Check out what's currently blooming at The Gardens!
Hardy Water Lily (Nymphaea x)
These water lilies can be found protruding from our pond in the Children’s Garden. We don’t have a record of which cultivar they are since they were planted so long ago, but they are gorgeous, nonetheless. Their petals are a vibrant white with 4 light pink sepals. The center of the flower consists of 40-60 bright yellow stamens, all circled around one small pistil in the very middle attached to the ovary. To grow waterlilies, a tuber is planted at a 45-degree angle, roots generally facing down and buds that will become shoots generally facing up. The crown and buds should remain above the soil line, while the roots must be buried. This pot is then submerged in the water at a depth 10 to 15 inches deeper than the tallest pad or crown. New shoot growth then forms from the tuber in the soil below and stretches its way up until it reaches the surface. Though you can’t see it in our pond, there are many small leaves and buds underwater that just haven’t broken the surface yet. Many might think that the flowers grow off of the pads, however they are actually also attached to the tuber with a peduncle (flower stem). The peduncle grows slightly longer and thicker than the pad stems, which causes the flower to hover about an inch above the water’s surface.
Care information: Water lilies need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day but will be happy with more than that in most cases. They also really enjoy fertilization with aquatic fertilizer tablets at planting time and periodically throughout the growing season (about one tablet every two weeks pushed deep into the soil near their roots). An absolute essential for water lilies is standing water. They can be placed 5 or 6 feet from any fountain or bubbler but will really do best if there are no nearby water features. This is because the moving water makes it more challenging for their roots to stay anchored, and the constant movement and possible submersion of the pads challenge their photosynthetic process.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer.
Rocky Mountain Gayfeather (Liatris ligulistylis)
These vibrant purple blooms can be found adorning the Rocky Mountain gayfeather in our Rock, Undaunted, Prairie, Plant Select, Foothills, and Welcome Gardens. Typically, Liatris ligulistylis will have much more sparse blooms, as shown in the second photo. However, we currently have two particularly unique stalks that are packed with flowers found in our eastern Welcome Garden. These flowers start their blooms at the top of their stalks and begin blooming downwards, with the newest flowers being found at the lowest point of each stalk. Inflorescence that blooms from the top down or the center outward are considered determinate inflorescence. Liatris ligulistylis can bloom for up to six weeks, typically beginning in late summer and ending mid-fall. These plants are very attractive to butterflies due to their color and abundant supply of nectar hidden deep within the flower.
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Care information: The Rocky Mountain gayfeather does best with full sun in zones 3 through 8. They prefer soil that is well-drained but do not have a preference in regard to soil pH or texture. With the right conditions they can grow to be 3 to 5 feet tall, so staking may be necessary in some cases. As blooms become spent, they can be deadheaded or left to go to seed. Goldfinches particularly like Liatris seed so leaving these blooms to seed may be favorable to those who want to attract birds to their gardens. However, if you don’t like the look of dead matter left on plants in your garden or you want to promote new growth, deadheading is your best option.
For more information. reference our Gardens Explorer.
African Daisy (Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Zion™️ Copper Amethyst’)
These pink, purple, and orange blooms can be found all throughout our Color Walk and Stage Terraces. This specific cultivar was named after Zion National Park in Utah since they both share a gorgeous array of warm colors. The ‘Zion™️ Copper Amethyst’ cultivar typically starts blooming around April and stops blooming during the first frost. In cooler summer climates, blooms will continue all throughout the summer, but in hotter climates, blooming will halt around June and pick back up when it gets cooler in early Fall. This plant blooms quite profusely, with blooms almost hiding any trace of foliage at their fullest. This doesn’t mean that they get very large, however. They will typically stay between one or two feet wide and tall in a dense mound at their largest.
Care information: This African daisy is considered to be a perennial in zones 10 and 11. However, since The Gardens are in zone 5b, we grow them as annuals instead. They prefer full sun or very partial sun. Soils need to be well-drained but can vary in terms of pH and texture. They should be watered once or twice a week typically, but can handle more. Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Zion™️ Copper Amethyst’ is generally a low-maintenance plant but will produce more frequent and abundant blooms if deadheaded regularly. Without deadheading new blooms will still form, but there will be significantly less.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer.
Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
These spiky white blooms can be found throughout our Prairie Garden. The name ”Rattlesnake Master” comes from the use of its roots to cure rattlesnake bites by many Indigenous peoples. Though its medicinal benefits are yet to be scientifically proven, it also has other uses. These include using its leaves for ceremonial dances or to weave baskets and sandals. monocots, however, this plant is a dicot. Not only is its nomenclature interesting, but also its dense blooms. Each white flowerhead is actually a cluster of numerous flowers, each individual flower present as a single spike on the white sphere. Each of these flowers contains its own stamens, anthers, and 5 petals, meaning that despite their reduced appearance, these flowers provide in abundance for pollinators of all types. Bees, pollinating wasps, pollinating flies, butterflies, and moths can all be seen on these flowers at varying points in the day. In fact, it is actually a host plant for two types of moths, the Eryngium stem-borer moth (Papaipema eryngii) and the flower-feeding moth (Coleotechnites eryngiella), which are both native to the eastern United States. Eryngium yuccifolium typically blooms from July to September, so make sure to come see it and its pollinator friends!
Care information: Rattlesnake master needs full sun and is hardy in zones 3-9. It needs to be planted in well-drained soil as it typically cannot tolerate standing water. Given that they can get up to 2 feet tall and 5 feet wide, they need to be spaced at least a foot and a half apart from each other to ensure adequate growing space. They should be watered twice a week and don’t typically need fertilizer unless soils are very nitrogen poor. Deadheading spent blooms can help prevent self-seeding and spreading throughout your gardens. Any dead or diseased stems can also be cut down to the ground for aesthetic and plant health purposes without harming the plant.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer.
