Clove Currant (Ribes aureum var. villosum)
Bloom Time: March – April
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Birds, butterflies
Tolerates: Drought
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Spicily fragrant blooms, edible fruits, mildew resistant
Location: Wills Perennial Garden
Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
Bloom Time: March – April
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Pollinated by bees
Tolerates: Clay soil
Native to North America: No
Other: Showy white flower. Makes a wonderful specimen tree.
Location: Petite Swan Lawn
Snowdrop (Galanthus sp.)
Bloom Time: February
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Tolerates: Deer
Native to North America: No
Other: Showy flower. Looks best planted en masse.
Location: Howe Garden
Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis)
Bloom Time: February – April
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Low – medium
Tolerates: Deer
Native to North America: No
Other: Showy, long-lasting blooms, evergreen foliage.
Location: Robinson Family Water Garden
Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus)
Bloom Time: February – April
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Tolerates: Deer
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Showy, long-lasting blooms, evergreen foliage.
Location: Turner Seasons Garden: Spring
Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Caramel’)
Bloom Time: June – July
Sun Requirement: Part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees
Tolerates: Full sun if given enough water
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Colorful foliage all year round in Middle TN. Makes a great groundcover.
Location: Burr Garden
Paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha)
Bloom Time: February
Sun Requirement: Part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees
Tolerates: Full sun if given enough water
Native to North America: No
Other: Blooms are beautifully scented (similar to Daphne). The inner bark is used to make paper.
Location: Alcove of Visitor Services
Grecian Windflower (Anemone blanda)
Bloom Time: March – April
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees
Tolerates: Deer
Native to North America: No
Other: Naturalizes well. Goes dormant after flowering.
Location: Fern Garden
Reflecting Pool
Pontederia cordata / Pickerel Weed
Pickerel weed is native to eastern North America and the Caribbean. It has soft blue blooms, resembling hyacinth, punctuated with yellow spots on each petal. A freshwater-aquatic plant, it will thrive in your rain garden or backyard pond, and, much like horsetail plant (Equisetum), it can spread rapidly. With its dense root system, it does an amazing job of controlling erosion by keeping sediment it place. Grow in containers, either out of water or in, if spread is a concern.
The leaves of Pontederiaare shaped like arrowheads and, when young, can be used in salads. Its seeds are also edible, and tastes best when roasted, though waterfowl will eat them raw. Butterflies are big fans of this perennial; dragonflies and damselflies commonly lay their eggs on plant stems near the water’s surface. Fish, reptiles, and other water creatures seek shelter in the clumps of these plants. It is often seen in the same habitats as the pickerel fish, hence the common name.We’re already seeing a few spring blooms here at Cheekwood! Our garden team has hand selected their top plant picks for March from 9 of our distinct gardens. Use this as your guide as you explore the grounds.
Hyacinth ‘Delt Blue’
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Tolerates: Deer and rabbits
Other: Extremely fragrant, award-winning cultivar. An heirloom type (since 1944) true blue flowers, does well in the ground and also containers.
Location: Mansion front lawn (upper stream)
Pussy Willow (Salix caprea)
Bloom Time: March – April
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium – wet
Wildlife: Bees
Tolerates: Deer
Native to North America: No
Other: Male plants showcase the attractive, yellow late winter catkins
Location: Lower Stream/Weaver Walk