What's in Bloom

Below are some plants that are especially interesting or typically in bloom this month at Duke Gardens.  

Every year unfolds differently, depending on seasonal weather conditions. Please see this May 20 map for recent bloom highlights. In addition to what's on the map, you'll also see alliums, irises, foxgloves, snapdragons and some plants in the Brassica family.

For an idea of plants you may wish to seek out at different times throughout the year, please see these plant highlight PDFs from peak periods in the past: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. 

Anemone 'Lord Lieutenant'

Anemone 'Lord Lieutenant' in the Terrace Gardens. Photo by Robert Ayers.

Mountain Laurel

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) in the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. Photo by Erika Zambello.

Foxglove

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea 'Excelsior') in the Terrace Gardens. Photo by Erika Zambello.

Cooley's meadow-rue

Cooley's meadow-rue (Thalictrum cooleyi) in the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. Photo by Stefan Bloodworth.

Silky camellia

Silky camellia (Stewartia malacodendron) in the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. Photo by Stefan Bloodworth.

Dragon-root

Dragon-root (Arisaema draconitum) in the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. Photo by Stefan Bloodworth.

Sweet shrub

Sweet shrub (Calycanthus 'Venus') in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum. Photo by Paul Jones.

Chinese forget-me-not

Chinese forget-me-not (Cynoglossum amabile) in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum. Photo by Paul Jones.

Magnolia hypoleuca

Magnolia hypoleuca, a Japanese species, in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum. Photo by Paul Jones.

Kousa dogwood

Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum. Photo by Paul Jones.

Foxglove

Foxglove in the Page-Rollins White Garden. Photo by Robert Ayers.

Tulip tree

Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) in the Historic Gardens. Photo by Alice Le Duc.