See Soaring Sunflowers and Radiant Roses That Bring Vincent van Gogh’s Paintings to Life
Featuring 18,000 plants and works by three contemporary artists, a new exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden celebrates the Dutch painter’s love of nature
Artists Across America Are Creating Stunning Floral Arrangements Inspired by Paintings, Sculptures and Artifacts
At “Art in Bloom” exhibitions, museums commission custom floral arrangements to go on display alongside items in their collections
See the Flower Paintings of Rachel Ruysch, Whose Stunning Still Lifes Are Finally Getting the Attention They Deserve
The Dutch “old mistress” was renowned in her own lifetime. But since her death 275 years ago, her legacy has been largely forgotten
Stinky Corpse Flowers Face a Recordkeeping Problem at Botanic Gardens, and It’s Leading to Inbreeding, Study Finds
Inconsistent data may be hurting conservation efforts for these endangered plants, known for attracting visitors to their scent of rotting flesh
Meet the ‘Wooly Devil,’ the First New Plant Genus Discovered in a National Park Since 1976
A volunteer spotted the tiny, fuzzy plant with maroon florets while exploring the remote northern corner of Big Bend National Park in Texas
Rare and Stinky ‘Corpse Flower’ Blooms Draw Thousands of Visitors to Gardens in New York and Sydney
People lined up to see—and smell—the blossoms of two pungent plant species, which only bloom for a short time every few years
These Endangered Wolves Have a Sweet Tooth—and It Might Make Them Rare Carnivorous Pollinators
Ethiopian wolves like to lick up the flower nectar of red hot poker plants, and researchers have caught the behavior on camera
Where Do Butterflies Migrate From? Clues Can Be Found in Pollen on Their Bodies
Trillions of insects move around the globe each year. Scientists are working on new ways to map those long-distance journeys
How an Engraving of Queen Victoria Ushered in the Era of the Bouquet Holder in England
The monarch set fashion trends during her time, and the flower holder became a sought-after accessory in Victorian society
Vincent van Gogh’s Brilliant Blue ‘Irises’ Were Originally Purple, New Research Reveals
An exhibition at the Getty Center shows that the painting’s pigment faded over many years, creating the hue that art lovers are familiar with today
Uncovering the Secrets Behind Hummingbirds’ Extreme Lifestyle
Here’s how the aerial acrobats are able to survive on a nearly all-sugar diet, fly higher than many helicopters can and migrate over the open ocean
Heat Waves Can Make Bumblebees Lose Their Sense of Smell, Study Finds. Here’s Why That’s a Problem
Female worker bees, which forage for the whole colony, struggle more to detect scents in the heat than males do, per the recent research
Georgia O’Keeffe’s Breathtaking New York City Paintings Are Finally Getting the Attention They Deserve
The artist’s cityscapes, once dismissed as too masculine, would later influence the floral artworks that became central to her iconic style
This Massive New Guidebook Will Forever Change the Way You Look at Trees
Written by Smithsonian botanist W. John Kress, the book details more than 300 North American tree species in words, maps and photographs—and why we shouldn’t take them for granted
Scientists Identify the Gene Behind Thorny Roses and Other Prickly Plants
A recent study could pave the way to cultivating various thornless plants, making them easier to grow and potentially more widely available
Static Electricity May Help Butterflies and Moths Pick Up Pollen
A new study measured the insects’ electrostatic charges and used computer simulations to show that the charges were strong enough to lift pollen
Rare ‘Absolutely Tiny’ Plant, Not Seen for More Than a Century, Found in Vermont
The last time a botanist recorded a sighting of false mermaid-weed in the state was in 1916
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Celebrate Spring With Terrific Tulips
These 15 Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images give top billing to the beautiful blooms
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Behold 15 Beautiful Photos of Cherry Blossoms in Bloom
These 15 picture-perfect cherry blossom images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest are pretty in pink
158 Cherry Blossom Trees Will Be Cut Down in D.C. in Effort to Withstand Sea-Level Rise
The National Park Service’s restoration project will reconstruct a protective seawall and plant 274 new cherry blossoms when work is complete
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