Plants in theIpomoeagenus, like moonflower, are toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and horses.
It can also grow in hanging containers or as aground cover.
This vining plant likes to climb, so provide a trellis or support structure.
Ellenmck / Getty Images
It can adapt to partially shady conditions, though it might not flower.
Water
Moonflower likes a moderate amount of soil moisture.
Water young plants regularly so their soil stays moist but not soggy.
Wirestock / Getty Images
Soil that’s too wet can cause the roots to rot.
Water established plants when the top inch of soil feels dry.
The vine will tolerate short periods of drought, but a long dry spell can kill it.
Pete Muller / Getty Images
In cooler regions, this plant dies annually during cold weather.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizer, as it can promote excessive foliage growth at the expense of blooms.
Thin the stems to improve airflow around the plant and open it to sunlight.
Datura InoxiaThe Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Carefully dig up tiny plants sprouting in the garden using a garden trowel.
They don’t like uprooting, so be gentle with the root ball.
The seeds can be planted immediately or stored in a cool, dry place until the next growing season.
Datura InoxiaThe Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Start seeds indoors roughly four to six weeks before your areasprojected last frost date.
Soak the seeds overnight in warm water or slightly nick them with a file to break their hard coating.
These plants do not like replanting, so plant it into a permanent pot.
Leaving the vines in place may lead to many volunteer seedlings in the spring.
Common Plant Diseases
Moonflower rarely suffers from severe pest or disease problems.
However, it can fall prey to black rot, a bacterial disease that thrives in humid conditions.
These plants only rebloom perennially in warm tropical zones.
What Do Moonflower Blooms Look and Smell Like?
Trumpet-shaped moonflowers are typically an iridescent white and grow around 6 inches long and 3 to 6 inches wide.
How to Encourage More Blooms
Deadheadingor removing spent blooms can promote further blooming on the vines.
Moonflowers generally bloom reliably if they get enough sun and are watered regularly.
Adding fertilizer to your watering routinemoonflower likes a high-phosphorous varietywill help your plant produce more flowers.
However, it can have a few problems that are simple for any gardener to fix.
Seedlings Die for No Reason
When healthy seedlings die unexpectedly, it could be a damping-off disease.
To prevent damping-off, do not overwater seedlings or overcrowd them in your garden.
Thin your plants out to get more air circulation; this should help avoid damping off.
Moonflowers return yearly to zones that are not colder than 45F.
If plants return in colder zones, they dropped seeds from the previous season.
Moonflowers bloom once at night and then fade.
However, the plant produces many blooms throughout the growing season.
North Carolina State Extension.
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
