What's in Bloom: May What's in Bloom: May Image May at the Morris Image common sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus Widener Woods; Pennock Garden Striking burgundy flowers adorn these large shrubs. Native to the southeastern United States, Calycanthus floridus gets its common name from its flowers’ sweet, fruity fragrance. Image white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus Parking Lot Native to central and eastern United States, these medium-sized trees display showy, fragrant flowers with long, white, ribbon-like petals. In full bloom, the flowers give this tree a fluffy, cloud-like appearance. Image common pawpaw Asimina triloba Sculpture Garden Before producing leaves, this tree blooms with deep maroon flowers that attract its primary pollinators, flies and beetles. Native to the eastern United States, pawpaws are members of the custard-apple family, Annonaceae, which comprises of mostly tropical genera and species. Image American yellow-wood Cladrastis kentukea Log Cabin Long, wisteria-like flower clusters hang delicately off wide-spreading branches. A member of the pea family, Fabaceae, the individual flowers share similarities with those of eastern redbud ( Cercis canadensis ) and honeylocust ( Gleditsia tricanthos ). Image American columbine Aquilegia canadensis Native Azalea Collection; Key Fountain This charismatic native wildflower with its bright red and yellow flowers is a colorful addition to the garden. The long, tubular spurs at the end of each flower hold sweet nectar, attracting hummingbirds, their primary pollinator. Image Florida azalea Rhododendron austrinum Native Azalea Collection Native to the southeastern United States, these shrubs produce clusters of tubular, fragrant orange flowers prior to leafing out in late spring Image Peggy Martin rose Rosa ‘Peggy Martin’ Rose Garden This climbing rose is named after Peggy Martin, a prolific Louisiana gardener, and survived two weeks under 20 feet of saltwater after Hurricane Katrina. In full bloom, Peggy …

What's in Bloom: March What's in Bloom: March Image March at the Morris Image star magnolia Magnolia stellata Magnolia Slope Star magnolias are aptly named for their many-petaled, star-like flowers that open in early spring. While the straight species has white flowers, there are also pink-blooming cultivars such as M. stellata ‘Rubra’ (red star magnolia) planted on the Magnolia Slope. Image Okame flowering cherry Prunus ‘Okame’ Seven Arches This cultivar is one of the earliest blooming cherry trees we have in our collection, displaying bright pink flowers before leaves emerge. Their five-petaled flowers are characteristic of the rose family, Rosaceae. Learn More Image spike winterhazel Corylopsis spicata Witchhazel Collection Drooping yellow flowers with red anthers hang from the branches of these large shrubs, emitting a pleasant fragrance in the garden. This type of flower arrangement is called a spike because the individual flowers do not have pedicels and are attached directly to the main flowering stalk. Image katsura-tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum Azalea Meadow This champion tree stands out year-round with its sprawling form, heart-shaped leaves, textured bark, and fragrant fall foliage. In early spring, this tree produces inconspicuous red flowers along its branches. Image yulan magnolia Magnolia denudata Azalea Meadow Native to China, yulan magnolia has been in cultivation since the 7th century AD. Large-petaled, cream-colored flowers bloom on leafless branches, marking the transition into spring. Image bodnant viburnum Viburnum x bodnantense Widener Visitor Center A cross between Viburnum farreri and Viburnum grandiflorum , these large shrubs open up densely-clustered pink and white flowers that add fragrance and color to the early spring garden. Cherry Tree Map See the cherry blossoms this season! Cherry blossoms bloom in phases from late March through mid April. Use our Cherry Tree Map to find our whole collection and their bloom times. See Map See what …

