“By the Light of the Silvery Moon”

The term “moon gardening” probably conjures up images in the minds of most people of the Old Farmer’s Almanac and very strong-willed individuals who plant their gardens according to the sign of the moon. For the purpose of this article, however, moon gardening refers to the planning and planting of a garden to be enjoyed in the evening or at night. Few things are more relaxing than a peaceful walk through a luminous, fragrant garden in the evening. Numerous studies have shown that gardening and plants are helpful in reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and improving one’s outlook on life. A peaceful evening garden can be made even more pleasurable through the proper selection and placement of plants.

The key to an effective moon garden begins with the appropriate selection of plants. The human eye perceives objects when light is reflected from them, and light-colored objects reflect more light than dark ones. Since light (natural or artificial) is very limited in the evening or at night, plants well-suited for moon gardens are those with flowers that are white (or nearly white) in color that maximize light reflection. It is also important for moon garden plants to have flowers that are open after the sun sets. Some flowers display a diurnal rhythm of opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon in order to protect the delicate flower parts long after day-flying pollinators have stopped working. Conversely, those species that rely on nocturnal pollinators (e.g. moths) frequently open only at night or let their flowers open “24/7.”

Since visual enjoyment of a moon garden is limited to the subtle tones of reflected light, additional appeal can be added to the garden by selecting flowers that are fragrant as well as open at night. Night-blooming plants often have very fragrant flowers to attract insects such as sphinx moths that buzz through the garden feeding on sweet nectar and pollinating as they do. Fragrance adds yet another dimension of interest and enjoyment to the typical moon garden. Finding flowers that are night-blooming, fragrant and white in color is the ultimate challenge for the moon gardening enthusiast. The following is a brief description of a few plants that are excellent candidates for planting in a moon garden.

Angel’s trumpet (Datura species)–Angel’s trumpet is a member of the Nightshade family and has long, white flowers that are trumpet-shaped, heavily fluted and delightfully fragrant. Depending on species, it ranges in height from 24 to 48 inches. This plant is quite poisonous and should not be used in gardens that might be frequented by children.

Artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana)–Commonly called “wormwood,” this hardy perennial is grown for its lacy, silver-grey foliage that reflects pale moonlight nicely. It displays a mound-like growth habit to a height of about 10 inches. Artemisia is quite drought-tolerant and should not be planted adjacent to plants that require frequent watering. ‘Silver Mound’ is the leading cultivar in commerce and highly deserving of its popularity.

Dusty miller (Senecio cineraria)–Dusty miller is another moon garden plant selected because of its foliage. It has dissected leaves that are silvery white because of heavy pubescence. A seed-propagated annual, most cultivars reach a height of between 8 and 12 inches in one growing season. Different cultivars vary with regard to leaf pattern; ‘Silver Dust’ is an attractive cultivar with leaves that are finely dissected.

Evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa)–This hardy perennial is fast to spread and form a mound-like mass of foliage about 12 inches in height. Its pale flowers are open at night and release a fragrant aroma into the garden. The cultivar ‘Pink Petticoats’ is especially nice and comes highly recommended.

Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata)–Flowering tobacco is an annual bedding plant that is available in many colors and cultivar series (e.g. the Nikki Series). While any flowering tobacco with light-colored flowers is a good addition to a moon garden, the “old fashioned” white flowering tobacco perhaps is the best. It has white flowers that are sweetly fragrant in the evening and borne on tall (somewhat rank) plants that reach a mature height of 30 inches.

Four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)–Four o’clock is a must for the moon garden because of it interesting flowering habit. As its name implies, its flowers open late in the afternoon and remain open all night while emitting a pleasant fragrance. It is an annual plant with bush-like foliage that reaches a mature height of about 15 inches and reseeds itself readily. Four o’clock seems to be a favorite of night-flying moths looking for nectar.

Jasmine (Jasmine species)–Jasmine is prized for its delightful fragrance. All species are tropical in nature and treated as annuals in Missouri. Royal jasmine (Jasmine rex) is well-suited for moon garden containers in that it bears (small) white flowers in abundance that overwhelm the area with fragrance. It can be moved indoors to a sunny location during the winter months to give added enjoyment.

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba)–Everyone should plant a moonflower at least once. No other flower does as much for the nocturnal garden as this member of the morning glory family. Moonflower is an annual vine that may reach a height of up to 20 feet in one growing season. Its white, unnel-like flowers remain tightly closed during the day and open fully to a width of 4 inches or more in just a few minutes in the evening. Its delightfully sweet fragrance attracts night-flying pollinators and beckons humans, as well, to come closer. As its name implies, moonflower can easily be seen with just the light of the moon and is a must in every moon garden.

Miscellaneous annuals–Any annual with white or nearly-white flowers or light-colored foliage is a good candidate for moon gardens. Petunias, salvia, vinca, wax begonia and nierembergia combine well with the previously-listed plants and are available in cultivars with white flowers. White cultivars of caladium are very effective in moon gardens in shady locations. Although they lack fragrance, these species add substance and interest to the moon garden.

Location of the moon garden should also be considered. Ideally, it should be located in a private, relaxing spot in which evening hours can be spent. This usually implies a location adjacent or close to one’s house. We must keep in mind that even though a moon garden is planned to be enjoyed at night, its plants do need adequate sunshine during the day in order to thrive. Try to find a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Moon gardens can be designed in a variety of shapes including round or crescent-shaped to mimic the stages of the moon. A very novel design is a small round garden flanked on either side by a crescent-shaped garden separated by curved paths, representing waxing, waning and full stages of the moon. Finishing touches make pleasing additions to the moon garden. Indirect garden lighting (especially along pathways) or garden ornaments such as light-colored statuary, gazing balls, sundials, etc. are good examples of the latter.

Gardening is all about plants and our enjoyment of them. Moon gardening represents a novel way to extend this enjoyment past “normal hours” by growing plants that are showy at night and can transform an ordinary spot into an enchanting, mesmerizing area.

David Trinklein, Associate Professor, Horticulturist, UMC (573) 882-9631