What’s in Bloom

Light pink flower grouping.

Featured Bloom

Coastal Plain Joe-Pye-weed

Eutrochium dubium 'Little Joe'

Coastal Joe Pye Weed, is a hardy, native perennial prized for its bold presence and ecological value in the garden. Native to the eastern coastal regions of North America, this compact species typically grows 3 to 5 feet tall and is well-suited to smaller garden spaces compared to its taller relatives. From mid to late summer, it produces dense, dome-shaped clusters of mauve-pink flowers that attract a wide array of pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Thriving in moist, well-drained soils and full to part sun, Coastal Joe Pye Weed is a valuable addition to rain gardens, meadows, and naturalized plantings. Its strong stems, attractive foliage, and late-season blooms provide lasting visual interest and support for native wildlife.  Find other species and cultivars of Joe-Pye-weed in bloom throughout the gardens!  

See what’s in bloom … and enjoy the beauty of our Gardens.

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  • Cone shaped spear of white flower clusters.

    Panicle Hydrangea

    Hydrangea paniculata ′DVP Pinky′ Pinky Winky™

    Blooming from mid summer to early fall, panicle hydrangea gets its name from its large, showy panicles of flowers.  Leaving the dried flowerheads on the plant can add interesting forms and textures to the garden in winter.  Combined with its long bloom time, panicle hydrangea offers nearly year-round interest. Find a variety of cultivars of Hydrangea paniculata as well as other species of Hydrangea in bloom throughout the gardens!  

  • Canna

    Canna ′Brandywine′

    Longwood began breeding cannas in 1967, when it was realized that the cultivars available at that time were generally six feet or taller and not suitable for use on display.  Between 1972 and 1985, twelve cultivars were selected for release, one being 'Brandywine' on display now in the Garden.   

     

  • Vibrant leaf-like orange-yellow bracts surround small, yellowish orange blossoms.

    Mussaenda

    Mussaenda ‘Marmalade

    Mussaenda ‘Marmalade’ is a vibrant tropical shrub prized for its striking ornamental appeal. This plant is known for its large, eye-catching bracts that range in warm shades of apricot, peach, and soft orange, resembling the color of marmalade, hence its name. These colorful bracts surround the plant’s small, star-like yellow flowers, creating a stunning contrast that lasts through much of the year in warm climates. Native to tropical Asia and Africa, Mussaenda thrives in full sun.  In the Philippines, certain Mussaenda species are traditionally planted in cemeteries or near homes as symbols of remembrance and beauty. Their showy bracts, which look like petals, have led to them being associated with purity and gentleness.  In other areas, their lush and constant bloom makes them symbols of vitality and resilience in tropical gardens.  

     

  • Vibrant, lemon-yellow dahlia with a semi-cactus form, known for its pointed, rolled petals that curve inward or outward.

    Straight Cactus Dahlia

    Dahlia 'Lemon Tart'

    Dahlias are native to the highlands of Mexico and Central America, where they were cultivated by the Aztecs long before European contact, for their beauty, and also for their edible tubers and symbolic meaning. The Aztecs saw dahlias as a symbol of strength, dignity, and resilience. When Spanish botanists brought dahlias to Europe in the 18th century, they quickly captivated gardeners with their endless variety of shapes and colors. Today, the dahlia is Mexico’s national flower and a global garden favorite. Find a variety of dahlias on display throughout the gardens.  

  • Mistflower

    Conoclinium coelestinum

    Mistflower is a vigorous grower, native to the eastern and central United States, which grows from rhizomes reaching a height of three feet.  It is found naturally growing in moist soils located in bogs, ravines, banks of streams and lakes, in low woods, floodplains, along roads, and in ditches. The best conditions for this plant are full sun with moist soils; however, it can tolerate some occasional drought. Blue-violet disc flowers are arranged in dense racemes. This plant attracts scores of butterflies and also makes good long-lasting cut flowers.

  • Trumpet-shaped, sulfur-yellow flowers in clusters.

    Southern Bush-honeysuckle

    Diervilla sessilifolia 'Butterfly'

    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.

  • Clusters of small cream flowers fill tree canopy

    Chinese Scholar-tree

    Styphnolobium japonicum

    Styphnolobium japonicum, commonly known as the Chinese Scholar tree, is a deciduous species valued for its graceful form, late-summer blooms, and cultural significance. Native to China, it has long been associated with Buddhist temples, where it is often planted as a symbol of peace, resilience, and spiritual reflection. Its clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers provide a vital late-season nectar source for pollinators, while the tree’s structure offers habitat and shelter for various bird species. This specimen which resides on the west side of the Small Lake is the Pennsylvania State Champion, meaning it is the largest of its species in the state. The last time it was officially measured the tree stood 77 feet in height!  

