Anisha Riggs
Flowers that bloom at night, such as the night-blooming cereus, are some of nature's most enchanting phenomena. These flowers emit a sweet fragrance that fills the night air with a delightful aroma. The scent of these blooms intensifies after dark, adding a layer of mystery and beauty to any garden. Night-blooming flowers, such as the angel's trumpet, moonflower, and night-blooming jasmine, have evolved to attract nocturnal pollinators like moths, beetles, and even some bees. With their sweet fragrances and pale colours, these flowers stand out in the moonlight, luring in their pollinators with ease. By releasing their scent as dusk falls, these flowers create a perfumed haven for both humans and insects alike, contributing to the overall allure of a moonlit garden.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Sweet Fragrance | To attract nocturnal pollinators such as bats and moths |
| Common Colours | White or pale |
| Examples | Moonflower, Tuberose, Night-Blooming Cereus, Angel's Trumpet, Nottingham Catchfly, Mock Orange, Chocolate Flower, Star Jasmine, Evening Primrose, Four o'clock Alba, Gardenia, Lady of the Night, Japanese Wisteria |
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Pollination and colour
Night-blooming flowers are known for their enchanting fragrances and adaptations to attract nocturnal pollinators. The colour of these flowers plays a significant role in this attraction.
Most night-blooming flowers are white or very pale in colour. This light colour serves a specific purpose in attracting pollinators. Moths, for instance, are drawn to light, so the pale hues of these flowers, reflecting what little light is available at night, act as a beacon to guide them in. The Moonflower, a tall, stout tropical plant with white blooms, is an example of a flower that uses this strategy.
The white colouring of night-blooming flowers also helps them stand out in the dark, making them more visible to nocturnal pollinators like moths, bats, and even some birds. The Night-Blooming Cereus, a cactus that produces a delicate, sweet fragrance, is a large, white flower that likely benefits from this increased visibility.
In addition to attracting nocturnal insects, the colour white holds cultural significance for humans as well. White flowers are often associated with purity, love, and sensuality, making them popular in weddings and religious ceremonies. Jasmine, a strongly scented flower, holds this symbolic meaning in India.
While most night-blooming flowers are white, there are some exceptions that deviate from this colour. Evening Primrose, for instance, boasts bright yellow petals and a lemon-scented aroma. Nottingham Catchfly, a wildflower that opens at night, displays yellowish-white petals. These flowers may rely less on attracting nocturnal insects and more on other means of pollination or seed dispersal.
The colour of night-blooming flowers is an important adaptation that aids in the attraction of pollinators and has cultural significance for humans. While most of these flowers are white to attract nocturnal insects, there are some colourful exceptions that add variety to the night garden.
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The Moonflower
Moonflowers, or Ipomoea alba, are a species of night-blooming morning glory, native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America. They are also known as moonvine, white moonflower, and tropical white morning glory. The flowers are fragrant, large, and white or pink, with a diameter of 8–14 cm.
Moonflowers are tall, stout, and colourful, with a heavenly fragrance. They are successfully grown as annuals, which means that no matter how cold the region, their breathtaking incense will be your partner. These tropical white morning glories grow on climbing vines and can reach heights of up to 12 feet. They are sister plants to the purplish, blue morning glory flower.
Moonflowers are not easy to germinate. The seeds need to be soaked for several hours, and then their hard shells need to be cut open. They are worth the effort, though, as their large white blossoms of approximately eight inches wide are a magical sight. Moonflowers bloom at dusk, and each bloom lasts for only one night. They open quickly in the evening and last through the night, remaining open until touched by the morning dew. On overcast days, the blossoms may remain open for longer.
The sweet fragrance of the moonflower attracts nocturnal pollinators, such as moths and bats. For humans, its nighttime beauty and fragrance make it a popular addition to moon gardens, which are designed to be enjoyed after dark.
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Tuberose
The tuberose flower is fragile, with five petals that bloom in clusters. It is planted in a straight line with bulbs placed exactly 15 centimeters apart. Tuberose thrives in warm, sunny climates and is sensitive to frost. It requires plenty of water during its growing season but needs proper drainage to avoid root rot. The plant should be regularly fed with balanced fertilizers during the growing season to promote its development. Tuberose generally flowers in the summer.
The regenerative powers of tuberose are also known to slow down signs of ageing, soothe breakouts, deter inflammation, and maintain healthy skin. In addition, the flower has been associated with intriguing myths and cultural practices throughout history. For example, in Renaissance Italy and India, unmarried women were forbidden from approaching blooming tuberose fields as the aroma was considered so potent that it would provoke sensual thoughts. The Aztecs incorporated tuberose into their ritualistic chocolate drinks, and it is believed that they also used its essential oil to intensify the flavour of their chocolate.
