10 Flowers That Bloom at Night—and Glow Under the Moon

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)

The moonflower is the nighttime sister to the beautiful morning glory, only it comes alive under the evening stars. "These creamy white blooms open in the evening and only stay in bloom at night," says Kalyn Hewitt, lead floral designer for The Bouqs Co. "I'm partial to any morning glory because of their delicate shape and how they drape around a garden. They are just so stunning, and I think the uniqueness of this one only adds to their allure.” 

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Mature size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 4 feet wide
• Growing conditions: moist, well-draining soil; full sun

Night Phlox (Zaluzianskya ovata)

The Night Phlox is a captivating flowering plant that's native to South Africa. "Its blooms resemble small daisies and release a sweet and honey-like fragrance after the sun goes down," says Erin Cunningham, lead designer and CFO for Peachtree Plants in Tucker, Ga. "The leaves form a dense, low-growing clump that looks lush and green." This is an ideal choice for borders, rock gardens, and containers. 

• Zones: 9 to 10
• Mature size: up to 12 inches tall x 2 to 3 feet white
• Growing conditions: warm weather; moist, well-draining soil (regular watering generates more blooms)

Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)

The gardenia is known for its intense fragrance and tiny white blossoms that cluster against dark and waxy green foliage. "She’s beautiful, she's classic, she's the scent of summer," says Baboun. "Even before I see a gardenia, I can smell the fragrance and am immediately compelled to go look for the flower."

Jen McDonald, a certified organic gardener and co-founder of Garden Girls, says that while gardenias do bloom during the day, "they favor warm evenings, and they actually emit more fragrance at night in order to attract moths, a common pollinator."

• Zones: 7 to 11 
• Mature size: 2 to 8 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wide
• Growing Conditions: moist (but not soggy) soil; full sun in morning

Night Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum)

Also referred to as the Lady of the Night, night-blooming jasmine is a tropical evergreen shrub that's not actually a member of the jasmine family—it's a nightshade. "Besides the night flowers, our garden owners love the intense tropical fragrance," Cunningham says. "This makes a great choice for a garden because it can be trained as a vine, and also looks beautiful during the day."

If you plant it near a window or door, you can enjoy the scent indoors, too.

• Zones: 9 to 11
• Mature size: 8 to 10 feet tall x up to 3 feet wide
• Growing Conditions: prefers warm weather; moist soil; six hours of sunlight per day

Four O'Clock Alba (Mirabilis jalapa)

True to its name, the Four O'Clock Alba starts unfolding its petals in the late afternoon and remains on display through the night. This airy, bushy perennial—which features large white blossoms against deep green foliage—also unleashes a light citrus-y scent that fills the evening air. 

• Zones: 7 to 10 
• Mature size: up to 4 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
• Growing conditions: full sun; well-draining soil (water when top couple inches of soil are dry)

Mock Orange (Philadelphus)

If you've ever gotten a whiff of springtime orange blossoms, you know just how intoxicating their scent can be. The mock orange shrub gets its name because the aroma emitted from its tiny white flower blossoms is very similar, says Baboun. You can even pluck some of these flowers and bring them inside. "With stems cut to a few different heights, and the right vase, you have a gorgeous floral arrangement perfect for a console or kitchen island," says Baboun.

• Zones: 4 to 8 
• Mature size: 6 to 12 feet tall x 6 to 12 feet wide
• Growing conditions: prefer moist, well draining soil; full sun

Evening Primrose (Oenothera)

This night-blooming flower begins its show just as the sun begins to set and continues through the late evening. It's a perennial that blooms from spring through late summer, and has an interesting appearance with rosette-like flowers that bloom atop a tall stem covered in soft hairs.

"They begin to open up before the twilight hours in the most delicate pink-and-white colors," says Hewitt. "I love primrose for their ease of care. They are a very hardy plant and look wonderful in most gardens."

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Mature size: 2 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
• Growing conditions: full sun; well-draining soil

Casa Blanca Lily (lilium 'casa blanca')

For a magnificent flower that blooms at night, look no further than the Casa Blanca lily. As its name suggests, this perennial produces large white blooms with red-brown anthers, which dazzle passers-by all summer long. These blossoms sit atop a tall, rigid, and leafy stem. Like other lilies, its flowers are toxic to pets so make sure to keep them out of reach of your furry friends.

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall x 1 feet wide
• Growing conditions: full to partial sun; moist soil that doesn't dry out

Queen of the Night Cactus (Cereus hildmannianus)

The Queen of the Night cactus is a flowering variety native to North America's Sonoran Desert. Their white or yellow blossoms are large and trumpet-shaped, and sit in stark contrast to the tough, prickly cactus exterior. "Chances are, you've seen this cactus and had no idea its real beauty was best seen at night," says Cunningham. "For anyone in the Southwest, this is a great, low-maintenance choice to give variety to a garden or landscape."

If you're not in the Southwest, this cactus will do well indoors. 

• Zones: 9 to 10 
• Mature size: 4 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
• Growing conditions: warm temperatures; light, well-draining cactus mix soil; water only when the top layers of soil are dry

Nocturnum Orchid (Epidendrum nocturnum)

Those living in a wet, tropical climate can enjoy the beauty of the aptly named nocturnum orchid. It produces long, dark green foliage and otherworldly white blossoms that take on a peculiar shape. What's also remarkable about this night-blooming flower is its intoxicating fragrance. It's been described as a fruity flower akin to strawberry or raspberry.  

• Zones: 9 to 11
• Mature size: 1 to 3 feet feet tall x 2 feet wide
• Growing Conditions: indirect sunlight; well-draining soil mixed with sphagnum moss; water every other day