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Definition of night blooming jasmine
night blooming jasmine
Plural:night blooming jasmines
night blooming jasmine Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A tropical, evergreen shrub (Cestrum nocturnum) native to the West Indies and Central America, cultivated for its small, greenish-white tubular flowers that emit a powerful, sweet fragrance primarily at night.
Example
"We planted a night blooming jasmine near the bedroom window so the evening breeze would carry its intense, sweet scent indoors."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its common name, the plant is a member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and not a true jasmine (genus Jasminum). It is frequently hyphenated in botanical literature as 'night-blooming jasmine'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive English compound coined because the plant's intense nocturnal fragrance is reminiscent of true jasmine, even though the species are botanically unrelated.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Night blooming jasmine. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/night blooming jasmine