Kiku: Spotlight on Tradition
November 1 through 16, 2025
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Nolen Greenhouses
Seasonal wonders, just around the corner
Explore displays Japanese chrysanthemums, or kiku, that have been expertly trained over the past 11 months into incredible shapes and styles. Chrysanthemum blooms burst with color, trained into traditional forms, including the ozukuri, or “thousand bloom”—a feat of nature and intricate plant cultivation, which produces hundreds of chrysanthemum flowers from one stem. Seasonal fall flowers in warm, rich hues complement this must-see spectacle. Join us on November 8, 2025, for a taiko drumming performance celebrating this seasonal favorite display.
Get a glimpse into the art of training kiku
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These spectacular flower forms are the result of an 11-month process!
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All of our kiku, or Japanese chrysanthemums, are grown here at NYBG in our Nolen Greenhouses for Living Collections.
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Our horticulturists work year-round to care for these plants as they grow, and begin training them into their future shapes by trimming back extra flowering stems, allowing the plant to pour its energy into select blooms.
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Many of our kiku designs are carefully woven onto bamboo frames to create displays of flowers that represent mountains, cascading waterfalls, and other fantastical shapes perfected over centuries in Japan.
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Other kiku designs are contemporary takes on the artform by our horticulturists, like this whimsical parasol.
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