The fact that flowers and certain plants can bloom at night is unknown to a lot of people. A moon garden is a good way to develop a deeper relationship with nature, and it provides a beautiful and fragrant backdrop for your moonlight rituals in the summer. If you plant these lovelies close to your house, you can open the windows and take advantage of their aromas as you sleep.
Many night-blooming plants are white, and give a luminous appearance in the moonlight. There are a number of plants that open at night, mix them in with silver foliage day bloomers.
Night Blooming Plants
Moonflower: Yes, it should be painfully obvious, but the Moonflower really does bloom at night. It releases a slightly lemony scent when it opens up, and during the day the white flowers are tightly shut. Some species of this climbing plant, a cousin of the Morning Glory, can get up to eight feet long. The flowers, when open, are around 5 - 6" in diameter.
Evening Primrose: This perennial spreads rapidly, and can cover a lot of ground for you. The pale pinkish-white flowers open at dusk, and release a sweet aroma.
Night Phlox: these pretties open up at dusk, and have a fragrance reminiscent of honey or vanilla.
Evening Stock: the tiny purple and pink flowers aren't very fancy, but they smell divine when they open at night.
Angel's Trumpet: Another vine, this annual spreads like crazy. Its trumpet-shaped, white flowers have a bell-like appearance when open.
Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus: These flowers do not last very long, a couple days at most, but they are beautiful and would be a great addition to your moon garden. These beauties are also called Queen of the Night.
Night Gladiolus: This plant isn't actually nocturnal, but that's when the creamy yellow flowers smell the strongest -- it's a very spicy scent that's a glorious addition to any night garden.
Four o’ Clock: These flowers are named thusly owing to their blooming at 4 and then closing when morning approaches. These bell shaped flowers come in a range of hues- blue, pink, yellow and so on.
Casablanca Lily: These hybrids of Oriental lilies are beautiful, big and have the sweetest smell.
Night Bloom Water Lily: This is one of the most beautiful flowers in existence. They are brilliantly coloured and big. They are summer bloomers and open at dusk.
Night Blooming Jessamine: These are green flowers that smell heavenly.
Dragonfuit Cactus: beautiful, exotic dragonfruit comes from a night-blooming cactus. But be on the lookout: its flower only opens up for a single night before withering the next morning.
Gardenia Augusta: This Southern charmer releases its sweet scent on late summer evenings.
Rain Lilies: known primarily for opening up its fragrant blooms after a summer rain, a particular rain lily variety—Zephyranthes drummondii—is also nocturnal.
Tuberose: this fragrant summer bulb is said to hail from Mexico. Polianthes tuberosa shows tall spikes of white flowers that open at night, increasing its sweet fragrance. This richly fragrant bulb was a Victorian favorite.
Night Scented Orchid: The night scented orchid or epidemdrum nocturnum is a beautiful night blooming orchid native to tropical regions of Central and South America. This orchid grow best in cool to warm conditions. It blooms from summer to fall.
Day Blooming White and Silver Plants
- Dusty Millers
- Silver Thyme
- Lamb's Ears
- Mugwort (Artemesia)
- Silver Sage
- White vegetables such as Alba eggplants or Baby Boo or Lumina pumpkins
Herbs and Flowers with Lunar Connections
- Camphor
- Eucalyptus
- Gardenia
- Jasmine
- Moonwort
- Sandalwood
- Willow
- Water Lily
- Sleepwort
What to do With Your Moon Garden Plants
When you have plants that have blossomed under the powerful energy of a full moon, the possibilities are just about endless. Harvest the flowers and dry them to use in talismans or charms. Use them to dress a Moon Candle or as part of a purification bath. Include them in incense blends to help enhance your intuition and wisdom.
Warning. Some plants can be toxic and poisonous if you eat them. Be careful with your children and pets. Always do your reseach first.
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