Flowers & Blooms • September 2026

Sedap Malam (Tuberose) in Bali: The Island’s Most Fragrant Evening Flower

If there is one bloom that captures the perfume of a Balinese evening, it is sedap malam. Known to the world as tuberose, its slender spires of ivory florets release their scent as the light fades, filling a room with something warm, sweet and quietly intoxicating. Loved across Indonesia for generations, sedap malam carries both cultural meaning and pure sensory pleasure. At Maison Bloom we work with it often, and here is everything worth knowing about this most romantic of flowers.

What is sedap malam?

The name says it beautifully. Sedap malam translates as ‘fragrant at night’, a nod to the way the flower saves its richest perfume for the evening hours. Each tall green stem carries a row of waxy white buds that open in sequence, so a single spray can perfume a space for days as bloom after bloom unfurls. It is the same flower prized by perfumers around the world, and once you have met it in person, its scent is impossible to forget.

Why sedap malam is so loved in Indonesia

Sedap malam is woven through Indonesian life, appearing at weddings, welcomes and moments of remembrance alike. Its clean white colour and gentle fragrance feel both celebratory and serene, which is why you will find it in homes, temples and hotel lobbies across the island. For visitors it offers a lovely way to bring a truly local flower into a bouquet or arrangement, and for our Indonesian clients it is a familiar, comforting favourite that always feels like home.

Sedap malam for weddings & celebrations

Few flowers suit a Bali wedding as naturally as sedap malam. Its elegant vertical form brings height and movement to ceremony arches, aisle designs and tall table arrangements, while its scent lends the whole day a sense of occasion no candle can match. We love pairing it with roses, orchids and soft foliage for a look that is romantic and unmistakably tropical. If you are planning your celebration, our weddings service is the place to begin.

Styling tuberose in villas & hotels

Because its fragrance carries so far, sedap malam is perfect for spaces that welcome guests. A few tall stems in an entrance, a spa or a bedside setting bring an immediate feeling of luxury, and villa and hotel teams across Bali reach for it when they want an arrangement that guests will notice the moment they arrive. It also loves the island’s warmth, sitting happily alongside our other favourite tropical flowers. For more ideas on dressing a space, see our guide to villa & hotel flowers.

How to keep sedap malam fresh

Happily, sedap malam is one of the more forgiving cut flowers in Bali’s heat. Trim the stems on an angle, keep the water clean and fresh, and stand them out of direct sun, and the buds will keep opening for a week or more. Removing any spent lower florets as you go keeps each spray looking its best. Enjoyed this way, a single bunch will scent your home evening after evening, which is exactly how this flower earned its name.

Ordering sedap malam across Bali

We arrange sedap malam on its own or woven through a larger design, and we deliver across Canggu, Seminyak, Kerobokan, Kuta, Ubud, Denpasar, Sanur, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and Uluwatu. Delivery is free on orders over IDR 500.000, and same-day delivery is available on orders placed before 2pm. Message us on WhatsApp and we will help you choose something lovely.