Cestrum aurantiacum
NPPA pest plant
Environmental Weed (2024)
Common names
orange cestrum
Family
Solanaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
CESAUR
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Detailed description
Shrub to c.2m high. Lvs glabrous. Petiole 1-5 cm long. Lamina 4-15 x 2-7 cm, oblong-ovate; branches puberulent or glabrate; fls sessile or shortly pedicellate, scentless. Calyx tube 6-8 mm long; lobes subulate-accuminate, 0.7-2mm long, ciliate in sinuses. Corolla 2-2.5 cm long, orange; tube +/- cylindric-funnelform; lobes c.3mm long, puberulent inside, becoming strongly reflexed, acuminate. Fr. c. 1.5x2cm, +/- broadly ellipsoid, white; apex truncate. (Webb.et.al.1988)
Similar taxa
Flowers scentless, corolla orange
Flowering
November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June, July.
Flower colours
Orange
Life cycle
Perennial. Seeds as well as suckers, although fruits are uncommon.
Year naturalised
1958
Origin
Guatemala
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.
Environmental Weed (2024)
This plant is named in a list of environmental weeds in New Zealand 2024 prepared by DOC. 759 candidate species were considered for inclusion on this new comprehensive list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. The species considered were drawn from published lists of weed species, lists of plants that must be reported or managed by law if observed, existing national and regional programmes and agreements for pest management, and species already managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Candidate species were then assessed to see if they were fully naturalised and whether they have more than minor impacts in natural ecosystems. Read the full report here.