Cestrum aurantiacum - the Mango Cestrum - lights up the garden with tons of happy, little flowers the color of orange mango pulp.  This hard-to-find Guatemalan form is easy to grow in a variety of conditions, and it can bloom nearly all year long.  You'll want to show off this upbeat plant right where everyone can see it - including the hummingbirds! 

The Mango Cestrum is an evergreen bush or small tree that grows about 15 feet tall here in San Francisco, but you can prune it down to any size you wish.  It grows well in a container, and can even be grown as a bonsai plant!  Even without flowers it is an attractive plant, with lush, bright green foliage with a satiny sheen.  The inch long, trumpet-shaped blooms appear throughout most of the year.  A yellower form of this species exists, however this form is bright orange like the photos.  The petals open with a star-shaped formation, and then roll back, giving the blooms a rounder shape.  After flowering, attractive, white berries appear as an added bonus!

The Mango Cestrum is said to tolerate temperatures down to 25-30 degrees F (-3 C), although it grows best when protected from frost.  Despite coming from a mild climate, it is known to grow in warmer areas like Florida and Texas.  It can flower in a variety of lighting conditions, from part sun to full sun.  Some shade from strong afternoon sun might be needed in hotter conditions.  It grows best in well-draining soil, with regular watering and feeding, much like its cousin, Brugmansia.  It grows well indoors in a pot, where it can bloom year-round!  The fruit and leaves of some Cestrum species contain a toxin, so keep pets and small kids from munching on it.  This is a non-invasive species.

Beware of fake or mislabeled Cestrum seeds.  I guarantee my plants & seeds are the form shown above.

Germination tips for this plant