You’ve asked about our staff’s favorite plants. Follow along each week to find out!🌱🌺🌻🌳 Over the past few years, I have been learning the art and science of growing exhibition style, non-hardy Chrysanthemums. So at the moment, Chrysanthemum x morifolium is one of my favorite plants. This Chrysanthemum has a long horticultural history. Even though I am still learning , the Chinese and Japanese have been perfecting Chrysanthemum culture of thousands of years. Chrysanthemums are divided into 13 different classes based on their flower shape. From there they can also be trained into different forms, from single stem to cascading. I am fascinated by their diversity and the artistic creativity it takes to train a plant into any shape or form. -Joe C., Horticulturist #SmithsonianGardens #StaffPick #PublicGardens #Horticulture
Smithsonian Gardens
Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
Washington, District of Columbia 1,922 followers
Our Mission: Engage. Inform. Inspire.
About us
As a vital and vibrant part of the Smithsonian experience, Smithsonian Gardens engages people with plants and gardens, informs on the roles both play in our cultural and natural worlds, and inspires appreciation and stewardship. Smithsonian Gardens extends the Smithsonian’s museum experience in a public garden setting with over 180 acres of outdoor gardens including 13 public exhibition gardens often called the Smithsonian institution’s “museum without walls.” Staff also produces interior exhibits and horticultural displays around the Smithsonian, develops educational programing, and manages artifact, archival, and living collections.
- Website
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https://gardens.si.edu/
External link for Smithsonian Gardens
- Industry
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Washington, District of Columbia
- Type
- Government Agency
- Founded
- 1972
Locations
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Primary
600 Maryland Ave SW
Washington, District of Columbia 20024, US
Employees at Smithsonian Gardens
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Caitlin Garlow
Graduate Student at University of Maryland in Landscape Architecture
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Sarah Dickert
Supervisory Horticulturist, Smithsonian Gardens
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Nicholas Lazio
Horticulturist | Plant Collector | Visionary Leader
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Justin Kondrat
Lead Horticulturist- Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection (SGOC) at Smithsonian Institution
Updates
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Looking for some shade? Come hang out under the oaks and enjoy a tropical plant display! 🌴🪴🌺 Video description: horticulturist standing in a tropical plant display talking about the plants. #SmithsonianGardens #TropicalPlants #Summer #DCGardens #BotanicalGardens
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You’ve asked about our staff’s favorite plants. Follow along each week to find out!🌱🌺🌻🌳 This Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover) at the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution caught my eye. Its bright purple flowers begin blooming at the bottom of the spike and progress upward for 4-6 weeks in mid-to-late summer. In addition to its whimsical flower, I love its fine-textured foliage. It’s easy to grow, drought and heat-tolerant, and fixes nitrogen. So much love for this prairie wildflower.- Caitlin G., Landscape Architecture Intern #SmithsonianGardens #StaffPick #PublicGarden #Horticulture
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Plant highlight of Nassella tenuissima with horticulturist Sylvia. Video description: horticulturist sitting next to a straw colored grass combing out the ends. #SmithsonianGardens #PollinatorGarden #OrnamentalGrass #PublicGardens
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Did you know that our large Gardenia jasminoides is grafted? Grafted plants tend to be more vigorous and produce more and larger flowers than on their own roots. 🎥: Matt F., Horticulturist Video description: horticulturist standing next to a large Gardenia. He is pointing out the large white flowers and the white graft mark on the trunk. #SmithsonianGardens #Gardenia #Horticulture #TropicalPlants
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Can you identify these caterpillars? 🐛 These caterpillars are found munching on Aristolochia fimbriata (white veined hardy Dutchman’s pipe). 🐛: Pipevine Swallowtail 📷: Janet D., Horticulturist #Caterpillar #PipevineSwallowtail #Horticulture #SmithsonianGardens #BotanicalGarden
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You’ve asked about our staff’s favorite plants. Follow along each week to find out!🌱🌺🌻🌳 I can't help but be impressed by the maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba). This tree is one of the oldest trees known to exist (over 200 million years old) and pre-dates when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Ginkgoes were even some of the only trees to survive the attack on Hiroshima. I enjoy seeing this tree planted in the landscape because I am reminded of its longevity and resiliency. It also has cool, unique fan-shaped leaves that turn a brilliant yellow color in the fall. Ginkgo trees are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female trees. But beware! The fruits produced on the female trees have a very unpleasant odor as they start to decompose, so planting a male tree may be more preferable. -Jeff S., Deputy Director #SmithsonianGardens #StaffPick #Ginkgo #PublicGarden #Horticulture
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Hot or flop?👍👎 Find out what vegetables are doing well in the Victory Garden with horticulturist Erin. 🌽🥒🫛🌶️ Video description: horticulturist standing next to various vegetables checking to see how they are doing this summer in the garden. #VeggieGarden #BotanicalGardens #SmithsonianGardens
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Bee happy, it’s the weekend! 🐝 The flowers on Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) are a favorite of many bees and other pollinators. And even better, this plant can serve as the host plant for monarch butterflies. 🦋 📷: Michael A., Horticulturist #Milkweed #PollinatorPlant #Horticulture #SmithsonianGardens
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Gardenia jasminoides is a summer show stopper in the Enid A. Haupt Garden! This tree has been in the tropical collection for over 25 years. It makes a journey from our greenhouses to the garden to brighten and perfume the garden. 🎥: Horticulturist Matt Video description: horticulturist standing next to an evergreen tree with white flowers. #Gardenia #TropicalPlants #SmithsonianGardens #BotanicalGarden