Instead of selecting plants that thrive when you’re absent, consider choosing ones that flourish when you’re present to enjoy their beauty. These beautiful flowers that bloom at night emit their enchanting fragrances during the evening to night hours.
There are certain flowers called “night flowers” or “moonflowers” that bloom at night. Instead of opening during the day, they come alive when the sun goes down.
By planting these beautiful night-blooming flowers in your garden, you can enjoy their stunning display while you sleep.
What flowers bloom at night?
Night-blooming flowers are special because they bloom at night when it’s dark outside. They look really beautiful under the moonlight.
These flowers have delicate petals and they release a lovely smell that attracts night-loving insects. It’s like a magical dance between nature and the night.
1. Moonflower- Ipomoea alba
Moonflower has different names such as tropical white morning glory or moon vine or moonflower.
It is a species of night-blooming morning glory native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America from Argentina to northern Mexico, Arizona, Florida and the West Indies.
These flowers are famous because of their big white flowers that look like trumpets and have a strong pleasant smell.
These moonflowers are often connected to love, especially when it comes to romantic love.
People think that the flower’s prettiness and sweet smell represent the beauty and attractiveness of someone you love. Moonflowers are also linked to feeling dreamy and mysterious.
This flower comes under fragrant night blooming flowers because they release their alluring scent smell during the night time. Moonflowers will usually bloom at night.
Growing conditions for moon flowers should be with sufficient sunlight and regular watering in the morning hours.
Mostly preferred fertilizer for moonflowers is phosphorus because it will help your plant to produce more flowers.
2. Night blooming jasmine- Cestrum nocturnum
Night blooming jasmine has other names such as hursinghar, sad tree, and tree of sadness.
It is a plant that stays green all the time and has shiny green leaves and little white flowers.
It comes from the west indies in the Caribbean and grows best in places with certain temperatures, known as USDA hardiness zones nine through eleven.
In these zones, night-blooming jasmine attracts different kinds of insects that help with pollination.
These flowers will grow best in warm temperatures with high humidity and also newly growing plants require at least 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
A balanced fertilizer of N-P-K in the ratio of 10-10-8 or adding organic fertilizer such as compost works well for night-blooming jasmine.
3. Evening primrose- Oenothera L
Evening primrose ( Oenothera L) is a plant belonging to the family Onagraceae.
Many types of evening primrose have flowers that open at night. These flowers are pollinated by hawkmoths.
Hawkmoths fly at night and are attracted to the flowers because of their sweet smell and light purple flowers that bloom at night.
The colour of the flowers also helps the hawkmoths find them more easily in the dark.
The native people in America actively used this plant as a treatment for asthma problems by making infusions and consuming them. They also directly applied it on wounds or skin problems as a healing plant. This plant resembles night-blooming roses.
In Irish tradition, primroses are considered symbols of eternal love. People believe that if you hand primroses on a doorway, it can stop faeries from coming inside.
These plants require partial shade and well-drained soil to have a good growth phase.
All-purpose fertilizer in the ratio of 10-10-10 NPK works well for this flowering plant.
4. Four o clock plant- Mirabilis Jalapa
Four-o- clock which is also known as Marvel-of-Peru or Beauty-of-the-night and has the scientific name Mirabilis jalapa is a type of perennial plant.
It is often grown for decorative purposes. This plant belongs to the Nyctaginaceae family and is native to tropical America.
It grows quickly and can reach a height of up to one meter (about three feet).
The leaves of the four-o-clock plant are oval-shaped and have short stems.
It is a perennial plant which means it can live for several years and bloom repeatedly.
The plant produces different vibrant colour flowers such as pink, yellow, white, and red.
This plant grows well in almost all types of soil the only requirement for this plant is humus rich and well-drained spot.
If you already have good nutrient-rich soil it is required to feed your plant only in spring and also well balanced fertilizer works well.
5. Angel’s trumpets- Brugmansia suaveolens
This plant is best suitable for a moon garden the fragrance of the flower spreads greatly at night.
The shrubby plant has horn-shaped flowers that give off a sweet scent like honeysuckle.
These flowers dangle delicately from the plant creating a whimsical effect. It’s important to be aware that all parts of the plant are toxic to both humans and pets.