Cape Forget-Me-Not (Anchusa capensis ‘Blue Angel’)
The true-blue blooms of the cape forget-me-not can be found in our Plant Select Garden. They are a part of the Borage Family (Boraginaceae), so their leaves are rough to the touch, and their inflorescence is a helicoid cyme. Due to their bright color, they are often used to make dyes for cosmetic paints. New growth, such as stems and buds, grow in red before changing to blue or green. As seen below, some of the flower’s centers are white, and some are medium or dark brown. This is because when an individual flower is pollinated, the center will fade to brown to indicate to pollinators that there is no more nectar in that flower. Pollinators that enjoy this plant include bees, butterflies, and occasionally moths. Anchusa capensis ‘Blue Angel’ is a biennial, meaning that it completes its life cycle after two years as opposed to an annual, which completes it in one. This bloom can last from May to October.
Care information: This South African plant is hardy to zones 5 through 10. It enjoys full sun but can tolerate partial shade if necessary. Well-drained soil is a necessity, but pH and texture can vary. They should be watered around twice a week but can be watered a little more or less and be fine. This is a smaller plant that rarely exceeds one to two feet tall and wide, so they can be planted close to each other to create the look of one larger, more expansive plant if desired. Spent flowers can be deadheaded throughout the summer to stimulate a longer blooming season and more blooms. At the end of the blooming season, around October, the plant can be cut back to a couple of inches off the ground.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta 'Denver Daisy')
These large, colorful blooms can be found in the Everitt Pavilion Garden. Rudbeckia hirta 'Denver Daisy' petals exhibit a blend from brown to red to yellow as the petals get farther outward. A recent addition to The Gardens, these flowers were bred and named to honor the 150th anniversary of Denver, CO. These natives are well-suited to our Colorado climate and grow up to two feet tall and wide. They bloom from mid-summer through mid to late fall and attract a plethora of pollinators, given their abundance of nectar. Their stems are thick and firm, allowing larger pollinators to perch on them without causing breakage. They are also rapid growers and typically establish quite quickly after planting, which is another benefit of these native plants.
Care information: These black-eyed Susans are hardy in zones 5 through 9 and prefer full sun and heat. Once again, this plant prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate any pH and texture (within reason). Dry soils or drought conditions aren’t an issue, however standing water or overly moist soils can pose issues for this plant. Due to this, they should be watered up to twice a week, but not more than that. They do not need any fertilizer, but a slow-release organic fertilizer can be used to promote new growth throughout the growing season. Spent blooms can be removed to avoid seeding and promote more blooms. However, these spent blooms will attract songbirds such as American goldfinches to feed on their seeds so they may be worth keeping around for the winter.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer.
Moon Carrot (Seseli gummiferum)
The white and pink blooms of the moon carrot can be appropriately found in our Moon Garden. Similarly to Anchusa capensis the moon carrot is a biennial. In its first year, it forms a small mound of blue-green foliage with no blooms. Its second year --as is the case for the specimen in our Moon garden -- light green stalks will shoot up from the foliage and form white or white and pink flower clusters. These blooms typically start out as a pale pink and then fade to white as they age. Just one plant can grow to be 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, producing lots of blooms for its most common pollinators: bees and butterflies (specifically Black Swallowtails). Though they are biennials, many of these plants will successfully self-seed and pop up again as long as blooms aren’t removed before seeding. Seeds can also be collected at the end of the second year’s blooms to replant in the future. These blooms typically last from June to September.
Care information: Seseli gummiferum is hardy in zones 5 through 10. They prefer full sun but can tolerate partial sun most of the time. Though they are fine with most textures of soil, good drainage is necessary for the health of this plant. They are tolerant of hot temperatures and dry conditions but should still be watered at least once or twice a week. Fertilizer is not necessary for moon carrots, though some can be added during the first year growing season to spruce up the foliage. Spent blooms can be deadheaded, but as previously mentioned, if you want the plant to reseed and come back it is best to leave them.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer.
Millenium Ornamental Onion (Allium ‘Millenium’)
These spherical purple blooms can be found in our Fragrance Garden. They are commonly swarmed with bees and butterflies due to their eye-catching color and myriad flowers on each umbel. The acrid scent of this ornamental plant’s foliage provides a hint as to its membership in the onion family (Alliaceae). Conveniently, rabbits and deer dislike the strong scent and unappealing onion flavor of these plants and typically pass them by when browsing. Millenium ornamental onions are also not prone to diseases, making them a reliable plant that will grace your garden year after year. They can even do well in inner city environments due to their tolerance of air pollution, which allows them to be used in a variety of garden types. Blooms typically begin in late June or early July and end in late August.
Care information: Allium ‘Millenium’ is hardy in zones 4 through 9 and prefers full sun or partial shade. They only need to be watered once a week but should be planted in well-drained soil to avoid standing water. They don’t typically need any sort of fertilizer to thrive. They can get to be up to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide, though many choose to plant many of them all together to create an even larger clump as we have done. Spent blooms can be removed as they die or all at once when the plant has finished blooming. It will die back to the crown each winter anyway, so any foliage left before winter will stay dead/dormant. Not to worry, though, because this is a perennial plant, and new green shoots will begin to show up in the spring again. This plant can self-sow, sometimes exuberantly, so it is important to keep an eye on it to get ahead of any unwanted spreading.
For more information, reference our Gardens Explorer.