… 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 … 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 else is in bloom on our Instagram! Powered by Curator.io … What's in Bloom: March …

… What's in Bloom: April What's in Bloom: April Image April at the Morris Image Virginia bluebell Mertensia virginica Widener Woods These charming native wildflowers are a welcome sign of spring in the garden. Flower buds emerge a bright pink color and turn blue as they bloom, adding brightness to shady areas of the garden. Image Yoshino cherry Prunus x yedoensis Cherry Allée Following some of the early-blooming cherry varieties are the white flowers of Yoshino cherries, marking the peak of cherry blossom season here. These trees are a cross between Prunus speciosa , Oshima cherry, and Prunus pendula f. ascendens , weeping cherry. Learn More Image eastern redbud Cercis canadensis Log Cabin Clusters of pink flower buds cover leafless twigs and branches on this native tree. Redbud flowers are characteristic of the pea family, Fabaceae, with three … petals are actually bracts surrounding a cluster of pale-yellow flowers. Image Carolina silverbell Halesia tetraptera Stumpery, between Fernery and Rose Garden Native to the southeastern United States, these small trees are adorned with delicate, cream-colored flowers that hang off of their branches. The specific epithet means “four-winged” in reference to the winged seed pods that provide interest in the fall and winter. Cherry Tree Map Use our cherry tree map to find all of the cherry blossoms on your next visit! Download the Map … What's in Bloom: April …

Exuberant Tulips: Designing Beds in Shapes of Ferns and Mosses Exuberant Blooms , the Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ annual display featuring eight paisley-shaped beds inspired by Victorian flower bedding, is currently in bloom with tulips that sprawl across the landscape in loops and curls. But there’s more than meets the eye. Exuberant Blooms , the Morris Arboretum & Gardens’ annual display featuring eight paisley-shaped beds inspired by Victorian flower bedding, is currently in bloom with tulips that sprawl across the landscape in loops and curls. But there’s more than meets the eye: When viewed from above, these plantings depict the shapes of ferns, liverworts, and other plants. The European aristocracy of the Victorian era was enamored with unique plants including ferns, which were often the object of collectors’ desire. Now, I could tell you more about how the Victorians inspired me to plant the tulips in these shapes that they would’ve found fashionable in 2025, but really, I just wanted an excuse to show off some underappreciated and often unnoticed Image Exuberant Blooms tulips planted in shapes of other plants: 1 silver moss ( Bryum argenteum ), 2 bug-on-a-stick moss ( Buxbaumia viridis ), 3 resurrection plant ( Selaginella lepidophylla ), 4 umbrella liverwort ( Marchantia polymorpha ), 5 curly grass fern ( Schizaea pusilla ), 6 general fern fronds, 7 handbell moss ( Gemmabryum caespiticium ), 8 stairstep moss ( Hylocomium splendens ). Image Tulipa ‘Lalibela’ in bed 6. Image Tulipa ‘Big Apricot’ in bed 3   In bed 3 (see photo above) you can find a trio of curls representing the unfurling stems of the resurrection plant ( Selaginella lepidophylla ). These fascinating plants can survive near-complete desiccation, going months or even years without any water, only to uncurl after just a few hours of rehydrating. In bed 5, tulips fashion possibly the largest-ever artistic rendering of a curly grass fern ( Schizaea pusilla ). You can search for this rare little …

Collection Connection Collection Connection Image Collection Connection Search our Collection Connection to learn more about plants and garden features of interest to you and where you can find them at the Morris. You can also view a map to help identify what is nearby. Plant Collection More than 11,000 accessioned plants of over 2,500 taxa are growing in the Morris’s living collection. These include representatives of the temperate floras of North America, Asia, and Europe. This historic collection traces its foundation to John Morris’s interest in plants from around the world and includes plants collected in China by E.H. Wilson at the turn of the century. Many of the Delaware Valley’s "trees-of-record" (the largest of their kind) are found in the Morris. Most notable are the katsura and the trident maple.  Image Staff members have regularly engaged in plant collecting expeditions in Asia and the United States, increasing the different kinds of plants available for today’s urban and community landscapes. Currently, plants from 30 countries are represented in the collection with a primary focus on Asian temperate species. Significant plant groups in the Morris’s collection include maples, magnolia species, native azaleas, members of the witchhazel family, roses, hollies, and conifers.  Help Protect Our Trees  Please note, visitors are not allowed to climb or sit on the limbs of trees . The Morris is home to a number of  champion trees , some of which are very old. With 150,000 visitors annually, climbing becomes a safety issue for both children and the trees. We don’t want any visitors or trees to break a limb. Thank you!  Seasonal Plants  With the range of our collections, there is seasonal interest throughout the year, for all levels of gardeners. Look for the following plants throughout the year:  Image December through February  Paperbark maple, stewartia, kousa dogwoods, hollies, and rare and unusual conifers of all shapes, sizes and colors.  March through …

… Thinking Ahead of Climate Change While the warmer winters in Philadelphia may not be normal in 2023, it could be normalized sooner than we think, and the Arboretum has been actively thinking ahead of climate change for over a decade.  If you've been outside recently, you've most likely noticed that early spring blooms are popping up much earlier than usual. Daffodils, red buds, and even cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom with this year's warm winter weather. Last week, Billy Penn at WHYY published the piece, " Flowers and trees are blooming super early in Philly after a warmer-than-usual winter ," featuring Vince Marrocco, Director of Horticulture at the Morris Arboretum. “It’s normal February activity — if you live in South Carolina,” says Vince in the piece.  Image A newly planted Compton oak. Credit: Bill Cullina,  F. Otto Haas Executive Director While the warmer winters in …

Meetings and Retreats Meetings and Retreats Image Widener Visitor Center The Widener Visitor Center, built in 1888, is in the grey stone building that first served as the gardener’s cottage, carriage house, and stables. Our facility offers several rooms and set-up styles available for meetings and other daytime rentals. For food service you may choose from any of our approved  caterers , who represent a variety of cuisine styles and price ranges. Our events season runs from April 1 through the end of October and dates may be booked up to six months in advance. The building is outfitted with Central Air. Quality audio-visual equipment can be provided for your use in select locations. While Wi-Fi is available in the Center, please refer to this connection guide . Image Meetings    Small meetings for up to 12 may be booked in our McLean Room conference space or up to 20 in our Classroom for durations of as little as two hours or up to 8 hours depending on availability. Tables and chairs are provided for a variety of set up configurations. Larger meetings for up to 50 may be booked in our indoor Upper Gallery space with A/V capabilities and optional access to the McLean Room for catering set up. Spaces may be booked for timeframes of two to eight hours based on availability. Tables and chairs are provided and may be set up in a variety of layouts including boardroom, classroom, lecture, and dining styles.  Outdoor meetings for a range of sizes may be booked in the reception tent which offers flexible layout options and power outlets to set up your own a/v if desired. Meetings may be for up to 50, 50-100 or 101-150 attendees. Tables and chairs are provided and may be set up in a variety of layouts including boardroom, classroom, lecture, and dining styles.  For all meetings, linens and catering may be provided through one of our catering teams.   Image Retreats  Planning a full day off-site with your team? Morris offers retreats for small groups under ten to larger …