What’s in Bloom

Purple coneflower is native to the eastern and central United States and grows in rocky open woodlands, prairies, and thickets. A clump forming perennial, it has soft pink flowers that grow to a height of 3 to 4 feet, and blooms from mid June to August. Purple coneflower has become a very popular ornamental plant and many different cultivars and hybrids can be found in the trade. As with the other members of the aster family, it has many ecological benefits including attracting butterflies, birds and especially native bees. Look for other plantings of purple coneflower throughout the gardens!  

Bottlebrush buckeye is a native deciduous shrub of the eastern United States that grows to 12 feet tall and 15 feet wide. In early summer, it produces 12-inch, bottlebrush-like panicles of white flowers that attract ruby-throated hummingbirds and butterflies and contrast beautifully with its mounded habit. Its palmately compound leaves turn a clear yellow in autumn. A low-maintenance, suckering shrub it thrives in partial shade and moist, acidic soils and is hardy in USDA Zones 4–8.

Nelumbo ‘Mrs. Perry Slocum’ is an exquisite lotus cultivar, celebrated for its large, multi-petaled blooms that undergo a remarkable color transformation, from soft pink to creamy yellow, and finally to a soft ivory as they age. This dynamic floral display, along with its sweet fragrance, makes it a standout in water gardens. A hybrid of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), which is native to Asia, Mrs. Perry Slocum was developed in the United States and named in honor of the wife of renowned lotus hybridizer Perry D. Slocum. Its leaves exhibit remarkable water-repellent properties, causing droplets to bead and roll off, an adaptation that helps keep the plant’s surface clean and healthy. With its impressive size, strong vertical presence, and lush green foliage, this lotus brings a sense of serenity and grandeur to aquatic landscapes, appealing to gardeners, collectors, and botanical enthusiasts alike.

Butterfly-weed is a type of milkweed that is native to North America. It grows in open, upland woodlands, dry fields or prairies, and on rocky slopes or glades. This clump forming perennial has orange, occasionally red or yellow, flowers that bloom from late May until August, and which attract butterflies, as well as bees and nectar-loving flies.

Commonly known as Southern Bush Honeysuckle, a hardy, low-maintenance native shrub celebrated for its bright yellow summer blooms and red-orange fall foliage. This cultivar is a magnet for pollinators—especially bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly gardens. Unlike true honeysuckles, it’s non-invasive and thrives in tough conditions, including poor soils and drought. Its dense habit provides valuable cover for small birds and other wildlife, while its nectar-rich flowers support vital pollinator populations throughout the growing season.

Obedient plant, is a resilient perennial native to North America’s moist meadows and stream banks. It grows 2 to 4 feet tall, with square stems, lance-shaped leaves, and striking tubular flowers arranged in spikes, in shades of pink, purple, or white. Named for its unique characteristic, its flowers can be gently moved to stay “obedient” in different positions.  Physostegia blooms in late summer, providing vibrant color when many other plants fade. This species plays an important role in supporting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It thrives in full sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil. It’s a favorite for perennial borders, and naturalistic landscapes, offering both ornamental appeal and valuable ecological benefits.

Petraeovitex bambusetorum, commonly referred to as the Nong Nooch-vine, is a rare and ornamental woody climber native to parts of Southeast Asia. It is notable for its attractive, arching flower spikes that feature golden yellow blooms. The plant belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae), although its appearance and bamboo-like stems distinguishes it from most members of the family. It gained attention and its common name from the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden in Thailand, where it has been cultivated and displayed. This vine prefers tropical to subtropical climates, thrives in warm, humid conditions, and is often used as a botanical curiosity in specialty gardens or collections.

Acanthus mollis, commonly known as bear’s breeches, is a bold, architectural perennial native to the Mediterranean region. It’s known for its large, glossy, deeply lobed leaves and tall flower spikes adorned with white and purple bracts that bloom in late spring to summer. The plant’s dramatic form has inspired design for centuries, it even served as the model for the leaf motifs on Corinthian columns in classical architecture. Acanthus mollis thrives in part shade with well-drained soil and is valued for adding a lush, sculptural quality to gardens.

Rudbeckia hirta is an annual or short-lived perennial that has an upright habit and can grow up to three feet tall. It grows naturally in fields, meadows, home gardens and along roadsides in ordinary, well-drained soil and full sun.  Like other plants in the aster family, gloriosa daisy's flowers have dark brown centers comprised of many disc florets and yellow-orange "petals" which are ray florets.  These cheerful flowers bloom the entire summer while providing nectar to bees, butterflies and other insects. Later in the year, birds will enjoy its seeds.

Another plant that benefits butterflies in the garden is dill.  Known as a culinary herb, dill is a host plant for swallowtail butterfly larvae and caterpillars.  Besides being a food source for humans and butterflies alike, it is a beautiful plant with feathery foliage and umbels of yellow flowers that can be seen now growing in our Ornamental Kitchen Garden.

Southern magnolia, is a stunning evergreen tree native to southeastern United States, and admired for its massive, creamy white flowers that can reach up to 12 inches in diameter. It thrives in hot, humid climates and can even tolerate occasional drought. Its thick, glossy leaves and lemon-scented blooms have made it a beloved symbol of the South. The flowers are so large and fragrant that they’re pollinated by beetles, not bees because magnolias evolved long before bees even existed!

Longwood Hybrid Aquatic Canna 'Ra' is a distinctive hybrid developed through Longwood Gardens' canna breeding program using Canna glauca, an aquatic species native to wetlands from the southern United States through Central and South America and the Caribbean. Longwood acquired Canna glauca from celebrated Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, designer of Longwood's iconic Cascade Garden, his only surviving North American garden. Inspired by the species' ability to thrive in standing water, breeders developed 'Ra,' which produces elegant blue-green foliage and soft yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Named for the ancient Egyptian sun god, 'Ra' remains a signature feature of Longwood's water gardens.