What’s in Bloom?

This page offers bloom updates for popular trees and shrubs in Longenecker Horticultural Gardens and native plants in the Wisconsin Native Plant Garden and natural areas.

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Notes for visitors:

Dogs, tree climbing, picnics, and drones are not allowed. See visitor etiquette»
Posed photography requires a permit.
Garden maps are available online (PDF), at the Visitor Center, in trail boxes.

Longenecker Horticultural Gardens 2026 Updates

When trees bloom, and for how long, depends on the weather. Hot sunny days may cause early flowering but shorten bloom duration. Cool cloudy days can delay flowering but lengthen bloom period. Open flowers are easily damaged by freezing temperatures. In addition, there is a range of bloom times within any particular tree collection because they include early, mid-, and late-flowering types.

May 14

The lilac collection is beyond peak color. While it flowered less than most years – due to unfavorable weather last year – blooms are still abundant. Early and mid-flowering selections are fading; late flowering selections are just coming into bloom. Excellent flowers displays should last through the weekend.

Flowers have faded on most crabapples, but a handful of late flowering trees are still in bloom, including selections of the Wisconsin native prairie crabapple.

A number of azaleas/rhododendrons are in full bloom, with more expected to bloom over the weekend.

The buckeye/horsechestnut (Aesculus spp.) collection is in peak bloom and expected to continue through the weekend.

Most Asiatic magnolias have faded. A number of late-flowering magnolias have nice flower displays, including those with yellow flowers. The North American native cucumber-tree and umbrella magnolias are coming into bloom.

Also blooming: chokeberry (Aronia), daphne, deutzia, dogwoods, flowering quince, fothergilla, hawthorns, mountainash, roses, sweetshrub (Calacanthus), viburnums, weigela.

May 4

About 30 percent of the lilac collection is bloom, with more expected through the week. Peak bloom is expected to start this weekend and extend through next week. Please note that the lilac collection includes early, mid-, and late flowering selections. This prolongs the bloom season but means that the collection is never completely in bloom.

Crabapples are just past peak bloom, but based on the current forecast we expect dynamic flower displays through the week.

Buckeyes/horse chestnuts are coming into flower, with peak bloom expected by the weekend and into next week.

While peak magnolia flowering has passed, there are about 25 magnolias with good to excellent flower displays, including several late flowering yellow selections.

Flowering cherries are done blooming.

Also blooming: Aronia, Carolina silverbells, daphne, fothergilla, flowering quince, hawthorne, pawpaws, pearlbush, redbuds, rhododendrons, viburnums.

April 28

Crabapples are in peak bloom and expected to last through the week.

Buckeye/horse chestnut are coming into bloom, with full bloom expected by the weekend.

Flowering cherries are mostly done flowering, but a few selections in full bloom.

About 20 percent of the lilac collection is in bloom, with dynamic color expected by the weekend. Peak bloom is ten to fourteen days away. Please note that the lilac collection includes early, mid, and late flowering selections. This prolongs the bloom season but means that the collection is never completely in bloom.

The peak magnolia flowering period has passed but there are over 25 magnolias with good to excellent flower displays, including several late flowering yellow selections just coming into peak bloom and expected to last through the week.

Also blooming (in various stages): Amelanchier, Carolina silverbells, daphne, fothergilla, flowering quince, pawpaws, pearlbush, redbuds, rhododendrons, sassafras, viburnums.

April 21

Monday morning’s low of 23 degrees destroyed most open magnolia flowers. These were early flowering types and blooms had already faded. Many mid- and late-season types are just coming into bloom, including those with yellow flowers. More than 25 types are expected to fully bloom by late week, with others yet to come.

Cherries are less floriferous than in some years, yet there are many delightful flowers. About a dozen trees are in full bloom, with late flowering types yet to come.

A handful of early flowering lilacs have begun to bloom, with many more expected over the next week. It is still too early to predict peak bloom time. Please note that the lilac collection includes early, mid-, and late-flowering types. This provides a longer bloom season but the collection is never fully in bloom at once.

About a dozen crabapples are currently in bloom. Based on the current forecast, peak bloom is expected to begin by this weekend and continue into next week.

Also blooming: Redbuds, pears, wild plums, almonds, early flowering rhododendrons, Amelanchier species, bridal wreath spirea, clove scented currant, daffodils.

April 15

Thirty of our largest and earliest flowering magnolias are in full bloom. Another twelve are starting to open flowers, with full bloom expected by the weekend. These include some of Wisconsin magnolia breeder Dennis Ledivna’s selections.

A handful of flowering cherries are in full bloom, with more expected as the week progresses.

Lilac buds are swelling on early flowering types, with first blooms expected late this week. It is too early to predict peak bloom times.

Crabapple buds are swelling, and some flowers are expected to open by the weekend.

Also blooming: Amelanchier, Cornelian-cherry dogwood, daffodils, flowering almonds and pears, forsythia, Nanking cherry, PJM rhododendron.

April 10

More than twenty early flowering magnolias are showing significant color. Many are expected to fully bloom this weekend and early next week, including M. salicifolia, M. stellata, M. X lobneri, M. X kewenesis and M. kobus.

Buds on early flowering cherries have begun to swell. Flowering is expected to start early next week.

Lilac buds are swelling on early flowering types. The first blooms are expected by early next week. It is too early to predict peak bloom.

Crabapple buds are swelling. Some flowers are expected to open by late next week.

Also blooming: cornelian-cherry dogwood, forsythia, red and Freeman maples, daffodils.

April 2

The first magnolias, including the early blooming Anise magnolia (Magnolia salicifolia), have started to open flowers.

Flowering cherries, lilacs, and crabapples have yet to bloom. The cool and cloudy forecast for the next ten days will likely slow flower progression.

Also blooming: forsythia, white forsythia, Cornelian cherry dogwood, leatherwood, red maple, snow drops.

Bloom time ranges

Time ranges are estimates. Actual bloom dates depend on weather conditions and will be noted in bold when buds begin to open. This date does not reflect peak bloom.

Cherries (Prunus spp.): early to mid-April
44 specimens (consisting of 21 taxa*)
Magnolias (Magnolia spp.): April–May
110 specimens (consisting of 75 taxa)
Crabapples (Malus spp.): April–May
200 specimens (consisting of 150 taxa)
Lilacs (Syringa spp.): April–May
400 specimens (consisting of 260 taxa)
Rhododendrons and azaleas (Rhododendron spp.): mid-April–May
99 specimens (consisting of 65 taxa)
Horsechestnut/Buckeyes (Aesculus spp.): mid-May
31 specimens (consisting of 24 taxa)

*taxa include species, subspecies, and cultivars

Wisconsin Native Plant Garden 2026 Bloom Updates

Native plants will generally bloom earlier in the gardens than they do in the natural areas. First bloom date is in the Native Plant Garden unless otherwise noted.