What’s in Bloom

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' is a well-known cultivar selected by Proven Winners for its reliable performance and striking blooms. Originally developed in the Netherlands, it features large, upright panicles of flowers that open a distinctive pale green in midsummer before gradually shifting to creamy white, pink, and rose tones as the season progresses. This deciduous shrub is adaptable to a variety of soil types and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Growing 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, 'Limelight' is appreciated for its strong stems, long bloom period, and suitability for both garden use and cut flower arrangements. Be sure to visit the Idea Garden and experience our exquisite Hydrangea Room and display!  

Our waterlily collection is a Nationally Accredited Plant Collection by the Plant Collections Network, a program of the American Public Gardens Association and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service. This diverse collection is a must-see highlight during the summer months at Longwood.

Hibiscus moscheutos, commonly known as hardy hibiscus or rose mallow, is native to wetlands, marshes, and streambanks of the eastern and central United States. Its spectacular flowers, up to 12 inches across, made it a sought-after plant in Europe during the 18th century, where it was admired as an exotic curiosity from North America. Despite its tropical appearance, this hardy perennial returns each summer and provides weeks of nectar-rich blooms for pollinators.

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) is a native perennial of moist meadows, wetlands, and streambanks throughout eastern North America. A member of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), its fragrant pink flowers attract monarch butterflies, while its leaves provide the only food source for developing monarch caterpillars. In autumn, its seed pods open to reveal seeds attached to silky, parachute-like fibers that are carried by the wind. An excellent choice for rain gardens and other consistently moist sites, swamp milkweed combines ornamental beauty with exceptional ecological value.

‘Hummingbird’ is a dwarf selection of the deciduous shrub Clethra alnifolia that displays full-size flowers on a compact three foot plant. The flowers release a wonderful scent when the upright panicles bloom from July to August. Sweet pepperbush prefers moist soil in dappled sun but will tolerate a little less light or even full sun and is hardy from USDA zones 4 to 9.  This American native is deer resistant and is a vigorous spreader.  It also attracts butterflies. You can't but enjoy the fragrance of Clethra alnifolia  'Hummingbird' when you step into Peirce's Woods!  

‘Starry Starry Night’ is a hardy, rose mallow hybrid with large flowers up to 8 inches across that blooms from July to September.  These flowers, which attract hummingbirds, are a stand out against the plant’s dark purple foliage.  This rose mallow grows to 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide and performs best in moist soils and full sun. You may associate hibiscus with tropical plants, but within the parentage of ‘Starry Starry Night’ are species of hibiscus native the eastern United States.

The Meadow Garden is filled with plants that benefit wildlife.  Cup-plant is a native perennial that grows to 8 feet tall.  Its perfoliate leaves, which clasp around the stem forming a cup, collect water for birds and insects.  Cup-plant provides nectar and pollen for a variety of bees, while birds, especially goldfinches, eat its seeds. 

Pycnanthemum muticum is an underused plant, native to Eastern North America and can be found growing in open grassy places such as meadows and fields. The leaves, when crushed, give off a minty aroma similar to spearmint. This plant can be used to make tea, and was traditionally used by indigenous people for treating illnesses such as fevers, colds, and other physical ailments. While not particularly showy, this plant is very popular with pollinators, particularly bees, and is a vigorous and easy grower. Mountain mint is an outstanding filler plant in a flower arrangement! 

Beyond showcasing a vibrant collection of hardy and tropical waterlilies from around the world, Waterlily Court also highlights Longwood’s growing conservation efforts. Since 2023, Dr. Peter Zale, Director of Conservation Horticulture & Collections, has led three expeditions to Tanzania to study Nymphaea stuhlmannii, a rare yellow waterlily found only within a 20-square-mile area of central Tanzania. Once absent from cultivation for more than a century and threatened by habitat loss, this remarkable species was successfully brought to Longwood, where staff hand-pollinated the flowers to produce viable seed. Today, its lemon-yellow blooms grace Waterlily Court, while seeds are preserved in our conservation seedbank to help safeguard the species for the future.

Melinis nerviglumis 'Savannah', commonly known as ruby grass, is a compact, clump-forming ornamental grass native to southern Africa. It features soft blue-green foliage that takes on rich red tones in the fall, adding seasonal color to the landscape. In mid to late summer, it produces showy, 3 to 4-inch-long plumes of ruby-pink flowers that gradually fade to creamy white and persist well into autumn. The airy blooms rise about a foot above the foliage, making them excellent for both fresh and dried floral arrangements. Growing to just 6 to 12 inches tall and 9 to 12 inches wide, 'Savannah' is ideal for borders, containers, and small garden spaces.  Its drought tolerance, deer resistance, and long-lasting ornamental value make it a versatile choice for low-maintenance plantings.

Plumleaf azalea, is one of the last native azaleas to bloom, producing brilliant orange-red to scarlet flowers in midsummer when few other azaleas are in bloom. Native to a small region along the Chattahoochee River in Alabama and Georgia, it is considered one of North America's rarest native azaleas. First described by botanists in the early 1800s, this striking species has become highly prized by gardeners for extending the azalea season and attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators with its nectar-rich flowers.

Culver’s Root, is a tall, graceful native perennial celebrated for its elegant spires of tiny white to pale lavender flowers that bloom in midsummer. These slender, candelabra-like flower spikes rise above whorled leaves on sturdy stems, adding vertical interest to meadows, prairies, and pollinator gardens. It is a magnet for a wide range of pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, moths, and wasps, and is especially valuable for specialist pollinators. Look for a variety of cultivars on display in other areas of the gardens.  

Native to southern Mexico and Central America where it grows in tropical evergreen and mixed pine-oak forests as an epiphyte, this amazing orchid, known as the lined petal prosthechea, is common in the wild as well as cultivation.  The flowers are what make this plant unique, and you don ’t even need to see them to realize this fact. They are overwhelmingly fragrant, and fill our Orchid House with a spicy floral and sweet scent.

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra ‘Sommersonne’; a profusion of showy yellow blooms in the Hillside Garden

The Victoria ‘Longwood Hybrid’ is a giant waterlily developed in 1961 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.