12 Beautiful Night-Blooming Flowers for Your Indoor Garden

Some flowers wait until the sun goes down to show their best colors and scents. These night-blooming plants can bring a calming and almost magical feel to your home after dark. They are perfect for those who enjoy quiet evenings or want to add something special to their indoor space. With the right care, many of these flowers thrive in containers and enjoy the comfort of indoor settings. Their beauty and fragrance often grow stronger when the lights are low. If you are looking for flowers that make nighttime feel a little more special, these choices are worth considering.

This post may contain affiliate links, which helps keep this content free. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Night-Blooming Jasmine

Night-blooming jasmine fills the evening air with its strong, sweet fragrance as soon as the sun goes down. The small, pale greenish-white flowers may look simple during the day, but by night, they open up and release a scent that can fill a room or even an entire home. It thrives near a sunny window during the day but waits for dusk to start its show.

This plant prefers moist but not soggy soil and does well in a container that can be moved indoors during cooler months. Its evening bloom adds a calm and cozy atmosphere to any indoor space, especially in bedrooms or sunrooms. Keep it in a spot that gets bright light during the day, and it will reward you when night comes.

Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)

Queen of the Night is one of the most popular night bloomers thanks to its large, pure white flowers that open only once and just for a few hours. It usually blooms late at night, often after 10 PM, and closes again before sunrise. The flower can span up to 8 inches wide and releases a strong, pleasant scent.

This cactus-type plant is grown easily indoors in a pot with loose, well-draining soil. It grows best near a window with filtered light during the day. When it blooms, it becomes a beautiful surprise for anyone who happens to stay up late enough to see it.

Evening Primrose

Evening primrose opens its yellow flowers at dusk and keeps them open through the night. Though often grown outdoors, dwarf varieties can thrive indoors in pots. The flower responds to the fading light, making it a charming addition to a softly lit room.

Place the plant near a window with a good amount of afternoon sun and let it settle in a cool spot once the flowers begin to form. Its soft glow and timing make it feel almost like a living nightlight, perfect for adding charm to quiet spaces after dark.

Night Phlox

Night phlox is sometimes called “midnight candy” because of its sweet, sugary scent that is strongest at night. The flowers are usually white or shades of purple and open only when the sun sets. Though it may seem like a garden flower, it grows well in containers indoors when given enough light and care.

This flower responds to the cooler temperatures and low light of evening by spreading its petals wide. Its scent is especially welcome in smaller rooms or window boxes placed indoors. Keep the soil moist and let the plant soak in sunlight during the day so it can prepare for its nightly display.

Brahma Kamal

Brahma Kamal is known in many cultures for its one-night-only bloom. This rare flower appears unexpectedly, often once a year, and opens fully only during late evening hours. The sight of its soft, white petals opening slowly is worth waiting for.

As an indoor plant, it prefers a warm and shaded spot with indirect light during the day. It can be a conversation piece for guests or a quiet personal moment for those who like peaceful evenings. Patience pays off when this flower finally blooms.

Tuberose

Tuberose produces clusters of creamy white flowers that give off a heady, luxurious scent after dark. While it is often used in perfumes, the live plant can be grown indoors with care. Its flower spikes grow tall, so they need space or support as they mature.

This plant needs bright indoor light during the day and a little extra warmth to thrive. The blooms open mostly at night, making them perfect for placing in areas where people gather after dinner. Its scent is rich and lasting, giving your home a calming feeling long into the evening.

Night Blooming Water Lily

Though more common in indoor water gardens or bowls, night-blooming water lilies do surprisingly well when given proper care indoors. They open their broad petals as the sun goes down and close them again with the morning light. Their elegant shapes make them look almost like sculptures floating on water.

Keep them in a wide bowl or indoor pond with gentle lighting and room-temperature water. Make sure they get indirect sun during the day, and you will be treated to their quiet performance at night. Their blooming habit gives a calm presence to any room they are in.

Four O’Clock Flower (Mirabilis jalapa)

As the name suggests, the Four O’Clock flower begins to bloom in the late afternoon and keeps going into the night. It comes in a variety of colors, often on the same plant, and gives off a mild, pleasing fragrance. Indoors, it can be grown in containers with enough sunlight during the day.

Though small, its flowers appear in generous numbers, making your home feel cheerful as daylight fades. These plants prefer being near a sunny window and do best in soil that is kept slightly moist. They respond quickly to changes in light, so you can almost time their blooming each evening.

Moonflower

Moonflower vines are related to morning glories, except they bloom in the evening. Their large, white flowers open slowly around dusk and can reach the size of a small saucer. The scent is soft and pleasant, giving your home a fresh and gentle aroma as night falls.

While these are often grown on balconies or near patio doors, they can be trained indoors along trellises or in hanging baskets. They enjoy sunlight during the day and cooler air at night. Their blooms offer a relaxing sight that matches the slow pace of evening.

Casablanca Lily

The Casablanca lily is known for its graceful white petals and strong perfume, which becomes even more noticeable in the evening. Though they do not strictly open only at night, their scent grows stronger after the sun sets. They work well in pots indoors, especially in spaces where scent matters.

These lilies need regular light, loose soil, and good airflow to thrive. Once they bloom, they offer a calm, soft presence to bedrooms or living rooms. Their scent has a clean, soothing quality that helps wind down after a long day.

Night Gladiolus

Night gladiolus produces creamy white or yellow blooms that give off a strong, spicy scent as evening approaches. Though not a true night bloomer in the same way as jasmine or moonflower, it still comes alive more fully after dark. Indoors, it can be grown in large pots near a sunny window.

These flowers bloom over several weeks, and their scent fills the air each evening like a steady rhythm. They do best when planted in loose soil with good drainage. Their upright stalks and striking scent make them stand out even more at night.

Night Blooming Cereus (Selenicereus)

This flower is another type of cactus that waits until night to show off its blooms. The flowers are large, often white or pale pink, and open all at once, typically in the late evening. They only last a few hours but offer a rare and rewarding sight.

Indoors, it grows well in containers and needs warmth, filtered sunlight, and a dry spot. When it is about to bloom, it often surprises its owner with an overnight show that feels like a special event. Keep a camera nearby if you want to catch it in time.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.