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Moon garden

While the moon is often associated with romance and mystery, it can also be used to add intrigue and excitement to your garden. With a few simple tips, you can create your very own moon garden that is perfect for nighttime contemplation or simply enjoying the beauty of nature. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!

Moon garden - night blooming flowers to enjoy in the evening

Moon gardens: Evening landscapes that shine

So-called “moon gardens” are landscapes so designed as to make it possible for you to enjoy them at night, even without flooding your backyard with tons of artificial light

Night garden with landscape lighting

Moon gardens should include flowers and plants that are both illuminated by moonlight and pleasant and fragrant when the moon is hidden or new.

White flowers should occupy most of your space, along with plants with silver and gray foliage. Other pale hues to consider include pink, yellow and lavender.

Moon garden flowers at night

Moon garden plant list

Wondering what to plant in a moon garden? Night gardens are well-suited to flowering plants with white or other pale flowers, as well as perennials or ornamentals with silvery foliage. But there are many other plants perfectly suited for an evening garden.

Moonflower - ipomoea alba - tropical white morning glory - moon vine

1. Moonflower

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba), sometimes called the tropical white morning-glory or moon vine, is a species of night-blooming morning glory. This popular bloom can be found throughout the eastern half of North and South America, from Argentina to northern Mexico, as well as Florida and the West Indies. The climbing vines can be started indoors from the large seeds and planted outdoors as a flowering annual climbing vine in temperate regions.

2. Pricklyburr

Pricklyburr (Datura innoxia) is a white flower that is also sometimes called “Moonflower”. The large, white trumpet-shaped flowers unfurl at night and reflect the moon’s light. They tend to have a citrusy scent but are quite poisonous.

3. Evening primrose

Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a beautiful yellow flower that blooms in the evening, giving off a sweet fragrance. It is native to North America but can now be found all over the world.

4. Four o’clocks

Four o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) are another fragrant, nocturnal flower. They bloom in many different bright shades, including pink, yellow, and red. Choose lighter hues to help the flowers contrast against darkness.

5. Eve’s needle

Eve’s needle (Yucca filamentosa) is a type of yucca with long, thin leaves that are covered in white threads. It blooms in the summer with large, white flowers. This is a great choice for a backdrop of architectural foliage and tall spires of white flowers.

6. Angel’s trumpet

Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia spp.) is a tree-like shrub with large hanging trumpet-like blooms. Most varieties have pale lemon-yellow flowers, but there are also cultivars with soft pink blooms.

7. White petunia

White petunias (Petunia spp.) are annual flowering plants that come in many shapes and sizes. Petunias are easy to grow and produce lots of flowers throughout the whole summer.

8. Stargazer lily

The stargazer lily (Lilium candidum) is an incredibly fragrant flower that gets its name from the Greek word for “heaven”. Stargazer lilies bloom in mid to late summer and can reach up to 6 feet in height!

9. Night-scented stock

Night-scented stock (Matthiola longipetala) is a flowering ornamental with pale purple flower that have long hanging petals. As the name suggests, this plant is also quite fragrant (especially in the evening). They will blossom throughout the early summer and into the summer if they are watered on a regular basis.

10. Night phlox

Night phlox (Zaluzianskya ovata) is a white-flowered plant that blooms during the nighttime. Native to Africa, this plant is a perennial in warm climates (zones 9 and up).

Night blooming cereus flowers

11. Night-blooming cereus

Night-blooming cereus, which includes numerous species of columnar-form cacti, are lovely flowers for night gardens in hot climates. One of the most popular is Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum), which is a white-flowering cactus that blooms at night.

12. White rose

White roses (Rosa spp.) are classic symbols of love, purity, and innocence. They make a beautiful addition to any garden, and many varieties are surprisingly easy to grow.

13. White daffodil

White daffodils (Narcissus spp.) are one of the most popular spring flowers. They come in many shapes and sizes, and some even have a delicate fragrance. While most daffodils are yellow, there are some stunning white varieties.

14. White tulip

White tulips (Tulipa spp.) are one of the most popular spring flowers. There are lots of white tulip varieties that are easy to grow and some that reliably return year after year. My favorite white tulip variety is Haakon, as it comes back reliably year after year with elegant single-petaled blooms.

15. Lamb’s ear

Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantine) is a soft, fuzzy plant that’s often used as an ornamental ground cover. It’s easy to grow and thrive in full sun to partial shade. The leaves have a silvery appearance making them perfect for edging around a moon garden or lining a path.

16. Flowering tobacco

Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana) has sweet-scented flowers that bloom in mid-late summer.

17. Floating lanterns

Floating lanterns (Nymphaeaceae) add a touch of magic to any garden. These gorgeous white water lilies are perfect for a night garden with a pond or water feature. They come in many colors, but white is by far the most popular.

18. White lily

White lilies (Lilium spp.) are some of the most beloved flowers in the world. They symbolize purity and elegance, and they come in many different shapes and sizes. They have a beautiful, fragrant aroma and make a stunning addition to any garden.

19. Meadow rue

Meadow rue (Thalictrum rochebrunianum) is a perennial with blue-green foliage and clusters of fluffly-looking flowers. Most varieties are pink or purple, but there are also white cultivars.

20. Star jasmine

Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a flowering climbing vine with incredible fragrance. The star-shaped white flowers contrast very well against the dark green foliage. This is a great plant for beside a staircase, over a doorway, or climbing up an arch or another decor structure in the garden.

Cestrum nocturnum - the lady of the night - night-blooming jessamine or jasmine

21. Night-blooming jasmine

Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum) is a flowering shrub with incredibly fragrant blooms. The flowers only bloom at night, but the fragrance is so strong that it can be enjoyed during the day as well.

22. White butterfly bush

White butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is a fast-growing shrub that’s perfect for a moon garden.

23. Daisy

Daisies (Leucanthemum) are perfect white flowers for a garden. The Sweet Daisy™ Birdy Leucanthemum is a favorite for moon gardens as its perennial and very low-maintenance. You can also plant African daisies as annuals (some nice ones are Osteospermum Akila Daisy White and Osteospermum Asti White).

24. Baby’s breath

Baby’s breath (Gypsophilia) is a perennial plant that produces delicate white flowers. The stems are often used in floral arrangements.

25. Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial herb with fern-like leaves and clusters of small white flowers. It’s very easy to grow, and the blooms are reliable, blooming even in times of drought.

Moon garden - white flowers
Mary Jane Duford
Mary Jane Duford

Mary Jane Duford is a quintessential Canadian gardener. An engineer by trade, she tends to an ever-expanding collection of plants. In her world, laughter blooms as freely as her flowers, and every plant is raised with a dash of Canadian grit.

Mary Jane is a certified Master Gardener and also holds a Permaculture Design Certificate. She's also a proud mom of three, teaching her little sprouts the crucial difference between a garden friend and foe.

When she's not playing in the dirt, Mary Jane revels in her love for Taylor Swift, Gilmore Girls, ice hockey, and the surprisingly soothing sounds of bluegrass covers of classic hip-hop songs. She invites you to join her garden party, a place where you can share in the joy of growing and where every day is a new opportunity to find the perfect spot for yet another plant.

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