Creating a Moon Garden for Bats: Native Plants that Support Nocturnal Wildlife
When we think about wildlife-friendly gardens, our minds often focus on the creatures we see during the day—bees, birds, butterflies. But as the sun sets, another vital group of animals comes to life: bats! If you’re planting native plants to support daytime pollinators and wildlife, you're also contributing to the habitat needs of their nighttime counterparts.
Bats are some of the most remarkable animals on the planet. They’re our only flying mammals, with over 1,300 species found worldwide. In Ohio alone, we’re lucky to have 13 bat species, all of which are insectivorous, meaning they help keep insect populations in check. Among the most frequently spotted in Ohio are the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). These bats are voracious insect-eaters—a single bat can consume its body weight in insects each night!
In honor of Bat Month, let’s talk about one creative and beautiful way you can support bats in your own backyard: by planting a moon garden.
What is a Moon Garden?
A moon garden is a space filled with plants that reflect the moonlight with their light-colored petals or silvery foliage, providing a beautiful and serene garden even after dark. Moon gardens often feature plants that bloom at night or have strong fragrances that attract nocturnal pollinators like moths and other insects. These insects are food for our only flying mammals, bats!
For those of us in Ohio, you can use native plants to create your own moon garden that’s both stunning and supportive of local wildlife.
When gardening for any form of wildlife, from bats to bees to butterflies, it’s important to include lots of plants native to your area and not use pesticides! For more tips on gardening for wildlife, see our blog post, Native Gardening Maintenance—Tips + Tricks.
Native Plants for a Moon Garden
Here’s a list of some native Ohio plants that are perfect for a moon garden. These plants have white or pale blooms, light-colored foliage, or bloom in the evening, making them ideal for both you and nocturnal insects to enjoy, which may attract the bats that eat them.
White Flowering Plants
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Its clusters of tiny white flowers reflect moonlight beautifully.
White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima): A prolific late-blooming plant that provides nectar.
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea): Known for its papery white blooms.
Thimbleweed/Anemones (Anemone spp.): Delicate white flowers that sway in the evening breeze.
Pussytoes (Antennaria spp.): With their soft, silvery foliage, these ground-hugging plants add a unique texture to any garden.
Dogbanes (Apocynum spp.): Pale green or white flowers, beloved by pollinators.
Prairie Sage (Artemisia ludoviciana): Silvery, soft foliage that glows under moonlight, adding a shimmery touch to the garden.
Goat’s Beard (Aruncus dioicus): Tall, feathery plumes of white flowers that sway in the breeze, adding airy elegance to the moon garden.
Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata): A white-blooming species of milkweed.
White False Indigo (Baptisia alba): Tall spikes of white flowers provide structure and height in your garden.
Wood Mints and Mountain Mints (Blephilia spp. and Pycnanthemum spp.): Fragrant and full of nectar, they offer visitors plenty to feast on.
Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium): Its spiny, white blooms create a striking silhouette.
Bonesets (Eupatorium spp.): Known for their clusters of fragrant white flowers.
Asters (Eurybia spp. and Symphyotrichum spp.): Late-season bloomers that attract a variety of pollinators.
Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium): Unique, almost geometric flowers that stay in place well into fall.
Foxglove Penstemon (Penstemon digitalis): Early blooming, cheerful white flowers.
Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum): Tall, elegant spikes of white flowers.
Adam’s Needle (Yucca filamentosa): Bold, sword-like leaves with tall spikes of creamy white flowers, creating a striking, sculptural presence.
Night Blooming Flowering Plants
Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii): Large, trumpet-shaped white blooms open at dusk, offering a dramatic, fragrant addition.
Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis): Yellow flowers open at sunset, casting a warm glow and sweet scent to the night.
Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata): Clusters of fragrant pink or white flowers that add a wonderful fragrance and beauty to the evening garden.
Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia): A charming ground cover with starry white flowers.
Grasses and Sedges
Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula): Light, airy seed heads add movement to your garden under the moonlight.
Silvery Sedge (Carex argyrantha): Pale, green foliage perfect for reflecting light.
River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium): Not only attractive to look at, but they also provide seeds for wildlife.
Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis): The fine texture of this grass looks ethereal in the evening hours.
Shrubs, Trees and Vines
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus): This small shrub boasts dense clusters of white flowers in the summer.
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis): Round, pincushion-like white flowers add texture and interest to moonlit spaces.
Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica): It's great for wildlife with fragrant foliage and small, waxy berries.
Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis): White flower clusters that brighten moon gardens, and its berries are edible for humans and wildlife.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus): Named for its small, white berries, this shrub adds interest throughout the year.
River Birch (Betula nigra): Papery, peeling bark reflects light, adding a subtle glow to garden backdrops.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida): White spring blooms and pale bark enhance a moonlit garden’s charm.
American Snowbell (Styrax americanus): Small tree with bell-shaped white blooms that add grace and fragrance.
Viburnums (Viburnum spp.): Clusters of white blooms and berries, perfect for a classic, wildlife-friendly touch.
Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana): A climbing vine with delicate, white flowers that cascade over trellises or fences.
Why Create a Moon Garden?
By creating a moon garden, you are not only enhancing the nighttime beauty of your yard, but you’re also supporting a wide array of nocturnal wildlife. Moths and other night-flying insects will be attracted to the plants in your garden, which can become food for bats.
Since many insectivorous bats rely on nocturnal insects as their primary food source, your moon garden can become a crucial part of their nighttime ecosystem. And let’s face it—there’s something magical about sitting in a quiet garden, watching bats swoop overhead while the moonlight dances off pale blooms and silvered leaves.
If you’re looking for more information on how to make your garden bat-friendly, check out these great video resources:
