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Bloom Report
Bloom Report
For a sneak peek at how color is transforming our gardens and grounds, review our Bloom Report.
Bill Quade, Biltmore’s Senior Manager of Horticulture, tells you what’s blooming when (and where!) across our magnificent estate. Plus, see answers to some of our frequently asked garden questions!
June on the estate is a beautiful time of year. Summer annuals have been installed and the outside of the Conservatory is alive with tropical plants. Be sure to stop by and see Biltmore Gardens Railway.
Some of my favorite shrubs are in bloom this month: the hydrangeas. Their sizes may vary but all feature big blooms. You’ll see Annabelle hydrangeas at The Inn and Oakleaf hydrangeas throughout the gardens.
Shrubs aren’t the only plants blooming this month. Stewartia, smoketree, and sweetbay magnolia are also putting on a show. Finally, the perennials are enjoying the warm weather and bursting with color. The artful display created by the textures, colors, and heights of these versatile plants is a must-see experience this month. One of the best places to see it: the beds bordering the Walled Garden.
—Bill Quade, Senior Manager of Horticulture
Enjoy Photos Taken on the Estate This Month
Hydrangeas in bloom
Roses in the Rose Garden
Peony in bloom
Rose Garden in bloom with the Conservatory
The Walled Garden
Inside the Conservatory, Biltmore Gardens Railway includes an intricate model of Biltmore House
Inside the Conservatory
Roses in the Rose Garden
Roses in Antler Hill Village
Conservatory: Medinilla, Flamingo Flower, Peace Lily, Bromeliad, Orchid, Impatiens, Hibiscus, Gardenia, Shrimp Plant, Abutilon
Shrub Garden: Hydrangea, Summersweet, Smoketree, Stewartia, Hypericum, Vitex, Abelia, Crepe Myrtle, Beautyberry, Veronica
Spring Garden: Smooth Leaf Hydrangea, Oakleaf Hydrangea
Azalea Garden: Hydrangeas, Abelia, Sweetbay Magnolia, Bottlebrush Buckeye, Sourwood, Hypericum, Geranium, Stewartia, Bigleaf Magnolia
Walled Garden: Roses, Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Day Lily, Summer Annuals, Hydrangeas, Monarda, Gladiolus, Canna, Rose of Sharon
Entry and Approach Road: Abelia, Summer Annuals, Sourwood, Hydrangeas, Sweetbay Magnolia, Stewartia, Bottlebrush Buckeye, Hypericum, Bush Honeysuckle, Sweet Shrub
Inn on Biltmore Estate: Hydrangeas, Roses, Abelia, Bush Honeysuckle, Day Lily, Coreopsis, Monarda, Canna, Gladiolus, Lavender
Antler Hill Village / Winery: Roses, Hydrangeas, Abelia, Coreopsis, Monarda, Gaura, Black-eyed Susan, Day Lily, Clematis, Bottlebrush Buckeye
Recent Guest Questions
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What is the large ball we see blooming at the Front Entrance, Walled Garden, and Village?
This is allium, more commonly referred to as ornamental onion.
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When can I see azaleas in bloom?
The early-blooming azaleas have already started to bloom. As we continue through April, more will start to show color and be very noticeable starting the second week in April.
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Do you plant your tulips in pots outside?
No. The forced bulbs you see inside the Conservatory are potted up in November and then kept in a walk-in cooler for a specified number of days. They are then brought up to our production house to finish growing before being placed in the Conservatory. The bulbs you see planted at the main gate, entrance beds at Antler Hill Village, and the Walled Garden pattern beds are all planted in November. The supervisors of each area work to select early-, mid-, and late-blooming varieties to have bulbs blooming from March through the middle of April.
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What do you do with your tulips?
We select hybrid tulips that provide the best bloom possible. As a result, blooms will diminish in future years. Each year we dig up all the tulips and compost them. The compost is then used in fields across the estate as a soil amendment.
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When will the roses bloom?
The roses’ first flush of blooms is generally opening by Mother’s Day through the end of May. After that, we get intermittent summer blooming with a full flush again in September.
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When do you start feeding the Koi in the Italian Garden?
As soon as the water temperature reaches 50 degrees or higher. We’ll feed them from approximately early May until mid-October.
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When will the cherry trees bloom?
We expect the cherries to be in bloom the third and last week of March.
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Can I water my Orchids with ice cubes?
Orchids are tropical plants and don’t want frozen things on their roots. They like humidity, so put them next to the kitchen sink or mist them. Only water 1-2 times a week.
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Portions of the Conservatory were closed recently for repainting. When was the last time the inside was painted?
The entire Conservatory was restored in the mid to late 1990s. This included a fresh coat of paint. We are now back to our one way guest flow. Biltmore Gardens Railway opened on April 1, so be sure to visit.
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What's the fragrant plant along the steps from the Conservatory down to A Gardeners Place?
Edgeworthia.
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When is the best time to visit to see spring flowers?
April through May, although Mid-March is when the spring blooms start.
