Moonlight Plants – Flowers of White for Your Night Time Garden.
Nighttime gardens are a perfect way to add an otherworldly feel to your yard. The most iconic flowers in these settings tend to be white, but you can also find other moonlight plants that only bloom under cover of darkness. These types of plants bring enchantment to a nighttime garden and make it extra special. Imagine blooms of white glowing under cover of darkness with wafting lingering scents. Sounds magical? It is!
A Lovely Moonlit Garden Space to Relax and Enjoy.
This blog post is all about how to grow an amazing white-blooming moonlight garden with 15 must-try moonlight plants that will fill out your design plans beautifully.
These are not just any white blossoms! They’re perfect additions if you want your flower bed or border filled in with something showy and beautiful. The best part? You don’t have to be a pro gardener at all to create an enchanting nighttime garden, all you need to know is what flowers to plant and how to care for them.
What Exactly is a Moonlight Garden?
A moonlight garden is a type of garden that offers an intimate experience with nature, as it showcases plants and flowers that bloom at night. Moonlight gardens are often designed to be seen in the evening or under the stars when they’re lit up by nothing but moonlight – hence their name!
What Plants Make for A Beautiful Moonlit Garden?
You will want two different types of moonlight plants to turn up the drama in a dimly lit space for your garden.
First, you will want plants with white or silvery color to their foliage – these work best when the moon is shining down on them and reflecting off their leaves.
Next, search for flowers that bloom at night; many different blooms are available, including lilies, gardenias, tulips, and more. If your goal is to create a theatrical effect with your moonlight garden, then look for varieties in special shapes like doubles (two petals) or singles (one petal).
Varying textures and heights will make the moonlit garden look inviting and relaxing.
What are the best flowers for a moonlight garden?
These 15 white flowers make an excellent addition to your nighttime garden display adding showy blooms and petals sure to glow under the moon’s light:
Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies make excellent moonlight plants. The bright white petals and heavy flower heads make a dramatic show against a dark background.
Though your first year may be short on blooms, Shasta daisies are easy to start from seed. Subsequent years will reward your moonlight garden with billows of soft white petals that bloom until frost.
Shasta daisies are very hearty and can grow in some of the coldest growing zones in North America and keep coming back year after year. Shatas are also drought-tolerant and deer resistant.
Bloom time: Mid-summer to the first frost.
Partial Sun – to Full Sun
Perennial (can be invasive)
Fertilize for best growth
Height: 15 – 30 inches
Width: 12-24 inches
Bloom Time: June to August.
How to care for Shasta Daisies: Plant in a well-draining location with sun or partial shade. Remove dead blooms to lengthen the bloom time of your moonlight garden. It needs water like any other plant so keep it watered but not over-watered; make sure they are draining properly and pulling out weeds that may be competing for food.
Are Shasta Daisies Poisonous? Shasta Daisies are less toxic than most other plants we’ve listed for this post but are known to irritate some cats and dogs and be poisonous if consumed in high doses.
Snow in Summer
The Snow in Summer is a hardy perennial that has white flowers. It’s best to place this plant towards the front of your moonlight garden to add that pop of white glow to the edge of the border.
It is important to note that these moonlight plants can be a pest magnet, so keep an eye out for pests and care when handling delicate leaves, stems, or pods!
Bloom time: June to August
Height: 15-30 inches
Spread 12-24 inches.
Best Planting Time: Fall or winter (as soon as soil temperature cools)
How to care for Snow in Summer: Keep watered and fertilized. Prune back to promote bushiness. Fertilize regularly. If the soil is drier; mulch with a few inches of straw/wood chips as needed
Is Snow in Summer Poisonous? Snow in summer is not toxic to dogs or cats.
Gardenias
Gardenias give off such sweet perfume during their blooming season and are one of the most popular plants for adding fragrance to any nighttime display. They come in many different colors, but all have lovely ivory petals with silver undertones.
Bloom time: April-May
Height: 14 inches
Spread 12 feet.
