Night queen plant

December 2022

Botanical Name: Cestrum nocturnal

Night-blooming jasmine is a fast-growing woody shrub of the Solanaceae family. Night jasmine is not true jasmine. The greenish-white tubular flowers emit a strong fragrance at night time to attract pollinators. Thus the plant is called Night Queen or Night Jasmine. This plant has a long blooming period in summer.

They spread vigorously but can be grown in containers or as border hedges with proper maintenance.

All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and animals. Especially the berries.

Night queen

How to grow Night queen?

1. Grow in Full Sun

Sunlight is essential for plants to thrive. Plants require sunlight to produce food and energy. They also need light to make photosynthesis happen, which converts carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and carbohydrates.

2. Water Regularly

Plants need regular watering to stay alive. When plants dry out, they stop producing food and begin to die. To avoid overwatering, look for signs of wilting leaves. Overwatering can cause root rot.

3. Feed Regularly

Feeding your plants regularly keeps them strong and healthy. Use fertilizer according to the instructions on the package.

4. Provide Good Air Circulation

Air circulation is necessary for plants to breathe properly. Without airflow, plants cannot absorb nutrients and moisture.

5. Add Mulch

Mulch acts like a blanket around roots and prevents weeds from growing. It also holds in moisture and protects the soil from drying out.

6. Re-pot Every 2 Years

Repotting is when you change the pot size of your plant. It allows the plant to grow bigger and stronger.

7. Prune Dead Leaves

Dead leaves can block airflow and prevent proper growth. Remove dead leaves before they fall to the ground.

8. Pests and diseases

Aphids and caterpillars can sometimes attack the plant. You can get away with these pests with a blast of stream of water. Insecticidal soaps or neem oil can also control aphids. Caterpillars can be manually picked off.

Traditional uses of Night blooming jasmine

Traditionally, Night jasmine has been used for topical application on burns, wounds, and skin inflammation.
Night jasmine also has antiviral and antibacterial health benefits.
The plant extract is used as an antispasmodic and to treat for epilepsy.
Laboratory studies have shown that the extracts can inhibit tumor growth.

Night queen