February / March Hours RBG Centre / Hendrie Park Open Tuesdays to Sundays for Alice in Bloomland, CLOSED Mondays.

What’s in Bloom? February at RBG

Home Articles What’s in Bloom? February at RBG
January 31, 2024

What Blooms in February?

Note: this is a general guide of what typically blooms this month at RBG. Bloom periods may vary by up to 2 weeks. For the best view of what’s blooming right now at RBG, see the current photos on RBG’s Instagram, or find the “Bloom Watch” section on the What’s in Bloom page.

This February, tumble down the rabbit hole into “Alice in Bloomland” a wondrous botanical experience at RBG Centre. Brighten the cold winter months with fresh fragrance and vibrant colours as 25,000 real orchid blooms unfold over the course of this awe-inspiring exhibit. Marvel at curious plant displays featuring bromeliads, anthuriums, air plants, cyclamen, spring bulbs, and more.

The Orchid Society Annual Show returns in February, showcasing the beauty and diversity of orchids. Judged by the American Orchid Society, it features orchid displays by societies and growers from across Canada and the USA.

This time of year, many are planning for their garden and starting seeds indoors. A winter walk through Hendrie Park or Rock Garden is a great way to get inspired and find ways to enjoy your garden year-round even after the plants are dormant and covered in snow.

At the Arboretum and Rock Garden, witch-hazel cultivars are the first shrubs to flower in the year (Hamamelis ×intermedia, January to April). In the genus Hamamelis (Witch-hazel) we have 81 individual plants represented by 27 different types in our collection.

Plant life slumbers but the nature sanctuaries are still full of life and interest. Long views of the Cootes Paradise landscape and the amazing glacial water carved rolling hills and ravines are available from the George North, Bulls Point, and Pine Point Lookouts on the north shore of Cootes Paradise, and the Sassafras Point lookout on the south shore.

Laking Garden is closed for the season.

  • Holly bush with bright red berries
  • bicolored witch-hazel flower, being reddish at the base but changing to more of an orange yellow at the tip
  • sun setting on the upper terrace of Rock Gaden with the Visitor Centre in the background.
  • Light layer of snow gently covering the forest floor
  • Hendrie Park gazebo in the Rose Garden with a dusting of snow

Pictured, left to right: Blue holly, Witch-hazel, Rock Garden, Arboretum, Hendrie Park

February Favourites

yellow orchids in the foreground, paper mache mushrooms stand in the background

Alice in Bloomland

Feb 1 to March 30

Inspired by the pages of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this floral showcase weaves together the magic of horticulture, the whimsy of floral design, and the marvel of visual arts to create an enchanting indoor wonderland straight out of a dream.

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Gravel trail leading down to Hickory Valley through the Magnolia Collection. Only buds are on the trees and there is snow on the ground in the background.

Winter Hiking

Explore RBG’s Nature Sanctuaries with 27km of hiking trails through Hamilton and Burlington!

On the Trails

Plants of Interest in February at RBG

  • Orchid display (RBG Centre)
  • Spring Breezeway display
  • Citrus Collection (Mediterranean Garden)
  • Weeping bottlebrush (Mediterranean Garden)
  • African iris (Mediterranean Garden)
  • Japanese pittosporum (Mediterranean Garden)
  • Aloe (Cacti and Succulent Collection)
  • Witch-hazel (Rock Garden, Arboretum)
  • Blue holly (Rock Garden)

Blooms by Season

Plants of interest are ever-changing in RBG’s five cultivated garden areas and nature sanctuaries. Learn what’s blooming now or see the blooms calendar for a rough estimation of what to expect each season.

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