Explore Longwood Gardens

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!

 A North American native perennial celebrated for its fragrant clusters of pink to mauve flowers and its essential role in supporting wildlife. The plant is the primary host for monarch butterfly caterpillars, whose larvae feed exclusively on milkweed leaves and store the plant's toxic compounds as a defense against predators. In late summer, its distinctive seed pods split open to release silky, windborne seeds, creating a familiar seasonal spectacle. Although once considered a weed of fields and roadsides, common milkweed is now recognized as one of the most important plants for pollinator conservation.