What’s in Bloom? August at RBG

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July 31, 2024

What Blooms in August?

Note: this is a general guide of what typically blooms this month at RBG. Bloom periods may vary by up to 2 weeks. For the best view of what’s blooming right now at RBG, see the current photos on RBG’s Instagram, or find the “Bloom Watch” section on the What’s in Bloom page.

The summer heat and sunshine brings out the pollinators as the gardens burst with bright colour and cooling foliage all August long! Our gardens are celebrating the synergy between sports and nature through a series of floral displays! Each garden area pays tribute to this dynamic connection with its own unique theme.

Over in Hendrie Park, the Helen M. Kippax Garden bursts with pollinator-friendly native plants and their cultivars, including Coneflower, Bee Balm, and Blazing Star. In the Rose Garden, individual Rose varieties continue to pop throughout the month, while some summers will gift us another full flush! Between the Rose blooms, spot striking companion plants like Crocosmia, Pale Purple Coneflower, Stonecrop, Lindheimer’s Beeblossom, and Verbena bonariensis. 

  • Reflecting Pond aquatic plants with water lilies and canna lilies
  • tennis player mannequin, dressed in a yellow top made of moss and a green, grass-like skirt. The sculpture is set amidst Veggie Village garden.
  • 'Campfire' roses second bloom of the season in Hendrie Park
  • kipax garden full of tall native perennials

Pictured, left to right: Canna lilies and aquatic plant feature, ‘Eat like an Athlete’ floral installation, Rose, native perennials. 

Lush blooms await you throughout the Rock Garden, including Cardinal Flower, Shrub Roses, Goldenrod and Woodland Sage. Russian Sage looks particularly striking as tall, pink Hibiscus flowers flourish behind it. Sitting by the water feature is the best way to cool down on a hot day, and it’s a great spot to enjoy the Water Lily and watch bees and butterflies flutter around blooming perennials.

  • bright pink hibiscus flowers with darker pink stripes throughout
  • mannequin posed as a cyclist at the centre of a vibrant floral bed. The cyclist is wearing an outfit made out of coloured moss.
  • purple waterlilies

Pictured, left to right: Dense blazing star, Hibiscus, Cyclist floral installation, Water lily 

Full trees at the Arboretum offer shade for those exploring the wide-open space. Look for fragrant flowers beginning to open on Seven-Son Flower in the Synoptic Shrub Collection. Explore the nearby trails for signs of wildlife and keep an eye out while walking through the wetlands; Blue Vervain, Pickerel Weed, cattails and other marsh plants are flourishing. 

  • anishinaabe waadiziwin trail
  • white water lilies and lily pads
  • smooth oxeye flowers along the trail
  • pickerelweed growing along the shore at Cootes Paradise

Pictured, left to right: Anishinaabe waadiziwin trail, Water lily, Smooth oxeye, Pickerelweed

August in Laking Garden brings romantic views as Clematis climb the gazebo and nearby sculptural trees, while on the middle terrace full Garden Phlox and seas of Black-Eyed Susan pop alongside tall grasses and other mesmerizing perennials. Lavender, Cosmos and Snapdragon adorn the upper terrace’s Garden of Luxury, while Rhubarb, Corn and a variety of tomatoes approach their harvest time in the Garden of Necessity. Mid-month, the stunning Korean Evodia tree bursts with tiny white blooms, buzzing with hundreds of harvesting bees. Please note:Laking Garden is open exclusively to RBG Members in August.

  • Black and yellow swallotail butterfly on tall pink blooms of garden phlox
  • hanging ferns and voluminous foliage decorating Laking Garden's belvedere
  • black-eyed susans in a perennial garden display at Laking Garden
  • Tiny round, white blooms form compacted groups on a single stem of the evodia tree, full of tiny bees

Pictured, left to right: Phlox, Mindfulness installation, Black-eyed susan, Korean evodia tree

August Favourites

orange roses

Roses

The rose collection features multiple flushes mid June through fall, alongside companion plants that bloom throughout the season. 

The Rose Garden is located in Hendrie Park.

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Coneflowers, joe pye weed, sage, and other herbaceous perennials growing around the Rock Garden water feature

Rock Garden Perennials

The rejuvenated David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden contains many bold drifts of herbaceous perennials, with peak interest from July through September. 

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Plants that typically flower in August at RBG

  • Annuals
  • Astilbe
  • Beebalm
  • Black Cohosh
  • Blazing Star
  • Cardinal Flower
  • Clematis
  • Coneflower
  • Crocosmia
  • Dahlia
  • Dill
  • Evodia Tree
  • Geranium
  • Giant Hyssop
  • Goldenrod
  • Hibiscus
  • Hosta
  • Hydrangea
  • Joe Pye Weed
  • Lily
  • Lindheimer’s beeblossom
  • Oregano
  • Rose
  • Sage
  • Smoketree
  • Snapdragon
  • Stonecrop
  • Sunflower
  • Verbena bonariensis
  • Water Lily

*These plants have short bloom times and are very weather dependent. Check our social media feeds closer to bloom time for updates. 

Blooms by Season

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

Learn More