| Membership | Price (+HST) |
|---|---|
| Single | $85/year |
| Single Plus | $120/year |
| Family | $130/year |
| Family Plus | $175/year |
| Contributing | $300/year |
| Supporting | $600/year |
| Sustaining | $1,000/year |
| Benefactor's Circle | $2,500/year |
| Director's Circle | $5,000/year |
| President's Circle | $10,000/year |
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.
Bloom Watch
Check back for bloom updates from our key collections!
Rose Collection
Current status: The roses in the Rose Garden have passed their first flush of blooms. This two-acre garden includes both roses and a variety of companion plants chosen to support a longer blooming season and sustainable garden ecosystem. While some rose varieties will continue to bloom throughout the summer, others will produce additional flushes later in the season. Currently, companion plants such as coneflowers, lavender, butterfly weed, and yarrow are in bloom adding a welcome rainbow of colour.
Blooms by Month
What Blooms in August?
The summer heat and sunshine brings out the pollinators as the gardens burst with bright colour and cooling foliage all August long!
What Blooms in September?
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.
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.
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.
Dogwood
May to June
Arboretum, Hendrie Park, Rock Garden
Iris*
Mid-May to June
Laking Garden
Clematis
Late-May to September
Laking Garden
Peony*
June
Laking Garden
Rose
Multiple blooms June to September
Hendrie Park
Lily
July
Hendrie Park
Sunflower Family
May to November
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park, Laking Garden
Grasses
June to March
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
Coneflower
July to September
Hendrie Park, Rock Garden, Laking Garden
Coral Bells
May to October
Rock Garden, Laking Garden, Hendrie Park
Hosta
May to September
Laking Garden, Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
Hydrangea
May to September
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
Water Lilies
July and August
Hendrie Park, 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 gardens 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.
Fall Colours
October to Early-November
Trails, Arboretum, Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
Sunflower Family
May to November
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
Coneflower
July to September
Hendrie Park, Rock Garden
Coral Bells
May to October
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
Grasses
June to March
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
Hosta
May to September
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
Hydrangea
May to September
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
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.
Mediterranean Garden
Year-Round, many plants bloom January to February
RBG Centre
Cacti and Succulent Collection
Year-Round
RBG Centre
Orchid Display
Year-Round
RBG Centre
Conifers
Year-Round
Arboretum, Rock Garden
Witch Hazel
November to April
Arboretum and Rock Garden
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
November to April
Rock Garden, Arboretum
Spring Ephemerals
April to May
Hendrie Park, RBG Centre, Rock Garden, Laking Garden
Daffodil
April to Early-May
Laking Garden, Rock Garden, Hendrie Park, RBG Centre
Flowering Cherry*
Late-April or Early-May
Arboretum, Rock Garden
Magnolia*
Late-April to Early-May
Arboretum, Rock Garden, Hendrie Park, Laking Garden
Redbud
Late April, Early May
Hendrie Park, Arboretum
Lilac
Late-May to Early-June
Arboretum
Hosta
May to September
Laking Garden, Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
Flowering Crabapple
May
Arboretum
Dogwood
May to June
Arboretum, Hendrie Park, Rock Garden
Iris
Mid-May to June
Laking Garden
Hydrangea
May to September
Rock Garden, Hendrie Park
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 our cultivated garden areas and arboretum, 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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
