How to Plant Moon Flowers
Tip
Morning glories are from the same family as moon flowers and open in the morning. Plant moon flower seeds with morning glories for blooms in the morning and evening. Collect the seedpods for next season. After the flowers fade, leave the pods on the vine. When they are dry, break them open to get the seeds.
Warning
Moon flower seeds are poisonous if ingested.
Part of the Ipomoea family, moon flowers have blue-green heart-shaped foliage on vines that grow 8 to 20 feet, depending upon the variety. The 6-inch wide creamy white blossoms open in the evening to be pollinated by nocturnal insects. This annual is easy to care for and can be trained to climb a trellis or used to cover an unsightly spot.
Prepare the site for the moon flowers. They need a site that is sheltered from the wind, yet receives full sunlight and has room for a support for the flowers to climb. Mix well-rotted compost into the soil before planting the seeds.
Sow the seeds in June, after the last frost. You can also start them indoors six to eight weeks earlier in containers with a mix of multi-purpose compost and slow release fertilizer.
- Part of the Ipomoea family, moon flowers have blue-green heart-shaped foliage on vines that grow 8 to 20 feet, depending upon the variety.
- This annual is easy to care for and can be trained to climb a trellis or used to cover an unsightly spot.
Prepare moon flower seeds the night before planting. Use a sharp knife or nail clippers to knick the thick shell of the seed. Soak the seeds in a container of warm water overnight.
Plant the moon flower seeds 1 inch deep. Keep the soil moist but not wet. After the seedlings are 5 inches tall, thin the plants 12 to 15 inches apart. Add a support for the flowers, such as a trellis, cane or string attached to the eaves.
- Prepare moon flower seeds the night before planting.
- Use a sharp knife or nail clippers to knick the thick shell of the seed.
References
- The Complete Garden Flower Book: Catie Ziller, Publisher; 2001
Resources
Tips
- Morning glories are from the same family as moon flowers and open in the morning. Plant moon flower seeds with morning glories for blooms in the morning and evening.
- Collect the seedpods for next season. After the flowers fade, leave the pods on the vine. When they are dry, break them open to get the seeds.
Warnings
- Moon flower seeds are poisonous if ingested.
Writer Bio
After attending Hardin Simmons University, Kay Dean finished her formal education with the Institute of Children's Literature. Since 1995, Dean has written for such publications as "PB&J," Disney’s "Family Fun," "ParentLife," "Living With Teenagers" and Thomas Nelson’s NY Times bestselling "Resolve." An avid gardener for 25 years, her experience includes organic food gardening, ornamental plants, shrubs and trees, with a special love for roses.
