Many night-blooming plants are white, and give a luminous appearance in the moonlight. If you plant them in a circle or a crescent shape, when they bloom, you'll have the moon herself right there "as above, so below." There are a number of plants that open at night -- mix them in with silver-foliaged 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.
- 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.
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.*Note: Be sure to provide a trellis or other support for climbers like the Moonflower. If they don't have a stable surface to hang onto, they're less likely to fully bloom.
-The Crafty Witch