What's in Bloom: September What's in Bloom: September Image September at the Morris Image wood grass Sorghastrum nutans Meadows, Natural Areas Found throughout the Natural Area meadows, this tall native grass blooms from late summer to fall, displaying bright yellow anthers that gently dangle from each grass spikelet. Image kousa dogwood Cornus kousa Log Cabin After its showy summer blooms, kousa dogwood’s red fruit become its fall seasonal interest. These soccer-ball-like fruits are considered drupes, like apricots and cherries, because they contain a stone in the center. Image franklinia Franklinia alatamaha Azalea Meadow A member of the tea family, Theaceae, this small tree blooms with cream-colored flowers and bright yellow stamens. John Bartram’s son collect seed of this species before it went extinct in the wild, and now this plant remains conserved at gardens and arboreta around the world. Image Bourgainvillea golden-rain-tree Koelreuteria bipinnata Orange Balustrade/Parking Lot This medium-sized tree boasts large panicles of small, bright yellow flowers with red centers. The species epithet refers to the bipinnately compound leaves, resulting in a feathery appearance. Image monkshood Aconitum sinomontanum Widener Visitor Center Native to China, this purple-flowering perennial brings color to shady garden areas. The form and arrangement of the petals resemble a hood, hence the common name. Image Orangeberry tea viburnum Viburnum setigerum ‘Aurantiacum’ Crabapple Slope This species of viburnum typically displays showy red fruit in the fall, but this cultivar is selected for its yellow/orange fruit that persist through the …

What's in Bloom: July What's in Bloom: July Image July at the Morris Image Japanese clethra Clethra barbinervis Bark Park Native to Japan, these shrubs produce racemes of fragrant, white flowers that contrast against glossy, dark green leaves. Image Bobo® panicle hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata ‘Ilvobo’ Rose Garden Large panicles of white flowers adorn these compact shrubs. While the straight species can reach heights of up to 25 feet, this cultivar is selected for its small form, reaching only up to 3 feet in height. Image Abbeville Blue chastetree Vitex agnus-castus ‘Abbeville Blue’ Rose Garden These large shrubs are native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. In the summer, they produce long, narrow panicles of small purple flowers that attract butterflies and bees. Image Tuskegee crapemyrtle Lagerstroemia ‘Tuskegee’ ​​​​​ Oak Allée This crapemyrtle cultivar boasts showy pink, cloud-like flower clusters, adding brightness and color along the Oak Allée. Image Chinese pearlbloom-tree Poliothyrsis sinensis  Pennock Garden This tree gets its common name from its small flowers that do not fully open, remaining round and bud-like. The flowers are apetalous, meaning they lack petals—what we see instead are sepals, which are typically found enclosing petals to protect the flower in its bud form.   Image Bracken’s Brown Beauty southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’  Oak Allée Native to the southeastern United States, this evergreen magnolia displays large white, fragrant flowers throughout the summer. Unlike many other flowers, these are primarily pollinated by beetles. …

What's in Bloom: June What's in Bloom: June Image June at the Morris Image oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia Oak Allée Native to the southeastern United States, these shrubs get their name from their oak-like leaves. Large panicles of white flowers bloom in June, turning pink and purple as the summer progresses. Image mountain-laurel Kalmia latifolia Overlook Garden; Garden Railway These native evergreen shrubs display mesmerizing clusters of pink and white flowers. Mountain-laurel is in heath family, Ericaceae, the same family as rhododendrons and pieris. Image woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica  Oak Allée Tubular red flowers bloom upright on these native perennials, attracting hummingbirds to shady areas of the garden. Image Japanese raisin-tree Hovenia dulcis Orange Balustrade Inconspicuous, cream-colored flowers emit a sweet, wafting fragrance through the parking lot and above the Orange Balustrade. Image panicle golden-rain-tree Koelreuteria paniculata Baxter Memorial As this tree’s blooming passes its peak, small yellow flower petals gently fall to the ground creating the appearance of “golden rain.”   Image bottlebrush buckeye Aesculus parviflora Compton Native to the southeastern United States, these spreading shrubs produce tall panicles of small white tubular flowers with pink anthers. In the fall, bottlebrush buckeye displays bright yellow fall …