Best Planting Time: Spring or fall (as soon as soil temperature cools)
How to care for gardenias: Fertilize with a high-potassium fertilizer in the spring. Prune after flowering to shape and keep plants from becoming overgrown. Cut away any deadwood.
Are Gardenias Poisonous? Gardenias are toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, and toxic to horses.
White Lavender
Lavender and other members of the Lamiaceae family are often included in moonlight gardens because their fragrant flowers release pheromones that attract pollinating insects, including moths! These plants also sway in a gentle breeze which is calming for some people at night. The blooming cycle will depend on what specific species you grow, but there’s something available for every season.
Bloom Time: Spring, Summer
Bloom Color: white or purple
Growing Conditions: full sun; well-drained soil
How to care for Lavender: Low water requirement once established. Some varieties can be drought-tolerant. Cut back after blooming to promote next year’s growth. Propagate by division or seed starting in late winter/early spring when the ground is not too wet.
And check out our ideas on what to do with all that extra-dried lavender.
Is Lavender Poisonous? Lavender is toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, and toxic to horses.
Learn More: Learn all you need to know about lavender with these posts:
- The Best Lavender Companion Plants For Your Garden
- How To Grow Lavender In Pots Successfully!
- How To Dry Lavender (Preserving Methods And Tips)
Oleander
Oleander is one of the easiest plants to grow from seed or transplanting as it does well both indoors and out. Oleanders also have an unusual blooming cycle where new buds emerge with each passing day for about two weeks before opening—giving you plenty of time to enjoy them! These roses can vary in shade but always show off their beautiful blossoms in clusters on arching branches that look like fireworks bursting into blossoms.
Bloom time: May to September
Ideal Planting Conditions: Full sun and moist but well-drained soil. Avoid planting anywhere that freezes in winter.
How to Care for Oleander: In summer, fertilize three times a year with a fertilizer high in nitrogen or ammoniacal nitrogen; water daily if no rain is present; pinch back any spent blooms as they appear so new buds can emerge. As it enters dormancy, cut the plant back by one-third of its size to reduce moisture loss through transpiration and watch for signs of frost damage before taking action accordingly.
Is Oleander Poisonous? It’s toxic to many species of animals. Dogs, cats, goats, cattle, sheep, rabbits, and horses can be affected by Oleander.
Night Blooming Jasmine
One of the best night-blooming plants to add to a moonlight garden is night-blooming jasmine. It produces fragrant flowers that open at dusk and last for an incredible twelve hours!
Bloom time: April through May
Ideal Planting Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil with plenty of mulch; water regularly in dry spells
How to Care for Night Blooming Jasmine: Prune new growth back once it reaches 18 inches tall (unless you are trying to grow a tree), so the plant can focus on flowering rather than vegetative growth; fertilize monthly from September – March with low nitrogen fertilizer and watch out for frost damage as the nights get colder.
Is Night Blooming Jasmine poisonous? Unfortunately, it’s toxic to mammals, including humans, dogs, cats, horses (etc.).
Mock Orange
Another excellent white bloomer is mock orange with its delicate white and pale pink flowers. Mock oranges smell delightful and are incredibly easy to care for, tolerating a wide variety of soil types. The only downside? It is not particularly hardy in cold regions, so you may want to try some other plants if winter temps regularly drop below freezing where you live.
Bloom time: April through May
Ideal Planting Conditions: Full sun, well-drained soil with plenty of mulch; water regularly in dry spells
How to Care for Mock Orange: Fertilize monthly from September – March and watch out for frost damage as the nights get colder. If you want your mock orange plant to grow taller than 12 inches tall, then cut off any new growth beyond 18 inches, or it will become a thicket! You can also prune back old branches by one-third each year after the flowering season ends if they are dying or diseased.
Is Mock Orange Poisonous? Toxic to cats – safe for dogs, humans, and other mammals.
Honeysuckle
This moonlight garden must-have is honeysuckle because this wonderful plant smells delightful and is perfect for attracting pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds in the summertime.
