{"id":7979,"date":"2023-06-15T02:20:35","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T06:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/?p=7979"},"modified":"2023-06-15T02:26:12","modified_gmt":"2023-06-15T06:26:12","slug":"how-to-plant-and-grow-moonflower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ifoxany.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/15\/how-to-plant-and-grow-moonflower\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Plant and Grow Moonflower"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Moonflower’s fragrance often peaks at dusk, making it a good choice for evening gardens.<\/p>

\"closeup<\/div><\/div>
PHOTO:\u00a0<\/span>

MIKE JENSEN<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Moonflower\u00a0(Datura)<\/em>\u00a0is one of the most romantic plants you can grow in a garden. The large, trumpet-shaped flowers unfurl in the evening and stay open until the sun rises. Several varieties of moonflower also give off a lemon fragrance when their flowers are open.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>

Moonflower, devil’s trumpet, jimsonweed, and\u00a0<\/strong>thorn apple are just a few of the many common names for this self-seeding annual. As the name \u201cmoonflower\u201c suggests, many varieties open at night. Long, white petals slowly unfurl as the evening comes. When morning arrives, the flowers curl up, reverting to their closed form. While the nocturnal blooms of moonflower are certainly breathtaking, the gray-green tropical-looking leaves are another attractive feature of this plant.<\/p>

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As beautiful as this plant may be, it is deadly if ingested1<\/span>. When planting moonflowers, site them in a spot out of reach of children and pets.<\/p>

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Another plant also goes by the name “moonflower,” which causes confusion. Moonflower (Datura<\/em>) and\u00a0moonflower vine\u00a0(Ipomoea alba<\/em>) are different plants with different needs. This article is about moonflower (Datura<\/em>).<\/p>

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Moonflower Overview<\/h3>
GENUS NAME<\/td>Datura<\/td><\/tr>
COMMON NAME<\/td>Moonflower<\/td><\/tr>
PLANT TYPE<\/td>Annual<\/td><\/tr>
LIGHT<\/td>Sun<\/td><\/tr>
HEIGHT<\/td>1 to 3 feet<\/td><\/tr>
WIDTH<\/td>1 to 4 feet<\/td><\/tr>
FLOWER COLOR<\/td>White<\/td><\/tr>
FOLIAGE COLOR<\/td>Blue\/Green<\/td><\/tr>
SEASON FEATURES<\/td>Fall Bloom, Summer Bloom<\/td><\/tr>
SPECIAL FEATURES<\/td>Fragrance, Good for Containers, Low Maintenance<\/td><\/tr>
PROPAGATION<\/td>Seed<\/td><\/tr>
PROBLEM SOLVERS<\/td>Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>
\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span>

Where to Plant Moonflower<\/span><\/h2>

Plant moonflower in\u00a0USDA Hardiness Zones 3\u20139\u00a0where you can enjoy the evening fragrance of the flowers, such as in pots next to your porch swing. If you have pets or small children, make sure to place moonflowers out of reach.<\/p>

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Invasive Plant<\/h3>

This plant has a weedy nature and, in some cases, can become an aggressive spreader. To keep this plant from taking over a garden, pick off the\u00a0seed pods.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/span>

How and When to Plant Moonflower<\/span><\/h2>

These plants are frost tender, so they should be planted outside in the ground or in containers after the\u00a0danger of frost has passed in the spring.<\/p>

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Moonflower Care Tips<\/span><\/h2>

Once moonflowers are\u00a0established in well-drained soil,\u00a0they don’t need much additional care.<\/p>

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Light<\/span><\/h3>

Moonflower flourishes in\u00a0sun to partial shade.<\/p>

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Soil and Water<\/span><\/h3>

Plant moonflower in soil that drains well and has a neutral pH. Water the plants regularly, but don\u2019t let them sit in overly soggy soil or they’ll rot.<\/p>

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Fertilizer<\/span><\/h3>

During the late spring\/early summer blooming season, moonflower benefits from regular fertilization at half the regular strength. Use a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus,\u00a0such as bone meal.<\/p>

