Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) is a 52-acre oasis of natural beauty, home to a diverse array of flowers and plants that captivate visitors throughout the year. As a leading botanical garden, BBG showcases the stunning floral diversity of the region, offering a unique and immersive experience for garden enthusiasts, nature lovers, and casual strollers alike.
Current Blooms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Lotuses
The garden’s lily pools are home to the magnificent lotuses, which can be mistaken for water-lilies at first glance. However, these aquatic beauties have distinctive leaves that rise above the water’s surface and large, round seedpods within.
Eupatorium purpureum
Also known as Joe-Pye weed, this late-blooming perennial boasts tiny, dusty-pink flowers that add a delicate touch to the garden’s landscape.
Crape-myrtles
These stunning trees produce extravagant panicles of crinkly flowers that burst into bloom in late summer, creating a breathtaking display.
River Oats
This perennial grass features gently nodding, flat flower spikelets that dangle above the leaves, adding a graceful touch to the garden.
Hardy Blue-Flowered Leadwort
This groundcover plant produces vivid blue flowers that appear later in the summer and spreads by sending out rhizomes, creating a captivating carpet of color.
Forest Sunflowers
These native wildflowers bloom from midsummer through fall, attracting bees and butterflies with their cheerful yellow blooms.
Lovely Anemones
Blooming in late summer and continuing through fall, these delicate flowers attract pollinators when many other sources of pollen and nectar have gone to seed.
Goldenrod
This small goldenrod variety produces clumps of yellow plumes that attract butterflies and has an extended blooming season from late summer into early fall.
Hibiscus
The garden’s hybrid cultivar of this tropical plant boasts large, showy flowers up to ten inches across, but they only last for a single day.
Dyers’ Tickseed
This annual plant features bright yellow and maroon flowers that bloom alongside its wispy, lacelike foliage.
Hydrangeas
These iconic summer flowers come in a range of colors, with the bloom hue influenced by the soil’s pH level.
Pelican Flower
This climbing plant has large, velvety flowers that resemble a piece of meat and are pollinated by flies in the wild.
Cardoon
This herbaceous perennial features spiny leaves and thistle-like, bright purple flowers that add a unique touch to the garden.
Shrub Rose
This floribunda shrub rose blooms repeatedly from early summer through fall, providing a long-lasting display of color.
Seasonal Blooms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Spring
Bluebells: Over 50,000 bluebells are planted under a mature stand of oak, birch, and beech trees in the Bluebell Wood, creating an enchanting woodland display in late April.
Summer
Hardy Begonias: These plants emerge in the Bluebell Wood after the bluebells fade, providing pink flowers in summer and lovely reddish foliage in fall.
Fall
Forest Sunflowers: These native wildflowers continue to bloom through fall, attracting bees and butterflies with their cheerful yellow blooms.
Garden Features at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Water Garden
This area features lotuses and other aquatic plants, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.
Herb Garden
This garden showcases a diverse array of food plants from around the world, offering a glimpse into the rich culinary heritage of various cultures.
Rock Garden
This garden features woodland plants flourishing amid boulders deposited during the last ice age, creating a unique and visually striking landscape.
Native Flora Garden
This garden exhibits plants native to the New York metropolitan area, arranged to represent the natural habitats of the region.
Visiting Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Address: 150 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11225
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (July 5 to August 30, 2024), and Wednesdays, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (May 29 to September 4, 2024)
- Tickets: Advance tickets are recommended to ensure a seamless visit.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a true gem, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the beauty and diversity of the natural world. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply seeking a peaceful respite from the bustling city, the vibrant blooms and stunning landscapes of this botanical oasis are sure to captivate and inspire.
References
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden. (n.d.). Plants in Bloom. Retrieved from https://www.bbg.org/bloom
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden. (n.d.). Gardens & Collections. Retrieved from https://www.bbg.org/collections
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden. (n.d.). Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Retrieved from https://www.bbg.org
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden. (n.d.). Bluebell Wood. Retrieved from https://www.bbg.org/collections/gardens/bluebell_wood
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden. (n.d.). Native Flora Garden. Retrieved from https://www.bbg.org/collections/gardens/native_flora_garden