Planting a Moon Garden by Liz

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

I grow most of my own herbs that I use, and this spring my new project is going to be a Moon Garden.

A bit excited about this project lol! Got the perfect spot picked out already! When I garden, I follow the Moon Phases. I posted a thread somewhere about gardening by Moon Phase somewhere...when I Find it I will re-post it this group.

 

So the Moon Garden....flowers that are white and bloom at night.  Obviously, you will need to find out if it's hardy in your zone. Here's a list of some flowers and plants for a Moon Garden.

 

 

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. You'll want to plant this somewhere where it can spread, as it reseeds freely. It produces a buttload of seeds, I've picked the seeds off to keep it from spreading everywhere.
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.

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. I would also plant this where it can spread freely. It can get rather large.

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. This can become invasive as well.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Datura (Datura anoxia) angel's trumpet, desert thornapple, sacred datura 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.

***CAUTION***Datura belongs to a group of plants, along with Deadly Nightshade, Henbane, and Mandrake, And is EXTREMLEY poisonous and has caused poisoning and death in humans and animals. If you have outside animals or small children, leave this one out of your Moon Garden. Better to keep everyone safe, even though it's a very beautiful flower. I would take caution when handling this plant (wear disposable gloves) and it should be treated with the utmost respect.