House & Theater District

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 prized 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.

Solidago rugosa is a native perennial that forms loose spreading clumps of arching, hairy stems. Growing from creeping rhizomes, the general height of this plant is six feet tall and grows in wet soils, open woodlands, thickets, old fields, bogs, and along roadsides. The conditions best for this plant are full sun with average well drained soil. The golden yellow flower heads are held in loose panicle-like arrays. Its adaptability and the fact that it is not as aggressive as other goldenrods make it a great native plant for perennial borders and gardens. 'Fireworks' was selected for its shorter growth habit and heavier flowering. When in bloom the open flowers resemble fireworks. This cultivar reaches only about three feet in height.

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.  It's common name “snakeroot,” refers to the historical use of the roots as a folk remedy for snakebite. In white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima), the name reflects that traditional use, not evidence that it works. The plant is poisonous and should never be used to treat a snakebite.

The ordinary becomes extraordinary!  Nippon daisy, is a hardy, late-blooming perennial native to coastal regions of Japan. It belongs to the Asteraceae family and is valued for its clean, white daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centers that appear in late summer through fall, often when few other perennials are in bloom. The plant forms a compact, woody shrub about two to three feet tall, with thick, leathery, dark green leaves that give it a tidy, evergreen-like appearance through much of the growing season. The Nippon daisy thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant once established. It is especially attractive to pollinators and makes a strong visual impact in late-season borders. Despite its shrubby habit, it is herbaceous in colder climates and benefits from spring pruning to maintain shape and vigor. Though rarely seen in miniature form, our bonsai experts began training this specimen in 2018, and it is now on display in the Bonsai Workshop.  

In addition to fragrant, white, spring flowers and interesting green stems and thorns, the citrus-like fruit of this thorny shrub gives it a unique interest in late summer and early autumn.  The small fruits will turn from green to orange and have a slightly sour and acidic taste.  The skin can be candied or made into marmalade. 

With a variety of fruit shapes and sizes, ornamental peppers provide interest and vibrant colors to the autumn garden. These low maintenance annuals are good in containers or as bedding plants.

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!