14 Bright Plants for a Moonlight Garden

What is a Moonlight Garden?

A moonlight garden, or moon garden, is a garden that is made to look beautiful in the moonlight. Flowers in a moonlight garden are often white in color and some plants have silvery foliage. The moonlight plays off of their petals and leaves to create an ethereal garden scene.

This style of garden was made popular by the Victorians and has yet to fall out of style. Here is a list of plants that you can use to create the most enchanting and romantic moonlight garden in your town:

Moonlight Garden Shrubs:

Here is a list of shrubs and small trees that will take your moonlight garden to the next level. They are unique in how many blooms they develop and how easy they are to grow. 

Chinese Snowball Shrub

The Chinese snowball is prized for its striking flowers. It's a perfect addition to the moonlight garden because of its masses of white, puff-ball flowers. It can be pruned right after blooming if needed. We recommend that you fertilize it once a year.

Zone: 6 to 9
Sun: Sun or shade
Mature Height: up to 10 feet
Water: Average
Best for use as a hedge, property screen, and for flowering.
Check out the Chinese Snowball Plant product page here

Arrowwood Viburnum

Arrowwood Viburnum

The arrowhead viburnum can be found naturally along woodland slopes and woodland edges. Also, it can tolerate a range of soil and light conditions. Its many stunning flowers look ethereal in a moonlight garden, making it an ideal addition!

Zones: 2 to 8
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Mature Height: up to 10 feet
Water: Average
Best for use as a hedge, property screen, and for flowering.

Check out the Arrowwood Viburnum product page here


Black Haw Viburnum

The black haw viburnum is another deciduous shrub and it tolerates black walnut. Its fruits are edible when ripened. The black haw's dark green leaves fade to purple and red in autumn. And, its bright, puffy flowers are show-stopping, especially in the moonlight!

Zones: 3 to 9
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Mature Height: up to 15 feet
Water: Average to dry
Best for use as a hedge, property screen, and for flowering.

Check out the Black Haw Viburnum product page here


Maple Leaf Viburnum

The maple leaf viburnum is a beautiful shrub that will colonize by growing suckers. It's one of the most shade-tolerant viburnums on this list. The sprays of dramatic blooms will catch the light of the moon in your moonlight garden. Best of all, it attracts pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Zones: 3 to 8
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Mature Height: up to 6 feet
Water: Average
Best for use as a hedge, property screen, and for flowering.

Check out the Maple Leaf Viburnum product page here

White Hibiscus

This shrub has a smooth main stem and grows glossy foliage

White hibiscus can tolerate a range of soils including clay and rocky soils. Its vibrant, reflective white flowers glisten in the light of the moonlight garden. It is easy to grow and prefers somewhat acidic soils. Also, the white hibiscus can be grown like a small tree or as a shrub.

Zones: 5 to 9 
Sun: Full sun
Mature Height: up to 12 feet wide
Water: Average
Best for use as a hedge, property screen, as small tree, and for flowering.


Natchez Crepe Myrtle

This tall growing Natchez crepe myrtle can be grown as a shrub or as a small tree. It benefits from fertilizer, but not in excess. Its cone-like flowers draw in pollinators like butterflies and bees. It is a great tall-growing shrub option for any moonlight garden!

Zones: 6 to 9
Sun: Full sun
Mature Height: up to 21 feet
Water: Average
Best for use as a hedge, property screen, as a small tree, and for flowering.

Check out the Natchez Crepe Myrtle product page here

Pee Gee Hydrangea

The pee gee hydrangea is a tall, fragrant shrub. It attracts pollinators and other beneficial insects. This hydrangea can tolerate a range of soils but does best in somewhat acidic soils. Its pearl-like buds and white flowers will make it stand out in the moonlight garden.

Zone: 3 to 9 (can grow in cooler zones if protected from frost in spring)
Sun: Full sun or part shade
Mature Height: from 8 to 15 feet
Water: Average to moist
Best for use as a hedge, property screen, and for flowering

Check out the Pee Gee Hydrangea product page here

Snow Hill Hydrangea

The snow hill hydrangea looks a lot like the Chinese snowball shrub, but it has even bigger blooms! Catch the light in your moonlight garden with this gorgeous, easy to grow shrub.

Zone: 3 to 9 (can grow in cooler zones if protected from frost in spring)
Sun: Part shade
Mature Height: up to 4 feet
Water: Average to moist
Best for use as a hedge, property screen, and in cottage gardens

Check out the Snow Hill Hydrangea product page here

Moonlight Garden Perennials:

Foam Flower

The foam flower's blooms will create texture and dimension in the moonlight garden. Even the leaves will reflect some moonlight! Because it is a shade plant, it is best for woodland gardens, but that doesn't mean it won't catch the moonlight! Plant near woodland edges to get the most out of this unique plant.

Zones: 3 to 8
Sun exposure: Full shade
Mature height: up to 2 feet
Water: Average
Best for the middle of borders, woodland gardens, and shaded gardens.

Check out the Foam Flower product page here

Great White Trillium

The elegant, rippled leaves of the great white trillium will shimmer in any moonlight garden. It is a low grower and makes an excellent border plant. It's an easy to grow native that fits into many garden styles.

Zones: 3 to 9
Sun exposure: Full sun or part shade
Mature height: in ideal conditions, up to 2 feet
Water: average
Best for woodland gardens, shade gardens, containers, and borders.

Check out the Great White Trillium product page here

Hepatica

The tiny flowers of the hepatica will look like fallen stars in the moonlight garden. It can be planted in sun or shade and tolerates a range of soils. Its star shaped flowers stand above its dark, glossy foliage. 

Zones: 4 to 8
Sun exposure: Part sun to part shade
Mature height: up to 6 inches
Water: Average
Best for woodlands, edges, front of borders, and containers.

Check out the Hepatica product page here

Reindeer Moss

Reindeer moss has spongey growth with lots of holes and pockets

Yes, reindeer moss makes the moonlight garden list! Its silvery green and unique growth catches the moonlight, unlike any other plant on this list. While it needs to be grown in shade, it can still capture the moonlight in the right settings.

Zones: 5 to 9
Sun exposure: Full shade
Mature height: under 6 inches
Water: Average to moist, with humidity
Best for woodland gardens, as a lawn alternative, and containers.

Check out the Reindeer Moss product page here

Oxeye Daisy

Daisies are excellent in moonlight gardens due to their many flowers and glistening white petals. The way the light catches the petals is romantic and yet innocent. See for yourself how great of an addition these are to your moon garden today!

Zones: 4 to 9
Sun exposure: Full sun
Mature height: up to 2½ feet
Water: Average to somewhat dry
Best for flower beds, children's gardens, borders, and containers.

Check out the Oxeye Daisy product page here

White Violets

White is an uncommon color for violets and so it makes the perfect moonlight garden flower. It blooms from spring into summer. White violets can be planted in containers or at ground level for subtle white flecks of light at night.

Zones: 3 to 8
Sun exposure: Full sun or part shade
Mature height: up to 8 inches
Water: Average
Best for woodland gardens, moon gardens, alpine gardens, containers, and borders.

Check out the White Violet product page here

What do you think of our list? If you have any comments or questions, feel free to reach out! We are here to answer any of your gardening questions.

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