How amazingly beautiful are these nocturnal flowers? If you are anything like me I love to sit out on my back patio or porch on a nice cool evening enjoying the smell of flowers and the rusting of the trees so why not make it as magical as possible?
There are several flowers that bloom in the evening and are considered to be nocturnal flowers, many pagans believe that these beautiful flowers have magical and medicinal purposes as well as just being stunning in looks.
Moon gardens are specially designed to be enjoyed on balmy summer nights in the light of the moon. They focus on light-colored flowers and foliage, and are often intended to attract nocturnal creatures, such as frogs, moths, and bats. Friend of NHSM Jane Marlow will help us understand the importance of moon gardens and provide design tips including an introduction to Maryland native plants that moths will moon over.
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.
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Looking to plant your own moon garden?
These are some of the more common nocturnal flowers you might see in moon gardens.
Moonflower, this being the most obvious of them all blooms at night as during the day the flowers are closed tightly. This flower has a slight lemony scent when it opens up that smells amazing.
Angel’s Trumpet is a vine plant with a very large and stunning white flower in a trumpet-shape with a bell-like appearance when opened up.
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Evening Primrose is a light pink/ white flower that is a great ground cover that spreads quickly, these flowers also open up in the early evening and release a very sweet aroma
Evening Stock – This is a dainty little purple/ pink flower that releases an amazing smell
Night Phlox or Midnight Candy are another flower that opens up in the early evening and gives off a honey, vanilla or almond sent. This beautiful flower is usually seen in white, purple and maroon.
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These are just to name a few of great options that you may want to plant in your own moon garden. Find some moon flower seeds HERE
If you’re not interested in a nocturnally-blooming garden, but still love the idea of white and silver to represent the moon and night sky, never fear! There are plenty of silver, white, and even gray plants that bloom during the daytime.
- Dusty Millers: Know for their silvery-gray, fern-like foliage, Dusty Millers make a lovely edge or border around your garden — and they don’t require a lot of maintenance.
- Silver Thyme: The fragrant silver thyme plants have lemon-scented green leaves edged in silver, and the blooms are a pale lavender reminiscent of lilac.
- Lamb’s Ears: These rapidly spreading ornamentals are soft and fuzzy, just like a lamb’s ear, and they’re a pale greenish-silver. Watch out, though — if you don’t keep them contained, they’ll take over your whole yard.
- Mugwort (Artemesia): This silvery-green herb smells amazing, and has a number of magical uses.
- Silver Sage: Unlike other strains of sage, silver sage has leaves that are intensely silver and fuzzy, arranged in a rosette.
- White vegetables such as Alba eggplants or Baby Boo or Lumina pumpkins are a great addition to your garden, and will be perfect for fall decorations!
Herbs and Flowers with Lunar Connections
There are numerous herbs available to plant that have lunar connections.
- Camphor: Use camphor for protection or purification — it’s known to get rid of negative energies. You can also use it to cleanse crystals and ritual tools; consider adding into your practice to clear out energy in a newly inhabited space or ritual area.
- Eucalyptus: Associated with health and healing, as well as protection, fragrant Eucalyptus is a great addition to your garden if you live in a zone that will support it.
- Gardenia: This lovely and fragrant flower is connected to peace and harmony, repelling strife, and protection from outside influences. Plant it around the perimeter of your yard, or near your doors, to keep negative people away.
- Jasmine: The sensuous scent of Jasmine is popular among perfumers, because it’s well known as a flower of attraction. This plant’s heady fragrance evokes passion, sensuality, and love.
- Moonwort: Associated with dreams and intuition, moonwort is useful in any spellwork involving lunar connections.
- Sandalwood: This fragrant wood is associated with healing and purification, as well as business and protection magic; it’s found in religious ceremonies and rituals all over the world.
- Willow: Planted near your home, Willow will help ward away danger, particularly the type that stems from natural disaster such as flooding or storms. They offer protection, and are often found near cemeteries.
- Water Lily: These lovelies often used as ornamentals in ponds are associated with the clarity of desire and direction, as well as the creative process. If you’re an artist or maker, keep some water lilies around.
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.
