Plants in Bloom

June highlights

• Wild Strawberries

  Fragaria virginiana (wild strawberry) in the Herb Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Black-Eyed Susan

  This native wildflower blooms in summer and into early fall and attracts butterflies and bees of all kinds.

  Rudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan) in the Overlook. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Corn Poppy

  Papaver rhoeas (corn poppy) in the Herb Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Black Stem Bigleaf Hydrangea

  The large, showy summer flowers of hydrangeas make them a popular garden plant. The bloom color of some species is influenced by soil pH. More acidic soil will produce bluer flowers, while more alkaline soil will produce pinker ones.

  Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nigra’ (black stem bigleaf hydrangea) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Shrub Rose

  This hybrid from the famed German breeder W. Kordes & Sons blooms repeatedly in June, producing clusters of small, raspberry-colored blooms.

  Rosa Gärtnerfreude = ‘Korstesgli’ (shrub rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Knotweed

  Persicaria polymorpha (knotweed) in the Water Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Allium

  Some onion varieties are grown as ornamental plants thanks to their large, spherical umbels of flowers.

  Allium sp. (allium) in the Children's Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• ‘Surf Rider’ Shrub Rose

  This lovely shrub rose hybrid blooms repeatedly starting in late spring. Later it is among the fall blooms that contribute to the second flush.

  Rosa ‘Surf Rider’ (shrub rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Japanese Hydrangea Vine ‘Moonlight’

  Schizophragma hydrangeoides (Japanese hydrangea vine) in the Woodland Shade Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Rose ‘Delany Sisters’

  Rosa ‘Delany Sisters’ (grandiflora rose) in the Rock Garden. Photo: Morrigan McCarthy.

• Sweetbay

  This native magnolia species has creamy white flowers that bloom in late spring, sometimes into summer.

  Magnolia virginiana (sweetbay) in the Native Flora Garden. Photo: Steven N. Severinghaus.

• Southern Catalpa

  The flowers of this native tree look pure white from a distance, but up close, the purple and gold nectar guides can be seen. These marking help draw bees during the day. At night, months are attracted to the white color and stronger fragrance.

  Catalpa bignonioides (southern catalpa) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Steven N. Severinghaus.

• Mountain Laurel

  This native shrub produces exquisite clusters of delicate, fused-petal blossoms that resemble tiny origami rice bowls.

  Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel) in the Discovery Garden. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Hybrid Wichurana Rose

  This large-flowered rambling rose was named after its very sweet fragrance.

  Rosa ‘Gardenia’ (hybrid wichurana rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• ‘Tamora’ Shrub Rose

  Rosa ‘Tamora’ (shrub rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Alvina Lai.

• ‘Free Spirit’ Floribunda Rose

  Rosa 'Free Spirit' (floribunda rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Alvina Lai.

• ‘Foxy’ Foxglove

  Digitalis purpurea ‘Foxy’ (foxglove) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo: Alvina Lai.

• Rose ‘Roter Korsar’

  Rosa ‘Roter Korsar’ (shrub rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• ‘Cubana’ Shrub Rose

  This lovely apricot-colored, repeat-blooming rose blooms in June and again later, usually along with the second flush of blossoms in September.

  Rosa ‘Cubana’ (shrub rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Pseudata Iris

  Iris ‘Kuragawa Noh’ (pseudata iris) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Steven N. Severinghaus.

• Prickly-Pear

  Optuntia species (prickly-pear) in the Rock Garden. Photo: Steven N. Severinghaus.

• California Poppy

  Eschscholzia californica (California poppy) in the Rock Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Sunshine Daydream Rose

  This large-flowered, butter-yellow grandiflora rose blooms repeatedly throughout the season.

  Rosa ‘Sunshine Dream’ (sunshine daydream rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Avens

  This sun-loving perennial is related to strawberries and produces colorful blooms in late spring, through summer.

  Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ PBR (avens) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Steven N. Severinghaus.

• Shrub Rose

  Developed by famed English breeder David Austin, the ‘Pat Austin’ hybrid has an unusually bright and warm-toned color for a rose.

  Rosa ‘Ausmum’ PAT AUSTIN (shrub rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Rose

  Rosa ‘George Burns’ (rose cultivar) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Hybrid Tea Rose

  A classic hybrid tea rose with a large, single bloom at the end of a long stem and a sweet fragrance, this pink cultivar was named after the Nobel-prize winning French poet.

  Rosa 'Meitebros' FRÉDÉRIC MISTRAL (hybrid tea rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Jean-Marc Grambert.

