The Most Gorgeous Flowers that Bloom at Night
There’s a subtle mystery to flowers, especially as there some species of flowers that bloom at night. Even though the vast majority of them bloom the most during the day, at night, there are certain variations that can add an extra ounce of color and excitement while you’re sleeping.
When it comes to choosing night blooming flowers, you’ll need to find species that work best in low light and in cool temperatures. It gives you the ability to liven up your gardens at all times during the day and night.
Our List of Fave Flowers that Bloom at Night!
1. Evening Primrose
Easily the most popular option for homeowners looking for flowers that bloom at night, Evening Primrose is native to North America and is a biennial plant.
As their blooms open relatively quickly, they’re the perfect addition to a patio or seating area where you can enjoy the sunset and the beauty of your flowers coming to life.
On average, the blooms will continue to be open until mid-afternoon the following day.
Another interesting aspect of Evening Primrose is that the plants are edible and they produce an invaluable oil known as primrose oil and is used to help treat rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and eczema.
2. Datura
Also referred to as devil’s trumpet and moonflower, Datura has an iconic appearance with trumpet-shaped blossoms and are available in an array of colors including white, purple, pink, and yellow.
As they have such vibrant colors, even in the darkness of night, they are a fantastic addition to a garden, as long as you don’t have pets or children. Unfortunately, this species of flower is highly poisonous and in fact, it has historical roots as being used as a poison.
The average Datura has the ability to grow as tall as six feet and is an annual flower. These are a great example of a stunning flower that will astound you but are equally as dangerous as they are beautiful.
3. Night Gladiolus
If you’re someone who loves paying a sufficient amount of attention to your gardens, Night Gladiolus are a great option. They require regular irrigation and surely aren’t drought resistant and are native to coastal California.
With an appetite for well-draining soil and full sun, getting your garden prepared will take a couple of extra steps, such as preparing the compost before planting the flowers.
Night Gladiolus smell absolutely divine as they release a spicy fragrance that is unmatched by any other flower. They also have light-yellow blooms that will add an attractive appeal to an otherwise green garden.
Similar to Datura, however, they are highly poisonous and are not recommended to be planted in areas with children and pets.
4. Night-Blooming Jasmine
Ideal for homeowners that are on the hunt for a more exotic flower to have in their garden, Night-Blooming Jasmine isn’t as common as other members of the Solanaceae family.
With white blossoms and a subtle hint of green, they are a beautiful modern flower to add into a multicolored garden but can also add a little bit of brightness to a mostly green display.
You’ll fall in love with the strong fragrance that they give off, which helps to create an even more beautiful ambiance around your home.
What is most interesting about Night-Blooming Jasmine is that they are considered to be weeds in some areas of the world, however, they can work perfectly as the focal point of your garden.
5. Nicotiana
Much like its name suggests, Nicotiana is a genus of plant that also includes tobacco plants that you use to make cigarettes and cigars. However, getting your hands on the varieties you would smoke isn’t possible from your local garden center.
As another night-blooming plant, they are a great and simple way to add color to your flowerbed. If you want to take a more hands-on approach to grow your own plants, you’ll be glad to know that they germinate very quickly, so you can even grow them entirely from seed.
Nicotiana is available in an assortment of colors including red, pink, white, and green. You’ll also find they are the perfect addition to help bring pollinators to your garden for a healthier flowerbed, this is especially true with hummingbirds.
You’ll notice pollinators most in the late afternoon and early evening.
6. Casa Blanca Lily
There’s nothing quite like having lilies in your garden as they are luxurious, opulent, and elegant. When the flowers bloom at night, the brightness of their white petals will easily reflect the moonlight, which helps to create a stunning display in moon gardens.
Many people also opt to add a Casa Blanca Lily to their cutting garden, however, you’ll need to make sure you leave enough stem and leaves for the flowers to overwinter and blossom again in the spring.
7. Japanese Wisteria
As a hardy plant that you would typically want to put into zone 5, this is among the most common flowers that bloom at night but will take a lot of time and effort to grow, but once it is finished, it’s exactly what you had always hoped for.
With stunningly jaw-dropping stems that drape beautifully with gentle white and lavender petals, it’s one of the best ways to add life to your garden.
On average, Japanese Wisteria can take years before they bloom, but we can guarantee once you see the lilac or white clusters, you’ll understand why they were worth all of the effort.
8. Night Phlox
Also referred to as midnight candy, this flower has a sweet and innocent appearance with a fantastic sweet fragrance. If you’ve been realizing that your night garden is lacking in substance, this is a fantastic addition to take into consideration.
You’ll also love how they are available in white, purple, and pink, which gives you more than enough option when adding a little bit of life to your garden. If you’re lucky, you can even find flowers that have a reddish-maroon color.
As they smell so sweet, they attract plenty of pollinators such as birds and bees, but they are also phenomenal for attracting butterflies.
One of the main things we love about this species is that they are drought-tolerant once they have established themselves in your garden. With their sweet honey almond and vanilla fragrance, they’re perfect to add a little livelihood during the summer and fall.
Final Thoughts
Flowers that bloom at night are a phenomenal way to liven up your garden, even in the dead of night. With these species, you’ll be able to add beautiful colors and attractive qualities with an ounce of mystery, instead of sticking to traditional flowers.