What’s in Bloom

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’ is a compact, aromatic aster cultivar prized for its vibrant fall display. Forming neat mounds about 18–24 inches tall and wide, it features narrow, blue-green leaves with a pleasant fragrance when crushed. From September through October, it bursts into bloom with masses of daisy-like flowers in soft sky-blue to violet-blue, each with a bright yellow center. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, tolerating drought and poor conditions, and adds reliable color to autumn gardens. These native perennials come in a variety of sizes and colors, and are one of the last major food sources for bees and other pollinators before the advent of winter. On a side note, asters, means stars in Latin, referring to the spectacular display of blooms at the end of summer!  

Now on display in the Potting Shed, a charming collection of chrysanthemum bonsai forms, skillfully created by our staff, students, and interns. Be sure to stop by as we get closer to the return of our upcoming Chrysanthemum Festival, on view October 24–November 16!

Capsicum annuum ‘Santos Orange’ is a compact ornamental pepper cultivar valued for its upright, bright orange fruit and neat growth habit. A member of the Capsicum annuum species, native to Central and South America, particularly Mexico. This variety brings vibrant color to containers, borders, and edible landscapes. Though primarily ornamental, the peppers are edible with a moderate to hot heat level. The plant grows to about 10–14 inches tall, thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and produces fruit continuously through the season. ‘Santos Orange’ combines ornamental beauty with the rich agricultural history of one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops.

Helianthus annuus 'Strawberry Blonde' is a distinctive cultivar of the common sunflower, notable for its unique coloration and ornamental appeal. Unlike traditional yellow sunflowers, this variety features bi-colored petals that fade from deep rose or strawberry-pink at the tips to a soft creamy yellow toward the center, surrounding a dark brown to black disk. As an annual, it grows quickly and typically reaches heights of 5 to 6 feet, making it suitable for borders, pollinator gardens, or cut flower arrangements. Native to North America, Helianthus annuus has a long history of agricultural and ornamental use, and this modern cultivar continues that tradition with added aesthetic value. 'Strawberry Blonde' is also attractive to bees and butterflies, supporting garden biodiversity while offering a novel twist on a classic species.

The Victoria ‘Longwood Hybrid’ is a giant waterlily developed in the 1960s at Longwood Gardens by horticulturist Patrick Nutt, who crossed Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana to create what would surpass its parents in vigor, flower, leaf size, and cold-tolerance. The genus Victoria was named in honor of Queen Victoria during the 19th century, when the plant’s discovery in the Amazon captivated Europe with its enormous floating leaves and dramatic, night-blooming flowers. The hybrid continues that legacy with massive blooms that open white on the first night, releasing a sweet, pineapple-like fragrance to attract scarab beetles, then reopen pink on the second night. Since the beetles are native to the Amazon, Longwood staff must hand-pollinate the flowers to ensure seed production and maintain the collection. The ‘Longwood Hybrid’ remains a living tribute to botanical innovation and the era that first celebrated its wonder.

There's just a few more weeks remaining to enjoy the Victoria water platters and the waterlily collection before Waterlily Court goes dormant for the season.  

Widespread in its native home of South Africa, this plant favors loam or clay soils and can be found growing in full sun amongst rocks or grasslands. The orange flowers can be spotted from late summer, all through autumn, and attract birds and butterflies with their nectar, making the garden a hub of activity. Early South African dwellers (Khoisan) smoked the dried leaves and flowers, reporting a feeling of calm and euphoria, giving birth to the common name, wild dagga. The leaves are rough on the upper surface, with toothed margins and give off a herbal aroma when brushed or crushed.

Dahlias are vibrant, tuberous plants known for their stunning, multi-petaled blooms that come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. Native to Mexico, dahlias thrive in warm climates and are beloved for their dramatic appearance and long blooming season. The dahlia is Mexico's national flower, officially declared in 1963, symbolizing elegance, creativity, and the country’s rich biodiversity. These flowers have also gained international popularity, often featured in gardens and floral arrangements around the world. Dahlias are classified into several groups based on flower shape and size, each with its own unique form and appeal. You can find a variety of dahlias in bloom throughout the gardens, especially on Flower Garden Walk and our Ornamental Kitchen Garden. 

