Relentless Gardener: Attracting Nighttime pollinators

What Plants Attract Nighttime Pollinators?

Moths such as hummingbird moths are an essential part of our ecosystem. They feed on nectar from brightly flowering plants. At night, they feed on white flowering plants. Without moths like these and others, plants would be extinct.

The tobacco plant, Nicotiana tabacum, is an annual flower great for planting in flower beds or containers. It prefers consistently moist, well-drained soils that are rich in organic matter. They do well in full sun or part shade. It is hardy in zones 10 to 11. It has no serious pest or disease issues except for tobacco mosaic virus. Beetles can be an issue. These come in red, pink, lime-green, and white.

Evening primrose, Oenothera species, is an herbaceous perennial that blooms with a white flower turning rosy, pink as it matures. It grows in average and poor soil that can be dry to medium moisture. It is drought tolerant. It grows in full sun. It can tolerate afternoon shade. The rhizomes of this plant can spread aggressively, forming a large area of ground cover. It grows in zones 4-9.

Moonflower, Ipomoea alba, is an annual in most places, but a tender perennial in zones 10-12. This grows in full sun and requires well-drained soils. The moonflower has white flowers that bloom from July to October. The white blossoms are fragrant. These flowers open at night.

Four o'clocks, Mirabilis jalapa, are an herbaceous perennial and a tender perennial in zones 9-11. Most other places, they are grown as an annual. There are native varieties that are strictly herbaceous perennials in zone 5. They require acidic soil that is well-drained. They like consistent moisture. These flowers grow in full sun but like some afternoon shade. They come in many colors and bloom from June to frost. They are called Four o’clock because they bloom starting late afternoon into evening. Their colors range from Pink, rose, red, magenta, yellow, and white.

Linda Langelo is a Colorado State University Extension Horticulture Specialist, a member of Garden Communicators International, and a regular contributor to MarthaStewart.com gardening articles. She also produces The Relentless Gardener Podcast and the Relentless Gardener Column, which won a Laurel Award from Garden Communicators International. She is a guest blogger for AARP Colorado and AARP Maryland.