Gardeners' Top Picks March 2019 - Cheekwood
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Clove Currant (Ribes aureum var. villosum)

Clove Currant

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)

Star Magnolia

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.)

Snowdrop

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)

Lenten Rose

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)

Stinking Hellebore

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’)

Coral Bells

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)

Paperbush

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)

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’

Anemone blanda

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)

Pussy Willow

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

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