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Pests and Problems<\/span><\/h2>

Moonflowers have few pest problems, although they might become infested with whiteflies, spider mites,\u00a0or mealybugs.<\/p>

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How to Propagate Moonflower<\/span><\/h2>

As the life of the beautiful white blooms comes to an end, thorny pods begin to develop. Initially, the thorns are soft, but as they age and expand, they become hard and sharp. Wait until the seed pods dry on the plant. Then, break them open and collect the seeds. Sow them outside in the fall.<\/p>

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Types of Moonflower<\/span><\/h2>

There are several species of moonflower. Among them are ‘Blackcurrent Swirl’ and ‘Evening Fragrance’.<\/p>

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‘Blackcurrant Swirl’ Moonflower<\/span><\/h3>
\"Datura<\/div><\/div>
HIRNEISEN PHOTOGRAPHY<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Datura<\/i>\u00a0‘Blackcurrant Swirl’ offers double purple flowers on 5-foot-tall plants.<\/p>

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‘Evening Fragrance’ Moonflower<\/span><\/h3>
\"White<\/div><\/div>
MIKE JENSEN<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Datura meteloides<\/i>\u00a0bears pure-white flowers and fuzzy gray-green foliage on a plant that can grow 4 feet tall.<\/p>

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Moonflower Companion Plants<\/span><\/h2>

Cardoon<\/span><\/h3>
\"wheelbarrow<\/div><\/div><\/figure>

Few annuals are bolder or make more of a statement than\u00a0cardoon (Cynara cardunculus<\/em>). This stately plant can reach 5 feet tall and bears toothed, thistlelike, silvery leaves. The blooms look like silvery-violet artichokes and take a back seat to the plant’s impressive foliage display. Though cardoon is perennial in Zones 7-9, it’s usually grown as an annual.<\/p>

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Spider Flower<\/span><\/h3>
\"Pink<\/div><\/div>
MATTHEW BENSON PHOTOGRAPHY<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>

It’s amazing that the tall, dramatic\u00a0spider flower (Cleome hassleriana<\/em>)\u00a0is only an annual. Once temperatures warm up, it zooms to 4 feet or more quickly and produces large balls of flowers with fascinating long seedpods that whirl out from it. It typically self-seeds prolifically, so you only need to plant it once. Because it develops surprisingly large thorns, it’s best to keep spider flower away from walkways. Group them in clusters of six or more for best effect.<\/p>

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Flowering Tobacco<\/span><\/h3>
\"white<\/div><\/div>
PETER KRUMHARDT<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Many types of\u00a0flowering tobacco (Nicotiana)\u00a0are terrifically fragrant, especially at night. There are several types of nicotiana (also called flowering tobacco because it’s a cousin of the regular tobacco plant). Try the shorter, more colorful types in containers or the front of beds or borders. The taller, white-only types, which can reach 5 feet, are dramatic in the back of borders. They’re ideal for\u00a0night gardens\u00a0because they’re usually most fragrant at dusk. These plants do best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, and they may reseed.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Moonflower’s fragrance often peaks at dusk, making it a good choice for evening gardens. PHOTO:\u00a0 MIKE JENSEN Moonflower\u00a0(Datura)\u00a0is one of the most romantic plants you can grow in a garden. The large, trumpet-shaped flowers unfurl in the evening and stay open until the sun rises. Several varieties of moonflower also give off a lemon fragrance when their flowers are open. \u00a0 Moonflower, devil’s trumpet, jimsonweed, and\u00a0thorn apple are just a few of the many common names for this self-seeding annual. As the name \u201cmoonflower\u201c suggests, many varieties open at night. Long, white petals slowly unfurl as the evening comes. When morning arrives, the flowers curl up, reverting to their closed form. While the nocturnal blooms of moonflower are certainly breathtaking, the gray-green tropical-looking leaves are another attractive feature of this plant. \u00a0 As beautiful as this plant may be, it is deadly if ingested1. When planting moonflowers, site them in…<\/p>\n

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