Plants in Bloom

Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

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

The lovely 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 Gold’ (winterberry ) in the Discovery Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

Narcissus cantabricus (white hoop petticoat daffodil) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

Not all conifers are evergreen. This tree, native to China, is deciduous. The needles take on a striking gold color in the fall before dropping off in the winter.

Pseudolarix amabilis (golden larch) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

Ajania pacifica (ajania) in the Osborne Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

Sumacs are among the first trees to change colors in fall. Staghorn sumac is a native species, and its vivid foliage can be seen lighting up roadsides and forest edges this time of year.

Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac) in the Discovery Garden. Photo: Alvina Lai.

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 native North American tree has fall foliage that may vary from yellow to orange to red, sometimes on the same tree—or even the same leaf!

Acer rubrum (red maple) in the Native Flora Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

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.

Clematis virginiana (virgin's bower) in the Native Flora Garden. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.

Solidago speciosa (showy goldenrod) in the Native Flora Garden. 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.

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

This native tree is known for its custard-like fruit and unusual brownish flowers. Its large leaves turn a lovely yellow in fall.

Asimina triloba (pawpaw) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Michael Stewart.

One of the several maple cultivars in the Japanese Garden, Acer palmatum ‘Lutescens’ displays dazzling yellow color in fall. In Japan, such leaf colors inspire the tradition of momijigari, or autumn leaf viewing, in which foliage fans travel to gardens, parks, and into the mountains to admire the show.

Acer palmatum ‘Lutescens’ (Japanese maple cultivar) 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.

Acer palmatum cultivar (Japanese maple cultivar) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. 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.

Quercus stellata (post oak) in the Native Flora Garden. Photo: Blanca Begert.

Enkianthus perulatus ‘J.I. Pennock’ (white enkianthus) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.

One of the several maple cultivars in the Japanese Garden, Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’ displays stunning fall color.

Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’ (Japanese maple) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Brian Funk.

Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ (Japanese maple) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.

This moisture-loving plant is native to Africa and can grow up to 8 feet tall. The stems were used in ancient Egypt to make a material similar to paper called papyrus.

Cyperus papyrus (papyrus) in the Aquatic House. Photo: Michael Stewart.

Native to South Africa, this evergreen shrub blooms in gently rounded clusters.

Plumbago auriculata (cape leadwort) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.

This shrub’s golden autumn leaves fall to reveal striking red, orange-red, and yellow-orange stems, lending credence to its cultivar name.

Salix alba ‘Flame’ (flame willow) in the Water Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides is a mat-forming perennial groundcover with vivid blue flowers. Like many groundcovers, it spreads by sending out rhizomes, or horizontal underground stems.

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (hardy blue-flowered leadwort) in the Osborne Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.

Acer tegmentosum (snakebark maple) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Sarah Schmidt.

Abelia chinensis (Chinese abelia) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Michael Stewart.

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.

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.

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

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

A native tree found in wooded wetland areas, the black tupelo can tolerate a wide range of conditions, from standing water to dry, drought-ridden soils. Its brilliant red autumn foliage can be seen in the Water Garden, the Plant Family Collection, and at the Visitor Center.

Nyssa sylvatica (black tupelo) in the Water Garden. Photo: Sarah Schmidt.

Planted in 1916, this tree is one of the Garden’s most remarkable. It has multiple trunks and sprawls to 75 feet in diameter. To preserve this century-old tree as long as possible, cables have been installed to support some of the sprawling limbs. It still flowers every few years and displays wonderful fall color.

Cladrastis kentukea (Kentucky yellowwood) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Sarah Schmidt.

Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ (crape-myrtle ‘Muskogee’) on Lily Pool Terrace Photo: Lee Patrick.

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

Chrysanthemums, also known as “mums”, are native to Asia and parts of Europe and bloom through autumn.

Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’ (chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’) in the Rose Arc Pool. 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.

Pycnanthemum muticum (clustered mountain-mint) on Magnolia Plaza. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.

This popular garden plant has flower heads that are darker and larger than those of other native asters. They also have more ray flowers. New England aster grows tall, up to five feet.

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster) in the Water Garden. Photo: Alvina Lai.

In fall, the oak-shaped leaves of Hydrangea quercifolia produce vivid shades of purple, red, and gold.

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