What’s in Bloom Now? Garden Updates July 1 – 6

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By Thea Hegland

The summer season is in full swing at The Gardens. From the endless flowers, magical late-night illuminations beginning at dusk, the fireworks shows, to the incredible line-up of evening musical performances; a visit to Butchart Gardens promises to be a memorable one this summer.

Flowering highlights this week include over 30 varieties of Hemerocallis (Daylily) and approximately 40 varieties of Lilium (Lily) that light up the many perennial borders with their quintessential blooms. And of course, there are the Roses…

The Rose Garden
One of the 2500 Rose plants currently blooming or coming

The Roses are in full glorious bloom: there is no doubt, the time is now to see them at their peak of the season. An extravaganza of sweet perfume and glorious blossoms draw you into what many consider the heart of The Gardens.

Approximately 2500 plants in 250 varieties of assorted Hybrid Tea, Grandiflora, Floribunda, Rambler, Climber, Rugosa, Standard and old-fashioned Roses come to life each summer and deeply establish their irresistible presence in the garden.

Pass under the Rose Arch as you exit the Rose Garden

This year is especially exciting, being a nominee for the ever prestigious ‘World Rose Garden of The Year Award’. I can honestly say that I am personally very proud of this nomination and all I do with the Roses, aside from admiring their beauty, is assist with the annual plucking of the leaves each November (okay, I do have a little area where I can pick some for floral arrangements…) This nomination is the ultimate honour and complement to all the dedicated staff who have or will work in the Rose Garden, past, present and future!

Plants that are currently blooming
  • Abutilon
  • Acanthus (Bear’s breeches)
  • Achillea (Yarrow)
  • Alocasia (Elephant’s ear)
  • Antirrhinium (Snapdragon)
  • Astilbe
  • Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’
  • Aruncus (Goat’s beard)
  • Astrantia
  • Baptisia (False indigo)
  • Begonia (Tuberous and fibrous)
  • Brugmansia (Angels’ trumpets)
  • Calceolaria (Scotsman’s purse)
  • Cardiocrinium (Giant lily)
  • Catalpa
  • Cephalaria gigantea (Yellow scabious)
  • Centaurea montana
  • Chionanthus virginicus (Fringe tree)
  • Cladatris lutea (Kentucky yellowwood)
  • Clematis
  • Colocasia (Taro)
  • Cornus kousa (Korean dogwood)
  • Crambe
  • Delphinium
  • Deutzia
  • Dianthus
  • Digitalis (Foxglove)
  • Disporum (Fairy bells)
  • Eremurus (Foxtail lily)
  • Fuchsia
  • Heliotropium (Cherry pie plant)
  • Hemerocallis (Daylily)
  • Hibiscus
  • Hydrangea
  • Hypericum (St. John’s wort)
  • Inula
  • Impatiens
  • Iochroma cyanea
  • Lantana
  • Leptospermum (Tea tree)
  • Lobelia
  • Maglieta
  • Matthiola (Stock)
  • Meconopsis (Blue poppy)
  • Pachystachys lutea (Lollipop plant)
  • Pelargonium (Geranium)
  • Pentas
  • Persicaria (Knotweed)
  • Petasites
  • Phlomis
  • Poncirus trifoliata (Hardy orange)
  • Punica granatum (Pomegranate)
  • Rheum
  • Romneya coulteri (Tree poppy)
  • Rosa (Rose)
  • Salvia
  • Spartium junceum (Spanish broom)
  • Stachys marcantha
  • Styrax japonicus (Japanese snowbell)
  • Syringa reticulata (Japanese tree lilac)
  • Tagetes (Marigold)
  • Tecoma
  • Thalictrum (Meadow rue)
  • Torenia
  • Tradescantia (Spiderwort)
  • Viburnum
  • Viola
  • Weigela
  • Wisteria