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: August 28 - Sept 3

2026 Annual Garden

In the spring, the Arboretum’s Mary L. Griggs Annual Garden is known for its 20,000-plus tulips. But by the height of summer, a new garden has taken shape, with thousands of annuals that have grown into a tapestry of color featuring delightful flower forms, scents and ideas for home gardeners.

This year, horticulturist Duane Otto selected a warm pastel color theme, featuring flowers and foliage with hues of buttery yellow, light purple and blue, and bubblegum pink. Strolling through the Annual Garden this summer, visitors will be surrounded by standout cultivated flowers such as ‘Violet Queen’ cleome, ‘Buenos Aires’ verbena and ‘Marshmallow’ canna. Prized for their striking patterned foliage, over 14 cultivars — or cultivated varieties — of coleus are spread throughout the garden sharing center stage with the beautiful blooms.

Stop by this year’s Annual Garden display located across from the entrance to Three-Mile Drive to view the 150 unique cultivar and species combinations!

Garden Highlights

Featured: August 28 - Sept 3

Japanese Wax Bells

Grapeleaf Anemone

Pink Turtlehead

Garden Mum

Showy Stonecrop

White Snakeroot

Grandiflora Rose

Crabapple

Dahlia

Wild Senna

Bush Cinquefoil

Black Chokeberry

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