A Guide to What’s in Bloom + Seasonal Color

Below is a weekly guide to what's expected to be in bloom throughout summer. This is not an all-inclusive list. Alaska’s summer is short, yet intense. There are many blooms to see beyond what's listed!

Note that plant names are not in italics due to the limitations of website formatting.

Please call us at (907) 770-3692 if you have specific questions regarding our displays and collections.

Explore The Plant Records Database

Early May

The forest begins to bud with dormant life after a long winter. Anemone transsilvanica (Liverleaf) is often the first bloom to arrive (look in the Entry Garden around this time) with Saxifrage and Primula not far behind. It’s amazing to see how quickly fresh greenery pops through the leaves and winter bedding once the snow begins to melt.

Saxifraga oppositifolia 'Florissa' (Saxifrage)

Late May

As the month of May continues, you find Pulsatilla patens (Eastern Pasque Flower), Fritillaria meleagris (Snake Head Lily), and additional Primula (Primrose) blooming.

Vitaliana primuliflora (Alpine Primrose)

Early June

Other noteworthy blooms first week of June: Iris reticulata (Netted Iris), Pulsatilla vulgaris (European Pasque Flower). Other noteworthy blooms week second week of June: Genista depressa (Yellow Broom), Meconopsis quintuplinervia (Harebell Poppy), Fritallaria camschatcensis (Chocolate Lily)

Trollius europaeus (Yellow Globe Flower)

Glaucidium palmatum (Japanese Wood Poppy)

Primula denticulata (Drumstick Primrose)

Late June

Other noteworthy blooms third week of June: Pulmonaria sp. (Lungwort), Thalictrum 'Lavender Mist' (Meadow Rue). Other noteworthy blooms fourth week of June: Meconopsis 'Lingholm' (Blue Poppy), Digitalis (Foxglove)

Cypripedium guttatum (Spotted Lady's Slipper)

Maianthemum racemosum (False Solomon's Seal)

Saxifraga bronchialis (Yellow-spot Saxifrage)

Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart' (Bleeding Heart)

Early July

Other noteworthy blooms first week of July: Lamium maculatum (Spotted Deadnettle), Papaver sp. (Oriental Poppy), Chamaenerion angustifolium (Fireweed White). Other noteworthy blooms second week of July: Dicentra eximia (Fringed Bleeding Heart), Draba nivalis (Draba), Saponaria (Soapwort).

Iris pseudacorus 'Variegata' (Yellow Flag Iris)

Late July

Other noteworthy blooms third week of July: Campanula spp. (Bellflower), Peaonia spp. (Peony), Dahlias. Other noteworthy blooms fourth week of July: Androsace amurensis (Rock Jasmine), Arenaria procera (Sandwort), Draba siberica (Draba), Veronica 'Glory' (Spike Speedwell), Rheum palmatum (Chinese Rhubarb)

Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower)

Dracocephalum ruyschiana (Siberian Dragonhead)

Gillenia 'Pink Profusion' (Bowman's Root)

Early August

Other noteworthy blooms first week of August: Aconitum spp. (Monkshood), Hosta, Angelica gigas (Korean Angelica), Dianthus caryophyluss (Clove Pink). Other noteworthy blooms second week of August: Erigeron (Fleabane), Hosta 'Kim Botan' (Hosta), Anemone narcissiflora (Narcissus Anemone), Inula helenium

Echinops 'Veitch's Blue' (Globe Thistle)

Streptopus amplexifolius fruit (Watermelon Berry)

Late August

Other noteworthy blooms third week of August: Lysimachia (Yellow Loosestrife), Ribes spp. (Currants - red & black fruit), Thalictrum (Meadow Rue), Phlox