With the wretchedly hot weather cooling down just a bit, I’ve finally been able to enjoy being outdoors again. In fact, my back deck has become the go-to place for an iced cold glass of lemonade, a pre-dinner snack and a good book. While it’s always been a relaxing space, this year it has become even more inviting because of the sound of gently flowing water and the soft, sweet fragrance of the moonflowers that have climbed to the top of the deck.
Datura stramonium
I have to admit I was somewhat hesitant at first to plant moonflowers around the deck. I had heard that they were highly toxic when eaten, poisonous enough to kill a person. After a little research, I learned that there are actually two different flowers called moonflowers. One, Datura stramonium, is a member of the nightshade family. It grows low to the ground and is indeed a species with extremely deadly properties. Every part of this plant variety is toxic. Eating the seeds will send a person into a stupor, as its nickname zombie plant suggests. Ingesting the leaves and flowers can cause convulsions and breathing distress.
Ipomoea alba
The other moonflower, Ipomoea alba, is a vining plant in the morning glory family. It is also somewhat toxic, having hallucinogenic properties if you decide to munch on its seeds. Comparatively though, it is a much safer plant to have in the garden, especially if children and pets aren’t likely to sample it. Since mine have shown absolutely no interest in nibbling strange plants, (especially anything green!) I decided to go ahead and plant them. I am so glad I did.
Besides their fragrance, the other thing that is compelling about moonflowers is their bloom pattern. Beginning in the late afternoons or early evenings of mid July, moonflowers quickly unfold their umbrella-like petals to show off huge, eight inch pure white blooms that glisten in the moonlight. Throughout the evening and long into the night, moonflowers are visited by moths, bats and other nocturnal pollinators. As morning comes, the petals begin to fade away, slowly draw back into themselves and die.
In order to be rewarded with a plethora of blooms, make sure to plant moonflowers in a full sun spot.; they need a minimum of six hours a day to bloom. They prefer rich, evenly moist soil, and need support for their twining vines, which can easily reach 15 feet in a season. They also do well being planted in large pots. Although moonflowers can be grown from seed, they can be both difficult to germinate and slow to begin growing. Soaking and notching the seed before planting is recommended. As a side note, make sure that you check the scientific name before planting to make sure that you are planting the right variety. Many gardeners feel that plants are an easier way to go with moonflowers.
My first instinct this spring was to look for something other than moonflower vine for the deck. I'm so glad that a bit of research changed my mind. In fact, I have been enjoying it so much that I've already figured out where it's going next year!
