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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of moonflower

First recorded in 1780–90; moon + flower

Example Sentences

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

The scientists estimate that the Hawaiian moonflower separated from its relatives — and made its journey across the Pacific — over a million years ago.

From New York Times • Apr. 12, 2018

She craned her neck to see all the topiary mazes of moonflower hedges and starfruit trees.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton