What Are Moonflowers?

Smell and Show

• Plants that lure insects are usually showy and aromatic, and moonflowers are no exception. The large flowers can measure 5 to 6 inches across with a showy, trumpet-shaped bloom to best beckon moths. They produce a sweet lemony scent that is most obvious in the evenings when they open to display their heart-shaped petals.

Size, Shape and Life Span

• Moonflowers are annuals in most U.S. climates, although they can recur as perennials in areas with milder climes. They like to climb and do well on trellises where they can snake to heights of up to 15 feet and spread into bouquets that are 8 to 10 feet wide. They do best in full sun, despite their penchant for blooming in the evening, and individual flowers die off after a single evening bloom. The full plant continues to bloom for about eight weeks.

Sowing and Growing

• If you live in a mild climate, you can plant moonflower seeds in late fall or early spring, although other climates need to wait until spring after the threat of frost is gone. Scatter the seeds thinly and evenly in a sunny spot, covering them with about 1/2 inch of soil. Keep the soil moist and packed lightly. Moonflower seeds generally sprout in about a week or two, although you can soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before planting to speed up germination. Thin the plants after they reach 1 to 2 inches high so they stand no closer than one foot apart.

Considerations

• Moonflowers can be alluring, especially to the moths that flock to pollinate them, but their seeds are poisonous and ingesting the seeds can be fatal. Aztecs used to eat the seeds of a moonflower cousin, the Ipomea tricolor, which contains an alkaloid of the notorious lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD. Their intent was not to kill themselves but rather to communicate with their gods.