Succession of Bloom for CT Native Shrubs/Trees
Click here for a printable version of this handout
Succession of bloom has changed and will continue to change as our climate warms. The exact time varies by town and microclimate. This is the first draft of an everchanging document that will be updated.
If the flowers on a plant are not showy but the fall fruit is, that is indicated after the common name for design purposes.
If a plant is shown in more than one month, it does necessarily mean it blooms the entire time for both months.
February
Hamamelis vernalis - Vernal witchhazel
March
Hamamelis vernalis - Vernal witchhazel
Salix discolor - Pussywillow
Lindera benzoin - Spicebush
April
Amelanchier arborea, canadensis, laevis - Shadbush, serviceberry, shadblow
Arctostophyllos uva-ursi - Bearberry
Aronia spp. - Chokeberry
Chamaedaphne calyculata - Leatherleaf
Comptonia peregrina - Sweet fern
Lindera benzoin - Spicebush
Prunus americana - American plum
Prunus maritima - Beach plum
Rhododendron canadense - Rhodora
Rhododendron (Azalea) prinophyllum - Early azalea
Rhus aromatica - Fragrant sumac
‘Gro Low’ is excellent groundcover form
Sassafras albidum - Sassafras
May
Arctostophylos uva-ursi - Bearberry
Aesculus pavia - Red buckeye
Andromeda polifolia - Bog rosemary
Aronia spp. - Chokeberry
Asimina triloba - Paw paw
Calycanthus floridus - Carolina allspice
Ceanothus americana - New Jersey tea
Cercis canadensis - Redbud
Chionanthus virginicus - Fringe tree
Comptonia peregrina - Sweet fern
Cornus alternifolia - Pagoda dogwood
Cornus (Benthamidia) florida - American Dogwood
Corylus americana - American hazelnut
Fothergilla major, f. gardenii - Witch alder
Leucothoe axillaris, L. fontenesiana - Doghobble, drooping Leucothoe
Myrica (Morela) pensylvanica - Northern bayberry (fall fruit)
Physocarpus opulifolius - Ninebark
Prunus serotina - Black cherry
Rhododendron (Azalea) calendulaceum - Flame azalea
Rhododendron (Azalea) periclymenoides - Pinxterbloom azalea
Rhododendron prinophyllum - Roseshell azalea
Vaccinium corymbosum - Highbush blueberry
Vaccinium angustifolium - Lowbush blueberry
V. macrocarpon - American cranberry
Viburnum acerfolium - Mapleleaf viburnum
Viburnum dentatum - Arrowwood viburnum
Viburnum lantanoides - Hobblebush
Viburnum lentago - Nannyberry
Viburnum opulus var americanum - American cranberrybush
Viburnum prunifolium - Blackhaw viburnum
Xanthorhiza simplicissima - Yellowroot
Zenobia pulverulenta - Dusty Zenobia
June
Aesculus pavia - Red buckeye
Calycanthus floridus - Carolina allspice
Cornus (Swida) amomum - Silky dogwood
Cornus (Swida) racemosa - Gray dogwood
Cornus (Swida) sericea - Redtwig/yellowtwig dogwood
Corylus americana - American hazelnut
Cotinus obovatus - Smokebush
Hydrangea arborescens - Smooth hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf hydrangea
Ilex opaca - American holly
Ilex verticillata - Winterberry (fall fruit)
Itea virginica - Virginia sweetspire
Kalmia angustifolia - Sheep laurel
Kalmia latifolia - Mountain laurel
Physocarpus opulifolius - Ninebark
Potentilla (Dasiphora) floribunda - Shrubby cinquefoil
Prunus virginiana - Choke cherry
Rhododendron (Azalea) arborescens - Sweet azalea
Rhododendron (Azalea) calendulaceum - Flame azalea
Rhododendron (Azalea) viscosum - Swamp azalea
Rosa Carolina - Pasture rose
Rosa palustris - Swamp rose
Rosa virginiana - Virginia rose
Rubus odoratus - Flowering raspberry
Sambucus canadensis - Elderberry
Symphoricarpos albus - Snowberry (fall fruit)
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus - Coralberry (fall fruit))
Viburnum acerifolium - Mapleleaf viburnum
Viburnum dentatum - Arrowwood viburnum
Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides - Witherrod viburnum
Viburnum opulus var americanum - American cranberrybush
July
Aesculus parviflora - Bottlebrush buckeye
Cephalanthus occidentalis - Buttonbush
Clethra alnifolia - Summersweet
Cornus (Swida) sericea - Redtwig/yellowtwig dogwood
Diervilla lonicera, D. sessilifolia - Bush honeysuckle
Hydrangea arborescens - Smooth hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf hydrangea
Hypericum densiflorum, frondosum, kalmianum, prolificum - St. Johnswort
Magnolia virginiana - Sweetbay magnolia
Oxydendron arboreum - Sourwood
Potentilla (Dasiphora) floribunda - Shrubby cinquefoil
Rhododendron (Azalea) arborescens - Sweet azalea
Rhododendron maximum - Rosebay rhododendron
Rhododendron (Azalea) viscosum - Swamp azalea
Rubus odoratus - Flowering raspberry
Spirea latifolia - Meadowsweet
Spirea alba var latifolia - Steeplebush
August
Clethra alnifolia - Summersweet
Diervilla spp. - Bush honeysuckle
Franklinia alatamaha - Franklinia tree
Hypericum densiflorum, frondosum, kalmianum, prolificum - St. Johnswort
Oxydendron arboreum - Sourwood
Rubus odoratus - Flowering raspberry
September
Baccharis halmifolia - Saltbush
Franklinia alatamaha - Franklinia tree
October
Baccharis halmifolia - Saltbush
Franklinia alatamaha - Franklinia tree
November
Hamamelis virginiana - Witch hazel