This unusual flowering shrub or small tree is the Tree Lily, Cubanola domingensis.

Its most distinctive feature is its large, hanging, trumpet-shaped flowers. The blossoms are creamy white to pale green and dangle beneath the branches like long bells.

The flowers usually open in the evening and release a strong, sweet fragrance. Their shape and nighttime scent suggest pollination by moths, which can reach deep into the long floral tube.

The leaves are large, glossy, and arranged along arching branches. When the plant is in full bloom, the pale flowers hang below the dark foliage and create a dramatic display.

Tree Lily is native to the Dominican Republic and belongs to the coffee family, Rubiaceae. Despite its common name, it is not a true lily.

The plant prefers warm, humid conditions and some protection from harsh midday sun and drying winds. It may be slow-growing, but its extraordinary flowers make it highly prized by tropical plant collectors.

This is a plant worth visiting after sunset, when its fragrance becomes strongest and its pale flowers seem almost luminous in the fading light.