Plant Min Zone: 6a
Plant Max Zone: 11b
Sunlight: All Day Full Sun, Full Sun
Water / Rainfall: Average
Soil Quality: Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Summer, Late Summer, Fall
Flower Color: Yellowish White
Berry / Fruit Color: Black
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: Yes
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerance: Medium
Poor Soil Tolerance: Clay Soils
Height: 3' - 5'
Width: 3' - 5'
Growth Rate: Medium, Fast
Service Life: Medium: 3-5 years
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: Medium
Yearly Trimming Tips: Shrub Normally Winter-kills so trim to 3-6" off Ground in Winter or Early Spring: Blooms on New Wood.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3, Small Grouping of 3-5
Best Side of House: South Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: None
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest, Large Tropical Foliage / Flowers, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: None
Possible Pest Problems: None
Plant Limitations: May get Occasional Winter-kill, Needs Thick Winter Mulch, May be Poisonous, Unwanted Self-seeding
Jessamine / Hardy Cestrums are relatively new and upcomming plant. Our mix of species were purchased from Bustani Plant Farm in Stillwater, OK. Mostly listed as hardy to zone 7, you can easily push this into zone 6 with a layer of thick winter mulch. Mix of the following species proven hardy in Lawrence, KS: Cestrum aurantiacum, Cestrum ‘Greystone Gold’, Cestrum ‘Orange Peel’. Many visitors in the display garden are amazed by the uniqueness and beauty. It really resembles a "yellow flowering lilac" with flowers and foliage. Similar to a Crapemyrtle, These Cestrum varieties are hardy outside when grown as a perennial and cut back hard each year. During the growing season, fertilize, water regularly, and plant in full sun. Plant a little deep at first; about 2-3" deep with 4-6" of mulch. In our trial gardens in Lawrence, KS (zone 6a), the following varieties survived after being mulched 6-12" with leaf mulch. During the arctic blast of January, 2024, lows down to -11 degrees F on Jan 10th, 2024 were recorded. The longevity of this cold blast was also impressive: 4 days on a row with single digit highs including 1 day with a negative high(-2F), 4 nights of lows in negatives(-8For lower), and 48 straight hours of 0 degrees F and mostly lower.