What’s in Bloom

Cornus kousa, commonly known as Japanese flowering dogwood, is native to eastern Asia. This tree delights in all four seasons. In late spring, after the foliage has emerged, it has an abundance of creamy white bracts which are long lasting.  Flowers are followed by bright, red fruit that is a compound berry about one inch in diameter and resembles a raspberry.  These fruits are edible and a sweet and delicious addition to the tree's ornamental value.  The deep red fall foliage and the stunning exfoliated bark give fall and winter interest.  Cornus kousa is slower growing and later blooming than other dogwood trees. With age it reaches 30 feet high and can look quite stately.

This hybrid peony is a cross between a tree and a herbaceous peony.  Its beautiful, fragrant flowers can be seen now in our Peony Garden along with many other varieties.

This old-fashioned, climbing rose is the oldest rose growing in our formal Rose Garden, which was first planted by our founder, Pierre S. du Pont, in 1938.  ′Direktor Benschop′, also known as City of York, has a semi-double, fragrant white flower that blooms profusely in early June and then sporadically throughout the season.  It is also known to have dark green glossy foliage, and grows well in full sun and well-drained soil.

Longwood Gardens received this pomegranate bonsai in 1998. It was collected from a hedgerow and its training as a bonsai began around 1960. The tree has been shaped in the informal upright style characterized by an upright trunk that curves or bends. In this tree the thick, nicely tapered trunk bends and twists subtly, making for a very natural representation of a very old tree. The effect is enhanced by the scars on the trunk. Though natural on this tree, bonsai growers sometimes make such scars on purpose, to give the same weathered look.

Rhododendron 'Catawbiense Album' is a broadleaf evergreen rhododendron cultivar valued for its large clusters of pure white flowers that bloom in spring against dense, dark green foliage. Derived from the North American species Rhododendron catawbiense, which is native to the Appalachian Mountains, this cultivar is prized for its cold hardiness, reliability, and use as a foundation or woodland landscape plant. Its showy blooms attract pollinators, and like many rhododendrons, it thrives in acidic, well-drained soils with partial shade. The name “Album” refers to its white flowering form, offering a striking contrast to the purple blooms more commonly associated with its parent species.

This globally rare native, terrestrial orchid species has the largest flower in the genus Cypripedium.  These orchids were grown from seed and took five years to bloom.  In the wild, mycorrhizae are critical to the survival of orchids.  The plants parasitize the fungi and use them as a food source both while the seedlings are developing and as adult plants.     

Matricaria chamomilla, commonly known as German chamomile, is an aromatic annual herb native to Europe and western Asia and now naturalized across many parts of the world. A member of the Asteraceae, it produces delicate white petals surrounding yellow cone-shaped centers and is widely recognized for its apple-like fragrance. German chamomile has a long history of medicinal use, especially in teas and herbal preparations valued for their calming and anti-inflammatory properties. Its flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects, making it useful in gardens while also carrying centuries of cultural and herbal significance. Find it growing in our Ornamental Kitchen Garden. 

Aesculus pavia, red buckeye; large blooms and glossy foliage attract in Peirce’s Woods

Sarracenia flava, commonly known as the yellow pitcher plant, is a striking carnivorous species native to the southeastern United States, where it naturally grows in nutrient-poor bogs and wet pine savannas from Alabama to Virginia. A member of the Sarraceniaceae, it captures insects using tall tubular leaves filled with digestive fluids, allowing it to obtain nutrients unavailable in its acidic soils. In spring, it produces elegant nodding yellow flowers that appear before the pitchers fully develop. Beyond its ecological intrigue, Sarracenia flava has become an important subject of conservation research because of its specialized adaptations and threatened habitats. At Longwood, Sarracenia and other carnivorous plants contribute to research and conservation efforts focused on understanding and preserving these remarkable species.

Rhododendron ‘English Roseum’, a Waterer hybrid rhododendron is majestic near the Idea Garden and in Peirce’s Woods.

Brassavola nodosa; a fragrant parent of many hybrid orchids

Herbaceous peonies are long-lived perennial plants that begin to bloom in mid to late May and add beautiful colors and fragrance to sunny garden borders. Peonies are an old-fashioned garden favorite, cherished for their lush blooms that come in a range of color combinations and flower forms, from simple singles to full doubles. 'Cheese Country' is a Japanese single flower form. Peonies have been in cultivation for over 2,000 years, Primarily native to Asia and Europe, there are two species native to Western America.  The species Paeonia lactiflora  arrived in North America in the early 19th century, by French and British traders.   This beauty is Associate Director of Site Operations, Chuck Ross' favorite!  He thinks it looks like a dessert with a lemon custard in the center, enveloped with rose-colored white chocolate petals!