Gulf muhly also known as pink muhly grass, is like a botanical fireworks display in the fall! Native to the southeastern United States, this tough, low-maintenance ornamental grass puts on a stunning show with its airy, cloud-like plumes of pink to purplish flowers that seem to glow in the sunlight. Blooming in late summer to fall, Gulf muhly is not just eye-catching but also it’s drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant, and deer-resistant, making it a favorite for eco-friendly landscapes. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil and works beautifully in mass plantings, borders, or even containers. Despite its delicate appearance, it’s a hardy plant (USDA zones 6–10) that brings a soft, ethereal touch to gardens with almost no fuss.

Aphelandra tetragona is a visually striking tropical plant native to the rainforests of Central and South America, particularly regions of Colombia and Ecuador. It is recognized for its ornamental appeal, featuring glossy green leaves marked by prominent white veins. During its blooming period, the plant produces vivid red bracts with small yellow flowers, which are known to attract pollinators such as hummingbirds. Although it is less commonly cultivated than its relative, Aphelandra squarrosa (the Zebra Plant), A. tetragona shares the same flair for dramatic foliage and vibrant blooms. In local lore, some indigenous groups believed that its radiant flowers symbolized renewal and vitality, using the plant decoratively during seasonal festivals. Though rare in cultivation, it’s a gem among plant enthusiasts for its ornamental value and its role in tropical ecosystems as a pollinator favorite.

Ipomoea lobata, commonly known as firecracker vine, Spanish flag, or Mina lobata, is a fast-growing, warm-season climber native to Mexico and Central America. A member of the Convolvulaceae (morning glory) family, it is prized for its vibrant, eye-catching floral display. The plant produces slender, arching flower spikes with tubular blooms that shift in color as they mature, beginning deep red, then fading through shades of orange, yellow, and eventually cream giving the appearance of a flame or a cascading flag, hence its common names. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, reaching up to 10–15 feet in a single growing season. While it is not invasive, Ipomoea lobata is often grown as an ornamental annual in temperate regions and is appreciated for its ability to attract hummingbirds and pollinators. 

Seven-son flower is a deciduous, large shrub or small tree native to China, where it was first documented in the early 20th century and later introduced to Western horticulture. It is the sole species in the genus Heptacodium and belongs to the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). This plant is highly valued for its multi-season ornamental appeal. In late summer to early fall, it produces clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers arranged in groups that often appear to consist of seven buds, hence the common name. After flowering, the sepals turn a vivid red to deep pink, extending the visual interest into autumn. The plant also features exfoliating, light brown bark that provides attractive winter texture. Though once considered rare and even endangered in the wild, it has become increasingly popular in gardens and public landscapes due to its resilience, pollinator-friendly blooms, and year-round appeal. Heptacodium miconioides is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance, high-impact specimen plant.

Miltoniopsis Lillian Nakamoto is a hybrid orchid grex within the Miltoniopsis genus, known for its large, flat, pansy-like blooms and often sweet fragrance.  Notably, many of the flowers display a central pattern that resembles the silhouette of a bat, adding a dramatic and almost whimsical element to their appearance. Like other Miltoniopsis orchids, it prefers cool to intermediate temperatures, high humidity, and indirect light—conditions similar to its cloud forest origins in Central and South America. Highly regarded by orchid enthusiasts, Miltoniopsis Lillian Nakamoto exemplifies the elegance and diversity achieved through modern orchid hybridization.

Tatarian aster is a great border plant. Take a close look at the intense yellow and lavender blossoms.

The ordinary becomes extraordinary!  Nippon daisy, is a hardy, late-blooming perennial native to coastal regions of Japan. It belongs to the Asteraceae family and is valued for its clean, white daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centers that appear in late summer through fall, often when few other perennials are in bloom. The plant forms a compact, woody shrub about two to three feet tall, with thick, leathery, dark green leaves that give it a tidy, evergreen-like appearance through much of the growing season. The Nippon daisy thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant once established. It is especially attractive to pollinators and makes a strong visual impact in late-season borders. Despite its shrubby habit, it is herbaceous in colder climates and benefits from spring pruning to maintain shape and vigor. Though rarely seen in miniature form, our bonsai experts began training this specimen in 2018, and it is now on display in the Bonsai Courtyard.