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The Moon Garden
Moon gardens can be enjoyed throughout the season. However, as our days get shorter but our temperatures remain warm, this is the best time of year to enjoy a moon garden! Moon gardens are intentionally planted to create a sort of sensory oasis that is brought to life under the lunar light.
Garden Features
WHITE & SILVER: When it is dark outside and visibility is low, our visual sense tends to be heightened allowing us to detect reflected light more easily. Plants that feature white or silver will appear to glow under the light of the moon.
SWEET SCENTS: Our other senses, such as smell, will also tend to be heightened and it will become easier to detect the sweet scents of aromatic blossoms carried on the breeze.
SOUND SCAPES: Similarly, our sense of hearing will also heighten. Including chimes, babbling water features, or other soothing sounds can add a magical touch to your moon garden.
Garden Planning
USE OF SPACE: First, consider how you’ll likely use your outdoor space at night. Would you prefer to take a stroll under the moonlight or snuggle up in your favorite spot? Will you be alone or sharing it with others? How many others? Think about where you’ll be and the potential garden space in its immediate vicinity. You’ll want to create your moon garden close enough to see under low light conditions. Chimes and water features can be placed further away. This will prevent the soundscape from seeming too loud while our ears are listening extra hard.
MASS PLANTINGS: For a more impactful visual experience, plant white and silver plants in large groupings. This will make them easier to detect in low light and creates a brighter space.
STAGGERING BLOOMS: Especially if you’re hoping to enjoy your moon garden throughout the season, be sure to consider bloom times and choose to place plant groupings next to other plant groupings with alternate bloom times.
LONGER BLOOMS: The best blooms for maximizing your moon garden experience will be those with the longest bloom times. This will allow you to use a smaller variety of plants but still maintain blooms throughout the season.
FOCUS ON FOLIAGE: Another helpful tip for ensuring a luminescent garden all season long is to include lots of plants that feature variegated white or silver foliage.
Moon Garden Plants
The plant list below is by no means exhaustive. Several species of plants may have more than one variety with white blossoms or variegated white or silver foliage. There are also several other species of plants not listed that could be incorporated. The plants listed below are just our favorites, a great starting place for planning your own moon garden!
WHITE FLOWERING TREES
Spring Snow Crabapple
Malus ‘Spring Snow’
Princess Kay Plum
Prunus nigra ‘Princess Kay’
Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac
Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’
WHITE FLOWERING SHRUBS
Incrediball Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Abetwo’ PPAF
Blizzard Mock Orange
Philadelphus lewisii ‘Blizard’
Blanche Double de Coubert Rose
Rosa ‘Blanche Double de Coubert’
Snowmound Spirea
Spiraea nipponica ‘Snowmound’
Beauty of Moscow
Syringa v. ‘Krasavitsa Moskvy’
Common Snowball
Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’
WHITE FLOWERING PERENNIALS
Snowdrop Anemone
Anemone sylvestris
Old Fashion White Bleeding Hearts
Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’
PowWow White Coneflower
Echinacea p. ‘PowWow White’
Dwarf Bloody Geranium
Geranium sang. var. striatum
Alaska Shasta Daisy
Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Alaska’
Festiva Maxima Peony
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Festiva Maxima’
WHITE FLOWERING VINES
Henry Clematis
Clematis ‘Henryi’
Moonflower (Annual)
Ipomoea alba
SILVER & VARIEGATED WHITE FOLIAGE
Silver Brocade Artemisia
Artemisia stelleriana ‘Boughton Silver’
Jack Frost Brunnera
Brunnera macro. ‘Jack Frost’ PP13859
Snow-in-Summer
Cerastium tomentosum
Patriot Hosta
Hosta fortunei ‘Patriot’
White Nancy Lamium
Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’
