Plants in Bloom
November highlights
Common Myrtle
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.
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 Cherry Walk & Cultivar Collection. Photo: Michael Stewart.
Maidenhair Tree
The ginkgo tree’s fan-shaped leaves turn from green to gold gradually, sometimes creating bands of color. Then they fall almost in unison, leaving a carpet of yellow leaves beneath the tree.
Ginkgo biloba (maidenhair tree) in the Cherry Walk & Cultivar Collection. Photo: Michael Stewart.
Japanese Maple Cultivar
Acer palmatum ‘Scolopendrifolium’ (Japanese maple cultivar) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.
Downy Jasmine
Jasminum multiflorum (downy jasmine) in the Steinhardt Conservatory. Photo: Michael Stewart.
Golden Gardenia
Gardenia carinata (golden gardenia) in the Steinhardt Conservatory. Photo: Michael Stewart.
Abelia ‘Rose Creek’
This flowering shrub belongs to the Caprifoliaceae, or honeysuckle family. Abelia> species tend to be low-maintenance, with a bloom time that extends into fall.
Abelia ‘Rose Creek’ (Abelia ‘Rose Creek’) in the Osborne Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.
Malaysian-Orchid
Medinilla myriantha (malaysian-orchid) in the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.
Winterberry
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.
White Hoop Petticoat Daffodil
Narcissus cantabricus (white hoop petticoat daffodil) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.
Golden Larch
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.
Staghorn Sumac
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.
Bird-of-Paradise
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.
Red Maple
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.
Chalice Vine
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.
Virgin’s Bower
Clematis virginiana (virgin's bower) in the Native Flora Garden. 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.
Green Hawthorn
Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ (green hawthorn) near the Visitor Center. Photo: Lee Patrick.
Pawpaw
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.
Japanese Maple ‘Lutescens’
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
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.
Japanese Maple Cultivar
Acer palmatum cultivar (Japanese maple cultivar) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Michael Stewart.
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.
White Enkianthus
Enkianthus perulatus ‘J.I. Pennock’ (white enkianthus) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.
Japanese Maple
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.
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ (Japanese maple) in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.
Papyrus
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.
Cape Leadwort
Native to South Africa, this evergreen shrub blooms in gently rounded clusters.
Plumbago auriculata (cape leadwort) in the Warm Temperate Pavilion. Photo: Michael Stewart.
Flame Willow
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.
Hardy Blue-Flowered Leadwort
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.
Snakebark Maple
Acer tegmentosum (snakebark maple) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Sarah Schmidt.
Chinese Abelia
Abelia chinensis (Chinese abelia) in the Plant Family Collection. Photo: Michael Stewart.
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.
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.
Amazon Lily
Eucharis × grandiflora (Amazon lily), blooming within the dense foliage of the Tropical Pavilion. Photo: Lee Patrick.
Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macra (Japanese forest grass) on Lily Pool Terrace. Photo: Lee Patrick.
Black Tupelo
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.
Kentucky Yellowwood
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.
Crape-Myrtle
Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ (crape-myrtle ‘Muskogee’) on Lily Pool Terrace Photo: Lee Patrick.
Chrysanthemum ‘Hillside Sheffield Pink’
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.
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.
Clustered Mountain-Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum (clustered mountain-mint) on Magnolia Plaza. Photo: Elizabeth Peters.
New England Aster
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.