Moonlight Garden. Photo by: Proven Winners.

The long days of summer are made for relaxing and lounging in the garden. After the sun sets, the ensuing darkness transforms the garden into a place of magic. The sound of crickets chirping, the sight of a rising moon, floral scents wafting in a gentle evening breeze, are moments to savor. Moon or white gardens were popularized years ago as a way to enhance sublime evening experiences.

WHAT IS A MOON GARDEN?

Moon gardens include plants with white flowers and silver or variegated foliage that can be seen in the reflected light of the moon, creating a sense of mystery and romance. Moon gardens also include flowers with pronounced evening fragrance that heighten the experience. Light-colored hardscape and accessories further accentuate the garden at night.

In the dark, our eyes can only see a limited color spectrum and contrast. White flowers and foliage take on a glow, appearing to float in the air as the contrasting green foliage disappears into the darkness, creating a magical effect. As night falls, our senses are heightened and we become more attuned to the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. Outdoor surroundings become a multi-sensory experience.

MOONLIGHT GARDEN DESIGN

This Adirondack-style moon garden was sited to be seen from the home’s second-story sleeping porch. Designers: Charles Atwood King and Karen Lamitie-King. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

You don’t need to adorn your entire yard in moon garden plants. Even a small section of a patio or a secluded corner of the yard can be transformed into a night garden, an intimate destination for quiet reflection, or a place to share a glass of wine with friends.

Choose a site.


  • Site the moon garden where it’s easily accessible, or pick a spot that can be viewed from a patio, porch, or inside the home.
  • Choose an open area which will allow for stargazing and moonlight illumination.
  • Pay attention to the play of light and shadow, which can enhance the mystique and intrigue.

Include different components.

Include a mix of plants, hardscaping, and accessories. It can be as simple or elaborate as you want, depending on budget and space.

Hardscaping.

Use light-colored stone materials such as pebbles, flagstone, or white marble chips to accentuate garden areas. Paint a background wall white, or incorporate a white lattice trellis or other screening, which can also provide support for vines.

Pathways.

Make sure paths can be easily navigated at night for safety. Use white gravel to outline paths or install light-colored flagstone to walk on. Add soft solar lights or other artificial lighting.

Seating.

Site a comfortable chair or bench where you can immerse yourself in the garden. Include a small table to set a cup of tea or glass of wine. A votive candle or solar lantern placed on the table will add subtle illumination and ambience.

Photo by: Nicola Stocken Tomkins / Garden Collection

Accessories.

Adorn the space with decorative accents such as a reflective gazing ball, metallic wall art, or light-colored statuary such as a cherub, buddha, or stone lantern.

Lighting.

Add supplemental lighting for illumination on overcast or moonless nights. Keep it subdued so it won’t overpower the natural light of the moon. Hang string lights above a patio or along a fence. Add candles, lanterns, or uplight trees.

Engage the senses.

Include elements that engage the senses of sight, smell, and sound.
  • A small fountain or waterfall provides the soothing sound of moving water while also reflecting the moonlight.
  • Attract night-sounding creatures such as crickets and frogs by creating natural habitat.
  • Include plants such as ornamental grasses or bamboo that will gently rustle in the evening breeze.
  • Choose night bloomers that are highly scented, placing them near the seating area.

Extend the theme.

To further emphasize the celestial theme, include plants with star-shaped flowers, create crescent-shaped planting beds, add star and moon-shaped accessories, or hang a string of twinkling lights to simulate the stars. Use your imagination and have fun!

MOON GARDEN FLOWERS & PLANTS

Swipe to view slides

Photo by: Proven Winners

DIAMOND FROST® EUPHORBIABuy now from Proven Winners
Euphorbia hybrid

Zones:

10-11, usually grown as an annual

Exposure:

Full to part sun

Size:

Upright mounding habit; 12 to 18 inches tall & wide

Clouds of airy white flowers bloom from late spring through frost. Use this annual as a bedding plant or in containers.

Photo by: Janet Loughrey

'ICEBERG' ROSE
Rosa spp.

Zones:

5-9

Exposure:

Full sun

Size:

Mounding bushy habit; 3-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide. Climbing form grows 12-15 feet tall and 7-9 feet wide.

This award-winning floribunda shrub or climbing rose produces abundant clusters of fragrant flowers throughout the growing season.

Learn more about growing roses.

Photo by: Halit Omer / Shutterstock.

'POWIS CASTLE' ARTEMISIA
Artemisia hybrid

Zones:

6-9

Exposure:

Full sun

Size:

Upright mounding habit, 2-3 feet tall and wide

Feathery silver-blue foliage on this stunning shrubby perennial is useful as a background plant and for providing separation between white-flowered varieties.

Also try dusty miller for silver-gray foliage (Senecio)

Read more about how to grow artemisia.

Photo by: Proven Winners

'SILVER FALLS' DICHONDRABuy now from Proven Winners
Dichondra argentea

Zones:

10-12, usually grown as an annual

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Size:

Trailing spreading habit, 2-4 inches tall, 3-4 feet wide, up to 6 feet long

Silver foliage on this gorgeous annual creates a cascade of shimmery color from late spring to frost. Use as a groundcover to outline pathways, or allow to spill over a container or hanging basket.

