Why do the white flowers bloom only at night?
More white flowers bloom by day than at night! Blackberries, rue anemone, white avens, water hemlock, jasmine, dodder…. Conversely, evening primroses are yellow; the bat plant has black blossoms; and there are many night blooming colorful daylilies. Some white flowers are open both day & night (Yucca), but have night flying pollinators, like moths (Yucca moths). I believe white flowers are featured in “night” gardens because they look lustrous in moonlight, not because they only bloom at night. I believe the night-blooming Cereus and some of its’ relatives are the most famous night blooming white flowers; followed by night-blooming white water lilies. These may be spectacular, but constitute only a few species.
