also utilized in perfumery, contributing a thick, powdery, and sometimes honeysuckle-like note to attars and essential oils. In aromatherapy, the oil is believed to promote relaxation, alleviate anxiety, and support improved sleep quality.
Traditional Uses
Historically, various cultures have attributed non-aromatic uses to Cestrum nocturnum in traditional medicine systems. These applications are based on historical practices and may not have scientific validation. Traditional uses include:
Pain and inflammation relief (boiled leaves).
Topical application for burn injuries and skin inflammations.
Sedative and anxiolytic properties for relaxation and sleep.
Antimicrobial properties for infections and wound healing.
Alleviating respiratory symptoms (coughs, colds, congestion).
Regulating menstrual cycles, reducing fevers, and supporting digestive health.
Mosquito repellent (volatile oil).
Reported use as a stupefying charm.
Ecological and Landscape Value
Night-blooming Jasmine holds ecological and aesthetic value in landscape settings. Its night-blooming flowers attract nocturnal pollinators like moths and bats, contributing to local biodiversity and making it suitable for pollinator-friendly gardens.
As an ornamental, this bushy evergreen shrub features gracefully arching branches and glossy dark green leaves. Growing 3 to 13 feet tall, it serves as a fragrant hedge, screen, or container plant, enhancing tropical and subtropical landscapes with its lush foliage and unique flowering habit. The plant is known for its fast growth and vigorous nature.
Important Precautions
Despite its appealing fragrance and traditional uses, all parts of Cestrum nocturnum are toxic if ingested. This toxicity extends to humans, pets, and livestock, with the berries being particularly poisonous. Ingestion can lead to symptoms such as elevated temperature, rapid pulse, excessive salivation, gastritis, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headaches, and abnormal behavior. In severe cases, especially for pets, it can cause seizures or kidney damage, requiring immediate veterinary attention.
Beyond ingestion, the plant’s powerful nocturnal fragrance can also pose health risks. For sensitive individuals, inhaling too much scent may lead to respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Those with respiratory sensitivities, like asthma, might find close proximity to the flowering plant at night triggers symptoms. Caution is advised when handling the plant, and it should be kept out of reach of children and pets.