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8 Night Blooming Plants for a Magical Night Time Garden

Night blooming plants are an enchanting addition to any garden, providing a serene and magical atmosphere once the sun goes down.

Also known as moon garden plants, these unique flowers and foliage come alive in the evening, often showcasing bright white petals and silver or variegated leaves that reflect the moonlight, making them easily visible and enjoyable during nighttime hours.

Many also release captivating fragrances, designed to attract nocturnal pollinators. This combination of visual beauty and enticing scents creates an enchanting sensory experience for gardeners and night owls alike.

night blooming plants

Popular Night Blooming Flowers

Moonflower

Moonflowers are a beautiful addition to a moon garden, with their large white, trumpet-shaped blooms opening in the evening. They are fast-growing vines and thrive in full sun or partial shade. The flowers also have a delicate, sweet fragrance that attracts night pollinators.

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Evening Primrose

This charming, low-growing plant is known for its vibrant yellow flowers that open in the evening and close by morning. Evening primrose prefers full sun and can tolerate various soil conditions, making it an adaptable choice for any garden.

Tuberose

Tuberose, also known as Agave amica, is a fragrant night-blooming bulb that is best planted near entryways or backyard spaces. The captivating scent of its white flowers fills the air during summer evenings, creating a delightful atmosphere.

Night Blooming Jasmine

As the name suggests, night blooming jasmine has beautiful, fragrant white flowers that unfold as the sun sets. This plant thrives in full sun and loves warm temperatures, making it ideal for tropical and subtropical regions.

Chocolate Daisy

The chocolate daisy is a unique night bloomer with yellow flowers that emit a pleasant cocoa-like fragrance. This plant is drought-tolerant and perfect for xeriscapes or low-maintenance gardens in sunny spots.

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Night Phlox

Night phlox, also known as Zaluzianskya, has fragrant white or pink flowers that release their pleasant perfume during the evening hours. This low-growing groundcover prefers full sun and produces clusters of blooms throughout the summer months.

Mirabilis Jalapa

Also called the four o’clock flower, Mirabilis jalapa boasts a trumpet-shaped bloom in various colors that appears in the late afternoon and evening. The plant is drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and prefers full sun.

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Evening Rain Lily

The evening rain lily has delicate, bell-shaped flowers that bloom after a rainfall in the evenings, usually fading within a day. These dainty bulbs can be planted in full sun to part shade and add a subtle touch to any moon garden.

Red Flare Water Lily

Lastly, the Red Flare Water Lily is an enchanting addition to any pond or water feature. Its dazzling reddish-purple blooms open in the evening and close by late morning, creating a fascinating display of color. With its stunning appearance and night-blooming nature, this water lily is truly a captivating sight to behold.

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Meaning of Moonflora and Nighttime Garden

Moonflora refers to the group of plants that bloom primarily at night, making them a significant part of nighttime gardens. These plants, such as moonflowers, exhibit their vibrant and aromatic blooms under the moonlight, creating an alluring ambience in outdoor spaces.

A nighttime garden, also known as a moon garden, focuses on plants with white or silver flowers and foliage to take advantage of the soft, reflective light of the moon.

Moon Gardens

Moon gardens are designed to fascinate the senses by combining beautiful white or silver blossoms with fragrant scents, making them an oasis of calm and relaxation.

They provide a captivating experience for those who desire a soothing environment to unwind after a long day or those who simply appreciate the beauty of plants shining under the natural glow of the moon.

Moonflowers

Moonflowers are an integral part of moon gardens. As perennials that bloom from sundown to late morning, they are known for their large trumpet-shaped flowers, which give off a captivating fragrance in the moonlight.

Moon Flowers

The green foliage of moonflowers provides a mysterious contrast to their bright blooms, and their nocturnal habits contribute to the romantic nature of moon gardens.


Caring for Night Blooming Plants

Soil and Drainage

Most night blooming plants prefer well-drained soil. Good drainage is vital to their healthy growth, as excess water can lead to root rot and other issues. In some cases, gardeners can amend heavy or clay soil with organic matter like compost or peat moss to improve drainage.

Light Requirements

While these plants bloom during the night hours, they still need adequate sunlight for photosynthesis.

Many night blooming plants can tolerate part shade but will perform best in full sun. This means they should receive at least six hours of direct sunlight a day, especially in the mornings or afternoons.

Hardiness Zones

The hardiness zone of a plant is a crucial factor in determining its ability to thrive in a specific region. Each plant will have a range of hardiness zones in which it can grow, so gardeners must properly research their desired species to ensure a good match for their local climate.

Planting and Maintenance

Night blooming plants are generally low-maintenance, but specific planting techniques can promote optimal growth. For instance, some plants benefit from being planted in groups or rows, while others may prefer a more solitary arrangement.

Many species also have self-seeding properties, meaning that they’ll produce seeds that can drop to the ground and naturally produce new plants for the next growing season.


