A night garden is a collection of plants specifically chosen to stand out in moonlight, and to produce strong scents.
For a perfect night garden, focus on pale or white flowers and silvery foliage that stand out in moonlight, and utilise strongly scented plants like Nicotiana, Night-Blooming Jasmine, Evening Primrose, Honeysuckle, Brugmansia, Night Phlox and Regal Lily, offering strong perfumes as dusk falls, creating an enchanting sensory experience.
Planting is best placed near windows, seating and pathways, so that you can enjoy the scents. Many of the flowers will also attract nocturnal bees and moths.
List of plants below……
Flowers & Climbers
Nicotiana sylvestris ‘White Trumpets’
Powerful, intoxicating jasmine and clove-like fragrance, strongest at dusk; very tall.
4-5 feet tall – needs space – back of borders.
(UK) Half hardy annual – needs protecting until frost risk has passed.
Click here to buy seeds for this plant
Dianthus ‘Memories’
Full double white flowers with a strong, spicy scent.
Height and spread about 12 in – ideal for pots or border fronts.
(UK) Perennial – will return every year.
Clematis ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’
Showy white flowers on this beautiful climber, minimal scent, but huge flowers are the star here.
Height 10 ft x 12-18 in, does best where roots can stay in shade and moist (not wet) soil.
(UK) Perennial – Will come back every year.
Pruning group 2 – Repeat flowering type.
Matthiola longipetala subsp. bicornis (Night Scented Stock)
Has a sweet, spicy perfume that intensifies in the evening.
Height about 12 in, good for pots or in drifts.
(UK) Hardy Annual, but best protected in very cold situations until frost risk passed.
Hosta
Try varieties like ‘Patriot’ or ‘Night Before Christmas’, that have a portion of light coloured variegation or leaf margin colouring.
Flowers are held on high stems and some are scented attracting night pollinators.
Height about 2.5 feet
(UK) Hardy Perennials will return yearly.
*** Buy this plant ***
Artemisia stellerianna (Dusty Miller)
Foliage looks good against dark green planting, picks up light at night.
Grows to about 18 in.
Hardy perennial, will return every year.
Stachys byzantina (Lambs Ears)
Lovely silvery colour in moonlight, and so soft to stroke!
Height about 18 in.
Hardy perennial, will return every year.
Shrubs
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine)
Lovely fragrant evergreen climber.
Height around 8-12m.
(UK) Hardy Perennial, will survive down to around -10c
Cestrum nocturnum (Lady of the night)
Not a true Jasmine, but still with a heady scent that is strongest in the evenings.
Woody shrub, that prefers a warmer spot in the garden
(UK) Hardy Perennial but better in warmer areas, unless you’re happy to protect for hard frosts.
Hibiscus ‘White Chiffon’ (Rose of Sharon)
Large white flowers that attract butterflies.
Height/Width: 12 ft x 6 ft
(UK) Hardy Perennial Deciduous Shrub
Philadelphus coronarius (Mock Orange)
Extremely fragrant shrub with pretty white flowers.
Height/Width: 10 ft x 10 ft
(UK) Hardy Perennial
Hydrangea arboresens ‘Incrediball’
HUGE white pompom like flowers on sturdy stems.
Height/Width: 6 ft x 5 ft
(UK) Hardy Perennial Deciduous Shrub
Hopefully, this gives you a few starters to get into creating your own amazing night garden.