Peonies, bluebells, early roses, and more lovely plants are in bloom in late April through early June. Here's what to see.
Tree Peony Collection
These gorgeous flowers bloom in early to mid-May. There are around 300 plants in the collection, all Japanese cultivars, and all are fragrant, especially in the morning.
Look for
- Lavender cultivars ‘Kamada Fuji’ and ‘Fuji no Sato’, which have large blooms with clear, intense color.
- Huge white ‘Godaishu’ and ‘Tama Usagi’ blossoms. Some are the diameter of dinner plates!
- Red- and white-streaked ‘Shima Nishiki’ peonies. Bicolored petals are rare in peonies, and each flower’s pattern is unique.
The herbaceous peonies, located in a bed in the Plant Family Collection, are also wonderful in late spring. These peonies are similar to tree peonies but have smaller blossoms, nonwoody stems, and bloom a bit later than tree peonies, usually in late May.
Cranford Rose Garden
Early blooming roses start to appear in May, with peak bloom usually taking place in early June.
Look for
- Rosa carolina a pretty, pink early bloomer that usually appears some time in May.
- Rosa 'Canary Bird', a lovely yellow shrub rose, also among the first to bloom.
The Garden's diverse collection of roses includes over one thousand different species and hybrids will continue to bloom through June and beyond. Visit often and see and smell different blooms every time.
Also see
Mountain laurel and irises in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, Water Garden, and Discovery Garden, rhododendrons, azaleas, and columbines in the Rock Garden, and Spanish bluebells in Bluebell Wood.
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