 |
| White Flowers for Moon Garden |
The color white is
considered neutral in the garden and often radiates a sense of peace, romance and elegance. White blooms and foliage offer contrast in the daytime garden and make other colors "pop", but as darkness approaches they take on yet another role. Plants with white blooms
or silvery-white foliage have a tendency to become more prominent during the early dawn and evening hours, and have become quite popular in the design of moon, or night gardens. Moon gardens are designed with plants whose foliage and blooms cause them to stand out at night and can be planned to create a peaceful oasis. Many night-blooming plants, such as Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) have blooms that are white and extremely fragrant, while some blooms, such as petunia, release their fragrance at night. When using foliage plants such as such as Stachys (Lamb's Ear), Dusty Miller or Artemeisia in a moon garden, their silvery-white leaves appears to "glow" in the moonlight.
Moon gate Blithewood Mansion Rhode Island
Hardscape elements can also be added to highlight a moon garden. This rounded structure is known as a moon gate, named for its shape, but would look lovely as an entrance to your night time garden. White gravel paths and lighting can also enhance your space for viewing in darkness. When it comes to selecting plants, Spring blooming flowers with white blooms include Allium 'Mount Everest', Crocus, Hyacinth, Tulip, Lilly of the Valley, Candytuft and Snowdrops. Summer blooming white blooms include Cerastium tomentosum (Snow in Summer), Astilbe 'Visions White', Aruncus (Goat's Beard) and Oriental Lily Cassablanca. Late summer blooms include Dahlia, Montauk Daisy, Echinacea 'White Swan' and Clematis 'Sweet Autumn'. Shrubs with beautiful white blooms include Azalea 'Autumn Angel', Hydrangea 'Pee Gee', 'Limelight', 'Annabelle' and 'Blushing Bride', Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake' and Butterfly Bush 'White Profusion'. For silvery-white to white foliage try Dusty Miller, Lamb's Ear, Artemeisia or variegated plants such as 'Patriot' Hosta, with green and white variegated leaves. There are numerous plants to choose from. Here are some suggested plants with their descriptions.
Aruncus
dioicus (Goat's Beard)
Nipponanthemum nipponicum (Montauk Daisy)
Stachys (Lamb's Ear)
 |
| Allium Mount Everest Old Westbury Gardens, Long Island, N.Y. Plant Type: Bulb, Perennial
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Height: 3-4' Tall
Lighting: Full Sun-Part ShadeBloom Time: Late Spring |
 |
White Crocus Jeanne D'Arc
Plant Type: Bulb, Perennial
Hardiness Zones: 3-8 Height: 4-6" Tall Lighting: Full Sun-Part Shade Bloom Time: Late Spring |
 |
Cerastium tomentosum (Snow in Summer)
Plant Type: Perennial Hardiness Zone: 3-7 Height: 4-8" Tall Lighting: Full Sun-Part Shade Bloom Time: Late Spring-Early Summer |
Aruncus
dioicus (Goat's Beard)
Plant Type: Perennial
Hardiness Zones: 3-7
Height: 4-6' Tall
Lighting: Full Sun-Part
Shade
Bloom Time: Early-Mid Summer
Oriental Lilly Casablanca
Oriental Lilly Casablanca
Plant
Type: Bulb, Perennial
Hardiness
Zones: 4-9
Height:
3-4' Tall
Lighting:
Full Sun
Bloom
Time: Mid-Late Summer
Dahlia Garden Planting Fields Arboretum Long Island, N.Y.
Dahlia Garden Planting Fields Arboretum Long Island, N.Y.
