15 Flowers That Bloom at Night (2024)

Warning

Some of the plants on this list are toxic to pets. For more information about the safety of specific plants, consult the ASPCA's searchable database.

Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

The bright yellow flowers of the evening primrose open at dusk and remain open until midday the following day.The perennial plant is a biennial that produces only leaves in its first year and flowers in the second. The showy, one-to-two-inch flowers that appear from summer to fall have a lemon scent.

Common evening primrose attracts butterflies, moths, and bees; the seeds produced in the fall are a dietary staple for birds.

Tuberose (Agave amica)

A night-blooming annual bulb with a fragrant scent, tuberose is best planted near entryways or backyard spaces where they will be most appreciated. The plants reach two to three feet in height, have long green stems and leaves, and produce clusters of small white flowers.

Plant bulbs in the spring; tuberose flowers bloom in mid to late summer, depending on location. Dig up the bulbs after the first frost and keep them in a cool, dry spot until it’s time to replant again the following spring.

Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana alata)

With flowers that bloom in shades of red, pink, green, yellow, and white, flowering tobacco plants bring a wealth of color to an evening garden. The three-to-five-foot plant’s small flowers open only at night, providing nectar to moths searching for food in the evening.

Native to South America, flowering tobacco is a perennial plant in zones 10 and 11, and an annual in northern regions.

Casa Blanca Lily (Lilium 'Casa Blanca')

The large, showy flowers of the Casa Blanca lily are a garden standout in the evenings. Mature plants reach three feet in size. The white flowers—which are eight to 10 inches wide—are downward facing with deep red anthers.

An herbaceous perennial, Casa Blanca lily bulbs are planted in spring; the lovely-scented flowers bloom in midsummer.

Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia spp.)

The scent of the downward facing, bell-shaped blooms of the angel’s trumpet is strongest in the evening. The plant grows as a bush or small tree with flowers in shades of peach, white, yellow, or pink. Flowers—which are six to 10 inches in size—bloom from early summer through fall in most areas; in warmer climates, they can bloom year-round.

Night-blooming Jessamine (Cestrum nocturnum)

Though not a true jasmine, the night-blooming jessamine plant is sometimes referred to as a night-blooming jasmine. You may miss the small, non-showy, white flowers on this sprawling shrub or tree, but you won't miss the scent. Popular in warm climates, the tubular flowers open in the evening and produce a strongly perfumed smell.

Night-blooming jessamine is in the nightshade family.

Chocolate Daisy (Berlandiera lyrata)

The fragrant yellow flowers of the chocolate daisy bloom in the evening and provide a pop of color to borders and walkways. The chocolate daisy is a perennial native to southwestern North America and can tolerate hot, dry conditions. In cooler climates, the plant blooms from spring until the first frost; in warmer areas, the chocolate daisy blooms year-round.

A member of the sunflower family, the chocolate daisy gets its name from its chocolate aroma.

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

Planted along garden paths, the foamflower's airy racemes of tiny white flowers will light the way for night walks in the garden on spring evenings. Plants form clumps one-to-two feet wide, and flowers reach up to twelve inches tall. Foamflower plants spread easily and make a good ground cover.

In the southern part of the plant’s range, the perennial foamflower bears heart-shaped leaves when flowering.

Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata 'David')

The garden phlox cultivar David stands out in evening gardens due to its snow white color. Its fragrant, tubular, one-inch flowers last from midsummer into fall. Garden phlox is a perennial that typically grows in an upright clump two to four feet tall.

Remove dead flowers—known as deadheading—to lengthen the blooming season.

Jimsonweed (Datura wrightii)

The large, funnel-shaped white flowers of the jimsonweed, also known as thorn apple, bloom in the evening from March through November and close by noon the following day. The plant is also identified by the name angel trumpet, but can be differentiated from the angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia) by its showy flowers, which stand upright.

The branched, sprawling perennial grows up to five feet tall and six feet wide. As a drought-tolerant plant, it is frequently used in xeriscapes. Jimsonweed is a member of the nightshade family.

Colorado Four-O’Clock (Mirabilis multiflora)

The bright purple blooms of the Colorado, or desert four-o’clock, open from late afternoon through evening from April through mid-September.

This herbaceous perennial can grow up to two feet tall and six feet wide. It thrives on natural precipitation only, even in the high dry deserts of the Southwest. The Colorado four-o'clock requires dry, well-drained conditions and full sun to look its best.

Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)

Native to the eastern U.S., the smooth hydrangea produces small white flowers in flattened clusters that stand out in the light of the moon. A deciduous shrub, the smooth hydrangea typically grows to between three and five feet tall.

The delicate flowers only bloom on new wood, so pruning is essential prior to spring blooming season.

Ten-petal Blazing Star (Mentzelia decapetala)

The ten-petal blazing star is a drought-tolerant, biennial perennial that displays serrated rough leaves in a beautiful rosette in its first year. In its second year, the plant produces long stems with large, pointed white buds. The buds open into four-inch, creamy white stars with ten petals and a golden starburst of anthers in the center.

From midsummer through fall, these lightly fragrant flowers open in the late afternoon or early evening and close before morning.

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)

Named for its evening blooming cycle, the moonflower is a perennial vine. From summer through fall, the lightly scented, white flowers remain open from dusk through midday.

The moonflower plant can reach a height of 15 feet, even higher in its native tropical climate. Attach the plant to a trellis or other structure where it can climb freely.

Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)

A cactus with large, white flowers, queen of the night, or Dutchman’s pipe cactus, blooms only at night. This special succulent displays its fragrant, showy flowers on rare occasions—sometimes only once a year. The six-inch flowers make a stunning addition to a garden—but only until they close at dawn.

Those who don’t live in the plant’s native tropical climate can grow this special perennial plant indoors.

To check if a plant is considered invasive in your area, go to the National Invasive Species Information Center or speak with your regional extension office or local gardening center.