What’s in Bloom

Euryale ferox, commonly called prickly water lily or fox nut, is one of the world's most remarkable aquatic plants. Native to eastern and southern Asia, it produces enormous circular leaves that can exceed 4 feet across. Unlike the smooth pads of most water lilies, both the upper and lower surfaces of its leaves are armed with sharp spines that help deter hungry fish and other herbivores. During summer, striking violet-purple flowers emerge just above the water before developing into spiny fruits filled with edible seeds. Known as makhana or fox nuts, these seeds have been harvested for centuries in India and China, where they are popped like popcorn or used in traditional cuisine and medicine. 

Lantana  (Luscious® Bananarama) produces bold clusters of bright yellow flowers that resemble miniature bouquets, holding their color even in intense sun and heat. Each bloom is made up of small, tubular florets arranged in dense, rounded umbels, that create a vibrant display from spring through fall. Training on this bonsai began in 2018, and this particular cultivar has proven especially well-suited to the art of bonsai thanks to its woody stems, small leaves, and strong response to pruning. Its continuous blooming habit adds seasonal interest, while the compact floral clusters bring both structure and charm. Like other lantanas, it also supports pollinators, especially butterflies, adding ecological value to its ornamental appeal.

Nelumbo nucifera 'Ai Jiangan' is an elegant cultivar of the sacred lotus, a species native to Asia and cultivated for thousands of years. Its soft pink-white, multi-petaled blooms rise above the water on sturdy stems, surrounding a distinctive yellow seedpod. The large, circular leaves are remarkably water repellent, causing droplets to bead and roll away while carrying dust and debris, a self-cleaning phenomenon known as the "lotus effect." In addition to its ornamental beauty, the sacred lotus has long been valued as a food crop, with its rhizomes and seeds commonly used in Asian cuisine. Flowering throughout summer, 'Ai Jiangan' embodies the sacred lotus's enduring symbolism of purity and renewal.

Scutellaria incana, commonly known as hoary skullcap, is a native perennial found in open woodlands and prairies of the central and eastern United States. It features upright spikes of soft blue to violet flowers that bloom in mid-to-late summer, providing important nectar for bees and other pollinators. It's named “skullcap” because the shape of its small, helmet-like flowers resemble a close-fitting cap. The plant's gray-green, slightly hairy leaves help it tolerate dry conditions, making it a resilient choice for native plant gardens. With its quiet beauty and ecological value, Scutellaria incana is a great addition to low-maintenance landscapes. Deer-resistant

Longwood Gardens celebrates a long history of growing, hybridizing and displaying waterlilies going back to 1956. This diverse collection, consisting of some of the finest tropical and hardy waterlily hybrids, is a mainstay of the Waterlily Display during the summer months at Longwood, and is accredited as one of the best waterlily collections by the Plant Collections Network in 2012.

This native plant, like its garden counterpart, bee-balm (Monarda didyma), has tubular shaped fragrant flowers, ranging from pinkish purple to pale lilac, that are a favorite of hummingbirds and bees as well as a wide variety of butterflies. It is also grown for its showy flowers and for mint tea made from its aromatic leaves. It grow 2-4 feet tall in full sun or part shade and well-drained soils. In winter, the round, honeycomb heads of bergamot pods are one of the longest lasting seedpods in the Meadow.

Longwood Hybrid Aquatic Canna 'Erebus' is one of four aquatic cannas developed through Longwood Gardens' pioneering breeding program using Canna glauca, an aquatic species obtained from renowned Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, whose iconic Cascade Garden is the only surviving North American garden of his design. Inspired by Canna glauca's ability to thrive in standing water, breeders created 'Erebus,' a vigorous hybrid with lush green foliage and vibrant orange-red flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Named after the famous exploration ship HMS Erebus, this striking cultivar remains a signature feature of Longwood's Waterlily Court!

The chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the mint family (Lamiaceae), known for its aromatic, gray-green leaves and showy spikes of lavender to violet flowers that bloom from summer into fall. Native to the Mediterranean region, it’s widely grown in warm climates for its ornamental value and its strong appeal to pollinators like bees and butterflies. Despite the name, the "chaste" tree has a long history of use in herbal medicine, once believed to promote celibacy. Today, it's appreciated more for its drought tolerance, graceful form, and extended bloom period in the landscape.

Agastache is a genus of about 20 species, native to eastern Asia and North America, and grows in dry woodland and prairies, old fields, dry scrub and hills. ‘Blue Fortune’ is a hybrid cross between Agastache rugosa and Agastache foeniculum. It grows up to 36 inches tall and spreads up to 24 inches wide and produces a mass of soft purple, upright tubular flowers in spikes to five inches long from June to October, attracting a plethora of pollinators.  Giant-hyssop prefers full sun and grows well in average to dry soil conditions.

The Victoria ‘Longwood Hybrid’ is a giant waterlily developed in the 1960s at Longwood Gardens by horticulturist Patrick Nutt, who crossed Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana to create what would surpass its parents in vigor, flower, leaf size, and cold-tolerance. The genus Victoria was named in honor of Queen Victoria during the 19th century, when the plant’s discovery in the Amazon captivated Europe with its enormous floating leaves and dramatic, night-blooming flowers. The hybrid continues that legacy with massive blooms that open white on the first night, releasing a sweet, pineapple-like fragrance to attract scarab beetles, then reopen pink on the second night. Since the beetles are native to the Amazon, Longwood staff must hand-pollinate the flowers to ensure seed production and maintain the collection. The ‘Longwood Hybrid’ remains a living tribute to botanical innovation and the era that first celebrated its wonder.

There's just a week remaining to enjoy the Victoria water platters and the waterlily collection before Waterlily Court goes dormant for the season.