Chimes Tower District

Aerial view of large grassy area with a small pond and stone tower surrounded by a forest

About This District

Originally designed as an arresting backdrop for the Main Fountain Garden, the Chimes Tower District is now a series of standout gardens and water features that warrant more than just a passing glance. The Hillside Garden features an enviable roster of rare and unique plants, thriving harmoniously throughout the sun-dappled slopes. At the crest of the hill, Oak and Conifer Knoll boasts an array of celebrated tree specimens, with some planted during founder Pierre S. du Pont’s time. The Eye of Water, Pear-Shaped Basin, and Waterfall—all originally part of the gravity-fed pump and reservoir system that once serviced the Main Fountain Garden—are three unique, and interconnected destinations for your exploration.

Gardens in this District

  • Hillside Garden
    a walkway lined with green trees and shrubs

    Hillside Garden

    Dappled sun flirts with open vistas and shady, intimate perspectives as you wander the paths past beds brimming with a who’s who of rare and unique plants from around the world, set to the occasional tones of the historic Chimes Tower.

  • Oak and Conifer Knoll
    A path winds through a walkway of green trees and bushes

    Oak and Conifer Knoll

    Towering, century-old trees and sun-dappled vistas await in this living gallery of champion specimens with four seasons of stunning highlights. In the early spring, sweeps of colorful geophytes bloom to create a stunning tapestry.

What’s in Bloom

  • Small, blue, star-shaped flowers in lawn

    Glory-of-the-snow

    Chionodoxa forbesii

    Chionodoxa forbesii is in its glory in late March to early April as its upward facing, sky blue flowers begin to appear. It should be placed in a partially shaded location with well-drained soil. Because it seeds freely, glory-of-the-snow, is an excellent choice for naturalizing. Reaching 6 inches these flowers are growing on Oak Knoll, in the Hillside Garden, outside the Peirce-du Pont House and under the beeches south of the Main Fountain Garden.

  • Winter Heath

    Erica carnea
  • Japanese Camellia

    Camellia japonica ′Longwood Centennial′

    This Japanese camellia was selected among seedlings grown from seed collected on a 1984 expedition to So-cheong Island in the Yellow Sea off the northeast coast of South Korea. A small number of seedlings proved to be hardy outdoors in Pennsylvania for more than 20 years. ‘Longwood Centennial’ was selected because of its exceptionally handsome glossy foliage and dense, full growth habit. The cultivar may reach twelve feet in 20 years and is an excellent broad-leaved evergreen for areas where temperatures stay above -11.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Its flowers are red and typical of the species.

  • Dark pink flowers on the ends of many branches

    Korean Rhododendron

    Rhododendron mucronulatum

    Korean rhododendron is one of the earliest flowering shrubs with its bright rosy pink to pinkish purple flowers emerging before its foliage in late winter.  In its native Korea, it grows on rocky, dry slopes.  In the garden, it prefers full sun and moist soil with good drainage. The Korean name for this shrub is Jin-dal-rae. There, the delicate, exquisite blossom is eaten as a delicacy.  A pan-fried sweet rice cake and a traditional Korean form of sake are brewed from the plant flower petals.
     

  • Small, deep blue to purple downward facing flowers

    Siberian Squill

    Scilla siberica

    Scilla siberica is an early flowering bulb which features pendulous, deep blue flowers in March and April.  This squill, which grows 3 to 6 inches tall, thrives in semi-shaded spots in well-drained soil and naturalizes well under deciduous trees.

     

  • Individual tubular shaped white flowers that open to yellow forming large ball shaped heads

    Paper-bush

    Edgeworthia chrysantha
  • Crocus

    Crocus chrysanthus