In 1962 an interviewer asked Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969) to discuss the defining aesthetic principles of his great naturalistic garden at Winterthur. Du Pont replied, “For me, color is the thing that counts more than any other.”

The following is a list of the major plant groupings at Winterthur, listing the flower colors and time of bloom in Delaware (Zone 6B). For more than 65 years H. F. du Pont observed succession of bloom, experimenting with thousands of plants and refining the color combinations that are the essence of the Winterthur Garden.

ColorTime of Bloom
March Bank
Galanthus spp. (Snowdrops)WhiteJanuary-March
Adonis amurensis (Amur Adonis)YellowMarch
Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite)YellowMarch
Chionodoxa spp. (Glory-of-the-Snow)BlueMarch
Scilla spp. (Squills)BlueMarch
Leucojum vernum (Spring Snowflake)WhiteMarch
Crocus spp. and hybridsVariousMarch
Cornus officinalis (Cornelian-Cherry)YellowMarch
Narcissus spp. and cv. (Daffodils, early)YellowMarch, April
Uvularia grandiflora (Bellwort)YellowApril
Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebell)BlueApril, May
Phlox divaricata (Wild Phlox)LavenderApril, May
Hosta ventricosaLavenderJuly
Winterhazel Walk
Corylopsis spp. (Winterhazel)YellowApril
Rhododendron mucronulatum (Korean R.)LavenderApril
Helleborus spp. (Hellebores)VariousApril
Corydalis bulbosaLavenderApril
Primula abchasica (Abkhazian Primrose)PinkApril
Pinetum
Chaenomeles spp. and cvs. (Flowering Quince)VariousApril
Viburnum spp.Chartreuse, whiteApril, May
Spiraea spp.WhiteApril
Rhododendron spp. and cvs.(Deciduous Azaleas)Pink, Yellow, OrangeApril, May
Rhododendron cvs.(Kurume Hybrid Azaleas)PinksMay
Sundial Garden
Magnolia spp. and cvs.White, pinkApril
Spiraea spp.WhiteApril
Chaenomeles spp. and cvs.
(Flowering Quince)
Pink, redApril
Prunus spp. and cvs. (Cherries)PinkApril
Viburnum spp. and cvs.WhiteApril
Fothergilla spp. and cvs.WhiteApril, May
Malus cvs. (Crabapples)PinkApril
Exochorda spp. and cvs. (Pearlbushes)WhiteApril, May
Syringa cvs. (Lilacs)Lavenders, whiteMay
Paulownia tomentosa (Princess Tree)LavenderMay
Azalea Woods
Anemone apennina (Italian Windflower)Lavender, whiteApril
Trillium grandiflorumWhiteApril, May
Rhododendron cvs.(Kurume Hybrid Azaleas)VariousMay
R. kaempferi (Torch Azalea)PinksMay
Rhododendron spp. and cvs.VariousMay
Hyacinthoides hispanica
(Spanish Bluebell)
BlueMay
Peony Garden
Paeonia cvs. (Hybrid tree peonies)VariousMay
Paeonia cvs. (Herbaceous peonies)VariousMay
Rhododendron cvs. (Kurume Azaleas)PinkMay
Kolkwitzia amabilis (Beautybush)PinkMay
Sycamore Hill
Narcissus cvs. (Daffodils)Yellow, whiteApril
Cercis canadensis (Redbud)LavenderApril, May
Syringa spp. and cvs.LavenderMay
Aesculus pavia (Red Buckeye)RedMay
Kalmia latifolia (Mountain-laurel)PinkMay, June
Chionanthus virginicus (Fringe Tree)WhiteMay, June
Deutzia spp. and cvsWhite, lavender