Gardeners' Top Picks May 2020
We’re gearing up for summer, and so are our gardens! Our garden team has hand selected their top plant picks for May.
Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
Bloom Time: April – May
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Hummingbird magnet
Tolerates: Clay Soil
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Prefers moist soil. Great shrub for rain gardens.
Zones: 4 – 8
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa ‘Miss Satomi’)
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Part Sun – shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees & Butterflies
Tolerates: Deer
Native to North America: No
Other: Attractive & edible fruit. Excellent selection for woodland gardens.
Zones: 5 – 8
Location: Carell Dogwood Garden
Fuzzy Deutzia (Deutzia scabra ‘Plena’)
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees
Native to North America: No
Other: Fragrant blooms/good hedge plant
Zones: 5 – 8
Location: Carell Dogwood Garden
Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Autumn Leaves’)
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Part Sun – shade
Water Requirement: Dry – Medium
Wildlife: Bees & Butterflies
Tolerates: Sun
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Wonderful plants to add lasting color (foliage) throughout 3 seasons.
Zones: 4 – 9
Location: Carell Dogwood Garden
Peony (Paeonia ‘Julie Rose’)
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees
Tolerates: Rabbit & deer
Native to North America: No
Other: Fragrant and attractive large blooms.
Zones: 4 – 9
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Nine Bark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’)
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Dry – Medium
Wildlife: Bees, butterflies & birds
Tolerates: Drought, erosion, clay soil
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Bark provides exceptional winter interest / Great as a hedge / Excellent pollinator plant
Zones: 3 – 7
Location: Howe Garden
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium ‘Lucerne’)
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees & birds
Tolerates: Light shade & some drought
Native to North America: Yes
Other: Perfect selection for rock gardens and woodland borders
Zones: 4 – 8
Location: Turner Seasons Garden
False Spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’)
Bloom Time: June – July
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees & butterflies
Tolerates: Erosion
Native to North America: No
Other: New foliage is colorful & attractive / Excellent use as massing for erosion control on slopes and hillsides
Zones: 2 – 8
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