Honeysuckle is a great climbing plant that can grow up to 30 feet tall! A wonderful addition to add blooms at higher levels in your moonlit garden.
Bloom time: May to August
Height: 12-30 feet tall
Location: Full Sun or Partial Shade.
Soil type: Honeysuckle prefers soil with lots of organic matter and nitrogen-rich fertilizer added during the spring months for best-blooming success. Plant in an area that gets at least six hours of sun each day, producing thicker branches and more flowers.
How to care for your honeysuckle: Your honeysuckle may look like it needs pruning but DO NOT PRUNE BACK TOO MUCH because you’ll cut off all potential energy needed to grow new leaves.
Is Honeysuckle Poisonous? Some varieties are not toxic, and some are. Some parts of the plant are toxic, and others are not. I would treat all Honeysuckles as poisonous unless I knew for a certainty the cultivar I had was non-toxic.
White Daffodil
An old favorite, white daffodils are one of the most popular flowers for moonlight gardens. Large sprays of bright blooms and a sweet smell will always make your garden radiant with beauty. These night-blooming beauties bring magic to any landscape or container set.
Partial Sun – to Full Sun
Fertilize for best growth
Height: 15 – 30 inches
Width: 12-24 inches
Bloom Time: June to August.
How to care for White Daffodils: Plant in well-drained soil and light, neutral shade. Fertilize regularly for best growth. Daffodils require a lot of water, so keep the area moist but not soggy. If young plants are stressed due to drought or frost, they need mulch protection.
Are White Daffodils Poisonous? Yes! The whole plant is toxic, but especially the bulb. Be sure that your animals cannot drink water that daffodils have been sitting in (like that vase on the table).
White Madonna Lily
This beautiful tall white flower will be an excellent addition to moonlight gardens. The flowers are long-lasting when cared for properly and have a sweet fragrance. They also attract butterflies!
This moonlight plant has been an award winner for years and has one of the purest white colors making it the perfect choice for a night garden.
Full sun but not too much heat, or they may die back from being cooked by the sun’s rays.
Fertilize these wonderful beauties every three weeks during peak season
Height: 15 – 30 inches
Spread: 12-24 inches
Bloom Time: June to August.
How to Care For White Madonna Lily: Plant in a well-drained place and preferably light, porous soil. Mulch around plants to help with water retention during dry spells. When planting, space these flowers about 15 inches apart because they will grow taller than expected when planted close together.
Are white Madonna Lilies poisonous? Extremely poisonous to cats and somewhat toxic to dogs. Cats can become incredibly sick simply by being near the pollen from the lily plant. So if you have cats, this is a plant you may want to skip.
White Tulips
These delicate flowers are a wonderful addition to any moonlight garden. In addition, you can find white tulips with very different petal formations. Some of the most popular varieties are paperwhite and fringed.
Partial Sun to Full Sun
Height: 15-30 inches
Width: 12-24 inches
Bloom Time: May- June
How to Care For Tulips: These flowers are quite resilient but can be sensitive to extreme cold. Fertilize with liquid fertilizer only when they are in bud. Do not water until the topsoil feels dry to the touch.
Are tulips poisonous? Yes considered poisonous to both cats and dogs.
Snowdrop
Snowdrop is another wonderful moonlight garden plant that multiplies, making it perfect for moonlit gardens. They start their life as tiny yellow bulbs, but when planted in an area with less light, they grow long, thin petals and bloom under darkness!
Bloom time: January- March
Height: 12 inches
Width: 18 inches
Sun to Half Sun (the blooms will be smaller)
Blooming Season: January – March.
How To Care for Snowdrops: Water when the soil is dry and fertilize with a bulb fertilizer once in spring before flowering or twice during summer if you use an organic product. The bulbs should then be lifted after bloom, dried out, cleaned of old roots, and stored in peat moss overwinter until replanted next year.
