When people think pollinators, they tend to picture bees and butterflies. However, half of pollination occurs at night by the light of the moon, while bees and butterflies are sleeping. Moths are the primary pollinators of the night, but beetles, including fireflies, nocturnal bees, and even mosquitos pollinate by moonlight.
 
There are two ways plants help moths - they can host (be eaten by) moth caterpillars, or they can provide nectar to night-flying adults. Moths specialize just like butterflies: their caterpillars can only eat certain plants. Goldenrods, asters, oak trees, and other are considered "keystone" pollinator plants mostly because of the number of moth species they host. The other way native plants can support moths is providing nectar that is available at night. 
 
This Moon Garden Kit is designed for average garden soil and full to part sun during the day. It will contain 2 to 5 of each species, usually of the following mix of plants, but one way we keep the per plant costs low on garden kits is by reserving the right to substitute plants based on our current inventory. Your kit may differ from the list below in exact species, but the plants included are guaranteed to meet the stated goals, in this case, supporting moths and other nighttime pollinators while providing flowers that appeal to people under low light conditions. If you need specific plants for your garden goals, consider supplementing your garden kit with quarts:
 
Evening Primrose - the secret is in the name; these open and offer nectar in the evening
 
Common Milkweed - pale flower with a delicious scent that intensifies in the evening
 
Stiff and/or Showy Goldenrod - Goldenrod importance to moths as both nectar and host plants cannot be overstated, so when possible we include two favorites
 
Black-eyed Susan - nectar and host plant
 
Panicled Aster - nectar and host plant with light flowers
 
Big Bluestem or Early Fen Sedge - moth host plant
 
Hairy Beardtongue - nectar plant with moonlit flowers
 
Rose Mallow Hibiscus, Boneset, or Culver's Root - dramatic nectar and host plants that glow in the light of the moon
 
Early Sunflower - nectar and host plant with a lot of caterpillar real estate
 
Pearly Everlasting, Prairie Sage, or Pussytoes - white/light flowers and gray foliage make these night-time stand-outs
 
Foxglove Beardtongue or Yarrow - nectar and host plant with white flowers
 
Meadowsweet or New Jersey Tea - large flower clusters and host plants
 
Canada Milkvetch or Columbine - host plant and nectar source 
 
This economical kit includes 38 plant plugs that fill 50 square feet at 1-foot spacing - about a 5'x10' bed (assuming an 8" border); or up to 86 square feet at 1.5 sq. ft. spacing - a 6'x14' bed. 
Each kit comes with a planting guide. The plants are individually tagged for identification and all tags include height so you can alter the layout to suit your space.  
 
*Picture is an example kit of a different type. This kit will differ from the picture.