Moon gardens are designed to be enjoyed after sunset when the pale glow of the moon illuminates the flowers and foliage. Choosing night blooming plants is key to creating a garden that comes alive at night. With careful planning and plant selection, it’s possible to have a garden that offers beautiful flowers, interesting textures, and lovely scents when the sun goes down. Let’s explore some of the top options for night blooming plants to include in moon gardens.
Why Have a Moon Garden
A moon garden offers the unique experience of enjoying your garden at night. Here are some of the benefits and reasons to create one:
- Enjoy evening fragrances – Many night blooming flowers release their scent after dusk, permeating the garden with lovely fragrances.
- See flowers in a new light – Flowers can look dramatically different under moonlight, with pale and white blooms glowing ethereally.
- Add interest to your landscape – A moon garden can be a destination spot to enjoy on warm evenings. It adds variety and extended interest to your landscape.
- Accent nighttime gatherings – Entertaining in the evening is made more magical when your moon garden is in bloom. The effect is elegant and enchanting.
- Easy to navigate at night – Paths and edges are defined with white and pale flowers and foliage, making the garden easy to navigate at night.
While enjoying the garden during the day is lovely, being able to extend that experience into the evening makes for a truly magical outdoor space. Read on for some of the top plants to include in your moon garden.
Choosing Plants for Moon Gardens
Selecting plants that look beautiful by moonlight is the key to creating your garden. Here are the important criteria to consider when making your plant choices:
- Flowers that bloom at night – While day-blooming flowers can reflect moonlight nicely, the effect is maximized by flowers that open fully in the evenings. Look for flowers that bloom from late afternoon to night.
- Fragrance released in evenings – Scent is powerful in the garden and many night blooming plants share their fragrance after sunset when humidity increases and temperatures drop.
- White or pale colored flowers – While the moon illuminates any flower, those with white, cream or pale yellow petals seem to glow in the moonlight.
- Variegated or silver foliage – Add interest with plants that have foliage in white, grey, silver or variegated patterns. They light up the garden by reflecting moonbeams.
- Tall flowers and plants – taller plants cast intriguing shadows across the garden at night, creating depth and drama.
- Range of textures – Consider adding plants with unique or striking textures. Lamb’s ear, ornamental grasses, elephant ears, and succulents are great textural elements.
Top Night Blooming Flowers
Flowers that open fully after dusk are essential for your moon garden. Some of the top choices include:
Evening Primrose
With bright yellow or pink flowers that love the moonlight, evening primrose is aptly named. Blooms open as the sun sets, releasing a delicate lemon scent. Missouri Primrose and sundrops are two popular varieties.
Moonflower
A classic moon garden plant, white moonflower unfurls large, fragrant blooms at dusk. Providing a tropical look, the flowers last until morning. Grow moonflower on trellises for big impact. Ipomoea alba is a common species.
Angel’s Trumpet
Adding drama to the garden, angel’s trumpet has huge, pendulous blooms that open at night. Brugmansia and Datura varieties provide intoxicating fragrance.
Four O’Clocks
These old-fashioned annuals open in late afternoon, revealing bright flowers in shades of red, pink, yellow, and white. Mirabilis jalapa is the most common type, blooming from early summer until frost.
Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow
Also known as Brunfelsia, this tropical shrub produces flowers that change color as they mature. Blooms open purple, fade to lavender, then turn white. Provide part shade and acidic soil.
Night Phlox
A wonder of the moon garden is night phlox or Zaluzianskya capensis, which releases the sweetest violet-like fragrance in the evenings. White, pink, or red flowers open after sunset.
Flowering Tobacco
In the evening, flowering tobacco unveils long, white trumpet-shaped blooms that release a lovely, delicate scent. Grow in containers or plant at the front of borders. Nicotiana alata is a favorite.
Night Blooming Shrubs and Vines
In addition to flowers, include some night blooming shrubs and vines to add fullness and structure to your moon garden. Some top options include:
Night Blooming Jasmine
The queen of the moon garden, jasmine releases its sensuous fragrance as its white blossoms open at night. Grow it on a trellis for best effect. Jasminum officinale is a hardy variety.
Angel’s Trumpet
With huge, pendulous blooms, Brugmansia makes a bold statement in the moon garden, opening flamboyant flowers after sunset. Provide rich soil and consistent water. Grow in containers in colder climates.
Moonflower
For tropical flavor and evening magic, include moonflower vine in your garden. Immense white blooms unfurl as the sun sets and stay open until morning. Ipomoea alba is the most common.
Night Blooming Cereus
For weird and wonderful, Epiphyllum oxypetalum is a cactus that blooms spectacularly at night with huge white flowers that last one evening. Provide well-drained soil and bright light.
Lady of the Night
A night garden is made for lady of the night, featuring intensely fragrant, white blooms that Open after dark. Give this tropical plenty of moisture. Grow in containers in colder climates.
Night Blooming Perennials
While many perennials close their flowers during the night, there are some that extend their bloom into the evening or open fully at night. Some great options include:
Evening Primrose
A moon garden classic, evening primrose opens bright yellow or pink flowers in the evenings that release a delicate lemon scent. Oenothera missouriensis is a popular variety.
Night Phlox
For sweet fragrance after sunset, include night phlox also known as Zaluzianskya capensis in borders and beds. White, pink, or crimson flowers open in evening and release a violet-like perfume.
Moonflower
While technically a tender perennial, moonflower or Ipomoea alba acts as an annual in cooler zones. Immense white blooms open as sun sets. Provide sturdy support for vigorous growth.
Silver Sage
With its silvery foliage that shimmers in moonlight, salvia argentea is a perfect edging plant for paths and borders. Spikes of white flowers add to its luminescent effect.
