The Shrub Gardeners Love For Privacy Quickly Forms A Dense And Versatile Hedge

When you need a little more privacy in your yard, you'll often look for shrubs that grow quickly and densely to provide a lovely screen. To that end, there's a shrub that gardeners in warmer regions adore for the seclusion it can provide in a short amount of time. As a bonus, the plant also blooms with the most delightfully scented flowers in the evening to create a gorgeous ambience around your outdoor relaxing and entertaining area. This shrub is known as night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum). While there are many types of hedges you can plant for privacy, night-blooming jasmine can be trimmed into a dense and versatile hedge to provide the perfect barrier for your outdoor space.

Despite the common name, it's not a true jasmine, but rather a member of the nightshade family of plants. Night-blooming jasmine is native to Central America and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11 because it doesn't handle frost or freezing temperatures. It has glossy, dark green leaves and white, tubular flowers that only open at night. These emit a musky fragrance that can fill the night air. Much like other hedges you can plant in your yard, this shrub grows fast and has the ability to reach a maximum height of 13 feet under ideal conditions. You need to be careful with the white berries that follow the flowers, as they are toxic. They're also the reason why this species has the risk of becoming invasive, according to the University of Florida, as they're attractive to birds who may spread the seeds beyond your garden. So, check with your local extension office before planting this shrub in your garden.

As long as you don't experience cold winters where you live, night-blooming jasmine is fairly easy to grow, preferring a mix of morning sun and afternoon shade. Ensure the soil is organically rich and well-drained. Provide ample moisture during dry spells to keep your shrub nice and dense. A balanced fertilizer given in spring will reward you with lush growth and abundant blooms. Remember the aroma can be overpowering, so avoid growing this in confined spaces or too close to bedroom windows if you're somewhat sensitive to strong fragrances.

Night-blooming jasmine responds well to pruning, and this is necessary if you want to form it into a hedge to accentuate the plant's natural vase shape. You could easily plant a row of these shrubs if you're trying to screen out an unpleasant view. Alternatively, you could just grow one specimen up against an unsightly part of a fence or the wall of a shed. Thanks to its night-blooming habit, this shrub also makes a great addition to a moon garden, if you have one of those. In cooler climates, you could grow this plant in a large container, so you can enjoy its fragrance during those balmy summer evenings. If you put the pot on a wheeled base, you could even move it around for added privacy when needed, and position it in a sheltered location when the weather starts to cool down.