Plant
Type: Bulb (Variety: Brookside Snowball)
Hardiness
Zones: 8-10
Height:
4-6' Tall
Lighting:
Full Sun
Bloom
Time: Late Summer
Nipponanthemum nipponicum (Montauk Daisy)
Plant
Type: Perennial
Hardiness
Zones: 5-9
Height:
24-36" Tall
Lighting:
Full Sun-Part Shade
Bloom Time: Late Summer-Fall
Hosta 'Patriot'
Plant
Type: Perennial
Hardiness
Zones: 4-8
Height:
14-24" Tall
Lighting: Part-Full Shade
Lighting: Part-Full Shade
Bloom
Time: Mid-Summer (Light Lavender Flowers)
Dusty Miller
Plant
Type: Annual
Hardiness
Zones: 8-10
Height:
12-24" Tall
Lighting:
Full Sun-Part Shade
Bloom
Time: None-Foliage Silvery-White
Stachys (Lamb's Ear)
Plant Type: Perennial
Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Height: 8-12" Tall
Lighting: Full Sun-Part Shade
Bloom Time: Early Summer (Purplish-Pink Blooms)
Summer Snowflake Viburnum
Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub
Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Height: 6-8' Tall
Lighting: Full Sun-Part Shade
Bloom Time: Late Spring-Summer
Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Height: 6-8' Tall
Lighting: Full Sun-Part Shade
Bloom Time: Late Spring-Summer
Annabelle Hydrangea
Plant
Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub
Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Height: 3-5' Tall
Lighting: Part Shade
Bloom Time: Late Spring-Fall
Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Height: 3-5' Tall
Lighting: Part Shade
Bloom Time: Late Spring-Fall
 |
Pee Gee Hydrangea
Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Shrub
Hardiness Zones: 3-8 Height: 10-25' Tall Lighting: Full Sun-Part Shade Bloom Time: Mid-Late Summer |
 |
Old Westbury Gardens, Long Island, N.Y, Springtime White Azalea Blooms
|
Any combination of plants with the characteristics discussed can be used to help plan your moon garden and bring another dimension to your space. I hope you enjoyed This Month's Color in the Garden. Next up is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up on the 15th. and Color Our World Round Up on the 30th.
Have you read my book, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden
Designer Zones 3-9, covering plants
hardy in a range of zones from 3-9 and gardening techniques? Learn about
landscape design principles, butterfly gardening, deer resistant plants, long
blooming perennials, globe and weeping evergreens, flowering trees and shrubs,
native plantings, shade gardening and more. Come along on my journey into
the world of gardening! To check out the preview at Amazon,
simply click on the image or links for details! Also, watch for my second
book, soon to be officially announced!
It's official as of January 13th! Read about the launching of my new book: Landscape Design Combinations
As Always...Happy Gardening!
Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2017. All rights reserved
I agree Lee, the moon garden is beautiful. I've been to the Wisley, UK and it was wonderful combination of white blooming plants. I have some of them as Cerastium, lily of the valley, white lilies, crocus in my garden. The climate here does not permit to think which of plants will survive in the spring, maybe one or all of them. Now we're in -18 C (-4 F).
ReplyDeleteHave a nice New year!
I am so glad you enjoyed the post Nadezda. It was nice that you got to see the Wisley, and I have heard that the gardens there are beautiful! I agree that moon gardens are really lovely, so I decided to do a post on them. Keep warm...sounds cold there!
DeleteSuch beautiful photos; truly an inspirational post! I especially like to use white in my woodland garden. Contrasting with all the green foliage, white creates a sense of coolness and refreshment, especially in summer.
ReplyDeleteI have seen some of the white blooms in your gardens Deb, and they are beautiful. Thank you for your kind words, and I am glad to have inspired you!
DeleteI do love white in the garden, so clean and fresh. Yet I don't have many white blooms, and for the oddest reason. They are just too hard to photograph! That's an important part of my garden to me.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point Robin. I do find it better to photograph white in a lower light, as in morning or late afternoon, to avoid any glare.
DeleteEnjoyed these suggestions for creating a white garden. Very appealing.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the post. It's always a good time to start planning!
DeleteI was excited when I saw the title of this posting, Lee, because I am considering installing a moon garden. When we removed the white maple, sunlight streamed into my former shade garden, and I'm thinking some sun/part shade plants would do better there than my scorched hostas. Thanks for the tips! P. x
ReplyDeleteReading your comment, I am so glad I posted this when I did Pam. It is always rewarding when the timing is good. Moon gardens can be fun and you can start planning now during the winter months. I do some of my best thinking at this time of year! Happy planning and I would love to see how your garden turns out, so do post!
DeleteI love the idea of a moon garden. There's a lovely one created by Thomas Edison's wife, Mina, at the Edison and Ford Estates in Ft. Myers, Fla. It's really magical. We were there during the day, but I'm sure it's even more impressive at night.That moon gate at the beginning of your post is awesome! Beautiful photos and a great post!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you enjoyed my post on moon gardens Beth, and the one you visited sounds delightful! I enjoyed your post on reflecting pools and it reminded me of one of the botanical gardens we have here on Long Island.
DeleteI love white in the garden- my white bearded Iris in the spring and the Formosa lily in the late summer are 2 beauties I adore. Thanks for sharing some beautiful garden choices.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you enjoyed the post Renee. I have memories of visiting moon gardens and they are so beautiful. Your Formosa Lily and White Bearded Iris must be lovely!
Delete