What’s in Bloom? September at RBG

What Blooms in September?

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.

September is a beautiful month of transition in the gardens, as blooms are joined by fruiting plants and autumn colours begin to tint the canopies. 

At Rock Garden, fall colours slowly trickle in, with the Japanese Maple tree as fiery standout in the lower bowl. More blooms continue to flourish, including Cardinal Flower, Snowdrop Anemone, White Wood Aster, Joe-Pye Weed, Goldenrod and Lesser Calamint, all complimented by the collection of richly green coniferous trees. While Hibiscus pass peak bloom, many still provide stunning displays of colour and grandeur.  

Enjoy some downtime and serenity down by the water feature, where Waterlily blooms over calm waters, and ornamental grasses including delicate Purple Love Grass and the fuller Tufted Hair Grass make a captivating backdrop with the setting sun.

Pictured, left to right: Hibiscus, Goldenrod. Water Lily, Phillodendron

Laking Garden’s gazebo is adorned with Clematis ‘Paul Farges’ (sold as SUMMER SNOW), while the true show remains on the middle terrace, as full Garden Phlox and seas of Black-eyed Susan pop alongside tall grasses and other mesmerizing perennials. On the upper terrace, the Garden of Necessity approaches harvest time, complemented by beautiful fall displays created by the horticultural team. 

Pictured, left to right: Hosta, Black-Eyed Susan, Strawflower

Over in Hendrie Park, the Helen M. Kippax Garden bursts with pollinator-friendly native plants and their cultivars, including Coneflower, Aster and Goldenrod. Flowering herbs complement fruiting plants of all kinds in Veggie Village as gardeners complete the fall harvest.

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. 

Pictured, left to right: Rose, Aster, Butterfly Bush (with Monarch), Pale Purple Coneflower

At the Arboretum, full trees offer shade for those exploring the wide-open garden; watch the changing colours of the Maple, Oak and Linden trees as we move further into fall. Keep an eye out in the Synoptic Shrub Collection for Beautyberry, a fantastic fall shrub with richly coloured purple fruit, and the Seven-son Flower for their wonderfully scented blooms.

The first burst of fall colour begins along the trails, led by Goldenrod and over 30 species of Aster, with flowers concentrated around Princess Point, the Arboretum and Rock Chapel. In the wetlands, marsh plants, including Blue Vervain, Pickerel Weed, and Cattail flourish. 

Pictured, left to right: Seven-son flower, Beautyberry, Aster, Cattail

August Favourites

Plants that typically flower / Plants of Interest in September at RBG

• Anise Hyssop
• Annuals
• Aster
• Black eye Susan
• Blue Vervain
• Butterfly Bush
• Cardinal Flower
• Coneflower
• Goldenrod
• Hibiscus
• Hosta
• Hydrangea
• Japanese anemone
• Joe-Pye Weed
• Lindheimer’s Beeblossom
• Lotus*
• Mountain Fleeceflower
• October Plant
• Pale Purple Coneflower
• Phlox
• Pickerel Weed
• Rose
• Sage
• Seven-son Flower
• Snowberry
• Spurge
• Sunflower
• Sweet-Amber
• Waterlily

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