With spring now upon us, flowers will start to bloom in and around Virginia Beach. Read below for some of the native flowers and plants you’ll see growing all around VA Beach:
Inkberry Holly
The Inkberry Holly shrub is popular in Virginia Beach’s gardens. This evergreen has narrow, shiny leaves (no spines) and small black fruit. It’s slow-growing and as spring arrives you’ll see a small greenish-white flower appear.
Sweetbay Magnolia
The Sweetbay Magnolia tree has dark green leaves that sport a silver underside (a rather “frosty” look). Late spring will see the arrival of the magnolia’s creamy white flowers. These have a slight lemony scent and it’s a lovely moment indeed to walk under a blooming magnolia tree.
Mountain Laurel
Mountain Laurel, also known as Kalmia latifolia, is a flowering plant that actually is a part of the blueberry family. Spring will see this evergreen shrub sprout small pink and white blossoms beginning in about late May. Its leaves – unflowered – are shaped like lances and are dark green in color. They have a leather-like feel to them and look a bit like smaller versions of rhododendron leaves.
Coneflower
The coneflower is a bright-colored perennial that you’ll spot in many gardens. They look a bit like daisies but have raised centers. They’re drought-tolerant and often are used in cut flower arrangements. Their seeds in the raised centers will attract songbirds to a garden.
Marsh Marigold
Marsh marigolds are very showy in spring, with bright yellow blooms that look more like buttercups than marigolds.
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Trumpet honeysuckle plants are climbers; you’ll often see them growing 20 feet or more among trees and taller shrubs. The trumpet honeysuckle’s flowers are tubular in shape and grow in clusters of three tubes to group. They run from pinkish-red to bright red and, due to their long tubes, are favorites of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.
Eastern Bluestar
The Eastern Bluestar grows to a height of about 1-3 feet in large, many-stemmed clumps. The stems have a profusion of narrow, oval leaves (they turn golden-yellow in the fall). Their blue, tubular flowers (the rim flares to the shape of a star) bloom in loose clusters at the tip of the stems.
You’ll no doubt see the Butterfly Weed in many home gardens. This perennial has large, flat-topped clusters of flowers colored a brilliant orange. The plant has stiff, dark green foliage in the shape of a lance, making for a gorgeous backdrop for the colorful blossoms. Last edited: March 26, 2017
