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What’s in Bloom

What’s Blooming in the Gardens

Plants of interest are ever-changing in RBG’s four cultivated garden areas, Arboretum, and nature sanctuaries. Check back to learn what’s blooming now or see the blooms calendar for a rough estimation of what to expect each season.

Current Plants of Interest

Check out RBG’s Instagram for a look at what’s blooming now in our horticultural collections.

Plants of Interest by Season

Bloom times vary from year to year as they are influenced by many natural events including temperature and climate.

Below you will find “average” bloom times / months of interest for several of RBG’s collections. Please bear in mind that if we experience an early or late spring, bloom times could shift up to 10 days earlier or 10 days later.

Spring Blooms and Plants of Interest

The gardens come alive with brilliant and showy blooms in the spring months! From delicate and ephemeral flowering trees, to bright and showy perennials, our gardens are constantly changing; visit again and again to see all our key collections as they reach peak bloom.

* Plants marked this way may have short bloom times and are very weather dependant. Check our social media feeds closer to bloom time for updates.

Witch Hazel In Bloom

Witch Hazel

November to April
Rock Garden, Arboretum

lawn carpeted in purple, white, and yellow crocus

Spring Ephemerals

April to May
Hendrie Park, RBG Centre, Rock Garden, Laking Garden

Close Up Of Redbud Blooms In Arboretum With Clear Blue Sky Backdrop

Redbud

Late April, Early May
Hendrie Park, Arboretum

Closeup Of Cherry Blossoms

Flowering Cherry*

Late-April or Early-May
Arboretum, Rock Garden

Pink Saucer Magnolia Flowers In Bloom

Magnolia*

Late-April to Early-May
Arboretum, Rock Garden, Hendrie Park, Laking Garden

Closeup Of Purple Lilacs

Lilac

Late-May to Early-June
Arboretum

Pink Crabapple Blooms

Flowering Crabapple

May
Arboretum

White Flowers On Hosta

Hosta

May to September
Laking Garden, Rock Garden, Hendrie Park

Cornus Dogwood Arboretum

Dogwood

May to June
Arboretum, Hendrie Park, Rock Garden

Purple Dwarf Iris

Iris

Mid-May to June
Laking Garden

Huchera Coral Bells

Coral Bells

May to October
Rock Garden, Laking Garden, Hendrie Park

Pink Hydrangea Starting To Bloom

Hydrangea

May to September
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park

Summer Blooms and Plants of Interest

Warm weather brings an explosion of colour to the Gardens! Our are constantly changing; visit again and again to see all the incredible plants and garden areas come into bloom as we move through the summer season.

* Plants marked this way may have short bloom times and are very weather dependant. Check our social media feeds closer to bloom time for updates.

Cornus Dogwood Arboretum

Dogwood

May to June
Arboretum, Hendrie Park, Rock Garden

Purple Dwarf Iris

Iris

Mid-May to June
Laking Garden

Laking Garden Clematis Polish Spirit

Clematis

Late-May to September
Laking Garden

Large Pink Peony With Open Centre

Peony*

June
Laking Garden

Hendrie Park Pink Jolie Veranda Rose

Rose

June to September
Hendrie Park

Pink And White Lily In Breezeway Display

Lily

July
Hendrie Park

Multicoloured Sunflower Bloom

Sunflower Family

May to November
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park, Laking Garden

Chinese Silver Grass Dixieland

Grasses

June to March
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park

Painted Lady Butterfly On Pink Coneflower

Coneflower

July to September
Hendrie Park, Rock Garden, Laking Garden

Huchera Coral Bells

Coral Bells

May to October
Rock Garden, Laking Garden, Hendrie Park

White Flowers On Hosta

Hosta

May to September
Laking Garden, Rock Garden, Hendrie Park

Pink Hydrangea Starting To Bloom

Hydrangea

May to September
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park

Pink Waterlilies In Reflecting Pond

Water Lilies

July and August
Hendrie Park, Rock Garden

White Lotus Flower Blooming At Rock Garden

Lotus*

July to August
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park

Autumn Blooms and Plants of Interest

Cooler temperatures return to RBG, bringing rich fall colours in foliage and blooms. Our are constantly changing; visit again and again to see all the incredible plants and garden areas finish their bloom as we move through the fall season.

