This fragrant Caribbean shrub is Lady of the Night, Brunfelsia nitida. It belongs to the nightshade family, Solanaceae, along with tomatoes, peppers, tobacco and eggplant. Unlike those familiar relatives, however, this species is grown mainly for its intensely scented flowers.

Brunfelsia nitida is native to Cuba and has been introduced to several nearby Caribbean islands, including Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. It usually grows as an evergreen shrub with many slender branches.

The leaves are simple, smooth-edged and glossy green. They are arranged alternately along the stems and provide a dark background for the pale blossoms.

The flowers are long and tubular, opening into five broad lobes. They are usually white or creamy white and may gradually become pale yellow as they age.

The common name “Lady of the Night” refers to the flower’s fragrance, which becomes especially strong after sunset. During the day, a visitor might pass the plant without noticing anything unusual. In the evening, however, its perfume can fill the surrounding garden.

That nighttime fragrance is not simply for our enjoyment. Pale, sweetly scented tubular flowers are well suited to attracting night-flying moths, which can locate them by scent and carry pollen between plants.

After pollination, the shrub may produce small, rounded fruits containing several seeds. Like many members of the nightshade family, the plant should be treated as ornamental rather than edible, and visitors should not sample its leaves or fruits.

Lady of the Night grows best in warm conditions with good light, regular moisture and well-drained soil. In a tropical garden, it may flower repeatedly rather than producing only one brief annual display.

This is a plant that reminds us that a garden changes after dark. During daylight, it is an attractive but fairly modest green shrub. At night, its flowers transform it into one of the most noticeable plants in the landscape—not because of their size or color, but because of their perfume.