The flowers of these plants are well-known for their beautiful appearance.
They have large trumpet-shaped flowers that smell sweet, especially at night. These plants grow well in warm climates and can reach heights of 6 to 15 feet. They attract moths, bees, and hummingbirds which help them pollinate.
It’s important to remember that Angel’s trumpets are poisonous if eaten, so be careful, especially around kids and pets.
In some cultures people used them for medicine and rituals but because they are poisonous it’s important to handle them with caution. Enjoy their beauty but remember to stay safe around them.
Angel trumpets require warm weather as its native to tropical regions and the fertilizer requirement for this plant is a little bit high when compared to other plants blossom boosting fertilizer 15-30-15 or 10-50-10 of NPK works well.
6. Tuberose – Polianthes tuberosa
Tuberose is a flower that blooms throughout the year. Its flowers grow in clusters on long spikes and have star-shaped, waxy florets.
The spikes can reach a length of 30 to 45 cm. The flower is famous for its strong fragrance and its essential oil is an important ingredient in high-quality perfumes.
White tuberose symbolizes purity, peace, and innocence. That’s why it is commonly used in bridal bouquets. People also believe that it can protect against evil spirits.
Tuberose is a light warm pink colour that may appear slightly peachier on the wall compared to the colour shown on the colour card.
A lighter shade of tuberose is called alabaster, while a darker shade is known as Almond flower
The growing condition for tuberose requires fertile, loamy and sandy soil in the PH range of 6-7 with better aeration and drainage. Use well-decomposed compost to meet the fertilizer requirement of tuberose.
7. Lilly:
The scientific name of lily is Lilium and the family is Liliaceae.
Lilies are known for their exquisite and captivating beauty with their elegant and often brightly coloured petals.
Many varieties of lilies emit a delightful fragrance that can fill a room or garden with a pleasant scent.
Lilies typically have large showy flowers that make a bold statement in any floral arrangement or garden bed.
There are numerous species and hybrids of lilies offering a wide range of colours, shapes, and sizes to choose from.
Lilies hold symbolic meanings across various cultures and religions often representing purity, renewal, and spirituality.
These plants grow well in well-draining soil and require a PH between 6-6.5. The fertilizer requirement for lilly is an evenly balanced fertilizer of 10-10-10 NPK.
8. Queen of the Night- Epiphyllum oxypetalum
The night queen is a special cactus that blooms at night. It only blooms once a year, and the blooming lasts for just one night.
This is one of the flowers that glow at night which looks amazing during full moonlight.
This is extraordinary because the plant uses all its energy for reproduction in a short time.
The flowers of the night queen are big and smell good. They are white and shine brightly like a full moon.
The flower colours range from white to pink to fire engine red and have a faint vanilla fragrance.
Each flower generally only last one night, another flower blooms each evening over about three weeks until the flowering cycle is finished for the year.
This flowering plant requires slightly acidic soil with a PH of around 5-6.5. Schultz cactus fertilizer is best suitable for this plant.
9. Foam flower: Tiarella cordifolia
Foam flowers belong to the saxifrage family.
It is a beautiful plant that looks great in native gardens.
This flower has clusters of white flowers that look frothy.
Native Americans used this plant for different health problems, like soothing sore mouths in babies.
It thrives in shaded areas making it an excellent choice for gardens with limited sunlight.
The flower attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies contributing to the ecosystem and supporting biodiversity.
It requires minimal care once established making it a convenient choice for gardeners.
Foam flower prefers well-drained moist soil and the important thing is it doesn’t require fertilizer for their growing and blooming normal soil nutrients is more than enough.
10. Mock orange – Philadelphus virginalis
Mock orange scientifically called philadelphus coronarius is a deciduous shrub that produces beautiful flowers. It belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family.
The shrub has a rounded shape and its leaves are dark green in colour. During springtime mock orange blooms with showy fragrant white flowers that resemble orange blooms.
It is a type of shrub that sheds its leaves seasonally with dark green foliage adding to its attractiveness.
Mock orange blooms during the springtime creating a burst of white flowers that adds charm and colour to gardens.
