Hawk Moth Flowers

Flower Types

• Hawk moth flowers are characterized by white blooms, heavy fragrance and anthers that bear the pollen far from the flower so it can dust the body of the hovering hawk moth. Datura (also known as jimsonweed), white jasmines, many white lilies, moonflowers and some gardenias are described as hawk moth flowers. Many less-known flowers also depend on hawk moths, and some depend exclusively on hawk moths for pollination.

The Pollinator

• Hawk moths, like most moths, are nocturnal pollinators. However, they can fly great distances to pollinate and mate, and they pollinate many nocturnal flower species. This is partially because of their long proboscis, which ensures they can always reach the nectar of a flower, no matter how deep in the flower it is hidden. They can also smell the flowers they can pollinate from a great distance.

Benefits

• Hawk moth flowers have the advantage of being pollinated by a creature that can carry their pollen great distances. This is important in habitats that have been disrupted by development, where there may be miles between plants of the same species. This also means that plants in oases and plants on islands stand a good chance of survival and their genes will be spread with the long-distance hawk moth.

Considerations

• The larva of the hawk moth is called the tomato horn worm, and many gardeners kill it to prevent it from defoliating their tomatoes outright. However, if their presence can be tolerated, these moths are fine to keep as a boon to night-blooming gardens and a great many native and ornamental plants.