Family: Solanaceae

Cestrum aurantiacum (orange cestrum, yellow cestrum) is a deciduous shrub native to Central America.  It is commonly grown in gardens as a climbing plant on trellises. It has become invasive in some areas of Africa, Asia, and Australia, and is naturalized on Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. This plant readily climbs over native trees and vegetation, smothering and killing them. Cestrum aurantiacum is toxic to people and livestock and has caused numerous cattle deaths. The unripe berry is fatal for sheep and leaves can lead to non-fatal poisoning. For this reason this species is problematic and unwanted in both natural areas and on kept pastures.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Oʻahu, Maui and Hawaiʻi Island and elsewhere worldwide
  
• An environmental weed in Africa and New Zealand
  
• Other Cestrum species are invasive
  
• Unpalatable
  
• Toxic to animals and people
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Forms dense thickets
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by suckers
  
• Autogamous
  
• Dispersed by birds, water, dumped garden waste and intentionally cultivated
  
• Resprouts after cutting or top damage

Low Risk Traits:

• Although naturalized, negative impacts have not been reported in the Hawaiian Islands
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Seed set in the Hawaiian Islands may be limited or absent
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control