The Flowering Calendar of Claude Monet’s Gardens at Giverny offers a month-by-month look at the iconic flowers that inspired his masterpieces. From tulips in April to dahlias in October, discover how each season transforms this living canvas into a new work of art.
Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny are a living masterpiece, constantly shifting in color and texture throughout the seasons. Monet once declared, “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece,” and indeed, it became both his sanctuary and an endless source of inspiration for his paintings. From spring’s delicate pastels to autumn’s fiery hues, the garden offers a dynamic display that mirrors the artist’s brushstrokes on canvas.
Please note: This list is not exhaustive, as blooming times may vary depending on weather conditions, and other plants may also be present. However, the most significant and iconic flowers of Monet’s garden are included here to guide your visit.
Alongside this flowering calendar, you may also enjoy exploring the complete list of plants and flowers in Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny.
As winter loosens its grip, the first blooms of April bring soft color back to the garden. Tulips and narcissi push through the soil, while forget-me-nots weave a delicate blue haze along the borders. Cherry and crab-apple blossoms unfurl, casting a fleeting pink glow over the landscape. The return of light and warmth stirs the garden to life, much like Monet’s Impressionist works, where early spring’s gentle tones often serve as a backdrop.
Tulips, pansies, forget-me-nots, narcissi, aubrietas, cherry and crab-apple blossom, fritillaries, daffodils.
By May, the garden swells with energy. Irises, with their striking blues and purples, stand tall—just as they do in Monet’s The Artist’s Garden at Giverny. Wisteria drapes over trellises in cascades of lavender and white, lending an almost dreamlike quality to the landscape. Peonies, rhododendrons, and delphiniums add bursts of color, while golden laburnum creates a glowing contrast. The air hums with life, as flowers bloom in harmony, much like the dappled sunlight Monet masterfully captured in his paintings.
Irises, peonies, rhododendrons, geraniums, wisterias, azaleas, wallflowers, daisies, delphiniums, laburnum.
By June, the garden reaches its peak, brimming with vibrant color and fragrance. Roses—both climbing and bush varieties—spill over pathways, their petals illuminated by the summer light. The pink hues of tamarisks soften the edges of the landscape, while poppies sway like flickering brushstrokes of red and orange. Water lilies begin to surface in the pond, their reflection reminiscent of Monet’s iconic Water Lilies series. Here, nature and art become indistinguishable, each feeding the other in an endless loop of inspiration.
Roses, poppies, clematis, tamarisks, water lilies, irises.
Mid-summer transforms the garden into a riot of texture and movement. Nasturtiums spill across pathways, their fiery tones forming a natural mosaic. Ageratums, zinnias, and verbenas inject bursts of blue, pink, and red into the landscape. By the pond, water lilies float serenely, their reflection ever-changing with the shifting sky—a scene Monet returned to obsessively in his later years. Towering sunflowers and hollyhocks create dramatic vertical accents, while gladiolus and cosmos add a playful contrast.
Roses, nasturtiums, ageratums, zinnias, nicotianas, busy lizzies, verbenas, dahlias, rudbeckias, salvias, gladiolus, cleomes, cosmos, sunflowers, helianthus, hollyhocks, water lilies.
The heat of August deepens the colors of the garden. Dahlias bloom in shades of crimson, orange, and deep purple, lending a dramatic intensity to the flower beds. Cosmos and hibiscus thrive in the lingering warmth, while the water lilies, though beginning to fade, still hold onto their ethereal beauty. Zinnias, rudbeckias, and sunflowers continue to brighten the space, ensuring the garden remains a feast for the eyes even as the days slowly begin to shorten.
Dahlias, cosmos, hibiscus, zinnias, rudbeckias, verbenas, sunflowers, ageratums, nasturtiums.
