Night-Blooming Jasmine
Cestrum nocturnum
Family: Solanaceae · Also called Queen of the Night, Raat ki Rani, Lady of the Night, Cestrum multiflorum, Cestrum suberosum, Cestrum spicatum
Heady & Exotic · Summer bloomer
Night-blooming jasmine is perhaps the most powerfully scented plant you can grow, its tiny, tubular greenish-white flowers are unremarkable by day, but after sunset they release a fragrance so intense it can perfume an entire neighborhood. The scent is sweet, narcotic, and slightly green, intoxicating in small doses, overwhelming in large ones.
night, mystery, dangerous attraction
In the Victorian language of flowers, night-blooming jasmine means “Dangerous nocturnal enchantment”. Night-blooming jasmine (not a true jasmine but a nightshade relative) is both beloved and banned, some Asian cities restrict planting near homes because the scent can trigger headaches and respiratory issues. In the tropics, it's planted as a natural mosquito deterrent. The plant is pollinated by night-flying moths attracted to its powerful scent.
Did You Know?
Despite its common name, night-blooming jasmine is not a jasmine at all, it belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae), making it a relative of tomatoes and deadly nightshade. The berries are toxic. In some tropical regions, the plant is deliberately placed away from bedroom windows because the scent disrupts sleep.
Tropical and subtropical forests and thickets of the Caribbean and Central America
Night-Blooming Jasmine is native to West Indies, Central America. It naturally grows in tropical and subtropical forests and thickets of the caribbean and central america.
Scent Profile
“An overwhelmingly sweet, narcotic fragrance released only at night, so powerful it can cause headaches and is banned in some Asian hospitals.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameCestrum nocturnum
- FamilySolanaceae
- Native ToWest Indies, Central America
- Bloom SeasonSummer
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Night-blooming jasmine (not a true jasmine but a nightshade relative) is both beloved and banned, some Asian cities restrict planting near homes because the scent can trigger headaches and respiratory issues. In the tropics, it's planted as a natural mosquito deterrent. The plant is pollinated by night-flying moths attracted to its powerful scent.