November Blooms
Autumn days are the perfect time to explore the Garden. In November, you’ll catch the tail end of fall foliage, see fall-blooming camellias, be dazzled by our autumn-blooming azaleas and discover lots of interesting bark and berries at the Garden. Cooler temperatures mean brisk fall walks, and the beauty of the Garden in fall light and reflected in the clear water of Lake Sydnor. Don’t miss the warm and cozy Conservatory filled with tropical blooms and orchids. Plus, look for twinkling lights in the Garden and other holiday decorations as we prepare for Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights.
View this month’s Bright Spots (PDF) highlighting current blooms and interest.
Camellia ‘Winter’s Joy'
Camellia ‘Winter’s Joy’ is a tall evergreen with glossy dark green foliage and semi-double bright pink flowers. You’ll find it in the Upper Asian Valley, teaming with blooms and pollinators.
Camellia 'Hot Flash'
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hot Flash’ has clear red blooms with delicate yellow centers. You’ll find several of them on the woodland loop near the fish pond in the upper Asian Valley.
Camellia ‘Polar Ice’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Polar Ice’ features many white, medium-sized anemone to peony form flowers. The shrub has an upright habit, and it features glossy, dark leaves. You’ll find it clustered with several other camellias at the far end of the Cherry Tree Walk in Streb Garden.
Camellia ‘Winter’s Fire’
Camellia ‘Winter’s Fire’ is an evergreen shrub with semi-double, bright pink, medium-size blooms with white patches. You’ll find it along the main path in the Asian Valley.
Camellia 'Elfin Rose'
Camellia sasanqua ‘Elfin Rose’ is adjacent to the Cochrane Rose Garden in the lower Asian Valley, along the Main Garden Path. The blooms are prolific and have a rose shape, and are contrasted by dark green foliage.
Camellia 'Lu Shan Snow'
Known for its tolerance to cold and delicate beauty, Camellia oleifera ‘Lu Shan Snow,’ was introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum in 1995. Its exceptional winter hardiness allows it to grown well in zones 6-9. The cinnamon colored bark makes it an attractive year-round addition to any garden. You’ll find it in Streb Garden.
Camellia ‘Jean May’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Jean May’ is an evergreen shrub with abundant semi-double shell pink flowers. Bees love it! Find it in the upper Asian Valley on the loop adjacent to the pond, behind the Robins Tea House.
Camellia ‘Hana Jiman’
Camellia sasanqua ‘Hana Jiman’ is a shrub with a large cream single flower edged in pink with bright yellow center. You’ll find this beauty in the upper Asian Valley on the loop adjacent to the pond, behind the Robins Tea House..
Monk's Hood
Brilliant blue-purple blooms of Aconitum greet you on the Fountain Terrace just outside the Robins Visitor Center Atrium.
Firethorn 'Victory'
Pyracantha koidzumii ‘Victory,’ a thorny evergreen shrub, features bold dense clusters of orange berries. In spring it has lovely flowers, so it adds color and beauty to the Garden year-round. You’ll find it throughout the Garden.
Osmanthus
We featured the tiny white blooms of cultivar Osmanthus x fortunei ‘Fruitlandii’ earlier this fall on our September blooms page, but the later blooming Osmanthus heterophyllus can be found flowering even into November. You’ll probably smell the honeysuckle-like fragrance of this flower before you see it, as you walk along the road between Flagler Garden and Bloemendaal House.
Japanese Maple ‘Inaba Shidare’
Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Inaba Shidare’ lights up the upper Asian Valley with exquisite color in November.
Powder Puff Tree
Calliandra haematocephala, the bright red buds bursts open to reveal the puffs of pink-red flowers covering this tropical shrub. You’ll find it in the warm and tropical East Wing of the Conservatory.
Bromeliad 'Little Harv'
Aechmea ‘Little Harv,’ has a dusty blue foliage with the buds of their salmon flowers just beginning to peak out. You’ll find it in the warm and sunny East Wing of the Conservatory.
Crown of Thorns
I bet you can tell why Euphorbia milii ‘DesMoulins’ is called crown of thorns! This prickly beauty has gray spiny canes as well as sunny red blooms. You’ll find it in the sunny West Wing of the Conservatory.