Chilean Jessamine is a semi-evergreen South American shrub that blooms from June through frost with wonderfully fragrant, showy flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Hardy in zones 7 to 10, this fast-growing plant reaches 5 to 10 feet tall and spreads 3 to 7 feet wide, thriving in full sun and tolerating everything from clay to sandy soils. The plant's common names reflect its graceful willow-like foliage, though its journey from native habitat across central Chile, Argentina, and into southern Brazil has made it a global traveler, escaping cultivation in warm regions worldwide.
Full Sun
Moderate
7-10
120in H x 84in W
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Moderate
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Chilean Jessamine delivers fragrant blossoms throughout the entire growing season, from June straight through until the first frost arrives. The plant bounces back readily from cold damage, resprouting from its roots in spring even after winter dieback in colder zones. Its remarkable adaptability to poor soils, clay conditions, and varying moisture levels means it thrives where other ornamentals struggle, while remaining low-maintenance and deer-resistant.
Chilean Jessamine functions as an ornamental shrub valued for its extended bloom season and fragrant flowers. The plant's vigor and pollinator attraction make it useful for wildlife gardens, and its tolerance of challenging soil conditions allows it to fill landscape roles where many ornamentals fail.
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“Native to South America from central Chile and Argentina northward through southern Brazil, Paraguay, and the Bolivian Andes, Cestrum parqui has traveled far beyond its mountain origins. The plant escaped cultivation in subtropical regions worldwide, establishing itself in southern Africa, Europe, and parts of North America, though it became invasive in Australia. Its dual common names, Chilean Jessamine and willow-leaved jessamine, reflect both its geographic heritage and distinctive foliage, marking its journey from obscure South American native to widely distributed garden plant.”