A Dreamy Moon Garden

By: Chloe Deike

Shimmering white flowers and unbelievable fragrance make their nighttime debut in this evening garden. Here's some design inspiration for your moon garden.

It’s the end of a busy day and you’re ready to unwind. But you don’t need to crawl into bed to drift off into this dreamland. In the soft glow of moonlight, a garden is truly magical. If an evening stroll through the garden is your way to unwind, here’s a design that shines by the light of the silvery moon.

An all-white moon garden

In the dim light of night, light shades are what you see first; that’s why this garden is primarily white. Pastel colors also show up well at night, but white is the most vivid. To make a monochromatic evening garden come alive, use shapes and colors that are easily spotted: If you love to star gaze, the star-shaped oriental lilies are always shining bright, whether cloudy or not. As you rest on the bench and look out, peppy round puffs of the bunny’s tail grass and small blossoms of the night phlox scattered across the ground mimic the shimmering night sky above.

Moon Garden Accessories
White lanterns
Comfy outdoor loveseat
Lightweight garden boulder
White garden stone
Landscape gravel

Plants that appeal to the senses

Since you can’t see everything, try pleasing a different sense. Sweet fragrance completes the experience, and night phlox, oriental lilies and tuberose are some of the many gorgeous plants that become most fragrant at night.

Choosing white flowers in a mix of shapes is only part of the formula for a garden that lights up the dark. Planting in the right conditions is another important step. For this garden, plant in full sun and well-drained soil.

Planting this moon garden

Once this garden is established, the cedar, oriental lilies and the hollyhock won’t need to be replanted. Even as a short-lived perennial, the hollyhock reseeds for new plants each year.

The night phlox, bunny’s tail grass, tuberose and dahlia will need to be planted every year. If you don’t find an established plant at a nearby garden center or online, it’s easy to start them yourself. If you live in a climate colder than zone 7, start the night phlox and bunny’s tail grass from seed. Plant tuberose bulbs in a container indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the frost, along with the dahlia tubers. In warmer climates, sow seeds, bulbs and tubers outdoors after danger of frost has passed.

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gp-moonlit-garden-lead: Illustration by Carlie Hamilton

Fall maintenance tips

Let the romance of this garden in full bloom sweep you off your feet in mid- to late summer. Then in fall, take care of a few maintenance tasks to keep things looking tidy.

In fall cut back the oriental lily when the foliage is no longer green and the dahlia after the first frost.
Bring dahlia tubers and containers of tuberoses inside and store in a cool, dry place for winter.
The bunny’s tail grass is an annual that blooms till frost; cut it back and keep the flowers for a dried arrangement, or just leave it and clean up in the spring.

gp-moonlit-garden-lettered-plan: Illustration by Carlie Hamilton

Meet the plants in this moon garden

Are you starting to imagine your moon garden? Check out the lettered plan above and see the corresponding plant information in the slideshow below to learn more about the plants that shine as bright as the stars.

A
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea ‘Chater’s Double White’)

Choosing a location protected from strong winds might keep these towering beauties from needing staked. But make sure there is still good air circulation to prevent any rust fungus from forming.

Type Perennial Blooms White double blooms in mid to late summer Light Full sun Size 5 to 7 ft. tall, 1 to 2 ft. wide Hardiness Cold-hardy in USDA zones 2 to 10, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 10 to 1 Number to plant 6

B
Dahlia (Dahlia ‘Twyning’s After Eight’)

The dark foliage won’t be seen at night, but it will make the flowers seem like they’re floating. In daytime, the purple color adds variety to the monochromatic planting.

Type Tender perennial (typically grown as an annual) Blooms White flowers with yellow centers and dark purple foliage in summer and fall Light Full sun Size 24 to 36 in. tall, 18 to 24 in. wide Hardiness Cold-hardy in USDA zones 7 to 11, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 9 to 1 Number to plant 4

C
Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)

Tuberose need a lot of heat and a long growing season. Plant bulbs close together and cover lightly with soil or potting mix. Keep them moist and fertilize regularly after leaves emerge

Type Bulb Blooms Clear white flowers in summer Light Full sun Size 24 to 36 in. tall, 24 to 30 in. wide Hardiness Cold-hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 10 to 1 Number to plant 40

D
Night phlox (Zaluzianskya capensis ‘Midnight Candy’)

The darling flowers of the night phlox look unusual in the daytime when white petals curl up to reveal burgundy underneath. Their round shapes look like little pink lollipops until the sun descends and the vibrant blossoms make their nighttime debut.

Type Annual Blooms Maroon buds that open to small white flowers in the evening in summer Light Full sun to part shade Size 6 to 12 in. tall and wide Hardiness Heat-tolerant in AHS zones 12 to 1 Number to plant 14

E
Bunny’s tail grass (Lagurus ovatus)

This curious little grass has stout, white plumes that are truly soft to the touch. Cut mature plumes and hang to dry for a beautiful dried flower arangement. Be sure to plant these seeds in well-draining soil for the best growth; add compost to heavy clay soiles before planting.

Type Annual Blooms Small, white fuzzy plumes in the summer and fall Light Full sun to part shade Size 12 to 24 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide Hardiness Heat-tolerant in AHS zones 12 to 1 Number to plant 10

F
Oriental lily (Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’)

This moon garden favorite becomes even more fragrant after the sun goes down! The blooms are about as big as they come for oriental lilies, and they look lovely in a cut-flower arrangement, too.

Type Bulb Blooms Large, white, fragrant flowers in midsummer Light Full sun Size 36 to 48 in. tall, 12 to 18 in. wide Hardiness Cold-hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 8 to 1 Number to plant 11

G
Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara ‘Feelin’ Blue’)

The deodar cedar is the beacon of color that glows in the night, in the day and through all seasons. Growing outward more than vertically, it may take 10 years before it reaches 4 or 5 feet tall. If you want more height, train a sturdy branch up a stake. It will grow upward to 10 to 12 feet in about 10 years. Or your nursery may sell this shrub as an already-trained patio tree.

Type Shrub Blooms Silver-blue foliage year round Light Full sun Size 4 to 5 ft. tall, 6 to 10 ft. wide Hardiness Cold-hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, heat-tolerant in AHS zones 7 to 2 Number to plant 1

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