# Night Phlox (*Zaluzianskya F.W.Schmidt*)

Night Phlox is a magical flower that blooms only at night, releasing a sweet fragrance that attracts moths and other nighttime creatures.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests
- **Also known as:** Evening Phlox

![Night Phlox](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Zaluzianskya_ovata_two_forms_%288838450972%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: peganum from Henfield, England, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zaluzianskya_ovata_two_forms_%288838450972%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Night Phlox has delicate, star-shaped flowers that are typically white with purple backs and bright yellow centers, making them appear to glow in low light. Its slender stems bear many small blossoms, which unfurl dramatically after sunset.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Genus:** Zaluzianskya

## Interesting facts

- Each delicate flower only lasts for one night, opening at dusk and wilting by morning's light.
- Its scientific name, Zaluzianskya, honors a Polish botanist named Adam Zaluziansky.
- Some Night Phlox petals have tiny hairs that catch moonlight, making them seem to glow!
- The flowers often have purple backs but white fronts, looking like tiny jewels when closed tight.

## Special abilities

- **Night-Shine Petals:** Night Phlox has bright white petals that reflect moonlight, helping nocturnal pollinators easily spot its flowers in the dark.
- **Daylight Rest:** Night Phlox can tightly curl its petals during the day, protecting its delicate inner parts from sun and heat until dusk.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-60 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1.5-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Convolvulus Hawk-moth (*Agrius convolvuli*) — attracted by strong night scent
- **Eaten by:** African bollworm (*Heliothis armigera*) — larvae may munch on leaves
- **Parasitizes:** Alternaria Leaf Spot (*Alternaria alternata*) — a common fungus causing leaf damage

## Traits

- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Night Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/night-blooming): Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy the beauty of Night Phlox from a distance and never pick flowers without permission.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Night Phlox?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Night Phlox?

15-60 cm

### How wide does Night Phlox spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Night Phlox?

1.5-3 cm

### When does Night Phlox bloom?

Summer

### Is Night Phlox edible?

No

### Is Night Phlox toxic?

None

### What is Night Phlox's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Night Phlox: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/night-phlox)