As summer wanes, the garden takes on a gentler mood. Nasturtiums drape the Grande Allée in brilliant shades of orange and gold, forming a living pathway of warmth. Dahlias, asters, and cosmos provide a last flourish, their late blooms adding a final burst of color before the cooler nights set in. Rudbeckias and sunflowers linger, their golden hues hinting at the autumn ahead. Meanwhile, colchiques and autumn crocuses quietly emerge, signaling the shift in seasons.
Nasturtiums, asters, dahlias, cosmos, rudbeckias, sunflowers, autumn crocuses, colchiques.
In October, the garden stages its last brilliant display. Dahlias and asters bloom with intensity, their deep reds and purples contrasting against the crisp autumn air. The Grande Allée remains ablaze with nasturtiums, while sunflowers, though past their prime, still stand tall in defiance of the coming frost. The water lilies make their final appearance, their delicate reflections now softer, almost fading—just as Monet painted them in his later years, capturing their fleeting beauty in the waning light.
Dahlias, asters, nasturtiums, zinnias, sunflowers, annual flowers until frost, water lilies.
The Flowering Calendar of Claude Monet’s Gardens at Giverny offers a glimpse into the seasonal beauty that inspired some of his most famous works. This FAQ highlights the best times to visit, showcasing the blooms that define each season and helping you plan your trip to experience the gardens in full bloom.
Each season offers a unique display, but May and June are particularly stunning, with irises, peonies, and wisteria in full bloom, creating a vibrant and layered effect. July and August bring a different kind of beauty, with towering sunflowers, bright dahlias, and lush greenery filling the space. September and October introduce rich autumn hues, as golden rudbeckias, asters, and the fading pastels of hydrangeas blend into the warm tones of the season.
Blooming times vary depending on weather conditions. While the guide provides a general timeline, unexpected shifts in temperature and rainfall can cause flowers to appear earlier or later than expected, making each visit slightly different from the last.
Many of the flowers planted today match those from Monet’s era, based on historical records and his own paintings. Some original varieties, such as the Japanese anemones and foxgloves he adored, still thrive. However, the garden is also maintained with artistic interpretation, incorporating modern cultivars that complement his palette while preserving the spirit of his original vision.
Water lilies begin blooming in June and reach their peak in July and August, continuing into early October before fading with the cooler temperatures. Their reflections shift throughout the day, mirroring the movement of light and sky, much like Monet captured in his paintings. The experience of seeing them at midday, when the sun brightens their colors, is completely different from viewing them in the late afternoon, when they glow in softer, golden hues.
Early mornings and late afternoons offer the most magical lighting, when the soft, slanted sun highlights textures and colors in a way that recalls Monet’s brushstrokes. The reflections in the pond become particularly striking during these times, shifting with the changing sky. Midday visits are vibrant but tend to be busier, and the stronger sunlight can make certain colors appear flatter compared to the luminous tones of the golden hours.
Yes, visitors can walk across the iconic Japanese bridge in the Water Garden, experiencing firsthand the scene Monet painted so many times. Standing there, surrounded by willows and wisteria, offers a moment of immersion into his world, with shifting light and colors much like he once observed and translated onto canvas.
Most visitors spend between an hour and a half to two hours exploring both the Flower Garden and the Water Garden, though those who love art, photography, or gardening may wish to linger longer. The garden’s colors and perspectives change with every step, making it easy to lose track of time while taking in the details.
Yes, guided tours offer deeper insight into Monet’s vision, his planting techniques, and the inspiration behind his paintings. For those who prefer a more independent experience, audio guides and self-guided visits allow visitors to move at their own pace while still learning about the garden’s history and artistic significance.
Many areas of the garden are accessible, but some paths, especially those made of gravel and the small bridges, may be challenging for wheelchairs. The main pathways in the Flower Garden are easier to navigate, while the Water Garden has a few areas that require extra care. Staff are available to assist visitors with mobility concerns whenever possible.
While visitors cannot take plants from the garden itself, the on-site gift shop offers seeds and gardening books inspired by Monet’s floral arrangements. Many of the seeds available are chosen to reflect the flowers seen in the garden, allowing visitors to bring a small piece of Giverny’s beauty home with them.