Bright Orange Leaves In Fall Royal Court

Fall Colours

October to Early-November
Trails, Arboretum, Rock Garden, Hendrie Park

Multicoloured Sunflower Bloom

Sunflower Family

May to November
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park, Laking Garden

Painted Lady Butterfly On Pink Coneflower

Coneflower

July to September
Hendrie Park, Rock Garden, Laking Garden

Huchera Coral Bells

Coral Bells

May to October
Rock Garden, Laking Garden, Hendrie Park

Chinese Silver Grass Dixieland

Grasses

June to March
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park

White Flowers On Hosta

Hosta

May to September
Laking Garden, Rock Garden, Hendrie Park

Pink Hydrangea Starting To Bloom

Hydrangea

May to September
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park

Witch Hazel In Bloom

Witch Hazel

November to April
Arboretum and Rock Garden

Winter Blooms and Plants of Interest

Indoor spaces and winter-interest plants make the gardens an escape to nature all year long. Our are constantly changing; visit again and again to see all the incredible plants and garden areas come into bloom as we move through the winter season.

Red Bottlebrush Blooms In Greenhouse

Mediterranean Garden

Year-Round, many plants bloom January to February
RBG Centre

Spiky Orange Bloom On Cacti

Cacti and Succulent Collection

Year-Round
RBG Centre

White And Purple Orchid

Orchid Display

Year-Round
RBG Centre

Rock Garden Weeping Norway Spruce

Conifers

Year-Round
Arboretum, Rock Garden

Witch Hazel In Bloom

Witch Hazel

November to April
Arboretum and Rock Garden

What's That Plant?

Do you see something in our gardens that you love, but can't find a plant label? Identify and learn more with PlantSnap! Download the app and take a photo to learn more about the plant's taxonomy, habitat, care and uses.

Major Horticultural Collections

With tens of thousands of plants in five cultivated garden areas, there is always something interesting growing at RBG.

Flowering Cherry

Peak interest: late April or early May

Flowering cherry (saukra) grace RBG’s gardens with typically white or pink flowered blooms and have an ephemeral grace and beauty shared by no other type of plant. These trees which at peak bloom look like clouds of pink and white are one the most welcome signs that spring has finally sprung!

Where to find them: Major collection bloom in the Arboretum. Trees also found at Rock Garden and Laking Garden.

Learn More

Magnolias

Peak interest: Late April, Early May

Magnolias produce spectacular flowers in a range of colours, from white and cream to pale to deep pink, purple, rose and less commonly soft yellows. Featuring large, delicate petals on towering trees, don’t miss this ephemeral collection each spring.

Where to find them: trees can be found in all garden areas, with the largest collection at the Arboretum

Learn More

Lilacs

Peak Interest: late May

Visit one of the largest and most magnificent and diverse lilac collections in the world as The Katie Osborne Lilac Collection reaches peak bloom in the lilac dell at RBG’s Arboretum.

Where to find them: the largest collection located in the Arboretum, though lilacs can also be found in Hendrie Park

Learn More

Iris

Peak Interest: Late May and June

Experience a mesmerizing rainbow of colour, with over 1,000 types of iris at Laking Garden, including tall bearded, dwarf bearded, Siberian, spuria, and more.

Where to find them: Laking Garden

Learn More

Peonies

Peak Interest: Early to mid June

Big fluffy flowers in just about every colour! Who doesn’t love peonies? These garden favourites may look delicate, but they are easy to grow and are a great choice for sustainable gardening. The Laking garden collection is one of the most diverse in north America containing peonies that may not be found elsewhere.

Where to find them: Laking Garden

Learn More

Roses

Peak Interest: July to August

Enjoy RBG’s rejuvenated rose garden, featuring cold-hardy roses surrounded by beneficial companion plants that bring beautiful colour to this sustainable garden all season long!

Where to find them: Hendrie Park

Learn More

Rock Garden Perennials

Peak Interest: July to September

The rejuvenated David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden contains many bold drifts of herbaceous perennials, chosen as much for their structure and texture as they were for their colourful flowers. Visit again and again as the garden changes throughout the season!

Where to find them: Rock Garden

Learn More

Support Horticulture at the Gardens

The care and growth of our horticultural collections are possible thanks to the generous support of RBG Members and donors. With a donation to Growing up Green, you can ensure an active, vibrant and healthy future for the children of today and tomorrow through our horticultural and conservation projects.

Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is the largest botanical garden in Canada, a National Historic Site, and registered charitable organization with a mandate to bring together people, plants and nature.