Read more about how to grow dichondra.

Photo by: Proven Winners

HEART TO HEART™ ‘WHITE WONDER’ CALADIUMBuy now from Proven Winners
Caladium hortulanum

Zones:

10-11, usually grown as an annual

Exposure:

Partial sun to shade

Size:

Upright spreading habit, 1-2 feet tall and 1-1 1/2 feet wide

The bold foliage on this classic Victorian shade lover is almost entirely white, making it an attention-grabber in moonlight. Grown from a bulb, this tropical is treated as an annual in most regions. Good for containers.

See more on how to grow caladiums.

Photo by: Proven Winners

‘DAVID' PHLOXBuy now from Proven Winners
Phlox paniculata

Zones:

4-8

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Size:

Upright spreading habit, 3-4 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide

An elegant cottage-style perennial with clusters of fragrant white flowers. Blooms from mid-late summer.

Learn more about growing phlox.

Photo by: Gardens by Design / Shutterstock.

'PATRIOT' HOSTA
Hosta spp.

Zones:

3-8

Exposure:

Part to full shade

Size:

Upright spreading habit, 1-2 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide

A bold textured, variegated plant with deep white margins helps to lighten up darker areas. This shade-loving perennial is exceptionally hardy, growing in most zones.

See more on growing hostas.

Photo by: Janet Loughrey.

'CASA BLANCA' LILY
Lilium hybrid

Zones:

5-8

Exposure:

Full sun to light shade

Size:

Upright slender habit, 3-4 feet tall and 1 foot wide

One of the most spectacular oriental lilies, ‘Casa Blanca’ has large elegant snow-white flowers and intense floral fragrance that is more pronounced at night.

Read more on growing lilies.

Photo by: Vision4Human / Shutterstock.

NIGHT-BLOOMING JASMINE
Cestrum nocturnum

Zones:

9-11

Exposure:

Full to partial sun

Size:

Upright bushy habit, 8-10 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. Can be kept smaller with pruning.

Long associated with moon gardens, the creamy white, star-shaped, night-blooming flowers on this semi-tropical shrub release a powerful, sweet perfume. For those in colder climates, grow as a potted plant and overwinter indoors.

Photo by: Janet Loughrey.

MOON FLOWER
Ipomoea alba

Zones:

10-12

Exposure:

Full sun

Size:

Climbing habit, 10-15 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide

This vigorous tender perennial vine grown as an annual is the quintessential moon garden plant. Large 6-inch white flowers open at night, exuding a soft lemony fragrance.

Photo by: Janet Loughrey.

FLOWERING TOBACCO
Nicotiana sylvestris

Zones:

10-11

Exposure:

Full sun to partial shade

Size:

Upright habit, 3-5 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide

Tubular star-shaped white flowers produce a sweet jasmine-like scent that is more pronounced at night. This summer-blooming annual is a popular mainstay of moon gardens.

Photo by: Proven Winners

'MY MONET' WEIGELABuy now from Proven Winners
Weigela florida

Zones:

4-7

Exposure:

Sun to partial shade

Size:

Mounding bushy habit, 1-1 1/2 feet tall and 1 1/2-2 feet wide

White variegation tinged with pink characterizes the foliage on this versatile shrub. Use as a background plant or to create separation between white-flowered plants.

Learn more about how to grow weigela.

For more plants, see:
10 Elegant White Hydrangeas
25 White and Silver Plants Perfect for Creating Moon Gardens (from Proven Winners)

CHOOSING MOONLIGHT GARDEN PLANTS

A fairy figurine with gazing ball is the centerpiece of this all-white garden bed. Designer: Cheley Witte. Photo: Janet Loughrey.

Plant selection.


  • Consider plant varieties with different sizes, structure, and leaf shape.
  • Use a mix of white-flowered perennials, annuals, bulbs, roses, and vines.
  • Incorporate variegated or silvery foliage to lend contrast, texture, and visual interest.
  • Include different shades of white flowers, including snow-white, cream, ivory, and pearl.

Plant for seasonal interest.

Choose night garden plants that will bloom at different times, as well as plants with attractive foliage that will lend continuity throughout the growing season.

Make an impression.

Group the same varieties together in drifts of 3-5 for maximum impact. Larger blooms or groupings will show better in the dark than smaller individual flowers.

Enclose a dedicated moon garden area with planters. Photo by: Proven Winners.

Less is more.

Choose a few primary plants rather than a lot of different varieties to keep the design from being too busy.

Grow up.

Include vines to add vertical height. A trellis can support climbing jasmine or moonflowers for a living wall of color and fragrance.

In-ground and containers.

Incorporate both in-ground and container plantings. Even apartment dwellers can have a small containerized white garden on a balcony. For container ideas, see: 27 Container Recipes for Moon Gardens.

Keep it eco-friendly.

Plants that are more heavily scented at night will attract moths and other nighttime pollinators, which will help keep a healthy eco balance in your yard.

Join us for our next webinar!

Foliage First: A Vital Aspect of Your Garden Design

with Dan Benarcik

Thursday, October 17 @ 6PM EDT

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