Bottlebrush buckeye flowers.A mature bottlebrush buckeye can be up to 15 feet wide and 8 feet high. This specimen in Ann Arbor, Mich., is about 15 years old.A buckeye leaf.By Joseph Mooney Native plant of the week: Bottlebrush buckeye, Aesculus parviflora “What is...

This summer, we’re documenting what it’s like to be an intern at MBGNA. Early in the morning, rain or shine, the interns are already hard at work.Campus Farm Irrigation Intern Laura VanKoughnett readies one of the farm's hoop houses for a second planting of tomatoes....

Diervilla lonicera flowers. Photo by Doug McGrady.Spent flowers of Diervilla 'Nightglow.'A 2-year-old Diervilla 'Nightglow,' about 2 feet wide by 2 feet high.By Joseph Mooney Native plant of the week: northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera). Time to plant a...

“A Garden of Earthy Delights,” an installation of ceramic sculptures inspired by the habitats of the Great Lakes and the plants that grow in them, is on display at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. The multi-piece stacked sculptures were created in collaboration with the...

Ripe pokeweed berries. Photo by Bob Richmond.A mature pokeweed plant may be up to 10 feet tall. Photo: Cornell University.Pokeweed berries in varying stages of ripeness. Photo by Cyndy Simms Parr.By Joseph Mooney This week’s native plant is American pokeweed...

The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and American Public Gardens Association (Association) have partnered to support public gardens and their community partners engaging in urban agriculture and food-growing to address food security challenges exacerbated by the...

Updated July 1, 2021: Scheduled reservations are now available to the general public for the display gardens, conservatory, and interior spaces at Matthaei Botanical Gardens on select days. All visitors will need to schedule times through our reservation system. You...

The flower of American lotus is fragrant, yellow-white, and can be as large as 10 inches across. Photo by Steve Fung.Nelumbo lutea flower bud with leaf behind floating on water.The leaves of American lotus often stand above the water and are round and very large.By...

Jack Sustic (left) and Cyril Grum work on a Satsuki azalea bonsai. Spent flowers must be removed soon after blooming. This helps redirect energy back into the azalea plant. Jack is Matthaei-Nichols' new bonsai specialist. Cyril is a bonsai volunteer at...

Cow parsnip at Matthaei.Cow parsnip leaf.Cow parsnip plant and leaves.Cow parsnip leaf edges.By Katie Stannard This week’s native plant is cow parsnip, Heracleum maximum. Dramatically tall to 8’ and topped with a bright beacon of florets, it’s definitely an...