What’s in Bloom

Young water-platter leaves emerge from the water as a green roll of prickle and soon transform into large, floating plates with an upturned rim.  Victoria platters grow at an astonishing rate. At maturity, the leaf can reach diameters of six feet and can support more than 150 pounds of evenly-distributed weight. Water-platters flower for two nights.  The first night flower is white and fragrant, while the second night flower is pink.
 

Lobelia cardinalis, commonly known as cardinal flower, is a striking perennial native to North America, celebrated for its vivid scarlet-red blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Typically found in moist environments like stream banks and wetlands, this plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and can grow up to four feet tall. Its bright flowers bloom from mid to late summer, providing a vibrant splash of color when many other plants begin to fade. Despite its beauty, all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, a natural defense that helps deter herbivores, like deer. Not only does it enhance garden biodiversity but it also plays an important ecological role in supporting native pollinators. A vibrant display of red lobelia catches the eye as you stroll near the Large Lake! 

× Gordlinia grandiflora is a rare and striking hybrid flowering tree or large shrub, created by crossing two members of the tea family (Theaceae) - Franklinia alatamaha and Gordonia lasianthus. This intergeneric hybrid was developed in the southeastern United States to combine the best traits of its parent plants. It features large, fragrant, white camellia-like flowers with golden centers that bloom in late summer to early fall, often when few other trees are in flower. × Gordlinia grandiflora is valued for its fast growth, attractive glossy foliage, and extended blooming period. It thrives in well-drained, acidic soils and performs best in full sun to partial shade.

Habenaria is a diverse genus of nearly 900 orchid species native to the Americas, Africa, and Asia. At Longwood, these colorful orchids are the focus of an ambitious hybridization program developing compact, floriferous plants with new colors and forms. A key parent, Habenaria Canary ‘Longwood’s Kumquat Queen’, helped produce the distinctive registered hybrids 'Longwood Apricot' and 'Longwood Papaya', underscoring Longwood’s important role in advancing the breeding of this promising group.

Canna glauca ‘Luna’ is a named selection of water canna, an aquatic species native to wetlands from the southeastern United States through tropical America. With its slender, blue-green foliage and delicate butter-yellow flowers, ‘Luna’ brings graceful height to Longwood’s water displays. The species also holds special importance at Longwood, a plant received from renowned landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx inspired the Gardens’ influential aquatic canna breeding program. program.

Mistflower is a vigorous grower, native to the eastern and central United States, which grows from rhizomes reaching a height of three feet.  It is found naturally growing in moist soils located in bogs, ravines, banks of streams and lakes, in low woods, floodplains, along roads, and in ditches. The best conditions for this plant are full sun with moist soils; however, it can tolerate some occasional drought. Blue-violet disc flowers are arranged in dense racemes. This plant attracts scores of butterflies and also makes good long-lasting cut flowers.

Unlike the typical purple blooms of the species, 'White Swan' features striking white petals surrounding a prominent orange-brown central cone. Blooming from mid to late summer, it attracts a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, making it a valuable addition to pollinator-friendly gardens. Its sturdy stems and long-lasting flowers also make it a popular choice for cut flower arrangements. Like its wild counterparts, 'White Swan' thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, and it’s drought-tolerant once established. Echinacea has a long history of traditional medicinal use, particularly among Native American tribes, though 'White Swan' is primarily cultivated for its ornamental appeal.

Jewelweed or spotted touch-me-not, is a vibrant North American wildflower prized for its striking orange, speckled blossoms and its ecological value. Thriving in moist, shaded areas, it attracts hummingbirds and pollinators throughout the summer. One of its most fascinating features is its seed dispersal mechanism.  When the ripe seed pods are touched, they burst open with surprising force, flinging seeds several feet away. This explosive trait not only adds intrigue but also aids in the plant's widespread natural propagation. 

Silverleaf Sunflower, is a tall, striking perennial native to North America, named from the Greek words helios (sun) and anthos (flower) for its famous habit of turning its blooms to follow the sun throughout the day. Part of the diverse Helianthus genus, which includes over 70 species, it features silvery, woolly leaves and bright yellow flowers that bloom late into summer and early fall. Like other members of the aster family, these sunflowers attract numerous pollinators in the late-season garden. In our garden, they stand tall, adding vibrant color and ecological value throughout September alongside other late yellow bloomers like Rudbeckia, Coreopsis, Heliopsis, and Silphium.

Vernonia glauca is a native plant with several common names including Appalachian ironweed due to its native range primarily following the Appalachian Mountains. It is known to be drought and moisture tolerant and attracts pollinators including the American painted lady butterfly, of which it is the host plant. This plant has traditionally been used by the Cherokee as an analgesic as well as a treatment for stomach ulcers. 

Kirengeshoma palmata is a rare and elegant perennial plant native to the mountainous woodlands of Japan and China. Belonging to the hydrangea family, it thrives in shady, moist environments and is prized for its late-summer blooms and distinctive foliage. Kirengeshoma features maple-like leaves and nodding, waxy, pale yellow flowers that resemble small bells. It is cherished in Japanese gardens for its subtle beauty and its ability to brighten shaded areas when many other plants have finished blooming. 

Blooming from mid summer to early fall, panicle hydrangea gets its name from its large, showy panicles of flowers.  Leaving the dried flowerheads on the plant can add interesting forms and textures to the garden in winter.  Combined with its long bloom time, panicle hydrangea offers nearly year-round interest. Find a variety of cultivars of Hydrangea paniculata as well as other species of Hydrangea in bloom throughout the gardens!  

Deschampsia cespitosa (tufted hair grass) is a cool-season ornamental grass native to much of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia. Forming neat clumps of fine, arching foliage, it is best known for its airy, cloud-like flower panicles that rise above the leaves in early summer, creating a soft, shimmering effect in the garden. Adaptable to a range of conditions, tufted hair grass performs well in moist soils and tolerates more shade than many ornamental grasses. Its graceful texture provides movement and contrast in mixed plantings, while the seed heads add lasting interest well into the season. In natural settings, it serves as valuable habitat and food for wildlife, making it both an attractive and ecologically beneficial addition to the landscape.

Few waterlilies command attention like Nymphaea gigantea. Native to the lakes and billabongs of northern and eastern Australia, this aptly named species produces leaves up to 30 inches wide and lilac-blue flowers up to 10 inches across that rise dramatically above the water before fading almost to white. At Longwood, its impressive scale and distinctive Australian heritage strengthen the diversity and conservation value of the nationally accredited Nymphaea collection.