What’s in Bloom

Cornus kousa, commonly known as Japanese flowering dogwood, is native to eastern Asia. This tree delights in all four seasons. In late spring, after the foliage has emerged, it has an abundance of creamy white bracts which are long lasting.  Flowers are followed by bright, red fruit that is a compound berry about one inch in diameter and resembles a raspberry.  These fruits are edible and a sweet and delicious addition to the tree's ornamental value.  The deep red fall foliage and the stunning exfoliated bark give fall and winter interest.  Cornus kousa is slower growing and later blooming than other dogwood trees. With age it reaches 30 feet high and can look quite stately.

This old-fashioned, climbing rose is the oldest rose growing in our formal Rose Garden, which was first planted by our founder, Pierre S. du Pont, in 1938.  ′Direktor Benschop′, also known as City of York, has a semi-double, fragrant white flower that blooms profusely in early June and then sporadically throughout the season.  It is also known to have dark green glossy foliage, and grows well in full sun and well-drained soil.

Herbaceous peonies are long-lived perennial plants that begin to bloom in mid to late May and add beautiful colors and fragrance to sunny garden borders. Peonies are an old-fashioned garden favorite, cherished for their lush blooms that come in a range of color combinations and flower forms, from simple singles to full doubles. 'Cheese Country' is a Japanese single flower form. Peonies have been in cultivation for over 2,000 years, Primarily native to Asia and Europe, there are two species native to Western America.  The species Paeonia lactiflora  arrived in North America in the early 19th century, by French and British traders.   

Within the Japanese bonsai world, Satsuki Azaleas inhabit a unique niche, with growers and enthusiasts that specialize in their development, display and appreciation. Their natural growth habit is normally a shrubby clump but with care and the correct technique they can be developed into thick trunk specimens such as this specimen.  There are over 3000 different varieties of satsuki. 'Kaho' shows natural variation in flower pattern and color, a trait known as chimerism. This makes every plant uniquely expressive. Part of the acclaimed Kennett Collection, 'Kaho' is a superb example of the upright style of bonsai. Training began in 1968.  Side note:  The name Satsuki means "fifth month" in Japanese, referencing May (and sometimes June), when these azaleas typically bloom, later than most other azaleas.

Growing near the grove of Prairie Sentinel Cypress trees in Peirce’s Woods, Cypripedium reginae, known as the showy lady's slipper, or the queen's lady's-slipper, is a rare lady’s slipper orchid native to northern North America.  'Alba' is an exquisite form of this winter-hardy orchid with large pure ivory-white pouch and petals,  that grow to about 20” in height. It will eventually form clumps by branching of the underground rhizomes. Its roots are typically within a few inches of the top of the soil. Look for it to bloom in late May and into June. Plants in Peirce’s Woods were grown from seed.  Although never common, this plant has vanished from much of its historical range due to habitat loss. It is the state flower of Minnesota.

This fragrant Cattleya orchid is one of our prized plants here at Longwood Gardens. It is named after the original first lady of Longwood, Alice Belin du Pont. It was bred by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society and introduced in 2006, our centennial year. This beautiful flower has proven to be very popular and has been painted by artist Patricia Laspino, and written about in The Washington Post and Orchids, the publication of the American Orchid Society.    

This native wisteria is an exceptional alternative to its aggressive Asian counterparts. Profusely blooming in May and June, flowering reoccurs through the end of August. The flowers are subtly fragrant, a light bluish purple and approximately five inches in length. This cultivar is a superior selection that is tough and adaptable, even in urban settings. It can grow 10 to 20 feet as a container plant, trellised or naturalized.  ‘Amethyst Falls’ is also pest resistant. It prefers full or part sun with moderate soil moisture requirements. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9.  

Amsonia hubrichtii was named  “Perennial Plant of the Year” by the Perennial Plant Association in 2011. This species is truly distinctive and extraordinary, with clusters of powder-blue flowers in April and May. It grows to a height and width of 2 to 3 feet. In the fall, its golden-orange color rivals the best trees and shrubs. This clump-forming herbaceous perennial prefers full sun to partial shade and is native to the central and northeastern United States. Additionally, it is deer and disease resistant.

Blue catmint is famous for its lavender-blue flowers, which bloom profusely from spring through summer. These long-lasting blooms give gardens a soft, romantic look.  A pollinator magnet, bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds love it. It's especially important for early-season pollinators when other flowers are still waking up.  After the first big bloom, if you shear it back by half, catmint will often rebloom through late summer and early fall. Pairs beautifully with roses, lavender, salvia, yarrow, and ornamental grasses. It makes a great border plant or edging for paths and beds. a splendid alternative to lavender which can be difficult to grow in this region.  

Unlike traditional impatiens (which prefer shade), SunPatiens® thrive in full sun! They were bred specifically to tolerate direct sunlight and high heat, making them a standout for summer gardens.  SunPatiens® are a hybrid between wild impatiens species and cultivated New Guinea impatiens. This cross gives them vigorous growth, disease resistance, and weather tolerance.

This globally rare native, terrestrial orchid species has the largest flower in the genus Cypripedium.  These orchids were grown from seed and took five years to bloom.  In the wild, mycorrhizae are critical to the survival of orchids.  The plants parasitize the fungi and use them as a food source both while the seedlings are developing and as adult plants.     

'Garden Treasure' is one of the hybrid peony varieties that can be seen in bloom now in the Peony Garden.  Sometimes called intersectional or Itoh peonies, these beautiful plants are hybrid crosses between herbaceous and tree peonies. They have the leaf shape of tree peonies, but die back to the ground each winter like a herbaceous peony.  The long lasting blossoms are lightly fragrant and come in some unique colors, like yellow, not seen in typical herbaceous peonies.