The Ultimate Guide to Biltmore Blooms

Biltmore Blooms 2025: March 21 – May 22, 2025

Welcome spring at Biltmore, where over 100,000 flowers bloom across gardens fit for a Vanderbilt. 

During Biltmore Blooms, the estate’s annual garden party, you’ll find the estate bedecked in orchids and spring bulbs in bloom, filling the air with sweet smells. 

2025 SEASON UPDATE: The historic Biltmore House as well as the conservatory and gardens sustained minimal damage during Hurricane Helene. Some trails across the 8,000-acre estate remain closed and a few road detours may be in place.

George Vanderbilt built his 250-room mountain home right here in Western North Carolina, bringing in Frederick Law Olmsted—the man behind New York's Central Park—to design the grounds. Biltmore Blooms is a celebration of that vision, honoring the natural sequence of spring blooms that Olmsted and a team of dedicated gardeners have nurtured over the years.

March: The First Signs of Spring

As winter recedes, the estate’s earliest bloomers take center stage. Witch hazels, with their spidery red, yellow, and orange blossoms, brighten the landscape alongside delicate snowdrops, Lenten roses, and clusters of daffodils. The Walled Garden comes alive with a carpet of colorful pansies surrounding the daffodils, while early-blooming shrubs such as Japanese pieris, spirea, and winter jasmine add depth and texture.

Inside the Conservatory, nearly 1,000 orchids put on a dazzling display, their intricate blooms creating a tropical contrast to the brisk mountain air outside. Tulips, daffodils, and grape hyacinths planted around the Conservatory further add to the sensory experience. 

April: Tulip Season in Full Swing

April marks the height of tulip season, as nearly 80,000 tulips burst into bloom in the Walled Garden. Vibrant hues of purple, pink, white, and orange create a breathtaking display that lasts for several weeks.

Elsewhere on the estate, redbuds, serviceberry, and flowering dogwoods line the Approach Road, adding layers of color to the journey toward Biltmore House. As forsythia begins to fade, new blooms emerge—quince, viburnum, and fothergilla step into the spotlight, while azaleas begin their slow crescendo toward peak color.

May: A Grand Finale of Color

By May, the gardens are at their most abundant. Mountain laurels and Catawba hybrid rhododendrons bloom along the Approach Road, welcoming visitors with their showy displays. Kousa dogwood, sweetshrub, mock orange, and fringe trees add even more dimension to the gardens.

The Rose Garden enters its prime, showcasing a stunning array of roses in full bloom. Meanwhile, peonies, false indigo, and irises create a striking contrast against the spring annuals in the Walled Garden. American wisteria drapes its fragrant, lilac-to-bluish-purple clusters along arbors and trellises near the Winery and Village Hotel, completing the immersive floral experience.

Savor the Season

For those looking to enjoy the outdoors or a fine glass of wine amid the splendor of spring blooms, continue to explore Antler Hill Village. America's most-visited winery offers daily tastings of its delicious wine.

Antler Hill Village photo courtesy of The Biltmore Company.