Definition

Noun 1. A tropical shrub (Brunfelsia americana): A West Indian shrub known for its clusters of fragrant, showy flowers that are yellowish-white in color. The name "lady-of-the-night" refers to the flower's strong, sweet fragrance, which often becomes more pronounced in the evening.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The garden's most intoxicating scent comes from the lady-of-the-night.
  • We planted a lady-of-the-night near the patio to enjoy its evening perfume.

Advanced Usage

• The name is used almost exclusively to refer to this specific botanical species (). It is a common name, not a scientific one.
• The phrase capitalizes on the romantic and poetic convention of naming flowers for their perceived qualities (e.g., "morning glory," "night-blooming cereus").

Variants and Related Words

• Brunfelsia americana (n): The scientific, botanical name for the plant.
• Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow (n): A common name for a related species (), referring to how its flowers change color over three days. This is a different but closely related plant.
• Night-blooming jasmine (n): Another plant () famous for its powerful nocturnal fragrance, sometimes confused with or mentioned alongside lady-of-the-night.

Synonyms

• Brunfelsia (n): The genus name, often used by gardeners and botanists to refer to plants in this group.
• Franciscan rain tree (n): Another regional common name for related species.

Notes on Meaning

• Important Distinction: The term "lady-of-the-night" is a specific common name for a flowering shrub. It should not be confused with the idiomatic or euphemistic use of similar phrases (e.g., "lady of the evening") which have entirely different meanings. In botanical and horticultural contexts, it refers only to the plant.

Noun

1. West Indian shrub with fragrant showy yellowish-white flowers