Gardeners’ Top Picks December 2020
There are still plenty of beautiful plants that stand out during winter! Check out our garden team’s top plant picks for December. Use this as your guide as you explore the grounds!
Ajania (Ajania pacifica)
Bloom Time: November – December
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Tolerates: Poor soils
Native to North America: No
Other: Needs good drainage in order to perform well. Great container plant. Foliage is variegated and provides interest prior to bloom in late fall.
Zones: 5 – 9
Location: Burr Terrace Garden
Creeping Raspberry (Rubus hayata-koidzumii)
Bloom Time: July
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Dry – medium
Wildlife: Birds will eat the fruit
Tolerates: Acidic soils & drought
Native to North America: No
Other: Evergreen. Incredibly attractive fall color. Beautiful ground cover!
Zones: 7 – 9
Location: Wills Perennial Garden
Coral Bark Willow (Salix alba subsp. vitellina ‘Britzensis’)
Bloom Time: April – May
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium – wet
Wildlife: Butterflies
Tolerates: Deer, wet conditions
Native to North America: No
Other: Vibrant red stem color provides winter interest. Thrives in wet conditions. Excellent screen selection.
Zones: 4 – 8
Location: Bradford Robertson Children’s Garden
Ornamental Kale (Brassica oleracea ‘White Peacock’)
Bloom Time: October – April
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Butterflies
Tolerates: Acidic soils
Native to North America: No
Other: Kale does flower, though it’s best to remove flower stalks to ensure the continual growth of foliage. This variety was bred for ornamental value and is not particularly flavorful.
Zones: 7 – 11
Location: Chihuly Quad Pod – near Burr Terrace Garden
Alabama Croton (Croton alabamensis)
Bloom Time: March – April
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Tolerates: Drought
Native to North America: Yes
Other: This is a RARE plant that is currently on the global vulnerable list. Terrifically unique foliage with excellent fall and winter color. Semi-evergreen to evergreen.
Zones: 6 – 8
Location: Howe Garden/Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail
White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata ‘Eastern Star’)
Bloom Time: August – September
Sun Requirement: Part shade – full shade
Water Requirement: Dry – Medium
Wildlife: Butterflies
Tolerates: Drought & heavy shade
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Perfect woodland or cottage garden perennial filler.
Zones: 3 – 8
Location: Howe Garden
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Munchkin’)
Bloom Time: June – July
Sun Requirement: Part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees
Native to North America: Yes
Other: A dwarf shrub, ‘Munchkin’ was developed here in Tennessee. The fall foliage is a deep and dramatic mahogany red.
Zones: 5 – 9
Location: Robinson Family Water Garden
Bearberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri `Coral Beauty` )
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Butterflies
Tolerates: Drought & Deer
Native to North America: No
Other: Tough Plant! Excellent evergreen, woody groundcover used for erosion control.
Zones: 5 – 8
Location: Blevins Japanese Garden
