Plants in Bloom

December highlights

• 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.

• Recent Photo

  Paintbrush

  Haemanthus albiflos (paintbrush) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Dwarf Blue Spruce

  Raindrops cling to the uniquely colored needles of Picea pungens ‘Glauca Prostrata’ (dwarf blue spruce), west of the Fragrance Garden. 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.

• Green Hawthorn

  Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ (green hawthorn) near the Visitor Center. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Japanese Mahonia

  Mahonia japonica (Japanese mahonia), a winter-flowering shrub, in lovely fragrant bloom by the Eastern Parkway entrance. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Pale Spicebush

  The host plant of swallowtail butterflies, pale spicebush has lovely, fragrant leaves. They fade from bright crimson in fall to a more subtle, smooth beige and persist through winter.

  Lindera glauca var. salicifolia (pale spicebush) in the Discovery Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• 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.

• Autumn Flowering Cherry

  ‘Jugatsu-zakura’begins blooming around October, continues sporadically into December, and finishes in the spring with a last burst coinciding with new foliage. Pale pink flowers are single to double and can be quite striking during winter thaws.

  Prunus x subhirtella ‘Jugatsu-zakura’ (autumn-blooming cherry) in the Cherry Walk & Cultivar Collection. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.

• Deodar Cedar

  Cedrus deodara (deodar cedar), within the Conifer Collection. 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.

• 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.

• Sasanqua Camellia

  Camellia sasanqua (sasanqua camellia) in the Bonsai Museum. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Japanese Forest Grass

  Hakonechloa macra (Japanese forest grass) on Lily Pool Terrace. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Winterberry

  Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’ (winterberry ) in the Discovery Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Oakleaf Hydrangea

  Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ (oakleaf hydrangea) on Magnolia Plaza. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Crabapple Fruits

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

• Purple Beautyberry

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

• Himalayan Pine

  Pinus wallichiana (Himalayan pine) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• 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.

• Holly

  Ilex × attenuata ‘Longwood Gold’ (holly). Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Chalice Vine

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

• Fiery Costus

  Costus cuspidatus (fiery costus or spiral flag), in stunning orange bloom within the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Brazilian Plume

  Justicia carnea var. purpurea (Brazilian plume) in the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Scarlet Skullcap

  Scutellaria costaricana (scarlet skullcap), blooming like fireworks in the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Chandelier Tree

  Medinilla cummingii (chandelier tree ) in the Steinhardt Conservatory. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Papaya Flowers

  Carica papaya (papaya) in the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Amazon Lily

  Eucharis × grandiflora (Amazon lily), blooming within the dense foliage of the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Fragrant Olive

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

• Rice Paper Plant

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

• Chinese Rain Bell

  Strobilanthes cusia (Chinese rain bell) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Daisy

  A December bloom of Bellis perennis (daisy), in vibrant color at the Shakespeare Garden. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Camellia ‘Korean Fire’

  A rain-dappled Camellia japonica ‘Korean Fire’ (common camellia) flower near the Children’s Garden. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Nigella

  Nigella damascena (nigella) in the Steinhardt Conservatory. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Oxalis

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

• Cyclamen

  Cyclamen species in the Washington Avenue woodland border. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Natal-lily

  Clivia hybrid (Natal-lily) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Ruiyan Xu.

• Poinsettia

  Euphorbia pulcherrima (poinsettia) in the Steinhardt Conservatory. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Sweetsop

  Annona squamosa ‘Kampong Mauve’ (sweetsop), in the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Orangeberry

  Glycosmis pentaphylla (orangeberry, also gin berry) with berries, in the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Prickly Cycad

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

• Aloe

  Aloe suprafoliata (aloe) in the Desert Pavilion. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

See photos from other times of year.

January February March April

May June July August

September October November December