Chimes Tower District

The Chimes Tower District provides guests with a thrilling and varied garden experience, including a stunning, four-season hillside of rare, expertly edited plants; a historic bell tower anchored on a 50-foot waterfall; sweeping lawns carpeted in early spring bulbs, and a celebrated collection of award-winning trees—all within view of our majestic Main Fountain Garden.

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

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

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.

District Highlights

A large stone Chimes Tower covered in green vines pops up amid green trees behind a small pond

Small yellow flower bloom up in green grass in front of small purple flowers

Water flows out of the middle of a circular blue ledge in a pool of water

Looking straight up at a blooming, flowering, pink tree

Flowering pink and white trees are seen among green grass

What’s in Bloom

River Birch

Betula nigra ′Cully′ Heritage®

Native to the eastern United States, river birch is a large, deciduous tree, with a broad-pyramidal shape about 40 feet across and 60 feet high. This particular cultivar is noted for its multicolored peeling bark of cream, cinnamon, copper, and brown tones that exfoliate heavily to reveal an often bright white smooth bark underneath. Whether planted as a focal point or naturalized in a wet area, 'Cully' provides great color and texture in the winter garden. When placed toward a western exposure, such as here at Longwood, the setting sun illuminates the bark, creating a soft glow.
- Hillside Garden
Paperbark Maple

Acer griseum

Trees with ornamental bark can add texture and color to the winter garden. This paperbark maple has beautiful exfoliating, cinnamon colored bark, which is a garden highlight any time of year. Check out the specimens near the entrance of the Open Air Theatre. Look for other trees with ornamental bark in all areas of the outdoor gardens, especially around Chimes Tower and Hillside Garden. Scroll this week's What's in Bloom and discover other trees with interesting bark, and consider implementing one into your landscape for a little winter pizazz!
Spreading English Yew

Taxus baccata 'Repandens'
Japanese Crape-myrtle

Lagerstroemia subcostata var. fauriei ′Townhouse′
- Hillside Garden
- Idea Garden
Hime-syara Stewartia

Stewartia monadelpha
- Hillside Garden