Top Plant Picks December 2022
It’s winter and the grounds are changing! Cheekwood’s Horticulturist Sage McClain, shares her top plant picks for December.
Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’ (Sea Holly)
Bloom Time: June to November
Sun Requirement: Full Sun
Water Requirement: Low
Wildlife: Attracts bees, butterflies, and moths
Tolerates: Dry and poor soils
Native to North America: No
Zones: 4 – 9
Other: This coarse, thistle-like hybrid produces showy blue flowers and bracts that can bloom from summer into the cooler season.
Location: Wills Perennial Garden It’s winter and the grounds are changing! Cheekwood’s Horticulturist Sage McClain, shares her top plant picks for December.
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Agave ovatifolia (Whale’s Tongue Agave)
Bloom Time: Blooms once every 10~ years
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Light Shade
Water Requirement: Low
Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds and is deer resistant
Tolerates: Drought tolerant and virtually disease free
Native to North America: No
Zones: 7 – 11
Other: This evergreen succulent is cold tolerant and forms a rosette of thick powdery blue leaves.
Location: Wills Perennial Garden
Verbesina virginica (Frostweed)
Bloom Time: July to December
Sun Requirement: Part Shade to Full Shade
Water Requirement: Low
Wildlife: A good nectar source for butterflies!
Tolerates: Deer resistant
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 8 – 11
Other: This native wildflower is a good shade garden addition! During the winter, when the nights get cold enough to frost, the stems exude water that freezes into icy ribbons.
Location: Sculpture Trail
Hamamelis virginiana ‘Harvest Moon’ (Harvest Moon Witch Hazel)
Bloom Time: October to December
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Full Shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Birds eat the fruit
Tolerates: Tolerates a range of shade conditions as well as poor soils
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 3 – 8
Other: This native shrub is a heavy and fragrant bloomer in the fall when many other species are done blooming.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Camellia ‘Winter’s Star’ (Winter’s Star Camellia)
Bloom Time: October to December
Sun Requirement: Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Attracts bees
Tolerates: Deer resistant
Native to North America: No
Zones: 7 – 9
Other: This evergreen shrub is valued for its glossy dark green foliage and showy pink autumn flowers. It is an excellent choice as a shrub border or as a specimen plant in a woodland garden.
Location: Japanese Garden
Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’ (Winterberry)
Bloom Time: June to July
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium to Wet
Wildlife: Berries attract birds
Tolerates: Tolerates erosion, clay soil, air pollution
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 3 – 9
Other: Winterberries produce attractive red berries that persist throughout the winter. This shrub adds so much interest to the winter landscape!
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ (Japanese Maple)
Bloom Time: April
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: No significant value for wildlife
Tolerates: Rabbit resistant
Native to North America: No
Zones: 5 – 8
Other: This small, rounded deciduous tree features deep red to purple foliage and red samaras in late summer to early fall.
Location: Japanese Garden
Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Desert Flamenco’ (Redflower False Yucca )
Bloom Time: March to November
Sun Requirement: Full Sun
Water Requirement: Low
Wildlife: Flower spikes attract hummingbirds and night-pollinating moths
Tolerates:Heat and drought tolerant and pollution tolerant
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 5
Other: A wonderful choice for rock gardens! This evergreen forms a basal rosette and the flower stalk rises five feet, bearing showy, coral-colored flowers.
Location: Wills Perennial Garden