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Night-Blooming Cereus
The night-blooming cereus is a large, white flower that releases a rich, floral fragrance in the evening. It is a tall, column-shaped cactus native to South America and is also known as the queen of the night cactus, hedge cactus, princess of the night, Honolulu queen, Christ in the manger, dama de noche, and Epiphyllum oxypetalum. The night-blooming cereus is considered a symbol of good fortune and rarity because it only blooms once a year, and the bloom lasts for a single night. Its large, white flowers, which can be up to 9 inches across, open slowly after dark, usually between 8 and 9 pm, and are fully unfurled by midnight. The flowers close shortly after dawn and begin to wilt, lasting only until the next morning.
The night-blooming cereus is easy to grow and is a classic pass-along plant, often handed down through generations via easy-to-root cuttings. It can be grown as a houseplant but prefers to be outdoors during the summer months. It requires bright light to form flower buds and should be placed in a spot with filtered light or morning sun, protected from the hot afternoon sun, which can burn its leaves. It should be watered regularly, but the soil must be allowed to dry out between waterings, and it should be fertilized every 10 to 14 days with water-soluble plant food. The night-blooming cereus prefers well-drained soil, such as a half-and-half mixture of sand and commercial potting soil, with organic matter added.
The night-blooming cereus is a popular addition to gardens due to its beauty and fragrance. Its sweet scent attracts nighttime pollinators such as bats and moths, and its large, white flowers add to its dramatic appearance. The plant is also known for its edible fruits, which are produced by some members of the genus Cereus, most commonly the Hylocereus. The Hylocereus fruit is brightly coloured, lacks exterior spines, and has a pleasant taste.
The night-blooming cereus is a fascinating and enchanting plant that adds beauty and fragrance to any garden. Its once-a-year blooming makes it a symbol of rarity and good fortune, and its sweet fragrance and large, white flowers make it a popular choice for those seeking a unique and exotic addition to their garden.
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Angel's Trumpet
The Angel's Trumpet, or Brugmansia, is a large shrub or small tree with a strong, sweet fragrance that intensifies after dark. The name "Angel's Trumpet" refers to the large, pendulous, trumpet-shaped flowers, which come in shades of white, yellow, pink, orange, green, or red. The flowers are 6–20 inches long and 4–14 inches across at the opening. The plant can reach heights of 10–36 feet, with leaves that are generally large, 4–12 inches long and 2–7 inches across, with an entire or coarsely toothed margin, and often covered with fine hairs. The sweet fragrance of the Angel's Trumpet attracts pollinating moths, and the plant has been used in South American cultures in medical preparations and as an entheogen in religious and spiritual ceremonies.
The Angel's Trumpet is a toxic plant with hallucinogenic properties, and even touching its leaves and flowers can be dangerous. Despite this, it is often grown as an ornamental plant, and its fragrance and beauty make it a popular addition to gardens designed to be enjoyed after dark. The plant has two main stages in its life cycle. In the initial vegetative stage, the young seedling grows straight up, usually on a single stalk, until it reaches its first main fork at 2.6–4.9 feet high. It will not flower until after it reaches this fork, and then only on new growth above the fork. Cuttings taken from the lower vegetative region must also grow to a similar height before flowering, but cuttings from the upper flowering region will often flower at a very low height.
The Angel's Trumpet is native to South America and is known for its large, showy flowers that bloom at night. The fragrance of the Angel's Trumpet, combined with its large, white blooms, attracts moths like the hawk moth. The plant is toxic to humans, and even touching the leaves and flowers can transfer enough active principles to cause blurred vision and pupil asymmetry. Despite this, the Angel's Trumpet is easily grown in moist, fertile, well-drained soil, in sun to part shade, in frost-free climates.
The Angel's Trumpet is a fascinating example of nature's nocturnal beauty and fragrance, with its sweet, intoxicating scent lingering in the night air and adding a mystical quality to any garden or outdoor space.
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Frequently asked questions
Night-blooming flowers have evolved to have a sweet fragrance to attract nocturnal pollinators such as moths, bats, and certain species of bees.
Some flowers known for their sweet fragrance at night include:
- Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum)
- Night-blooming jessamine (Cestrum noctunum)
- Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)
- Four O' Clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)
- Brugmansia
- Nicotiana
- Night phlox (Zaluzianskya ovata)
- Moonflowers (Ipomoea alba)
Nocturnal pollinators are insects and animals that are active at night, such as moths, bats, and certain species of bees.
In addition to their sweet fragrance, night-blooming flowers can add to the beauty of your garden with their unique appearances, such as the large, white, and showy night-blooming cereus, or the star-shaped nicotiana.