You should avoid planting this plant in the heavy shade it requires medium sunlight for its growth.
These flowering plants are heavy feeders slow release granular fertilizers are best suited for this plant.
11. Flowering tobacco – Nicotiana:
These flowers have a unique shape like a trumpet with long tubes and petals that spread out.
The colour of flowers comes in different colour like white, pink and red.
Typically these plants reach to the height of 2 to 5 feet and have broad ovate leaves that add an attractive foliage element to their overall appearance.
While flowering tobacco is not to be confused with the tobacco used for smoking or chewing, it is still part of the Solanaceae family which includes other well-known plants like tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers.
Tobacco flowers have a peculiar habit of blooming at night. Under the cover of darkness, these delicate blossoms unfurl and release their enchanting fragrance glowing softly in the moonlight.
This nocturnal display adds a touch of mystery to the garden. These plants grow well in full sun and the fertilizer requirement is a fish emulsion and water-soluble fertilizer in the ratio of 20-20-20 NPK.
12. Night blooming cereus – Selenicereus grandiflorus
It is a cactus plant and can grow quite large. Once it gets old enough flower buds are set in July/ August time frame and open with gigantic blooms which are quite fragrant.
The flowers open after the sun sets and close when the sun rises.
The flower, stem, and young shoots of cereus are utilized for medicinal purposes.
It is employed to treat conditions such as chest pain( angina), fluid retention linked to weak heart function (heart failure) and as a heart stimulant. One important fact about this flower is that it blooms at night once a year.
Additionally, cereus is used for urinary tract issues, bladder infections, bleeding and breathing difficulties. When the flowers are open their perfume can permeate an area from 91 to 152m.
This plant requires partial sunlight and water-soluble fertilizer in the ratio of 10-10-10 NPK works well for this plant.
13. Night phlox – zaluzianskya capensis
Night phlox blooms in shades of white, purple, and even maroon. Native is southern Africa.
The plants usually have oval or linear leaves. The tubular flowers have five flaring lobes and are often borne in dense masses.
Phlox flowers symbolize harmony, compatibility, unity, partnership, agreement and united hearts and souls.
These blooms have a sweet scent most apparent on warm sunny days. This perennial is semi-evergreen so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose them all but then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
Night phlox requires consistent moisture and full sunlight for its growth and blooming.
Fertilize annually with compost or balanced slow-release granular formulated fertilizer when flower buds begin forming.
14. Night gladiolus- Gladiolus longicollis
Gladiolus produce sword-shaped, medium green leaves in upright fans and funnel-shaped flowers on slender scapes from summer into fall.
There is an extensive range of flower colours available including shades of white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, lavender, purple and green.
Gladiolus is among the top 10 best-selling florist flowers worldwide.
European botanists first brought gladiolus plants back home from southern Africa in the 17th century.
The Gladiolus genus currently includes 260-300 species and more than 30000 cultivars.
These plants require moderately fertile soil and 6-8 hours of sunlight daily with well-drained soil.
You can start fertilizing about a month before the onset of flowering also helps produce vibrant and healthy blooms.
15. Nottingham catchfly- silene nutans
The silence plant is renowned for its colourful early summer blossoms and is native to north american grasslands.
Most often referred to as the catchfly, the plant typically blooms in shades of pink, magenta, white and red.
Silene is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caryophyllaceae. Containing nearly 900 species it is the largest genus in the family. Common names include campion and catchfly.
It is used in Korea in the treatment of gonorrhoea to stimulate the milk and the menstrual flow and also as a contraceptive. These plants grow well in light dry soil no need for fertilizer for these plants they will grow well in fresh potting soil.
Frequently asked questions:
1. What are the Indoor plants that bloom at night?
- Laceleaf
- Christmas cactus
- Four o clocks
- Peace lily
- Queen of the night
- Night scented orchid
- Moonflower
- Gladiolus
2. What flowers that bloom at night have a sweet fragrance?
- Brahmakamala- Epiphyllum oxypetalum
- Parijata. Botanical Name- Nyctanthes arbor-tristis
- Gardenia. Botanical Name- Gardenia Augusta
- Tuberose
- Night-Blooming Jasmine
- Four’O Clock
- Hedychium Ginger