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Moon flowers The white or greenish white fragrant flowers bloom in the evening

The white or greenish white, mildly fragrant flowers bloom in the evening and fade by morning. Thus the flower is often called ‘Evening glory’ or ‘Goodnight flower.’ A relative of the morning glory, belonging to the family Convolvulaceae, the plant has its origins in the tropics.

Propagated from seeds, the vine flowers six to eight weeks from planting. Seeds can be planted in any good garden soil that receives full or partial sunlight. For rapid germination, the seeds are soaked in water overnight and sown. The hard seed coat is also softened by nicking it with a knife tip or rubbing it with sand paper.

Keep moist until germination occurs and then water as needed. It can survive brief dry spells. Adding organic manures enhances the growth. The long, slender vine twines vigorously in a clockwise direction and reaches 10 to 20 feet in the course of a year. The vine is capable of climbing strings, chain link fences, walls, arches, lamp post and pandals.

This flowering climber is well suited for covering unsightly places and for screening. Like the flowers, the buds and leaves are eye-catching and attractive. The leaves are rich green, providing a beautiful backdrop for the moonflowers. Leaves and flowers are borne adjacent on the same side of the stem. The stem bears several buds simultaneously, all of which do not bloom the same night. The four-inch-long buds resembling clove beans are also attractive. The delicate ephemeral white blooms are solitary and 5-6 inches across with a long slender tube giving it the appearance of a fluted funnel.

Each blossom is marked with a narrow five-pointed star in slightly different shades of white. The delightful fragrance adding to the appealing beauty of moonflower permeates in warm summer nights making it a lovely addition to any garden.

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