Are Snowdrops poisonous? Yes, if ingested, the plant is extremely toxic to pets.
Moonflowers
No moonlit plant garden could be complete without moonflowers. Moonflowers produce beautiful, long-lasting white flowers with yellow centers that look stunning when they open up fully at night. These plants need full sun or partial shade to grow well but require more water than most other white-blooming plants.
The best time to plant a moonflower is at the beginning of your growing season after the last frost date.
Sun Requirements: Moonflowers need the full sun when planted outside but will grow well with partial shade as long as they are not too far from their water source.
How to care for Moonflowers: They prefer soil that drains well and requires good drainage if it’s more clay-based than sandy. You will need a soil base that is quite deep for this variety because moonflowers have large roots which extend deeply into the ground on both sides of their stem. Once these flowers start growing and big leaves become visible above ground, feed them again with fertilizer so they’ll continue to bloom indoors or out in the summertime.
Are Moonflowers Poisonous? Yes. These are a look but don’t touch type of plant. However, beautiful Moonflowers seeds and plant material are toxic. Do not eat any part of the plant, especially the seeds. Toxic to cattle and domestic animals like dogs and cats.
White Phlox
Phlox is a lovely scented, fully showy flower that is a must-have in your moonlit garden. These flowers come in beautiful shades of white and work incredibly well as a front border plant. They also love sun or partial shade, blooming beautifully in the spring and sporadically during summertime. So if you’re looking for a white flower to join your moonlight plants, Phlox is a perfect fit.
Bloom time is from March to June.
Planting time: Fall and winter, as these plants need a cold period over the winter months before starting to grow in springtime again.
Plant these flowers in a full sun location or partial shade.
How to care for phlox: These moonlight plants like moist soil and can grow well with wet feet. Water them during dry seasons to keep the roots from drying out.
Is White Phlox poisonous? No, it is not toxic to humans, cats, or dogs.
Learn More: Phlox is a wonderful flower in your garden because it blooms all summer long. Check out the list of 26 long-flowering perennials for more ideas.
Rose of Sharon
The Rose of Sharon is a beautiful plant with magnificent blooms, a great moonlight garden plant as well! They flower continuously throughout summer until frost. This easy-to-grow plant will thrive in full shade or partial sun without any direct sunlight. It only requires light watering once per week and can withstand drought conditions well, so you won’t have to worry about watering while you are away.
Bloom time: Spring through fall
How to care: Water once per week if the weather is dry and give it occasional fertilizer.
Location: Full shade or partial sun without direct sunlight on it! These requirements make Rose of Sharon a perfect moonlight plant contender.
How to Care for a Rose of Sharon: Plant it in the ground and let it do its thing. This plant is highly independent and versatile.
Is Rose of Sharon Poisonous? It’s often reported that Rose of Sharon is toxic to dogs, but those toxicity reports seem anecdotal. The ASPCA states that the rose of Sharon is nontoxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Better to be safe than sorry. If you add Rose of Sharon to your night garden, keep an eye out for your pets.
The All White Moonlight plants
These are just a few of the white and moonlight plants you can add to your new moonlit garden. You can add bright blooms, from petunias to dahlias and hydrangeas to zinnias. Or go for the rare queen of the night, which only blooms one night a year! The only real recommendation to follow is to make sure the blooms glow under the moonlight or bloom in the dark.
It also doesn’t hurt to add a few plants for their fragrance to add that extra sensory experience to your nighttime garden.
More Flower Gardening Posts:
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- Everything You Need To Know About How To Dry Out Dahlias
- Natural Dye from Flowers: A Dye Garden Plant List
- How to Dry Flowers – We Tested 5 Different Methods to Find the Best!
- Flowers that Grow in the Shade: The 14 Best Options
- How to Dry Rose Petals In Under Two Minutes Flat
- How Long Do Dried Flowers Last?
- 12 Fastest Growing Flowers to Grow in Your Garden (2022)
- How to Keep Cut Roses Fresh as Long as Possible
