Cestrum elegans Rubrum

Cestrum elegans (purpureum) 'Rubrum' is a selection of purple cestrum that charms with its clusters of small tubular flowers in a deep pink-red colour. This richly coloured flowering is very long, from late spring to the end of summer, and is well highlighted by its long dark green leaves, as well as its red fruiting which is attractive. With a flexible, elegant, and colourful habit, this bush has a certain charm. But its sensitivity to frost requires it to be grown most often in a pot, to be able to shelter it in winter. In southern gardens spared by heavy frosts, it can be planted in the ground with winter protection.

Cestrum elegans 'Rubrum' belongs to the Solanaceae family, just like Solanums and tomatoes. It is a shrub native to Mexico, whose foliage theoretically persists in winter. The above-ground vegetation is destroyed below 0°C (32 °F), but the stump is capable of regrowth after a brief freeze of around -5°C (23 °F). The plant has a flexible and slightly open habit, supported by slightly arched stems. With rapid growth, the purple cestrum reaches about 3m (9ft 10in) in height and 1.20m (3ft 11in) in spread in the ground, but retains more modest dimensions in a pot. The alternate arranged leaves are simple, narrow, lanceolate, glabrous, and a matte dark green on the upper side, lighter and downy underneath. Flowering generally begins in June, earlier or later depending on the climate and growing conditions. It will continue until the end of September or early October if faded flowers are removed. The flowers are gathered in slightly trailing terminal clusters of dark red-pink colour, measuring about 10cm (3.9in) long. Each flower has the shape of a small tube that opens into a star at its end. After pollination, small round berries form and turn red when ripe.

Cestrum 'Rubrum' is capable of flowering almost all year round if the plant is protected from frost in winter in a very bright conservatory, making it an excellent orangery plant. In addition to its ornamental qualities, it is a low-demanding shrub in terms of soil, as long as it is fertile and not too dry. In a garden on the Mediterranean or south Atlantic coast, this beautiful plant will go well with the Cape Leadwort, Tarentina Myrtle, oleander or an Indian Lilac, for example.