Cairns gardening: Tropical plants which open at night

The night garden is a mysterious abode of plants and animals going about their rituals while hidden from prying eyes. Enhance your garden with these secretive tropical plants which open at night.

Some fascinating species of tropical plants open are at their best at night.

The night garden is a mysterious abode of plants and animals going about their rituals from sunset to sunrise while hidden from prying eyes.

In 1748 the great botanist Linnaeus planted a floral clock that told the time from the actions of certain species of plants growing around the floral dial which opened and closed at specific times.

Linnaeus understood that plants from a particular latitude and at a specific time of the year, demonstrated a strong circadian rhythm from which he could indicate time.

The species Linnaeus grew for his flower clock belong to the temperate northern hemisphere region and few of them will grow in our wet tropics.

However, for those budding student botanists it would be a fun project to accomplish, discovering tropical species that can tell time.

Some of the tropical species of plants that open at night that I find fascinating are:

Cestrum noctumum, the night flowering jasmine. This plant is said to have many health benefits and a decoction from the flowers claimed to kill bacteria and viruses while purifying the air. It is also known to repeal insect especially mosquitoes.

Barringtonia asiatica is native to coastal shores around the Pacific Rim.

Barringtonia asiatica, the beach barringtonia, is native to coastal shores around the Pacific Rim, including Australia. The saucer sized, perfumed, pompon flowers of white and pink filaments open at night and are pollinated by bats.

Beachcombers will be familiar with the large box shaped fruits dropped by this tree that can be found along the tide line.

Plantation of dragon fruit.

Pitaya roja, dragon fruit, is a cactus cultivated for its large pulpy fruits, of varying colours; red, white, yellow and blue. The large flowers open around midnight and close on sunrise, they are pollinated by night flying insects.

Dracaena fragrans, the “Happy Plant” produces strongly fragrant, panicles of pure white flowers which open at night in early winter and are pollinated by night flowering moths and other insects. The flowers close during the day and re-open each night for up to two weeks.

Cereus grandiflorus, Queen of the night, is a night-blooming cactus with spectacular blooms that open late at night and close on sunrise. The flowers last only for one night. Cereus can be grown in a hanging basket or hosted to a strong tree where its succulent stems will scramble throughout the canopy.

Capparis lucida.

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Capparis lucida, the northern caper grows behind the dunes in shore lines of coastal Northern Australia. It was collected and described by Banks at Cooktown in 1770. The flowers consist of a collection of pure white stamens joined to an inner pair of sepals. They open in the early evening and are pollinated by midges and other insects. The fine stamens fall at sunrise as the caper fruits start to swell. The fruits are edible and can be processed and prepared for use as a spicy caper fruits.

Sonneratia caseolaria and S. alba are stately mangrove trees that can grow 20 metres tall. They are night flowering, S. Caseolaria with burgundy red and S. alba pure white flowers which shatter and fall at sunrise scattering their white stamens into the lapping mangrove waters. The fruits of the Sonneratia are apple shaped and can be eaten raw or cooked.

When ripe the fruit has a dense cheesy texture. The leaves of this mangrove are also edible, raw or cooked, and are used as a traditional medicine to treat cuts and bruises.

Andrew Marvell in 1678, nearly 100 years before Linnaeus’ flower clock wrote;

The Garden

How well the skilful gardener drew

Of flow’rs and herbs this dial new;

Where from above the milder sun

Does through a fragrant zodiac run;

And, as it works, th’ industrious bee

Computes its time as well as we.

How could such sweet and wholesome hours

Be reckoned but with herbs and flow’rs!

Originally published as Cairns gardening: Tropical plants which open at night