Flowers That Bloom at Night: 17 Plants for a Moon Garden

Most of us enjoy our gardens on summer evenings, after work, with a drink on the terrace as the light fades. That's exactly when a whole group of plants comes alive. Flowers that bloom at night open at dusk, glow white in the moonlight and release their sweetest scent after dark to attract moths. Plant a few near a seat or an open window, and your garden becomes a different, magical place at night.

In this guide I'll explain why some flowers bloom at night, share 17 night-blooming and evening-scented flowers, and show you how to plan a moon garden you can enjoy long after sunset.

The quick answer: popular flowers that bloom at night include moonflower, evening primrose, night-scented stock, nicotiana, four o'clocks, night phlox, datura, angel's trumpet, night-blooming jasmine, queen of the night and night-blooming cereus. Many are white or pale and strongly scented, which helps moths find them in the dark. Plant them near a terrace, path or window where you'll enjoy them most.

Why Do Some Flowers Bloom at Night?

Night-blooming flowers have evolved for nocturnal pollinators, especially moths, along with bats in warmer parts of the world. Instead of bright colours, they rely on pale petals that reflect moonlight and strong, sweet fragrance that carries on the still night air. Colorado State University Extension's guide to moon gardens notes that "moths, for example, are primary pollinators for evening primrose, yucca, and other native plants."

17 Flowers That Bloom at Night

Night-blooming annuals and climbers

1. Moonflower (Ipomoea alba). A fast-growing climber with large, white, saucer-shaped flowers that unfurl at dusk, sometimes quickly enough to watch. The Colorado State guide describes them as "large, white trumpet-shaped flowers" that "open at dusk and attract sphinx and hawk moths."

2. Evening primrose (Oenothera). Soft yellow flowers that open in the evening and fade the next day, replaced by fresh blooms each night.

3. Night-scented stock (Matthiola longipetala). Small, rather plain lilac flowers that close by day and release an astonishing sweet scent at night. Sow it in drifts near a path or bench.

4. Nicotiana (flowering tobacco). Nicotiana sylvestris has tall, drooping clusters of long white trumpets that are wonderfully fragrant in the evening. Nicotiana alata is shorter, with starry flowers.

5. Four o'clocks (Mirabilis jalapa). Bushy plants covered in pink, yellow, white or striped flowers that open in late afternoon and stay open all night.

6. Night phlox (Zaluzianskya). Small, starry flowers, maroon on the outside and white within, that open at dusk with a honey and vanilla scent.

7. Datura. Large, upward-facing white trumpets that open in the late afternoon and evening. All parts are highly toxic, so keep it away from children and pets.

Shrubs and climbers

8. Angel's trumpet (Brugmansia). Huge, hanging trumpets in white, peach or yellow, most fragrant in the evening. It's tender and toxic, so grow it in a large pot you can move under cover in winter.

9. Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum). Small, greenish-white flowers with a powerful evening perfume. The Colorado State guide notes that "its intoxicating scent attracts moths from long distances."

10. Honeysuckle (Lonicera). Common honeysuckle is most fragrant in the evening, when moths visit its creamy, tubular flowers.

11. Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa). Waxy white flowers with one of the richest scents of any flower, strongest after dark.

Cacti and exotic night bloomers

12. Queen of the night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum). A houseplant cactus whose huge, white, scented flowers open for a single night, often around midnight.

13. Night-blooming cereus (Selenicereus grandiflorus). A climbing cactus with spectacular white flowers that bloom for one night only.

14. Tropical night-blooming water lilies. Some tropical Nymphaea open in the evening and stay open until the next morning, floating on still water.

Perennials and wildflowers

15. Dame's violet (Hesperis matronalis). Lilac or white flowers whose clove-like scent strengthens in the evening. It self-seeds freely and is invasive in parts of North America, so check before planting.

16. Evening-scented gladiolus (Gladiolus tristis). Pale cream flowers that release a sweet, spicy scent at night in spring.

17. Night-flowering catchfly (Silene noctiflora). A rare arable wildflower whose pale pink petals unroll at night and are visited by moths.

How to Plan a Moon Garden

A moon garden is a garden designed to be enjoyed at night, with pale flowers, silver foliage and evening scent.

• Choose white and pale flowers. Moonflower, nicotiana, white cosmos, white roses, Japanese anemones and white foxgloves all glow at dusk.
• Add silver foliage. Lamb's ears, artemisia, dusty miller and lavender reflect the light.
• Layer the scent. Night-scented stock, nicotiana, honeysuckle and jasmine near seating.
• Plant near where you sit. Beside a terrace, a path or under a bedroom window.
• Add soft lighting. Low, warm lights, lanterns and candles, rather than bright floodlights, which can disturb wildlife.

A lit garden statue or a white-flowered lilac tree makes a beautiful focal point at night, and a terrace by the pool or a pool house is the perfect place to enjoy evening scent.

Night-Blooming Flowers for Pollinators

Moths are among the most important and least noticed pollinators. A garden with evening-scented, pale flowers gives them nectar after dark, while keeping outdoor lights low and warm helps them navigate.

Pair night bloomers with daytime pollinator plants such as a butterfly bush and other long-flowering flowers for landscaping to support wildlife around the clock.

Night Bloomers Indoors

• Queen of the night and other epiphyllums make easy houseplants for a bright windowsill.
• Tuberose and night-blooming jasmine can be grown in pots in a conservatory.
• Cut nicotiana and stocks bring evening scent into a bedroom, especially alongside soft bedroom lighting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

What flowers bloom only at night?

Moonflower, night-blooming cereus, queen of the night, evening primrose, night phlox and some tropical water lilies open at night and often close by day.

Why do flowers bloom at night?

To attract nocturnal pollinators such as moths and bats, which find them by their pale colour and strong evening scent.

What is the most fragrant night-blooming flower?

Night-blooming jasmine, tuberose, night-scented stock and Nicotiana sylvestris are among the most fragrant.

What is a moon garden?

A garden designed to be enjoyed at night, with white and pale flowers, silver foliage and evening scent.

Do moonflowers bloom every night?

During their flowering season, moonflower vines open new flowers each evening, and each flower usually lasts a single night.

Are night-blooming flowers good for pollinators?

Yes. They feed moths and other night pollinators, which play an important role that's often overlooked.

Can you grow night-blooming flowers in pots?

Yes. Nicotiana, night-scented stock, tuberose, brugmansia, four o'clocks and queen of the night all grow well in containers.

A Garden That Comes Alive at Dusk

Flowers that bloom at night turn a garden into a quiet, magical place after dark. Plant a few pale, scented flowers near where you sit, add soft lighting, and your summer evenings will never be the same.

And if you'd like help creating outdoor and indoor spaces that feel beautiful from morning to night, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.