Cestrum Nocturnum

HI guys, I just know you're going to be able to help me on this one!
Came across this plant for the first time in Turkey, last year. Stunning scent. I know it's tender and I know it likes the heat.
I've found where I cvan get seeds but I also know that Mehmet wil let me take as many cuttings as I want. Am I better to try the seeds or wait until I go back and get some cuttings? The cuttings will have to survive in wet tissue for 24hrs. :confused:

 

Hi carjary, why not try both?

 

Hi cajary and morning Blackthorn.

I had C nocturum and, although it had a lovely fragrance, found it an untidy plant even with trimming so have replaced it with C 'Newellii' which has larger clusters of red flowers but is unfortunately unscented. It is hardier than the C nocturum.

As to bringing cuttings back, they will survive in wet tissue and then wrapped in a plastic bag to retain the moisture. I post cuttings to the UK and they can take from 2-5 days and arrive safely.

 

Yup, I'll second that!!
Those cuttings you sent me are doing great LoL!! I lost one of the Cestrums to a Spawn/Bathroom blind incident :rolleyes: but the other has started to get new leaves The jasmines and honeysuckles have rooted and the Cobea seedlings are getting their second leaves

No problems sending cuttings if LoLs are anything to go by Caj

 

The two cestrum cuttings I got from LoL are doing very nicely - they're the two at the front of this photo. The ones at the back are the Furcraea bedinghausii - ready for World Domination! :D

 

Well done windy, you really have had success ... you'll soon be filling up thoses trellises! Be interesting to know which of the Cestrums you lost.

Well done you too, dendro. The one on the left is the one I got up in the mountains and I believe is the C elegans. The right hand is from my C 'Newellii' ... you can see how different they look.

This is my plant you two and walnut had cuttings from ... sorry they were so small but as you can tell by these flowers, there were few and small tips to nip off, as the shrub was budding already.

 

Do you reckon they'd be ok outside here, LoL, in a sheltered area, or should I play it safe (as usual!!) and have them in pots to bring over the winter?

My own feeling is that they won't like the wet winter, even if they could cope with the cold......

 

I would think in pots, dendro, as walnut said they are Iochromas (ie, Brugs, Daturas, Solanums, etc) but he is the one to ask, wherever he may be pedalling to! :D

 

With a bit of luck he'll see this thread, probably early tomorrow morning!

 

Hi guys, thanks for the advice. I'd rather do one or t'other rather than both. If they're difficult to germinate from seed the I'll wait and get cuttings. I've only got a small gardene and limited facilities for over wintering. (Already got Brugs. and Pelargoniums) I would, ideally, like to grow it indoors so that we can have the scent through the house, thanks again

 

cajary, the one you want is called Lady of the Night because of the fragrance and very popular here. If I can "appropriate" a cutting for you I will ... but no guarantees.

 

Hi,LoL. Yep, that's the one, I only used the Latin name because there is a Jasmine with the same title. That'd be great, if you could but even if you can't, thanks for the thought

 

Hi LoL and Dendy the cestrum cuttings are doing great the Elegans keeps sending flower buds but I am taking them off allowing the energy to go into root growth, Dendy I will take them inside for winter this year next year I will take some cuttings then maybe try the established one outside the following winter.

 

I've brought cuttings back from the Canary Islands in a sandwich box with damp tissue. I raised some salvia canariense years ago which I still have. Oops - hope it's not illegal. Also the Isle of Wight last summer - not quite so exotic but still very pretty. It pays to keep a sandwich box and a bottle of water in the car just in case I get offered a snippet of something because the weather is usually blistering just when you want to take a nice semi-ripe cutting.
They have C. nocturnum on eBay at the moment for about a tenner.
Cajary, I've got room to squeeze another plant into my unheated greenhouse this winter if you need the space...........

 

Hello Madahhlia, don't think I've welcomed you to GC ... so bem-vindo!

You are talking about Lady of the Night.

Yes, cuttings are easy to bring back carefully wrapped in wet tissue / plastic bags. I lived on the IoW, my last home in the UK, and I have many plants ... not just cuttings, from there.