  • Green grass with pink flower plumes

    Ruby Grass

    Melinis nerviglumis ′Savannah′

    Melinis nerviglumis 'Savannah', commonly known as ruby grass, is a compact, clump-forming ornamental grass native to southern Africa. It features soft blue-green foliage that takes on rich red tones in the fall, adding seasonal color to the landscape. In mid to late summer, it produces showy, 3 to 4-inch-long plumes of ruby-pink flowers that gradually fade to creamy white and persist well into autumn. The airy blooms rise about a foot above the foliage, making them excellent for both fresh and dried floral arrangements. Growing to just 6 to 12 inches tall and 9 to 12 inches wide, 'Savannah' is ideal for borders, containers, and small garden spaces.  Its drought tolerance, deer resistance, and long-lasting ornamental value make it a versatile choice for low-maintenance plantings.

  • Purple flowers with a pollinator

    Ironweed

    Vernonia glauca

    Vernonia glauca is a native plant with several common names including Appalachian ironweed due to its native range primarily following the Appalachian Mountains. It is known to be drought and moisture tolerant and attracts pollinators including the American painted lady butterfly, of which it is the host plant. This plant has traditionally been used by the Cherokee as an analgesic as well as a treatment for stomach ulcers. 

  • Abundant clusters of showy white flowers.

    Crape-myrtle

    Lagerstroemia ′Sarah’s Favorite′

    On view at the Main Entrance

  • Spotted Touch-me-not; Jewelweed

    Impatiens capensis
  • Field of tall yellow flowers
  • Gordlinia

    x Gordlinia grandiflora
  • An informal decorative dahlia with a whirl of narrow, curving petals of deep, vibrant burgundy and ruby.

    Dahlia 

    Dahlia 'Juanita' 
  • Egyptian Star-cluster

    Pentas lanceolata ′Ruby Glow′
  • Tall stalk of purple layered flowers

    Hybrid Sage

    Salvia 'Purple and Bloom'
  • Peach rose with many petals, featuring a bee inside pollinating.

    Grandiflora Rose

    Rosa ′KORmarzau′ Bliss Parfuma®
  • Tall, purple feather-like plants

    Giant-hyssop

    Agastache 'Ava'
  • Rose Mallow

    Hibiscus ′Perfect Storm′
  • Pink flower clusters with long, oblong-shaped petals.

    Resurrection-lily

    Lycoris squamigera
  • Yellow Waxbells

    Kirengeshoma palmata
  • Yellow flower inflorescence with a pollinator

    Patrinia

    Patrinia scabiosifolia
  • Siberian Burnet

    Sanguisorba tenuifolia ′Purpurea′
  • Racemes of purple pea-like flowers with pinnate compound leaves.

    Indigo

    Indigofera heterantha
  • Slender, small, tubular flower clusters in a vibrant shade of peach, resembling fireworks.

    Skullcap

    Scutellaria 'Garbo'
  • Pink flower with pouch-like lower petal

    Orchid

    Phragmipedium Coral Jewel
  • White flowers with green leaves.

    Ceratotheca

    Ceratotheca triloba white-flowered form
  • Plant with grey-green, fuzzy leaves and small, yellow buttercup-like flowers

    Superstition Mallow

    Abutilon palmeri
  • Crepe-like flower panicles at the tips of new growth, in a light pink shade.

    Crape-myrtle 

    Lagerstroemia indica 
  • Vibrant, orange long-lasting flower bracts and relatively inconspicuous small, white flowers.  The colorful bracts form a torch-like rosette that can last for months.

    Guzmania

    Guzmania ′Allura′
  • Common Rose Mallow

    Hibiscus moscheutos ′Pink Elephant′
  • Tropical Day-flowering Waterlily

    Nymphaea ′Albert Greenberg′
  • Light pink flower grouping.

    Coastal Plain Joe-Pye-weed

    Eutrochium dubium 'Little Joe'

    Coastal Joe Pye Weed, is a hardy, native perennial prized for its bold presence and ecological value in the garden. Native to the eastern coastal regions of North America, this compact species typically grows 3 to 5 feet tall and is well-suited to smaller garden spaces compared to its taller relatives. From mid to late summer, it produces dense, dome-shaped clusters of mauve-pink flowers that attract a wide array of pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Thriving in moist, well-drained soils and full to part sun, Coastal Joe Pye Weed is a valuable addition to rain gardens, meadows, and naturalized plantings. Its strong stems, attractive foliage, and late-season blooms provide lasting visual interest and support for native wildlife.  Find other species and cultivars of Joe-Pye-weed in bloom throughout the gardens!