Main Fountain Garden District

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.

Matricaria chamomilla, commonly known as German chamomile, is an aromatic annual herb native to Europe and western Asia and now naturalized across many parts of the world. A member of the Asteraceae, it produces delicate white petals surrounding yellow cone-shaped centers and is widely recognized for its apple-like fragrance. German chamomile has a long history of medicinal use, especially in teas and herbal preparations valued for their calming and anti-inflammatory properties. Its flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects, making it useful in gardens while also carrying centuries of cultural and herbal significance. Find it growing in our Ornamental Kitchen Garden. 

Sarracenia flava, commonly known as the yellow pitcher plant, is a striking carnivorous species native to the southeastern United States, where it naturally grows in nutrient-poor bogs and wet pine savannas from Alabama to Virginia. A member of the Sarraceniaceae, it captures insects using tall tubular leaves filled with digestive fluids, allowing it to obtain nutrients unavailable in its acidic soils. In spring, it produces elegant nodding yellow flowers that appear before the pitchers fully develop. Beyond its ecological intrigue, Sarracenia flava has become an important subject of conservation research because of its specialized adaptations and threatened habitats. At Longwood, Sarracenia and other carnivorous plants contribute to research and conservation efforts focused on understanding and preserving these remarkable species.