Main Fountain Garden District

‘Annabelle’ is a selection of the native, deciduous, long-blooming smooth hydrangea. It grows three to five feet tall and has large white flower clusters can reach sizes of up to one foot across.  ‘Annabelle’ requires moist, well-drained soil and prefers partial sun, but will tolerate full sun if provided with constant water and no periods of drought. New growth is required for blooming, so this hydrangea should be pruned back in late winter.  Look for other cultivars of Hydrangea arborescens growing throughout the gardens!  

Look for other cultivars of Hydrangea arborescens throughout the gardens!  

Another plant that benefits butterflies in the garden is dill.  Known as a culinary herb, dill is a host plant for swallowtail butterfly larvae and caterpillars.  Besides being a food source for humans and butterflies alike, it is a beautiful plant with feathery foliage and umbels of yellow flowers that can be seen now growing in our Ornamental Kitchen Garden.

Look for other cultivars on display in the West Conservatory.  

Culver’s Root, is a tall, graceful native perennial prized for its elegant spires of tiny white to pale lavender flowers that bloom in midsummer. These slender, candelabra-like flower spikes rise above whorled leaves on sturdy stems, adding vertical interest to meadows, prairies, and pollinator gardens. It is a magnet for a wide range of pollinators, including native bees, butterflies, moths, and wasps, and is especially valuable for specialist pollinators. Look for a variety of cultivars on display in other areas of the gardens.