Night-blooming jasmine is more fragrant at night, and blooms abundantly with proper care

Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum) is a common climbing ornamental plant, with slender, soft branches and opposite leaves, and flowers that are mostly yellow-green and often open around dusk. Its most notable trait is that its fragrance is especially intense at night and relatively faint during the day, which is related to its method of pollination, relying mainly on insects active at night to complete pollination.

It should be noted that more than one plant is called night-blooming jasmine. Besides the common climbing night-blooming jasmine, there is also the woody night-blooming jasmine (night jessamine), as well as evening primrose, which is also nicknamed night-blooming jasmine. They share the same or similar names, yet their forms and habits differ considerably, so it is best to first clarify the specific variety before buying or planting.

As for care, night-blooming jasmine likes a warm, sunny environment and is suited to loose, well-drained soil. During the growing season, keep the soil moist but not waterlogged; appropriate fertilizing helps it bloom, and pruning the branches after flowering not only keeps the plant's shape attractive but also encourages new shoots to sprout. In the north, where winter temperatures are low, it needs to be moved indoors or given good protection against the cold.

Night-blooming jasmine is often planted in courtyards, by windows, or on balconies; on summer nights when people sit out to cool off, its waves of fragrance are refreshing, and folk belief also commonly holds that its scent has some mosquito-repelling effect. However, this flower's fragrance is strong, and keeping it for a long time in a closed bedroom may affect rest, so it is recommended to grow it on a ventilated balcony or in a yard, and simply close the doors and windows at night.