What’s in Bloom

‘Bluebird’ is a native aster selection from Mt. Cuba Center that offers violet-blue flowers in abundance on 3-foot stems.  Asters are late blooming perennials that attract pollinators and bring color to the garden in autumn.  Discover other native species of asters in bloom throughout the outdoor gardens!  

Another sure sign of autumn is the arrival of Chrysanthemum × morifolium along Flower Garden Walk and in the Idea Garden. Commonly known as garden mums, these hybrids are valued for their abundant flowers and remarkable diversity of colors, forms, and sizes. Their appearance in the outdoor gardens offers a colorful preview of the artistry and horticultural traditions celebrated during Longwood’s upcoming Chrysanthemum Festival.

Young water-platter leaves emerge from the water as a green roll of prickle and soon transform into large, floating plates with an upturned rim.  Victoria platters grow at an astonishing rate. At maturity, the leaf can reach diameters of six feet and can support more than 150 pounds of evenly-distributed weight. Water-platters flower for two nights.  The first night flower is white and fragrant, while the second night flower is pink.  Only a few weeks remaining to view the beautiful Water-platters, and all the extraordinary aquatic plants in the Waterlily Court, so be sure to visit soon!  
 

Salvia madrensis ‘Red Neck Girl’ is a statuesque late-season sage distinguished by red-purple, winged stems that contrast with its large green leaves and butter-yellow flowers. Introduced by Plant Delights Nursery in 2002, this selection blooms earlier than many forms of the species and can reach 7 feet tall. The species is native to moist mountain habitats in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Oriental, reflected in the name madrensis. Blooming from late September until frost, its tubular flowers provide a valuable late-season food source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Enjoy multiple species of salvia peaking in every color throughout the gardens!

Growing to a height of three to four feet, white snakeroot is a fibrously rooted, native perennial that can be found in forests, thickets, and woodland margins. This plant can take full sun to part shade and prefers moist, rich conditions. The wonderful white flowers that occur late in the season, when flowers such as these are hard to come by, make it a wonderful addition to the garden.

Chrysanthemum ‘Sheffield Yellow’ is often associated with the Rubellum Group, hardy perennial chrysanthemums of complex Eurasian ancestry known for their loose, bushy growth and daisy-like flowers. Opening from apricot-gold buds, its single yellow blooms bring warmth to the late-autumn garden. Taller and more naturalistic than the compact Chrysanthemum × morifolium cultivars commonly used in seasonal displays, ‘Sheffield Yellow’ also provides late-season food for bees and other pollinators.

Capsicum annuum ‘Chilly Chili’ is a compact ornamental pepper that adds vivid, long-lasting color to the late-summer garden, when its upright two-inch fruits ripen from yellow through orange to bright red, often displaying all three colors at once. Growing only about 8–12 inches tall, it works especially well in containers, along pathways, or near the front of a sunny border. The species originated in the Americas; its small white flowers may be visited by bees, and birds can feed on the fruits. Although grown primarily for display, the peppers are edible: ‘Chilly Chili’ was bred to be non-pungent and can be used as a colorful garnish, though its flavor is generally less substantial than that of culinary varieties. Only eat fruit from plants that have been correctly identified and treated with food-safe products. Look for other varieties of ornamental peppers along Flower Garden Walk, the Idea Garden, and in the Conservatory. 

Coreopsis tripteris is an upright perennial with strongly branched stems and grows from rhizomes. It grows naturally in sandy loamy soils, boggy meadows, woodland edges, fields, and along streams. It prefers full sun to part shade with moist to average well-drained soil. It has nice lemon yellow flowers, and the fact that it is long lived and easy to grow make it an exceptional plant. Tall tickseed can be found growing natively in the southeastern and western portions of Pennsylvania.

Native to eastern North America, this deciduous holly can commonly be found in swamps, low woods, along streams and ponds, and in damp thickets. The bright red berries appear in late summer and persist on the plant until spring, providing an important food source for many birds, including the American Robin. Winterberry Holly also goes by the name Fever Bush, due to its medicinal use by indigenous Americans.  Hollies are dioicous meaning you need both male and female plants for reliable fruit production. Grow extra Winterberry so you can use some berries in holiday decorations!  Look for a variety of Winterberry cultivars throughout the gardens!  

Chenille plant or red hot cattail, is a tropical shrub native to the South Pacific, particularly New Guinea and the Malay Archipelago. Belonging to the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), it is valued for its striking, fuzzy red flower spikes that resemble chenille yarn, often reaching up to 18 inches in length. These vibrant blooms, which can appear year-round in warm climates, make it a favorite ornamental plant in gardens and containers. Acalypha hispida thrives in humid environments with full sun to partial shade and is especially attractive to pollinators like butterflies and bees. While beautiful, all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, so caution is advised around pets and children.

Euryops pectinatus is a compact, perennial, evergreen shrub in the daisy family, native to the rocky slopes of the South African Cape and is the only place where this plant occurs naturally. It has finely divided gray-green leaves that provide a great backdrop to the cheery yellow, 2-inch flowers that appear almost year-round in mild climates and are attractive to pollinators. The genus name comes from the Greek word for "large eye," referring to the showy flowers. The species name comes from the Latin term for something with narrow divisions, like a comb, referring to the divided leaves.

 

Pumpkin displays found throughout the Gardens bring the colors, shapes, and textures of the harvest season to Longwood. Pumpkins belong to the genus Cucurbita, which is native to the Americas and includes many familiar squashes and gourds. The orange-skinned Cucurbita pepo pumpkins commonly carved as jack-o’-lanterns, trace their domestication to Mexico about 10,000 years ago, making pumpkins one of the earliest cultivated crops in the Americas.