What's in Bloom: August What's in Bloom: August Image August at the Morris Image plumleaf azalea Rhododendron prunifolium Native Azalea Collection One of the latest to bloom, this native azalea produces deep red/orange flowers. There are only a handful of natural populations of plumleaf azalea. Image Pink summersweet clethra Clethra alnifolia ‘Rosea’ Along creek in Azalea Meadow Native to eastern North America, summersweet clethra is a late summer bloomer that thrives in shady, swampy areas. Unlike the white flowers of the straight species, the ‘Rosea’ cultivar displays showy, fragrant light pink flower clusters on vertical racemes. Image Chinese arborvitae Platycladus orientalis Hillcrest Pavilion Small, spiked, blue-green cones adorn this evergreen tree. This plant was once considered a member of the genus Thuja (arborvitae) because of its very similar scale-like leaves. Image anemone Anemone tomentosa Mercury Loggia Native to northern China, these perennials bloom as late as October. Their grape-like leaves have white, fuzzy undersides. Image swamp rose mallow Hibiscus moscheutos Wetlands Large white flowers on these tall, native perennials line the border of the Wetlands. Although each individual flower only blooms for several days, the plant produces many new buds and will flower through early …

Weddings Weddings Image Image Image   Weddings at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens Welcome to your garden wedding!   Set among sweeping landscapes, vibrant blooms, and historic charm, Morris offers a truly unforgettable setting for your celebration. We invite you to explore our ceremony and reception spaces, preview wedding locations , and follow us on Instagram for a glimpse of real events. To learn more or schedule a tour, please contact our Rentals Team at 215.247.5777 x158 or email rentals@morrisarboretum.org . Image Photo: Moon Honey Photography Full Weddings  Your wedding at Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a fully immersive experience, with exclusive access to 92 breathtaking acres and a choice of five unique ceremony locations. Begin with a picturesque ceremony, followed by a delightful open-air cocktail hour, and continue into dinner and dancing beneath the beautiful glow of bistro lights under the reception tent. You’ll arrive at 5 pm with the gardens all to yourselves for photos, with festivities from 6-11PM. The venue accommodates up to 175 guests (155 with a designated dance floor), and includes parking, ceremony chairs, and reception tables and seating. A golf cart and driver are also provided for three hours, allowing you to explore the grounds and capture unforgettable moments throughout the evening. A variety of enhancements are available to further personalize your celebration. We’d love to share more during a tour. We invite you to get in touch to schedule your visit.      Image Garden Ceremony  Our Garden Ceremony option offers an intimate garden experience with private access to 92 breathtaking acres and a choice of five unique ceremony locations. Set within the beauty of the Morris, your ceremony unfolds in a setting that feels both personal and unforgettable. From 6 – 8 pm, the gardens are exclusively yours, allowing your guests to explore the grounds while you capture stunning photos throughout the landscape after your ceremony. The package …

Reflecting on Four Years of Exuberant Blooms Horticulturist Trevor Schulte shares his experience of designing Exuberant Blooms , evoking wonder and excitement through plants, flowers, and deadwood.  Image An aerial view of the eight paisley-shaped beds that make up Exuberant Blooms, 2024. Image Trevor Schulte, Azalea Meadow Horticulturist. When I joined Morris as a horticulturist, the space that is now Exuberant Blooms was nothing but turfgrass. Simple, easy, and boring. Then, seemingly overnight, we were removing the turf, dumping cartloads of compost, adding rows of drip irrigation, and planting thousands of annual and tropical plants into paisley-shaped beds. The nearby statues of John and Lydia Morris watched over us as we installed beds inspired by the Victorian bedding style that was popular during their time on the Morris estate. The first year of the garden in 2023 was bereft of beginner’s luck as we battled May frosts, roving groundhogs, and an early summer drought. Despite the setbacks, the plants persevered and by late July the memory of struggling plants was replaced by the sight of cannas and Mexican sunflowers towering overhead. Salvia cultivars like ‘Blue Chill’ and ‘Wendy’s Wish’ offered consistent flowering and vigorous growth. In the fall we removed the summer display and buried a moody palette of tulips in swoops and swirls for the coming spring. Some of the bulbs didn’t stay buried for long as heavy early winter rains washed soil and bulbs out of beds as far away as the stream feeding into the Morris Pond. The repeated sight of dislodged tulips prompted us to later change the bed shapes to better channel the water. Image A moody spring tulip display in Exuberant Blooms , 2024. Image A tropical summer display in Exuberant Blooms , 2024. The second summer’s bold and tropical theme was punctuated by plants like a species of banana, Musa balbisiana var. balbisiana , which grew from knee-high to around 15 feet tall in a single year. We also grew a …