Creating a Moon Garden
A moon garden is designed to be enjoyed in the evening, with reflective surfaces, water features, subtle lighting, and night-blooming plants. Creating a moon garden makes use of light colours and textures that glow naturally in moonlight, offering a unique way to experience your garden at night.
The 5 Key Elements of a Moon Garden
1. Night-Blooming Plants
Night-blooming plants are the foundation of a moon garden, chosen for their ability to blossom after sunset and their captivating fragrances. Examples include Queen of the Night, Night Phlox, Night Blooming Jasmine, and Mock Orange. These plants feature white or pale-coloured flowers that naturally glow in dim light, creating an ethereal effect.
Many night-blooming plants also release strong, sweet scents during the evening, attracting beneficial nighttime pollinators like moths and bats. This helps your garden come to life in a way that’s both visually and ecologically rewarding.
2. Reflective Surfaces
Reflective elements amplify the moonlight and make the garden feel luminous. Water features such as ponds, reflective bowls, or fountains create a shimmering surface that captures the light of the moon and adds movement to your garden.
Polished stones, shiny metal garden ornaments, or reflective planters can also be strategically placed to bounce light across the space.
3. Lighting
While the moon provides natural illumination, subtle lighting can complement its effect. Choose warm, soft lighting that mimics moonlight, such as solar-powered path lights or lanterns. Position lights to highlight key features like plants, seating areas, or water features.
Solar options maintain the garden’s eco-friendliness and, as a bonus, require minimal maintenance.
4. Seating Areas
A moon garden is best appreciated when it includes a comfortable place to sit and relax. Seating areas should be positioned to make good use of views of key features, such as a cluster of glowing flowers or a reflective water bowl. Consider simple wooden benches or chairs with cushions in light colours that blend with the theme.
For smaller gardens, a single chair or stone bench tucked into a corner can provide an inviting spot to enjoy the space.
5. Silver-Foliaged Plants
Plants with silver or grey foliage are essential for moon gardens, as they reflect even the faintest light. Dusty Millers are a popular choice, with their soft, silvery leaves that shimmer at night. Other options include Lamb’s Ear, Artemisia, and Silver Sage, all of which add texture and brightness to the garden.
When combined with night-blooming flowers, silver-foliaged plants create a layered effect that strengthens the garden’s visual appeal, even on the darkest evenings.
3 Moon Garden Plants We Recommend
Here are three ideal options that work well together to create a cohesive space:
1. Night Phlox (Zaluzianskya capensis)
Night Phlox is a classic choice for a moon garden. Its small, white flowers open in the evening, glowing softly under moonlight. The plant is known for its strong, sweet fragrance, which attracts moths and other nighttime pollinators. It grows best in well-drained soil and looks excellent when grouped in borders or near pathways where its scent can be appreciated.
Night Phlox grows well in the UK during warmer months, typically as an annual. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for summer gardens.
2. Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)
Queen of the Night is a standout addition. This cactus produces large, white flowers that bloom only at night, making it a plant worth waiting for. Its dramatic, luminous blooms and pleasant fragrance create a striking focal point in the garden.
Queen of the Night is a tropical plant and not frost-hardy, so it’s best grown in pots or containers in the UK. These can be kept outdoors in the summer and brought inside during cooler months.
3. Dusty Millers (Jacobaea maritime)
Dusty Millers are valued for their silvery-grey foliage, which reflects even the faintest moonlight. Their soft, textured leaves provide contrast to the flowers in your garden, making the white blooms of plants like Night Phlox stand out even more. Dusty Millers are hardy and require minimal maintenance, making them a reliable choice for any planting scheme.
Dusty Millers are well-suited to the UK climate. They are hardy and thrive in a variety of soil types, tolerating both dry and coastal conditions.
Completing Your Moon Garden
Adding personal touches to your moon garden can make it a space you’ll enjoy spending time in. Here are some suggestions from our garden experts to help in the creation of your moon garden:
Reflective Pots
Incorporate planters made from materials like clayfibre or ceramic. Their subtle shine or patina reflects light and increases the glow of your garden under moonlight. Use these pots to showcase silver-foliaged plants or night-blooming flowers for a cohesive look.
Fire Pits and Lanterns
A small fire pit or a collection of lanterns adds warmth and a gentle glow to your garden, creating a cosy ambience. Fire pits provide a gathering point for cooler evenings, while lanterns can be placed along pathways or near seating areas to highlight key features. Opt for solar-powered or LED lanterns for an eco-friendly choice.
Water Features
The sound of gently moving water from a small fountain or reflective water bowl introduces a sense of calm. Water features also catch and amplify light, making them a focal point. Their soft, rhythmic sound complements the visual stillness of the garden.
How to Create Your Moon Garden – A Step-by-Step Guide
To help you bring together all the elements we have discussed, we have put together a quick overview of the steps you can take when creating a moon garden for yourself.
Step 1: Choose the Right Location
Select a spot in your garden that receives ample natural moonlight. Open areas without heavy tree cover or tall structures work best. If your garden has shaded areas, consider incorporating reflective elements or additional lighting to brighten the space.
Step 2: Plan the Layout
Design your moon garden with light colours and textures in mind. Choose a mix of night-blooming flowers and arrange plants thoughtfully to ensure that taller ones don’t overshadow smaller varieties. Leave room for reflective surfaces and seating to keep the space functional.
Step 3: Add Reflective Features
A small water bowl, reflective pot, or polished stones can create focal points that shimmer at night. Water features, such as a fountain or reflective bowl, add movement and a calming ambience. Place these features strategically to ensure their impact.
Step 4: Introduce Soft Lighting and Seating
Use solar-powered lights along paths or place lanterns near focal points like water features. This highlights the garden’s key elements and ensures the space is welcoming. Add a simple bench or chairs to provide a comfortable spot for enjoying the garden.
Step 5: Plan for Maintenance
Night-blooming plants require specific care to thrive. Ensure the soil is suitable for the chosen species and that plants receive adequate watering. Regularly deadhead spent blooms to encourage further flowering. Silver-foliaged plants may need occasional pruning to maintain their shape.
Create Your Own Moon Garden
A moon garden offers a unique way to enjoy your outdoor space during the evening. By carefully selecting plants, adding personal touches like reflective pots and water features, and incorporating soft lighting, you can create a garden that is both inviting and low-maintenance.
Ready to put together your own moon garden? Explore our collection of planters, garden furniture, and water features to find everything you need. And if you need any help along the way, you can reach out to our team.
