Garden Highlights

Don't miss our Garden Highlights, updated every Thursday featuring plants for their outstanding ornamental characteristics. Discover everything from flowers to fruit, buds, bark and more. You can search for specific plants using the Plant Finder

Featured: June 26-July 2

Common Name: Rose
Scientific Name: Rosa

While it may be a cliche to invite visitors to “stop and smell the roses” at an Arboretum, it’s nearly impossible to pass by the rose gardens without lingering. The Arboretum has three rose gardens across the grounds, including the Nelson Shrub Rose Garden, which features hardy landscape roses; the Ankeny-Lang Rose Walk, a promenade of newer rose varieties that leads visitors to the Annual Garden; and the Wilson Rose Garden, which offers a dazzling display of more than 500 tender roses. These tender rose varieties are buried in the ground each winter using the “Minnesota Tip” method with help from the Minnesota Rose Society to protect them from freezing temperatures.

As you explore the rose gardens, you might spot some hardy roses introduced by the University of Minnesota (hint: look for the maroon tags). The first rose breeding efforts at the University were an offshoot of the successful chrysanthemum projects in the 1940s and led to the introduction of four super-hardy Northern Accents® shrub roses, including Sven, Ole, Lena and Sigrid.

Be sure to take time to stop and smell the roses on your next visit to the Arboretum, and use the Plant Finder to find roses across the Arboretum grounds.

Garden Highlights

Featured: June 26-July 2

Asiatic Lily

Yellow Coneflower

Clematis

Larkspur

Hybrid Mullein

Japanese Iris

Purple Prairie Clover

Bellflower

Woadwaxen

Daylily

Feather Reed Grass

Knautia

The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum connects people and plants for the planet.

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