Night Scented Stocks
Grown as an annual in most zones, Matthiola longipetala opens pale blooms in the evening with intense, clove-like fragrance. Wonderful for cutting.
Other Night Blooming Plants
Beyond traditional flowering plants, consider adding these night-loving plants to your moon garden:
Citronella Grass
Grown for its sharp, lemony fragrance, citronella grass releases its scent heavily in the evening which also helps repel mosquitos. The tall, ornamental grass adds drama.
Angel’s Trumpet
Brugmansia’s huge, hanging trumpets open at night, releasing a lovely and intoxicating fragrance. Treat it as an annual or overwinter it indoors in cold climates.
Four O’Clocks
An old-fashioned annual, four o’clocks open their colorful flowers in late afternoon or early evening, lending cheer. Mirabilis jalapa is most common.
Star Jasmine
The wonderfully fragrant Trachelospermum jasminoides blooms in spring and summer but the scent intensifies in the evenings, perfuming your moon garden. Grow on trellises or as a groundcover.
Yucca
Known for structural appeal more than flowers, yucca’s sword-like leaves and tall flower spikes create striking architectural silhouettes in the moonlight. Yucca filamentosa is a hardy variety.
Best Plants for Foliage Interest
While flowers create the focal point, don’t overlook the importance of foliage to complete your moon garden. Some top options include:
Hostas
With varieties that range from pale green to almost white, hostas light up the moon garden. Hosta sieboldiana, the blue-leaved forms, really glow when illuminated.
Lamb’s Ear
Grown for its soft, fuzzy leaves, lamb’s ear has a silver sheen that shines by moonlight. Stachys byzantina provides a nice textural contrast in the garden.
Silver Mound Artemisia
With striking silver foliage, artemisia serves as a lovely neutral accent plant. Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’ is a compact variety perfect for edges.
Dusty Miller
Finely cut, silver-grey leaves make dusty miller glow when illuminated at night. Senecio cineraria provides great contrast to colorful blooms.
Colocasia
Add bold tropical flair with elephant ears like colocasia esculenta. The dark leaves contrast beautifully with pale flowers and foliage, creating striking effects.
Silver Sage
Beloved for its soft, silvery foliage and upright form, Salvia argentea is both beautiful in daylight and shimmery by moonlight.
Designing Your Moon Garden
Careful planning of hardscaping and design elements can take your moon garden from good to spectacular. Consider the following:
Use Contrast
Combine brightly colored and bold foliage like elephant ears or coleus with soft, luminous whites and pastels. The contrast makes both really pop at night.
Incorporate Structures
Arbors, obelisks, trellises and pillars create striking shadows and architecture in the moonlight. Grow moonflowers, jasmine or mandevilla on them.
Define Beds and Borders
Use white and silver plants like lamb’s ear, dusty miller, and artemisia to delineate garden edges and clearly define beds, making your space easy to navigate after dark.
Add Night Lighting
Strategically placed lighting transforms your moon garden from day to night. Opt for path lighting, spotlights to highlight architectural plants, and twinkle lights to create a festive look.
Include Night Scented Plants
Take advantage of evening fragrance by incorporating plants like brugmansia, night phlox, citronella grass and night blooming jasmine. Let your nose guide you through the garden.
Provide Seating Areas
Give yourself a beautiful perch to sit back and enjoy your garden in the evenings by providing benches, chairs, and outdoor sofas.
Mulch Beds
A fresh layer of mulch in pale gravel or white stones helps reflect light and define beds and paths as you meander at night.
Caring for Moon Gardens
To keep your moon garden looking its best and the plants happy, provide the following care:
- Water thoroughly and consistently, especially in hot weather. Many night bloomers thrive with ample moisture.
- Fertilize regularly to support flowering and healthy growth. Use a balanced flower fertilizer.
- Stake tall flowers like moonflower and angel’s trumpet to prevent damage by winds and heavy rain.
- Prune wayward shoots and deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flower production.
- Check for pests like whiteflies and aphids that may plague night bloomers and treat any found immediately.
- Replenish mulch in spring to block weeds and retain moisture. Keep beds tidy.
- Rotate annuals each year to provide fresh color. Fertilize containers often.
- Move potted plants indoors before frost or grow as annuals and replace yearly.
Enjoying Your Moon Garden
A moon garden offers a whole new way to enjoy your landscape after hours. During summer, spend warm evenings sitting in your garden, surrounded by exquisite flowers and fragrances. Use your garden to host special nighttime occasions, where your plantings provide a magical backdrop. Wander the beds, enjoying how plants emerge under moonlight. However you choose to use it, a thoughtfully planted moon garden is a lovely escape under the stars.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moon Gardens
Still have questions about designing and caring for your moon garden? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What are some good annuals for a moon garden?
Some excellent annuals for night blooming include moonflowers, four o’clocks, flowering tobacco, and night scented stocks. Zinnias and dahlias also reflect light beautifully.
What is the best color scheme?
White and palest pastels glow best under moonlight. Silver, grey, and variegated foliage also light up beautifully. For contrast, add some bright whites like white impatiens.
How much light do night blooming plants need?
Most night bloomers need a minimum of 6 hours of full sun during the day to support strong growth and flowering. Moonflowers and angel’s trumpets can get by on less.
Should I use fertilizer?
Fertilizing regularly with a balanced flower fertilizer ensures your plants have nutrients to support robust flowering. Use one made for blooming plants.
How much water do they need?
Most night bloomers thrive with consistently moist soil. Provide 1-2 inches of water per week, adjusting for rainfall. Container plants need more frequent watering.
What kind of soil should be used?
Rich, well-draining soil with lots of organic matter provides ideal conditions for night bloomers. Amend clay or sandy soils as needed to improve drainage and moisture retention.