moonflower

American  

[moon-flou-er] / ˈmunˌflaʊ ər /

noun

1. a plant, Ipomoea alba, of the morning glory family, having fragrant white flowers that bloom at night.

---

moonflower British  

/ ˈmuːnˌflaʊə /

noun

1. any of several night-blooming convolvulaceous plants, esp the white-flowered Calonyction (or Ipomoea ) aculeatum

2. Also called: angels' tears.  a Mexican solanaceous plant, Datura suaveolens, planted in the tropics for its white night-blooming flowers

---

Etymology

Origin of moonflower

First recorded in 1780–90; moon + flower

Example Sentences

Other nocturnal blossoms deploy scents like siren calls: The creamy whorls of the moonflower vine hint at vanilla and sunscreen, while the heavy bells of brugmansia are franker and muskier in aura, verging on narcotic.

From New York Times • Oct. 11, 2021

These include a moonflower, which attracted global interest in February.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2021

A few lesser-known white flowers that Balfe likes are nicotiana, mandevilla, cosmos and moonflower, a plant that only blooms at night.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 21, 2021

One species, the Hawaiian moonflower, lives only in the dry forests of Hawaii — but its closest relatives all live in Mexico.

From New York Times • Apr. 12, 2018

After the shock of his father's transformation was over, the young king looked at the moonflower his father had prepared.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin