Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Cestrum
Species: C. aurantiacum
Binomial name: Cestrum aurantiacum
Synonyms: Capraria lanceolate, Cestrum auriculatum, Cestrum chaculanum, Cestrum paucinervium, Cestrum pedunculare, Cestrum regelii, Cestrum warszewiczii, Habrothamnus aurantiacus
Common names: Orange cestrum, Orange jessamine, Orange-flowering jessamine, Yellow cestrum, Mango cestrum, Yellow shrub Jessamine
All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested and are extremely toxic to farm animals if grazing.
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Cestrum aurantiacum is an invasive shrub in the nightshade family Solanaceae. It is native to Mexico and Central America. It was first introduced into New Zealand as an ornamental plant but it has now been banned in New Zealand after it was listed as invasive species. It is now illegal under the Biosecurity Act to propagate, distribute or sell this plant - either casually or through nurseries - but existing plants are still allowed on private properties. It can be found throughout New Zealand in wastelands, coastal areas, gullys, roadsides and shrubland margins. It can forms dense stands preventing native species from establishing. It is spread by seeds, water and soil movement and dumping of garden waste.
Cestrum aurantiacum is evergreen, somewhat scrambling shrub or small tree that grows up to 2 m high. It has hairless stems and its leaves are simple, 4-15 cm long. They smell strong when bruised. It flowers from November to July. The tubular flowers are scentless, orange in colour and are 2-2.5 cm long with petal margins that are bent backwards. They are arranged in clusters at branch tips and in the leaf axils.
The flowers are followed by small, round, white berries which are poisonous.
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