July 27 I took a single cutting from Cestrum 'Orange Peel'. It was a flowering stem, because they all were flowering. I cut off the flower. I stuck it in some potting soil/seed mix. A month later it had 'taken' and I potted it up into this 3" pot. It has lived in my dining room near floor to ceiling window, now is in south-facing bathroom window. It is now flowering! I very lightly fertilized it a few times, even tho it is dark, because it was growing so fast.
mlm, I have never heard of this plant. It is beautiful!! It has to be a tropical. right? How big is the mother plant? Can you get a picture of the whole thing? Would love to see it. How long have you had it? Jeanette
I bought a 1 gallon plant of Cestrum 'Orange Peel', on a whim I think about 2-4 years ago.. I loved the soft but glowing orange flowers, and it was advertised as blooming spring to fall. It seemed borderline hardy for my zone 8 garden. I put it in this big blue ceramic pot, where it gets almost full sun, and lots of reflected heat from the concrete and bricks. My plan was to put it in the garage when we had a hard freeze. 2013/14 winter we had two really long hard freezes, to about 10 degrees, each time I forgot to bring it in the first night or two, then I forgot to take it back out so it dried up in the garage. However although many of the branches died back somewhat, it recovered and again bloomed. 2014 summer it was neglected, not watered enough (it liked daily watering in summer) or fertilized but did fine. We have had two several day freezes this winter, both to 17 degrees, and it got encrusted with frozen snow the second time, but it is alive, I did not bother to take it in. I think it wants to be in the ground, it was a bit sparse this year, but has totally proven to me it is hardy here For you it would surely have to come in in the winter, but it would I think love your summer heat.
It is a hybrid of C. diurnum and C. nocturnum, both woody shrubs native to the Caribbean. It is sold by Monrovia. They say in zone 8 and warmer it is deciduous shrub to 6 feet, zone 7 it is a perennial getting to 3-5 feet each year regrowing from underground.
It really does bloom spring until frost. Hard to capture the color with camera. I will probably make a bunch of cuttings in the spring, for trades. I will plant my new little one in the ground.
#1,2- Sept 2013
#3- July 2014
#4- Aug 2014
#5- Nov 2014 still a few small blooms
Well mlm, it certainly doesn't appear that you hurt it any with your on again, off again, care of it. And yes, if it will start from cuttings you certainly should have a lot.
Does it have a smell? Just from the name I would think it would be wonderful.
Sadly, although very sweet the smell is not very strong, but I don't have much of a nose anymore. It might be more noticeable in a hotter, moister climate. Oh well, can't have everything I guess.
Wow MLM, what a gorgeous shrub. Kudos for your amazing propagating skill, you make it sound so easy...
Check the scent at night.
Hi everyone, just thought I would let you know I changed my name from mlmlakestevens to Pistil. It looks like they change it on all old posts too.
