Cestrum nocturnum
(night jessamine)

C. nocturnum is a shrub or small tree listed as an “agricultural weed, cultivation escape, environmental weed, garden thug, naturalised, sleeper weed, weed” in the Global Compendium of Weeds (Randall, 2012). It poses a high risk of introduction due to its invasive traits which include reproducing profusely by seeds, which are small and easily transported through soil movement, flooding, and vegetation dumping (PIER, 2014); widespread distribution and naturalization beyond its native range; known toxicity to humans and animals; formation of dense thickets that crowd out native flora; and repeated introduction due to its popularity as an ornamental. The species is considered native to the Antilles and Central America, but is now widespread throughout both the Old and New World tropics and is known to be invasive to many places including Hawaii, the Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Western Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia, and New Zealand (Motooka et al, 2003; Randall, 2012; PIER, 2014; Wagner et al, 2014). 

C. nocturnum is considered native to the Americas, but has been cultivated for its strong-scented flowers and has become naturalized and even invasive in many parts of both the New and Old World tropics, especially the Pacific region (PIER, 2014; Wagner et al, 2014). It has been recorded as common throughout the Mesoamerican region (Gentry and D’Arcy, 1986). Previous records had reported the species as native only to South America (Pammel, 1911).

The species was listed as native to Cuba by PIER (2014) and USDA-ARS (2014), but as exotic by Acevedo-Rodriguez and Strong (2012), and was simply recorded as a cultivated species by Hanelt et al. (2001).

In the Old World tropics, the species is heavily represented in the Pacific region and known to be invasive to many islands (see Distribution table; PIER, 2014). It is reportedly cultivated in China and Singapore for ornamental purposes only (An-ming, 1986; Chong et al., 2009) and in India as a common ornamental cultivation (Deb, 1979).

The species is not listed in Wagner et al.’s (2014) flora of the Marquesas Islands, or the Forzza et al. (2010) work on Brazil.

The variety C. nocturnum var. mexicanum O.E. Schulz was reported for French Guyana by Funk et al. (2007) (as syn. Cestrummultiflorum Roem. & Schult.).

Based on the current literature, risk of introduction for this species is very high. In a risk assessment prepared for Hawaii, C. nocturnum received a high risk score of 17 (score over 6=reject for import, species likely to become a major pest) (PIER, 2014). Not only does it reproduce profusely by seeds, but it is repeatedly introduced outside of its native range due to its continued popularity as an ornamental. It is known to be toxic to both humans and animals, but is used in traditional medicine (USDA-ARS, 2014). The species is known as an aggressive colonizer of disturbed areas, and is capable of forming dense impenetrable thickets in the undergrowth of some forest systems, possibly displacing other plant species and altering natural successional processes (ISSG, 2014). Other invasive traits include its broad climatic suitability and reported invasiveness, especially in Pacific Islands and warm, wet climates (PIER, 2014).

C. nocturnum thrives in moist or wet forests including riparian zones, secondary forests and dense lowland forests, scrub, as well as open areas, both natural and disturbed, and is commonly cultivated in gardens (ISSG, 2014). In Fiji, the species is both cultivated in settled areas and naturalized in thickets and open forest, and in New Caledonia, it is a common garden escape (PIER, 2014). The species is reportedly naturalized on coastal districts of central and northern New South Wales (Weeds of Australia, 2014). In Nicaragua, it is widespread in dry to humid forests (Flora of Nicaragua, 2014). In Panama it has been observed growing along edges of rivers and railways and adjacent rain forest (Flora of Panama, 2014). The species is also known as an aggressive invader of disturbed sites including trailsides, forest gaps and landslides (ISSG, 2014).

Genetics

2n=16 (Wagner et al., 2014).

Reproductive Biology

Seeds are few and encased in white berries 8-10 mm in diameter (Wagner et al., 2014). They are produced after 18 months of establishment and can remain dormant in the soil for many years (ISSG, 2014). The species also propagates readily through cuttings of roots or stems (Floridata, 2014; ISSG, 2014).

Environmental Requirements

C. nocturnum thrives in light, sandy soil and can adapt to a variety of soil types and conditions, but has low salt and waterlogging tolerance. It does best under full sun but tolerates light shade (Floridata, 2014; IFAS, 2014).

C. nocturnum occurs at low-to-mid elevations. In Nicaragua the species occurs between 40 and 1000 m (Flora of Nicaragua, 2014). In Antioquia, Colombia, the species has been reported for elevations of 1000-1500 m (Vascular Plants of Antioquia, 2014), and similarly in Madagascar, where the species lives in humid to submuhid bioclimate, the species occurs between 1500 and 1999 m (Madagascar Catalogue, 2014). In Panama, the species has been observed both at elevations below 100 m and above 2500 m (Flora of Panama, 2014).

Environmental

• Boundary, barrier or support

General

• Botanical garden/zoo
• Ornamental

Materials

• Poisonous to mammals

Medicinal, pharmaceutical

• Traditional/folklore

Ornamental

• Potted plant

Due to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.

Physical/Mechanical control

Small plants and seedlings can be hand pulled all year round and left on site to rot down; since stems can resprout and reinfestation can occur through the seed bank, cleared sites should be replanted to prevent regrowth (ISSG, 2014).

Chemical Control

Cutting and painting the cut surface with a herbicide solution can be done all year round (ISSG, 2014). Kökeÿe Museum staff have reported good control of the species with triclopyr ester at 20% in crop oil applied to basal bark, and the species may be sensitive to foliar applications of triclopyr (Motooka et al., 2003).

Further research on the extent of C. nocturnum’s environmental impact is needed, especially as this species possesses many high-risk invasive traits and may have already contributed to the extinction of another species (ISSG, 2014). The species was not, for example, included in the National Plant Pest Accord of New Zealand primarily due to a lack of information on current distribution and potential effects (ISSG, 2014). Other areas of recommended research are the prevention of cultivation escape and effectiveness of current control methods.

24/2/2014 Original text by:

Marianne Jennifer Datiles, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA

Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA