Tulips and poppies, extraordinary blooms for the 400th anniversary of the Jardin des Plantes

To mark its 400th anniversary in 2026, the Jardin des Plantes is unveiling two waves of extraordinary blooms along its Grand Perspective, pairing tulips, anemones, and poppies from spring into summer. Already in bloom, the parterres are stunning right now and deserve a quick visit.

To celebrate its 400th anniversary in style, the Jardin des Plantes in Paris’s 5th arrondissement is decked out in a striking floral makeover for 2026. On the grand Perspective, two major planting campaigns will unfold across the year, weaving together tulips, anemones, and poppies in compositions that let botanical art meet scientific heritage. A wonderful chance to (re)discover all the treasures of this historic garden, just steps from the Seine and the Halle aux Vins district.

Which blooms to see at the Jardin des Plantes in spring 2026?

The first wave of planting, carried out between mid-October and mid-November by the gardeners of the National Museum of Natural History, takes on this year a particularly artistic dimension. The theme draws on the famous Museum velins, those hand-painted botanical plates that have illustrated the richness of plant life since the 17th century. Three artists are in the spotlight: Ludwig Virsing, Pierre-Joseph Redouté, and Nicolas Robert, whose works have been transposed into four distinct planting zones along the Perspective.

The Thouin sector showcases Virsing's "Red Monster Parrot" in bold shades of red, black, yellow and orange. The Redouté massif, meanwhile, draws on the eponymous painter-botanist's cultivated tulips, with delicate tints of pink, yellow, purple and gray. A little further on, the Descaisne sector pays tribute to Nicolas Robert with Anemone variaea florae simplici, in tones of violet, white, red and pink. Finally, the rose bed blends anemones and tulips in a gradient of pinks, yellows, whites and mauves. All told, nearly 25,000 biennial plants and 23,000 bulbous plants make up this living vegetal fresco, whose blossom is already underway, somewhat ahead of schedule this year.

When is the best time to see the summer plantings?

From mid-May to mid-June, the garden teams are setting the stage for the summer season by replanting the entire Perspective under a new theme: the "gastronomie des simples". It is a tribute to the plants that for centuries have nourished kitchens and traditional pharmacopoeias. Nearly 25 000 annuelles et vivaces will be arranged in this display, including about a thousand mother plants that return every year. A subtle link between sensory pleasure, the history of botany, and the medicinal virtues of plants.

What else is there to see right now at the Jardin des Plantes?

These blooms aren’t the only reason to stroll through this splendid institution this spring. The Japanese cherry tree Shirotae, a remarkable tree labeled by the MNHN, is currently in full bloom along the same Perspective. With its branch-like spokes fanning out for more than 15 meters and its immaculate white, two-tone blossoms that are gently scented, it attracts photographers and walkers every spring. The bloom is fleeting—no need to wait. The pink cherry, equally majestic and directly opposite, is just beginning to flower, so now is the time to go.

Japanese cherry Shirotae at the Jardin des Plantes: the remarkable tree with dazzling white blossoms
At the Jardin des Plantes in Paris’s 5th arrondissement, the celebrated Shirotae Japanese cherry tree is blooming this spring 2026. This remarkable tree, with its immaculate white blossoms and delicate fragrance, is drawing admirers earlier than usual this year and is currently in full bloom. [Read more]

In the borders, tulips and poppies create swaths of color that recall Impressionist canvases, inviting you to slow down and see things differently. The garden, whose entry is free, opens daily from 7:30 a.m. It sits at 57 Rue Cuvier, in the 5th arrondissement, just a stone’s throw from the Seine. The MNHN site offers a detailed map of blooms and notable trees to help plan your visit.

This spot suits families with kids, botany and photography enthusiasts, and curious visitors looking to recharge among the greenery in the heart of Paris. To extend your spring stroll, the Jardin de Reuilly in the 12th arrondissement and its blooming cherry trees are worth a detour, just as the botanical gardens and arboretums of Île-de-France for those who want to push their botanical exploration a little further.