Flowers that release their fragrances at night add a magical layer to any garden, transforming the evening into a sensory delight. These plants have evolved to emit their scents when the sun goes down, specifically to attract nocturnal pollinators like moths, bats, and certain types of beetles. The aroma of these flowers can range from sweet and intoxicating to subtle and musky, filling the night air with an enchanting perfume that’s often more potent than their daytime counterparts.
The timing of their scent release is not just for attracting pollinators; it also creates an atmosphere where garden visitors can experience the garden in a new way. Nighttime scents can evoke feelings of calm and mystery, making evening strolls or garden parties more memorable. These floral fragrances can travel further on cooler night air, blanketing an entire outdoor space with their aroma, turning a simple garden into a fragrant retreat.
Moreover, these nocturnal blooms contribute to the ecological diversity of a garden by supporting night-active wildlife. Their scents are part of a complex interaction between plants and pollinators, where the flowers provide nectar in exchange for pollination services. This relationship ensures the survival and proliferation of both the plant species and the nocturnal creatures, creating a balanced ecosystem that thrives even when the day’s light fades.
Flowers That Smell Good At Night
Night-Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum)
This plant is renowned for its intoxicating, sweet scent that permeates the night air. The small, star-shaped white flowers bloom in clusters, becoming most fragrant from dusk until dawn. Night-blooming jasmine is not a true jasmine but shares the powerful fragrance, making it a favorite for evening gardens.
Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)
True to its name, the moonflower opens its large, white trumpet-shaped blooms at night, releasing a sweet, lemony fragrance. The flowers unfurl as the moon rises, providing a dramatic display that’s both visually and olfactorily pleasing. Their scent is strong enough to fill the garden, attracting moths for pollination.
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
With its bright yellow flowers that open in the evening, the evening primrose emits a sweet, honey-like scent. These flowers are not only fragrant but also provide a lovely contrast against the night sky. They’re especially noted for their medicinal properties, but it’s their nighttime aroma that captivates gardeners.
Night-Scented Stock (Matthiola longipetala)
Also known as evening stock, this annual produces clusters of small, pale flowers that release a clove-like fragrance at night. The scent is so potent it can be detected from quite a distance, making it an excellent choice for evening garden parties or simply to enjoy from an open window.
Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia spp.)
This plant boasts large, pendulous flowers that resemble trumpets, in shades of white, yellow, pink, or orange. The sweet, intoxicating fragrance of Angel’s Trumpet is strongest at night, attracting various nocturnal pollinators. However, all parts of the plant are toxic, so caution is advised in its placement.
Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)
Often used in perfumery, tuberose has a heavy, sweet scent that intensifies in the evening. Its waxy, white flowers bloom on tall spikes, creating a dramatic effect. The fragrance of tuberose is considered one of the most intoxicating, sometimes overwhelming in its richness.
Four O’Clock Flower (Mirabilis jalapa)
Named for its habit of opening around 4 PM, this plant’s flowers release a pleasant, fruity scent at night. Available in a variety of colors, including pink, red, yellow, and white, these flowers not only add color but also a delightful aroma to the evening garden.
Nicotiana (Nicotiana alata)
Commonly known as flowering tobacco, this plant produces clusters of tubular flowers that open in the evening, releasing a sweet, jasmine-like fragrance. The scent is particularly strong in varieties like ‘Jasmine Tobacco’, making it a staple for night gardens.
Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)
This cactus is famous for its rare, nocturnal blooming where large, white flowers open for just one night, emitting a sweet, musky fragrance. The bloom’s fleeting nature adds an element of mystery and excitement, as its scent fills the night air only briefly.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
While many honeysuckles bloom during the day, some species like Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’ are particularly fragrant at night. The sweet, honey-like scent is carried on the evening breeze, attracting moths and adding a magical quality to any garden.
Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus)
With its unique, chocolate-like scent, this flower blooms in the evening with dark, velvety red flowers. The aroma is subtle yet distinctive, reminiscent of cocoa, making it a conversation piece in any garden with its intriguing fragrance.
Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)
Known for its creamy white flowers, gardenia’s scent is one of the most beloved in the floral world, becoming even more pronounced at night. The rich, sweet fragrance with hints of jasmine is both soothing and luxurious, often used in high-end perfumes.
Night Gladiolus (Gladiolus tristis)
Unlike its daytime counterparts, this gladiolus blooms at night with sweetly scented, cream-colored flowers. The fragrance is described as a mix of narcissus and jasmine, making it a rare treat in the garden. It’s particularly noted for its ability to perfume the air on warm nights.
Night Phlox (Zaluzianskya capensis)
Also known as the midnight candy flower, Night Phlox opens its delicate, star-shaped flowers in the evening, releasing a scent reminiscent of vanilla and honey. The flowers close during the day, saving their sweet aroma for the night, attracting moths with their fragrance.
Moonflower Vine (Ipomoea noctiflora)
Different from the common moonflower but equally enchanting, this vine produces large, white flowers that open at dusk. Their fragrance is sweet and slightly spicy, filling the night air and attracting nocturnal pollinators with its scent.
White-Flowered Waterlily (Nymphaea odorata)
While many waterlilies are known for their daytime blooms, some varieties like Nymphaea odorata release a pleasant, sweet scent at night. These flowers open in the evening and close by morning, contributing to the night’s olfactory landscape around water features.
Datura (Datura spp.)
Also known as devil’s trumpet or jimson weed, Datura’s large, trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in the evening, emitting a sweet, heady fragrance. The scent is particularly strong in varieties with white flowers. However, all parts of the plant are toxic, so caution is necessary.
Night-Blooming Cereus (Selenicereus grandiflorus)
This cactus is famous for its large, fragrant flowers that bloom just one night each year. The scent is sweet and heavy, often compared to jasmine or vanilla, making its rare blooming an event to anticipate.
Hyacinth Bean (Lablab purpureus)
While known for its decorative, purple flowers during the day, it’s the night when the Hyacinth Bean’s fragrance becomes more noticeable. The scent isn’t overwhelming but adds a subtle, sweet note to the evening garden.
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
While more commonly recognized for its aromatic leaves, the sassafras tree also produces small, greenish-yellow flowers that are fragrant at night, offering a unique, slightly sweet scent that’s less known but equally enchanting.
Night-Blooming Silene (Silene noctiflora)
This plant’s small, white flowers open in the evening, releasing a sweet, pleasant fragrance. It’s not as famously fragrant as some others but adds to the tapestry of night scents in the garden, attracting night-flying insects.
Evening-Scented Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa)
Similar to its biennial cousin, this perennial primrose opens its large, white flowers at dusk with a sweet, honey scent. The fragrance is subtle but adds to the evening’s bouquet, especially when planted in clusters.
Night-Blooming Cestrum (Cestrum nocturnum)
An additional variety of night-blooming jasmine, known for its particularly potent fragrance. Its sweet, slightly musky scent is one of the strongest in the evening garden, making it a focal point for those looking to maximize nighttime fragrance.
Sweet-Scented Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
Despite its name, this nightshade’s small, purple flowers release a sweet fragrance in the evening, contrasting with its daytime appearance. It’s another plant that needs careful handling due to its toxicity but adds a unique scent to the night garden.