Plants in Bloom

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.

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.

This cultivar belongs to a genus of perennials that grow in low-lying woodlands. Their bloom produces a lovely fireworks show, with colorful trumpet-shaped flowers cascading atop upright stems.

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

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.

The gently curved flower clusters of Pachystachys lutea resemble a shrimp (if you squint a bit).

Pachystachys lutea (golden shrimp plant) in the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

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 Early Spring Garden. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.

These woody-stemmed climbers are known for their trumpet-shaped flowers. They produce a sweet fragrance, especially in the evening.

Solandra longiflora (chalice vine) in the Aquatic House. Photo: Michael Stewart.

It's hard to miss this iconic plant, whose flowers resemble a bright bird in flight. In its native South Africa, when endemic birds drink the nectar of Strelitzia reginae, its petals open to shower their feet with pollen.

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

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.

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

This evergreen shrub produces fragrant white flowers that are followed by purplish-black berries. The berries are edible—but not particularly tasty.

Myrtus communis (common myrtle) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

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.

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) on Magnolia Plaza. Photo: Blanca Begert.

This perennial cactus is covered in spines and features small, delicate pink flowers.

Mammillaria magnimamma (Mexican pincushion) in the Desert Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

Native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, this cultivar of the Atlas cedar is known for its silvery-blue needles. Its distinctive barrel-shaped cones sit upright on the branches.

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

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.

The genus Plumeria is known for its alluring and fragrant flowers, each with five petal lobes.

Plumeria ‘Dwarf Pink’ (frangipani) in the Entry House. Photo: Michael Stewart.

This fast-growing tropical shrub, native to South Africa, belongs to the mint family.

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

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.

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 is an evergreen with scaly scented needles and brown bark that peels off in strips. Relatively salt-tolerant, it can thrive near roads and driveways.

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

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 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.

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 Woodland Garden. Photo: Lee Patrick.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Salvia mexicana (Mexican sage), a member of the mint family, attracts pollinators with its brightly-hued tubular blossoms.

Salvia mexicana (Mexican sage) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

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

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

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

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.

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.

Medinilla myriantha (malaysian-orchid) in the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

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

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

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

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

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

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 Cherry Walk & Cultivar Collection. Photo: Michael Stewart.