Night-Blooming Flowers

Enjoy your garden 24/7 by planting these beautiful, fragrant flowers that bring new meaning to the term nightlife.

By: Jessica Yonker

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Image courtesy of Bruce Leander for Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Photo By: Image courtesy of Bruce Leander for Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Photo By: Image courtesy of the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Photo By: Image courtesy of ThinkStock

Flowers That Bloom at Night

Gardens feel extra magical in the evening, when the setting sun and rising moon lend an ethereal glow. To accentuate the effect, plant night-blooming flowers — like moonflower (shown here) — whose internal clocks, it seems, are tuned more to the moon than the sun.

Moonflower

Datura wrightii is known by many names — datura, moonflower, jimsonweed, sacred datura — and has quite an interesting history, including use as a hallucinogen. Georgia O'Keefe painted them often from her home in New Mexico. What we like best about moonflower is its silky-white night-opening blooms that attract sphinx moths and other pollinators.

Nicotiana

Also known as flowering tobacco or night-scented tobacco, the trumpet-shaped flowers of nicotiana plants open in late afternoon into night, when the sweet perfume fills the air. A native of Brazil, nicotiana was introduced to English gardeners in the early 1800s and quickly became a favorite of English cottage gardens.

Chocolate Daisy

The chocolate flower, Berlandiera lyrata, blooms at night, releasing its heavenly chocolate scent until early in the morning.

Queen of the Night

Queen of the night only blooms once every one or two years. But once it does, prepare for a show. The nocturnal cactus can open several large flowers at once on summer nights.

'Red Flare' Water Lily

Nymphea 'Red Flare' is a tropical water lily with bold red blooms that float high over ponds and bogs through the night.

Dragonfuit Cactus

Beautiful, exotic dragonfruit comes from a night-blooming cactus. But be on the lookout: its flower only opens up for a single night before withering the next morning.

Evening Primrose

Pink evening primrose opens up showy pink and white blooms in late afternoon. Pinkladies are hardy, vigorous spreaders that also attract bees.

'Casa Blanca' Lily

This oriental hybrid is known for its intense fragrance and night-blooming flowers. Its large white flowers are a favorite for weddings and will brighten up a summer garden.

Gardenia Augusta

This Southern charmer releases its sweet scent on late summer evenings.

Four O'Clocks

As its name would suggest, four o'clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) open their bright blooms in the afternoon.

Easter Lily Cactus

Echinopsis, also known as the Easter lily cactus or night-blooming hedgehogs, produces striking white flowers on tall tubes. The fragrant blossoms open up for a night, then begin to whither the second day.

Rain Lilies

Known primarily for opening up its fragrant blooms after a summer rain, a particular rain lily variety—Zephyranthes drummondii—is also nocturnal.

Tuberose

This fragrant summer bulb is said to hail from Mexico. Polianthes tuberosa shows tall spikes of white flowers that open at night, increasing its sweet fragrance.