Queen of the Night

noun

variants or queen of the night or Queen of the Night cactus or queen of the night cactus

: night-blooming cereus

Perhaps the most popular night bloomers are the jasmine, like my neighbor's, or the night-blooming cereus, sometimes called "Queen of the Night" because of its showy, fragrant white flowers that only open at night.

—Jill Carroll

also : the usually large, white flower of a night-blooming cereus

Among the things that make it different from a daylight visit: night-blooming flowers, such as queen of the night, a white cactus blossom that unfolds when the sun goes down.

—Randy Cordova

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above