• Ghent Azalea

  One of a group of deciduous azaleas bred in Ghent, Belgium in the early 1800s, the ‘Raphael de Smet’ hybrid has lovely pink flowers that bloom in late spring.

  Rhododendron ‘Raphael de Smet’ (Ghent azalea). Photo: Steven N. Severinghaus.

• Flaming Peace Rose

  The original Peace rose was cultivated in France before World War II and was given its name in 1945 to signify hope for lasting peace. ‘Flaming Peace’ was bred in 1966 and is one of several Peace hybrids developed from the original.

  Rosa ‘Flaming Peace’ (Flaming Peace Rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Blue False Indigo

  Baptisia australis (blue false indigo) in the Discovery Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Floss Flower

  Ageratum houstonianum 'Blue Mink' (floss flower) in the Annual Border. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Siberian Iris

  Iris sibirica 'Caesar's Brother' (Siberian iris) in the Water Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Water-Lily

  Nymphaea ‘James Brydon’ on Lily Pool Terrace. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Bottlebrush Buckeye

  The fluffy white flower clusters of this native shrub appear in summer and really do resemble their namesake.

  Aesculus parviflora (bottlebrush buckeye) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Sundial Lupine

  This blue-flowered native plant is a member of the bean family. It flourishes after fires and can sometimes be found along roadsides in disturbed areas under power lines in the wild. At the Garden, it can be found in the Native Flora Garden.

  Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine) in the Native Flora Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Breadseed Poppy

  This is the poppy species from which opium and culinary poppy seeds come, though ornamental cultivars are bred for vivid flowers rather than seed production.

  Papaver somniferum 'The Giant' (breadseed poppy) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo: Jennifer Williams.

• Heart Leaved Groundsel

  This native wildflower is an aster family member, one of the first to bloom. Its yellow flowers attract butterflies and bees.

  Packera aurea (Heart-Leaved Groundsel) in the Native Flora Garden. Photo: Steven N. Severinghaus.

• Queen-of-the-Prairie

  The spectacular, fuzzy pink flowers of this native prairie plant sit atop tall stems, rising above surrounding plants. They have a light, lilac-like fragrance.

  Filipendula rubra (queen-of-the-prairie) in the Water Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Hybrid Spinosissima Rose

  Rosa 'Frühlingsschnee' (Hybrid Spinosissima Rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Sarah Schmidt.

• Rocky Mountain Columbine

  This western North American native has beautiful blue and white flowers that bloom in late spring and attract butterflies.

  Aquilegia caerulea (Colorado blue columbine) in the Perennial Border. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Coleus

  Plectranthus species (coleus) in the Annual Border. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Catmint

  Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (catmint) in the Fragrance Garden. Photo: Alvina Lai.

• ‘Radiation’ Lantana

  Lantana camara 'Radiation' (lantana) in the Annual Border. Photo: Alvina Lai.

• Plantain Lily

  Hosta 'Blue Wedgewood' (plantain lily) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Pinkflower Hedgehog Cactus

  Echinocereus fendleri ssp. fendleri (hedgehog cactus) in the Rock Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Black Elder

  Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’ (black elder) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Grandiflora Rose

  Rosa 'Prominent' (grandiflora rose) in the Rose Garden. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Tulip Tree

  Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip tree) near Celebrity Path. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Deutzia

  Deutzia scabra (deutzia) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Pineapple

  Ananas comosus (pineapple) in the Herb Garden. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Valerian

  Valerian officinalis (valerian) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Willow Bell

  Campanula persicifolia 'Telham Beauty' (willow bell) in the Discovery Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

• Sacred Lotus

  Sacred lotuses are in bloom once again in the Lily Pools. Brand-new plantings of both lotuses and water-lilies were added this year. The plants look similar, but lotus leaves tend to stretch above the surface (instead of floating). Lotuses also have a large round seedpod inside.

  Nelumbo nucifera ‘Momo Botan’ (sacred lotus) blooming on Lily Pool Terrace. Photo: Michael Stewart.

• Violet

  Viola odorata (violet) in the Shakespeare Garden. Photo: Lee Patrick.

• Turnip

  Brassica rapa ssp. rapa (turnip) in the Children's Garden. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Pitcher Plant

  Sarracenia species (pitcher plant) in the Jenkins Fountain pool on Lily Pool Terrace. Photo: Rebecca Bullene.

• Japanese Wisteria

  Japanese wisteria is a twining, woody vine that grows by twisting around supports like trellises, fences or arbors. Its long, graceful flower racemes usually bloom in early May in New York. Plants can grow aggressively and may live over fifty years.

  Wisteria floribunda (Japanese wisteria) in the Osborne Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

See photos from other times of year.

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September October November December