What’s in Bloom

Native to eastern North America, Helianthus giganteus can commonly be found growing in wet meadows and swamps. It is spread by seeds and a rhizomatous root system, and can reach a height of up to 13 feet, from which its Latin name giganteus was derived. Traditionally, the Choctaw people used Helianthus giganteus to make bread by mixing it with corn and grinding it into a fine powder. 

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. 

Dahlias are bold, beautiful bloomers known for their dazzling variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, ranging from petite pom-poms to giant dinner-plate-sized flowers! Native to the highlands of Mexico and Central America, dahlias thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, blooming from mid-summer until frost. With over 40 species and thousands of cultivars, there's a dahlia for nearly every garden style. They're not just garden showstoppers, they also hold cultural significance. The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico, celebrated for its vibrant beauty and indigenous roots. Although they grow as perennials in warm climates (zones 8–10), gardeners in cooler regions often dig up and store the tubers over winter. With a little care, dahlias reward growers with months of spectacular blooms.  Find a variety of Dahlias on display along the Flower Garden Walk and the Idea Garden.  

Asters, from the Latin for stars, are late blooming perennials that attract pollinators and bring color to the autumn garden.  New England asters are tall, clump-forming plants that grow naturally in meadows, along roadsides, and at the edge of woodlands in eastern North America west to the Rocky Mountains.  'Purple Dome' is a compact selection of the species that has a mounding growth habit, perfect for smaller home gardens. This aster grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil.  The flowers also make beautiful cut flowers for fall arrangements.

Commonly known as turtlehead for its unique, snapdragon-like blooms, it is a hardy perennial native to eastern North America. Found along streambanks and moist woodlands, it features upright stems with dark green, serrated leaves and dense spikes of tubular flowers in shades of pink, white, or purple from late summer into fall. The distinctive flowers resemble the head of a turtle, hence the name and are particularly attractive to native bees and butterflies, including the Baltimore checkerspot, which uses Chelone as a host plant. It thrives in moist, rich soil and partial shade, Chelone is ideal for rain gardens, woodland edges, or any spot needing late-season color and environmental benefits. Despite its striking form and low maintenance needs, it remains underused in many landscapes.

Capsicum annuum ‘Chilly Chili’ is a compact ornamental pepper that adds vivid, long-lasting color to the late-summer garden, when its upright two-inch fruits ripen from yellow through orange to bright red, often displaying all three colors at once. Growing only about 8–12 inches tall, it works especially well in containers, along pathways, or near the front of a sunny border. The species originated in the Americas; its small white flowers may be visited by bees, and birds can feed on the fruits. Although grown primarily for display, the peppers are edible: ‘Chilly Chili’ was bred to be non-pungent and can be used as a colorful garnish, though its flavor is generally less substantial than that of culinary varieties. Only eat fruit from plants that have been correctly identified and treated with food-safe products. Look for other varieties of ornamental peppers along Flower Garden Walk, the Idea Garden, and in the Conservatory. 

Bismarckia nobilis belongs to the Arecaceae (palm) family, and is monotypic, the sole species in the Bismarckia genus. They can grow 40 to 70 feet tall with four-foot-long stiff, wide, waxy, blue/gray leaves. This palm is highly drought and salt tolerant but should be planted in well-drained soil. It can be transplanted when a trunk develops and is visible at the base of the plant. Bismarckia are dioecious and produce pendent inflorescences of small brown flowers. In female plants, the flowers mature into a brown drupe, which contains a single seed.

Purple poppy mallow or winecups, is a low-growing, trailing perennial whose cup-shaped magenta flowers create a striking display from late spring into summer. Native to prairies and open areas of the central United States, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an excellent drought-tolerant groundcover for native gardens, rock gardens, and border edges. Its flowers provide nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, while the sprawling foliage offers shelter for small invertebrates. A deep taproot helps established plants endure heat and dry conditions. The common name “winecups” comes from the flowers’ goblet-like shape, and the blossoms often close in the evening before reopening in sunlight.

Look for other cultivars on display in the West Conservatory.  

An evergreen perennial with red-edged, banana-like leaves, bird-of-paradise blooms intermittently from summer through to winter. The flowers resemble the head of the crowned crane, hence the common name, crane flower in its native South Africa.  It is named in honor of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, with the specific epithet reginae meaning ‘of the queen’. The plant can be grown from seeds or division, prefers a loamy soil, and is well adapted to full sun.

Solidago spp., commonly known as goldenrod, is a diverse group of roughly 100–120 species, most native to North America, though their exact native ranges vary by species. Their bright yellow flower clusters bloom from summer into fall, providing abundant nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and beneficial wasps when fewer other flowers are available. Goldenrods also support wildlife beyond pollinators: their foliage feeds many native caterpillars, songbirds eat the seeds, and dense stems offer shelter and nesting habitat for insects. Goldenrod is often blamed for seasonal allergies, but its heavy, sticky pollen is carried by insects rather than wind, the usual culprit is ragweed, which blooms at the same time.