Amazing Plants That Only Bloom At Night
Night-blooming plants are fascinating natural phenomena. While most flowers open up with the sun, there are a few special species that only reveal their true essence in the moonlight. Featuring a few night-blooming plants has several benefits. They attract nocturnal pollinators, offer evening beauty, and often fill your yard with intoxicating aromas. The key is knowing which night-blooming plants are best for your yard.
Great night-blooming varieties to plant for lovely smells include gardenia, night-blooming jasmine, mock orange, and tuberose. The moonflower, night phlox, and angel's trumpet are quintessential nighttime blossoms. The queen of the night cactus is a perfect evening flower for drier climates. For orchid lovers, consider the nocturnum orchid. Night gladiolus, four o’clock alba, and night-scented stock are ornate choices for anyone who desires to create a nighttime garden.
Every garden should have a few flowers that bloom at night. Not only are these plants fascinating conversation starters, but they also add beauty to any garden they inhabit. If your garden doesn’t have any nighttime pollinators or fragrance-producing flowers, then this article is for you. Below is a list of the top night-blooming plants you should consider adding to your garden.
13 Beautiful Plants That Only Bloom At Night
1. Night-Blooming Jasmine
Perhaps the most iconic and intoxicating of all the flowers that bloom only in the evening is night-blooming jasmine. This shrub looks green and ordinary by day. Once the sun sets and the moon rises, however, this jasmine variety reveals tiny white and yellow tube-like flowers.
In addition to its beautiful evening vusuals, night-blooming jasmine has a strong and lovely perfume-like aroma. It is the perfect addition to any sub-tropical or tropical yard. Plant it near patio areas and windows to enjoy its aroma every night.
2. Mock Orange
Another flower known for its incredible scent is mock orange. While these flowers can bloom during the day or night, and last for weeks, their fragrance comes alive at night. The flowers are named after a citrus plant, as the small, sweet-smelling flowers are very similar to orange blossoms.
This hearty shrub makes for excellent hedges in warm climates and is a great plant to incorporate into landscaping near the home. Be aware, however, that this plant can cause allergic reactions in those prone to specific pollen allergens.
3. Moonflower
The moonflower is a fabled night-blooming plant. This vine looks like any other green-leafed vine by day, but at night it comes alive. Its cup-shaped white flowers bloom in the early evening and close before dawn.
The size of this flower attracts several night-time pollinators, including the hummingbird moth. The moonflower vine grows quickly and is a great climber. This makes it a good option for those with archways or pergolas that are used in the evening.
4. Night Phlox
If you are looking for a smaller and more manageable nighttime flower, then night phlox is a great option. For one, this plant thrives in pots and container gardens. Therefore, you can grow it outdoors just about anywhere that has well-drained soil.
Furthermore, while this plant might be smaller than others on this list, it is loaded with fragrance. Night phlox is known for its vanilla and cake-like smell, which is very enjoyable. It attracts night-time pollinators as well, making it beneficial to your garden’s ecosystem.
5. Queen Of The Night Cactus
For those living in dry climates, where it’s hard to grow most flowers, there is one elusive night-blooming flower you should consider. The queen of the night cactus is special for several reasons, most of all because it produces large, fragrant white flowers that bloom once a year, and only for a few hours.
This cactus is considered sacred in several cultures. It is a great plant to have year-round, and it is cause for celebration when it blooms annually. There aren’t many plants you can grow that will spark as much conversation as the queen of the night cactus.
6. TuberoseÂ
Those who love floral perfumes are likely already familiar with tuberose. This flower blooms at night, revealing beautiful and fragrant flowers. These flowers are popular in flower arrangements, Hawaiian lei-making, and are often cultivated to make perfumes.Â
This plant loves warm weather and thrives in tropical regions, and in warm, humid states like Texas and other parts of the American South. It is a perennial, which means these sweet-smelling flowers will grow back year after year.
7. Casa Blanca Lily
Most night-blooming flowers are small and unassuming, but the Casa Blanca lily is an exception. This lily species has flowers that grow up to 10 inches wide. These lilies bloom at night, but last for many days.
The plant’s longevity makes it a perfect flower to add to arrangements that you want to last for a long time. It is completely white, making it look pure and ethereal. It grows in cool and warmer climates, and thrives in the sun and partial shade.
8. Nocturnum Orchid
If you’re an orchid lover, then consider adding the Nocturnum to your orchid arsenal. This orchid species is special for several reasons. For one, it blooms at night. It also has fragrance, which is rare for orchids, as most species are frangrance-free.
The flower is white with green accents, and is sure to be a unique addition to any orchid garden. This plant likes humid air and warmth, which makes it ideal for greenhouses and is great for those who live in tropical and warm wetland regions.
9. Angel’s Trumpet
The angel's trumpet is another fabled flower that is honored and feared by many cultures. This large bell-shaped orange flower blooms downward (or upside down). Like many other downward-blooming flowers, the angel’s trumpet is toxic when consumed.
As long as you don’t have pets or small children to worry about, the angel’s trumpet is worth growing. Its unique flower shape and subtle fragrance make it a great addition to any warm-weather garden.
10. Night GladiolusÂ
While many night-blooming flowers on this list are white or yellow, the night gladiolus has a much different hue. While it can grow in soft pinks and yellows, it is most commonly a rich burgundy color.
It grows as a stalk, and these long-lasting, bold blooms add great color and height to any garden. This intriguing flower is native to South Africa and enjoys mild weather with plenty of sun.
11. Gardenia
Gardenias are another flower sought after by those who love perfume-like flowers. Gardenias are, in fact, added to many perfumes to give them a sweet floral note. Once you smell a freshly-bloomed gardenia in the evening, you’ll understand why.
These thick-petaled white flowers come in several varieties. The gardenia is a perennial bush with waxy green leaves. This makes them ideal shrubs to plant near your window if you live in a tropical or sub-tropical climate.
12. Four O’Clock Alba
The four o’clock alba is named after the time it opens. These flowers, native to South America, bloom in the late afternoon (around 4 p.m.) and reveal their colorful blooms.Â
In addition to their prompt afternoon bloom time, this flower comes in several colors. Often, one plant will contain multiple colors, which makes it a great plant for those looking to add a variety of colors to the garden.
13. Night-Scented Stock
Night-scented stalks are another easy-to-grow flower that comes alive at night. While this plant’s white, purple, and pink blooms are visible during the day, its aroma comes alive at night. The fragrance attracts many evening pollinators.
Night scented stalks are easy to grow and tend to come back each year, as they self-seed.
Final Notes On Beautiful Plants That Only Bloom At Night
No garden is complete without at least one night-blooming plant. These intriguing flowers provide colors and frangrance when many of your other plants are sleeping. This helps attract nocturnal pollinators and adds a refreshing scent to the evening breeze.Â
Some of the most popular and fragrant night-blooming flowers include gardenias, night-blooming jasmine, tuberose, and the moonflower. The angel’s trumpet, night gladiolus, and Casa Blanca lily all have distinct and beautiful blooms. For something different, consider planting the queen of the night cactus, or the nocturnum orchid.
Related Guides:
- 15 Beautiful Flowers That Can Handle Extreme Heat
- 36 Names Of Blue Flowers (With Photos)
- 12 Plants That Will Bring Butterflies Into Your Yard
Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
More by Tom Gaffey
