Nightblooming

Nightblooming is a plant flowering habit in which flowers open during the night rather than in daylight. This nocturnal blooming is often accompanied by strong fragrance and pale, light-colored petals, adaptations that help attract nocturnal pollinators such as hawkmoths, bats, and certain nocturnal bees. The duration of bloom varies by species, ranging from flowers that open for a single night to those that stay open for several hours after dusk.

The term is descriptive and applies across several genera rather than referring to a single species. Nightblooming species are found in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions and are valued in cultivation for evening fragrance and ornamental appeal. Many nightbloomers produce large, showy flowers and rely on the relative stillness of the night to maximize pollination success.

Notable examples include Epiphyllum oxypetalum, known as the night-blooming cereus or queen of the night, which opens large white flowers after sunset; Selenicereus grandiflorus, also marketed as queen of the night; Cestrum nocturnum, commonly called night-blooming jasmine, with highly scented tubular flowers that perfume the night air; and Ipomoea alba, the moonflower, a vine whose white blossoms unfurl after dusk. These plants illustrate the diversity of nightblooming strategies and their appeal to gardeners and researchers alike.