Growing a Moon Garden

A flower garden is not just for enjoying during the day. If you like to wander around in the garden in the evening, you might think of planting a magical moon garden or at least a few plants that bloom at night. Here is a list of white flowers, some with a wonderful scent, that will glow under the light of the moon. All of these plants will thrive in average garden soil. Also, deer should avoid all of these plants.

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White Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) Easy to grow and thrives in full sun. Reseeds freely. Thin to at least six inches apart for the strongest plants. Makes a good cut flower.

Artemisia (Artemisia absinthium) Sprawling shrub also known as wormwood. Small blooms but the magic is in the silvery foliage that radiates under the stars or moonlight. Grows four feet tall and wide and has a tendency to sprawl.

Moon Flower Vine (Ipomoea alba) Prefers shade from the hottest afternoon sun. Similar to morning glory, but the white trumpet shaped flowers are much bigger. Grow on a trellis or allow to wind around the flower bed.

Datura (Datura anoxia) Although all parts are poisonous if consumed, the white Datura, also known as a moon flower, creates a spectacular display at dusk. It attracts bees and gypsy moths. If you only have one plant for a moon garden, this is the one to have. Shrub three feet wide and tall.

Night Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum) Forms a shrub three feet wide and tall. The smell at dusk and into the evening is heavenly. Plant near an entry way so you can smell it on your porch or in the home.

Moonbeam Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) Sterile perennial flower that must be divided every other year since it cannot reseed. The flowers are light yellow and daisy like.

Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) Native Texas wildflower that blooms abundantly in the spring and declines to the ground in the heat of the summer. Revives dependably every spring.

White Four O'clock (Mirabilis jalapa) Flowers open in the evening before dark. Can become invasive. Tolerant of shade. Root systems become enormous, so be sure you really want it before you buy. It is a great hand-me-down plant. Reseeds freely.

White Petunia (Petunia axillaris) Old fashioned variety with sweet smell. Blooms profusely until July then fades in summer heat. Reseeds freely and seeds begin to sprout in January.

White Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) A stiff tough native flower that holds its own in the summer heat. A good cut flower when cut while fully open. Divide every third year.

Silver Sage (Salvia argentea) A rangy type of perennial sage that is drought tolerant and good for rock gardens. Foliage glows in the slightest light in the evening.

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) Unbelievable scented tuberous plant that multiplies in clumps. The flowers bloom atop a long stem up to 36 inches high. It begins to let out its magical scent at five on the dot on late summer evenings. Prefers clay soil. Great cut flower but only one per house. The scent is that strong.

Scabiosa (Scabiosa atropurpurea) Grown as an annual, the scabiosa comes is several colors, but the white variety is appropriate for the moon garden. Produces interesting flowers on wiry stems. Easy to grow and reseeds freely. Makes a great cut flower.

Dusty Miller (Centaurea cineraria) Distinctive foliage that looks best through winter and first part of the summer then returns in the fall.

Yucca (Yucca elata) Both stiff and soft-leafed varieties put out a magnificent bloom up to six feet tall in the spring that is pollinated at night by moths. Extremely drought tolerant.

Sources of plants, books, seeds, and bulbs at: http://www.biglump.com