Cestrum parqui aka Chilean Jessamine

Cestrum parqui is a shrub in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. People call it Chilean jessamine or willow-leaved jessamine. Most sources supplied place its home range in South America. They name Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and Uruguay. Kew's supplied record lists Central America instead. It grows in damp places and along roads. It also grows on ground that people have disturbed. People grow it for its flowers and evening scent.

This shrub grows fast. It may shed its leaves or keep some through winter. Garden plants stand about 5–10 feet (1.5–3.05 metres) tall. They spread about 3–7 feet (0.9–2.13 metres) wide. RHS gives a lower top height: 8.2 feet (2.5 metres). Its top spread is 4.9 feet (1.5 metres). Thin, woody stems stand upright, but branches can sprawl. Dark green leaves grow in turns along the stems. This leaf pattern is called alternate. The narrow leaves have a lance shape, known as lanceolate. They reach nearly five inches long.

Pale yellow-green flowers grow in groups at branch tips. They also form where leaves join the stems. Each flower forms a tube about one inch long. Their sweet scent becomes clear at night. Missouri Botanical Garden lists blooms from June until frost. Chicago's account gives midsummer until frost for that region. Egg-shaped, or ovoid, berries follow the blooms and turn brownish. The flowers draw pollinators, such as hummingbirds. The shrub draws other birds and butterflies too. It suits mixed borders, screens, patios, and large pots.

Give it full sun, though it accepts some shade. It grows best in moist soil that drains well. It can grow in sand, clay, chalk, and loam. It accepts a broad soil pH range. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA zones 7–10. RHS rates it H3. Frost harms the flowers and shoot tips. Stronger cold kills the growth above ground. Roots can send up new shoots in spring. A sheltered site and winter mulch help in colder gardens. Grow new plants from seeds or softwood cuttings. Air layering offers another way to raise plants.

Few serious pests or diseases trouble this shrub. Aphids sometimes occur, but deer tend to leave it alone. It has spread from gardens into the wild. It has become invasive in Australia and other regions. Strong growth and shallow roots make it hard to remove. Every part is poisonous. Eating it can harm both people and dogs. The sources record no edible uses. They report use for treating spasms and epilepsy. These reports do not show that such treatment is safe.