moonflowers
- mostly edited from a seed catalog
ray heinrich
Some flowers
bloom only at night,
when it ends
they hide away.
While others,
that bloom in the day,
seem to glow
in the moon's soft light.
For truely exceptional moonlight gardens,
we recommend the following seeds:
GIANT MOONFLOWER
A fast-growing vine
related to the morning glory,
this annual may climb to 10 feet.
Tightly closed by day,
its white flowers open at dusk
to release a sweet fragrance.
Its flowers can be seen clearly
in moonlight.
PINK EVENING PRIMROSE
A lovely border plant growing to 12 inches
with silky, rose-colored blooms
that deepen to a butter-yellow center.
Opens in late evening
to release a soft fragrance.
JASMINE TOBACCO
A very sweet-scented flowering tobacco
with pure white trumpet-shaped flowers
that open in the evening
and show up well in moonlight.
Very free flowering.
WHITE ANGEL'S TRUMPET
Large, showy, pure-white, trumpet-shaped flowers
that grow 6 to 8 inches long.
They open at night
and may, or may not, be fragrant.
SOUTH AFRICAN DIMORPHOTHECA
This plant only grows 12 inches tall.
Its milky-white blossoms are so pure
they appear to be luminous.
IRISH FAIRY-DREAM
A small, 6-inch-tall plant with tiny,
cup-shaped, silver-white blooms.
On nights in late spring, it is said,
fairies can be seen drinking from them.
Very hardy, easy to grow.
PURE WHITE SPIDER PLANT
A delightful spider plant
that grows about 3 ft. tall.
It has moist pure-white flowers
that glisten in the moonlight.
WHITE NILE FLOWER
An intensely white, 5 inch long, cone-shaped
flower bred from a cache of 3500 year-old
seeds found in the tome of Amenhotep II.
Not native to Eygpt, its origin is probably
lower Africa. Hardy and drought-resistant.
PURE WHITE AFRICAN DAISY
A fast-growing African daisy
with pure-white flowers
and black eyes.
FRAGRANT BRIDAL CARNATIONS
Probably the whitest carnations
you will ever see.
The blooms have a spicy-sweet fragrance
and are absolutely symmetrical.
FEVERFEW
A Native-American herb
with sprays of white,
one-inch-wide, daisy-like flowers.
The flowers are said to repel bees
and a tea made from the plant
is said to relieve headaches.
SUPER WHITE CANDYTUFT
Beautiful large trusses
of brilliant white flowers
on sturdy stems.
Very easy to raise.
WHITE-LEAVED DUSTY MILLER
The foliage of this plant
is fine-leafed and very white.
Good compact growth.
MAYWEED
A gorgeous plant
with fern-like foliage
and white daisy-like flowers.
The leaves
make a relaxing bed-time tea.
