Plants in Bloom

Featured Bloom

Paperbush Buds

Edgeworthia chrysantha

This shrub’s downy, golden-gray buds hang in tight clusters from its bare branches. Lacking scales, these buds are naked, but they do have fine hairs to protect them. The hairs also give the buds a wonderful shimmery quality so they sparkle in the winter sun.

January highlights

• Cape Aloe

  Aloe ferox (cape aloe) in the Desert Pavilion. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Bird of Paradise

  Strelitzia reginae (bird of paradise) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Satsuma Mandarin Orange

  Citrus reticulata (Satsuma Mandarin orange) in the Steinhardt Conservatory. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Spurge

  Euphorbia baioensis (Spurge) in the Desert Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Caucasian Wingnut

  The century-old Caucasian wingnut specimen is one of the most beloved trees at the Garden. It is 60 feet across—as wide as it is tall—and its trunk is nine feet feet in diameter. Despite its age and delicate state, its branches are beautifully holding snow, having been carefully trimmed and supported by the Garden’s staff over the years.

  Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Caucasian wingnut) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Camellia

  Most camellias begin to bloom in late winter and continue through early spring (though there are fall-blooming cultivars, too). They're seen as symbols of luck in Lunar New Year traditions.

  Camellia ‘Winter’s Star’ (camellia) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Chinese Juniper

  Juniperus chinensis ‘Robust Green’ (Chinese juniper) in the Rock Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Wild Bergamot

  Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) in the Native Flora Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Common Camellia

  Most camellias begin to bloom in late winter and continue through early spring (though there are fall-blooming cultivars, too). They're seen as symbols of luck in Lunar New Year traditions.

  Camellia japonica (common camellia) in the Washington Avenue Border. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Witch-Hazel ‘Jelena’

  This witch hazel cultivar has fragrant, multicolored flowers ranging from orange to dark copper, and a beautiful natural vase-shaped form. It blooms from January to March.

  Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ (witch-hazel ‘Jelena’) in the Rock Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Wintersweet

  Wintersweet blooms when few other plants do. Look for this shrub’s butter-yellow, fragrant flowers on bare branches in January, and be sure to take in their sweet scent.

  Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet) in the Discovery Garden. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Japanese Pink Pussy Willow

  Pussy willows are starting to pop, including this pretty pink cultivar in the Water Garden. The fuzzy nubs are the male catkin flowers, just before they fully blossom. They're a delightful harbinger of spring.

  Salix gracilistyla 'Mt. Aso' (Japanese pink pussy willow) in the Water Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Blue Atlas Cedar

  Cedrus libani ssp. atlantica ‘Glauca’ (blue atlas cedar) in the Conifer Collection. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Everblooming Cherry

  Known to bloom for long periods in Japan, this rather small tree flowers off and on throughout mild winters. The flower buds are pale pink, opening to white flowers.

  Prunus ‘Fudan-zakura’ (everblooming cherry) in the Washington Avenue Border. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Heavenly-Bamboo

  Actually an evergreen shrub, not a bamboo, Nandina domestica produces bright red berries in autumn that persist through winter.

  Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Paperbush Buds

  This shrub’s downy, golden-gray buds hang in tight clusters from its bare branches. Lacking scales, these buds are naked, but they do have fine hairs to protect them. The hairs also give the buds a wonderful shimmery quality so they sparkle in the winter sun.

  Edgeworthia chrysantha (paperbush) in the Perennial Border. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.

• Camellia ‘Bernice Boddy’

  Camellia japonica 'Bernice Boddy' (camellia cultivar) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.

• Star Magnolia Bud

  Like many early-spring-blooming woody plants, magnolias have fuzzy bud scales to help insulate and protect the developing flower right up until it blooms. Their soft fur varies in color, sometimes dark, sometimes light, sometimes greenish gray.

  Magnolia stellata bud (star magnolia bud) in the Magnolia Plaza. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Red Tip Photinia

  Photinia × fraseri ‘Birmingham’ (red tip photinia) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Cedar of Lebanon

  This tree is a true cedar—one of only three species in the world. Many North American conifers with aromatic wood were called “cedar,” but only true cedars are members of the Cedrus genus.

  Cedrus libani (cedar of Lebanon) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Witch-Hazel ‘Diane’

  Witch hazel blooms in winter, usually during a warm spell, but the flowers persist after the temperature drops back down. The ribbonlike petals curl up temporarily, and as soon as the temperature rises, they unfurl again.

  Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Diane’ (witch-hazel ‘Diane’) in the Rock Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Rice Paper Plant

  Tetrapanax papyrifer (rice paper plant) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Lion’s Ear

  Leonotis menthifolia (Lion’s Ear) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Begonia ‘Mandarin Orange’

  Begonia ‘Mandarin Orange’ (Begonia ‘Mandarin Orange’) in the Steinhardt Conservatory. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Tritonia dubia

  Tritonia dubia (Tritonia dubia) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Candycane Sorrel

  Oxalis versicolor (Candycane Sorrel) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Flowering Quince Bonsai

  Chaenomeles x superba 'Corallina' (flowering quince) in the Bonsai Museum. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Fragrant Olive

  Osmanthus fragrans (fragrant olive) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Wurmbea Stricta

  Wurmbea stricta (Wurmbea Stricta) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Starfish-Lily

  Ferraria crispa (Starfish-lily ) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Marlothistella uniondalensis

  Marlothistella uniondalensis (Marlothistella uniondalensis) in the Desert Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Australian Rosemary

  Westringia fruticosa (Australian Rosemary) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Flowering Crassula

  Crassula lactea (Flowering Crassula) in the Desert Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Vine-Lilac

  Hardenbergia violacea (vine-lilac) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Aloe erinacea

  Aloe erinacea (Aloe erinacea) in the Desert Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Deodar Cedar

  Cedrus deodara (deodar cedar), within the Conifer Collection. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Natal-Lily

  Clivia miniata x gardenii (Natal-lily) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Oxalis

  Oxalis gracilis (oxalis) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Christmas-Rose

  The first of the hellebores to bloom is the Christmas-rose, so-called because it blooms around Christmastime and has a flower arrangement that looks similar to that of a rose.

  Helleborus niger ‘HGC Josef Lemper’ (Christmas-rose). Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Adam’s Rib

  Chasmanthe floribunda var. floribunda (adam's rib) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Dana Miller.

• Dogwood Baton Rouge ’Minbat’

  The bare, bright crimson stems of many dogwood cultivars provide lovely winter interest.

  Cornus alba Baton Rouge = ‘Minbat’ (PBR) (Dogwood Baton Rouge (‘Minbat’)) in the Water Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Crabapple Fruits

  The showy, orange fruits of Malus ‘Indian Magic’ (crabapple) awaiting the hungry appetite of birds. On Rose Family Hill. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Winterberry

  The lovely red berries of this native holly relative persist through winter, sometimes spring. These fruits are a welcome food for hungry birds as the weather cools and other options get scarce.

  Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’ (winterberry) in the Discovery Garden. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Chinese Witch-Hazel

  Witch-hazel blooms in winter, usually during a warm spell, but the flowers persist after the temperature drops back down. The ribbonlike petals curl up temporarily, and as soon as the temperature rises, they unfurl again.

  Hamamelis mollis (witch-hazel) in the Early Spring Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Chalice Vine

  Solandra longiflora (chalice vine) in the Aquatic House. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Purple Beautyberry

  Callicarpa dichotoma (purple beautyberry) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Camellia ‘Silver Waves’

  Camellia japonica ‘Silver Waves’ (Camellia) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• English Holly

  This is the holly species most commonly associated with Christmas, especially in England where it is one of the few native evergreen plants. Its bright red berries ripen in winter and provide food for birds.

  Ilex aquifolium (English holly) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Long-leaved Willow

  Salix acutifolia (long-leaved willow) sporting bright, hairy buds, in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Spartan Juniper

  Clumps of berries contrast with the evergreen scale leaves of Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’ (Spartan juniper), in the Children’s Garden. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Mrs. Davidson’s Photinia

  Growth bud of Photinia davidsoniae (Mrs. Davidson’s photinia), in the willow area of the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Dwarf Maiden Grass

  Miscanthus sinensis ‘Yakushima’ (dwarf maiden grass), backlighted by the sun along the Perennial Border. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Snowdrop

  Snowdrops are usually the first bulbs to bloom and a sign of more to come. As the snow finally melts, these white blossoms appear, blanketing the Garden, as well as parks and gardens all around Brooklyn.

  Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Collards

  Brassica oleracea cultivar (collards) in snow in the Herb Garden. Photo: Ruiyan Xu.

• Japanese Apricot ‘Andoh’s White’

  Prunus mume 'Andoh's White' (Japanese apricot 'Andoh's White') in the Bonsai Museum. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Prickly Cycad

  Cycads are one of the oldest seed-bearing plants. They have a seed fern appearance with frond-like leaves, and flourished during the Mesozoic Era. Cycads have survived to this day, living in tropical climates and appearing somewhat similar to their ancestors.

  Prickly cycad (Encephalartos altensteinii) cone in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Witch-Hazel

  Hamamelis virginiania (witch-hazel) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Dave Allen.

See photos from other times of year.

January February March April

May June July August

September October November December