Dangerous and Toxic Night Blooming Plants

Many beautiful night blooming plants can be enjoyed for their captivating scents and fascinating blooms. However, it is important to be aware that some of these plants can also be toxic or poisonous. A prime example of a dangerous night blooming plant is the angel’s trumpet, which is part of the Brugmansia genus.

Angel’s Trumpet

Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia) is a large, woody perennial shrub known for its stunning, trumpet-like flowers that hang downward and create an enchanting display. With its long bloom time and captivating fragrance, it is no wonder that this plant is a popular choice for many gardeners.

However, caution should be exercised, as all parts of the Brugmansia plant are highly toxic. Consumption of its leaves, flowers, or seeds can lead to severe symptoms such as hallucinations, seizures, and even death in humans, pets, and livestock.

Devil’s Trumpet

Another close relative of the angel’s trumpet is the devil’s trumpet (Datura). This plant shares many similarities with Brugmansia, including its trumpet-shaped flowers and night-blooming nature.

Devil's Trumpet

However, Datura is an annual herbaceous plant, unlike the woody Brugmansia. Like its cousin, Datura contains potent toxins such as tropane alkaloids (scopolamine, hyoscyamine, and atropine), which can result in severe poisoning if ingested.


Using Night Blooming Plants in Landscaping

Ground Covers

One strategy for incorporating night blooming plants is using them as ground covers. Low-growing plants with variegated foliage, like Lamb’s Ear, provide visual interest and help reflect moonlight, brightening up your garden at night.

Other ground cover options include roses and hydrangeas, which provide beautiful blooms and add a lovely scent to your nighttime garden.

Shrubbery

Adding night blooming shrubs to your landscape can also create visual appeal and structure. For instance, Koreanspice Viburnum is an excellent choice, as it has fragrant flowers that bloom in the evening and attracts pollinators.

Lilac and magnolia trees are other options for bringing nighttime beauty to your garden, as their distinctive fragrances and showy flowers create an enchanting atmosphere.

Climbing Plants

In addition to ground cover and shrubs, night blooming plants such as climbing hydrangeas can be grown on trellises or other structures to add vertical interest to your landscape.

Vining Plant

Moonflowers, a type of night-blooming morning glory, can also be trained to grow on a trellis or arbor. With their large, white flowers, they create a striking display when they open in the evening, and close during the day.

Night-Blooming Trees

Lastly, consider incorporating night blooming plants into your patio area. Small trees like patio roses or potted hydrangeas can be placed strategically around your outdoor living space, lending elegance and charm to your nighttime gatherings.

These plants not only provide visual interest but also emit inviting fragrances that add to the overall ambiance of your moonlit garden.


Frequently Asked Questions

How often does the Queen of the Night flower bloom?

The Queen of the Night, also known as Selenicereus grandiflorus, is a captivating night-blooming plant. It typically blooms once a year during the summer months.

The blooming process is quite unique, as the large, fragrant flowers open at night and close again by morning. This stunning display often draws admirers who wish to witness the fleeting beauty.

What plants have flowers that wither by morning?

Several night-blooming plants have flowers that wither by morning, adding to their mystique. Some examples include:

  1. Moonflowers (Ipomoea alba): These rapid-blooming flowers open in the evening and wither by the following morning.
  2. Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis): This plant’s yellow trumpet-shaped flowers open in the evening and perish the next day.
  3. Night-Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum): Although its tubular flowers are small, the intoxicating perfume spreads far and wide, but the blooms do not last beyond the morning.

Are there any rare night-blooming plants worth mentioning?

There are indeed some rare night-blooming plants that would make a stunning addition to any garden:

  1. The Kadupul Flower (Epiphyllum oxypetalum): Revered for its ethereal beauty, this plant’s flowers bloom infrequently and for a short duration. They are short-lived, often lasting for only a few hours.
  2. Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii): This elusive plant’s flowers resemble the shape of a ghost and bloom exclusively at night. They are quite rare, making them even more captivating.
Kadupul Flower

Which moon flowers are known for their evening blooms?

Moon flowers are a category of night-blooming plants known for their evening displays. Some popular ones include:

  1. Moonflower Vine (Ipomoea alba): This plant’s large, white, trumpet-shaped flowers open in the evening, releasing a sweet fragrance and creating a glowing effect in the moonlight.
  2. White Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus): This vigorous plant produces daisy-like white flowers that beautify the daytime garden and then glow under the moon at night.
  3. Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata): While this plant blooms during the day, the white varieties become even more appealing at night as they cast a luminescent glow in the moonlight.

Wrapping up Night Blooming Plants

Are you ready to start planting your nightblooming garden? Any combination of these silvery flowers and plants will make a beautiful nocturnal display.

Planning to spend more time outside in your new nighttime garden? Check out our list of the 5 Best Patio Heaters for Chilly Nights.