10 Flowers that Bloom at Night for the Garden of Your Dreams

Vibrant flowers that bring pops of color to a garden are often high on the list when choosing blossoming plants for the landscape. Yet, surprisingly, some flowers prefer the darkness to shine. In addition to bringing interest, nighttime bloomers often emit a sweet fragrance, which can attract evening pollinators like moths, beetles, bats, and even some bees.

From common plants like Gardenia and Mock Orange to exotics like Night Phlox and Flowering Tobacco, there is a plant here that will surely shine in your garden.

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Angels Trumpet (Brugmansia)

With tubular, trumpet-shaped downward-facing flowers, Angels Trumpet can reach up to 30 feet in their native habitat. Some varieties, such as Brugmansia 'Cypress Gardens,' grow well in containers where they grow between 4 to 15 feet tall. Blooms emit a strong fragrance that is more notable at night.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7b-10b

• Size: 4-15 feet tall, 3 to 10 feet wide

• Sunlight: Full sun to Partial sun

• Soil: Moist, well-draining soil
  
  Read more: 55 Favorite Container Plants and Ideas for Your Potted Garden Oasis
  

Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) starts to open when the sun sets, showing off bright yellow petals. Flowers bloom from the spring to the end of summer.

• USDA Hardiness zones: 4 to 9

• Size: 3 to 5 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide

• Sunlight: Full sun

• Soil: Well-draining
  

Read more: 25 Yellow Flowers for the Happiest Garden in the Neighborhood

Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris)

Want to attract more nighttime pollinators to your garden? Plant Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris). The tubular-shaped white to cream-hued flowers produce a sweet scent similar to Jasmine that entices sphinx moths. Hummingbirds and butterflies pollinate this plant during the day.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11b
  

• Size: 3 to 5 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide

• Sunlight: Full to partial sun
  

• Soil: Moist, well-draining
  
  Read more: 21 Flowers That Hummingbirds Adore
  

Four o'clock Alba (Mirabilis jalapa)

Four o'clock Alba (Mirabilis jalapa) gets its moniker for the time when the flower typically begins to open— in the late afternoon. Large, white or multi-hued flowers, depending on the variety, stay open during the night and produce a citrus fragrance that permeates the air.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
  

• Size: 2 to 4 feet tall, 1 to 3 feet wide

• Sunlight: Full sun

• Soil: Well-draining
  
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Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)

When you see white flowers set against the contrast of waxy, dark green leaves and a fragrant scent, you know it's a Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides). Gardenias produce a stronger scent at night, helping to attract pollinators, such as moths.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 11
  

• Size: 3 to 5 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide

• Sunlight: Full to partial sun
  

• Soil: Moist, well-draining
  

Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius)

Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius) gets its name because the small white flowers produce a scent that smells like orange blossoms. It also goes by Fragrant Mock Orange and Sweet Mock Orange. Some varieties are more fragrant than others and the flowers typically smell stronger when the sun sets.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
  

• Size: 10 to 12 feet tall, 10 to 12 feet wide

• Sunlight: Full to partial sun

• Soil: Moist, well-draining soil

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)

Moonflowers (Ipomoea alba) have white flowers that open and bloom at night. Moonflower is a sister plant to the purplish, blue morning glory flower.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9

• Size: 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 4 feet wide

• Sunlight: Full sun; moist

• Soil: Well-draining
  
  Read more: More White Flowers for Your Garden
  
  

Night phlox (Zaluzianskya ovata)

A native flower to South Africa, Night phlox (Zaluzianskya ovata) looks similar to small daisies, but with more pronounced petals. At sun set, Night phlox emits a sweet scent reminiscent of honey.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 10

• Size: up to 12 inches tall, 2 to 3 feet white

• Sunlight: Full sun

• Soil: Moist, well-draining

Night-Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum)

Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum), also called Lady of the Night, is an evergreen tropical shrub that blooms after dark and emits a tropical scent. Its name is a misnomer because it isn't part of the Jasmine family but rather part of the nightshade family, like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11

• Size: 8 to 10 feet tall, to 3 feet wide

• Sun: Full sun

• Soil: Moist
  

Queen of the Night Cactus (Cereus hildmannianus)

A tall, column-shaped cactus native to South America goes by many names, including Queen of the Night cactus, Hedge cactus, and Night-blooming Cereus (Cereus hildmannianus). Flowers open at night and produce a sweet scent that attracts nighttime pollinators, such as bats and moths.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11

• Size: 4 to 30 feet tall, up to 10 feet wide

• Sunlight: Full sun

• Soil: Light, well-draining cactus mix soil

Read more: How to Plant a Pollinator Garden

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