Top Plant Picks December 2023 - Cheekwood
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Andropogon glomeratus (Bushy Bluestem)

Bloom Time: September to February

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium to High

Wildlife: Provides nesting material for birds

Tolerates: Deer, Black Walnut, and Air Pollution

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 5 to 9

Other: This clump-forming ornamental grass features feathery, cloud-like seed heads that turn copper-colored during the winter. These billowy plumes add a lovely texture to any garden bed and requires very little care.

Location: Howe Garden

Andropogon glomeratus HO Nov Dec Jan

Quercus macrocarpa (Bur Oak)

Bloom Time: April

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Low to Medium

Wildlife: Serves as a larval host for serveral butterflies, acorns are a food source for many mammals such as chipmunks, deer, foxes, racoons, and birds

Tolerates: Drought and dry soil tolerant

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 to 8

Other: Growing 60 to 80 feet tall, this tree is quite the impressive specimen. It has the largest acorns of any native oak and its fall foliage is typically a muted yellow.

Location: Martin Boxwood Garden

Quercus macrocarpa BOX Oct Nov Dec

Yucca filamentosa ‘Color Guard’ (Adam’s Needle)

Bloom Time: June to July

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Low to Medium

Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds and moths

Tolerates: Rabbit, Deer, Drought and Erosion Tolerant

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 to 10

Other: The leaves of this yucca are rich green with a broad brilliant yellow stripe–brightening up your garden year-round! In the summer, it sends out a stalk of creamy white flowers.

Location: Relics

yucca filamentosa Relics

Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood)

Bloom Time: March to April

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: N/A

Tolerates: Clay Soil and Air Pollution

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: A majestic, medium sized tree that features bark that exfoliates to patches of green, tan, and white. In the fall, its leaves are shades of red, yellow and orange that often persist into the winter months.

Location: Carell Dogwood Garden

Parrotia persica DO

Ilex verticillata ‘Golden Verboom’ (Winterberry)

Bloom Time: March to July

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Fruit is a food source for birds and small mammals

Tolerates: Tolerates a range of soil types

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 to 9

Other: This winterberry shrub has bright yellow fruit that adds a pop of color to your winter landscape!

Location: Howe Garden

Ilex verticillata 'Golden Verboom' HO Nov Dec

Croton alabamensis (Alabama Croton)

Bloom Time: March to April

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts beetles and native bees

Tolerates: Drought

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 6 to 8

Other: This semi-evergreen shrub is extremely rare in the wild. It grows about six feet tall and has showy pumpkin-orange fall color.

Location: Sculpture Trail

Croton alabamensis HO Nov Dec

Hamamelis virginiana (American Witch Hazel)

Bloom Time: October to December

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Food source for many species of birds and attracts moths and butterflies

Tolerates: Deer, Erosion, Clay Soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 to 8

Other: A native shrub or small tree that blooms quite late in the season, from fall into winter. It has brilliant golden fall color as well as yellow slender blooms.

Location: Herb Study Garden

Hamamelis virginiana HE Nov Dec

Quercus alba (White Oak)

Bloom Time: May

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Serves as a larval host for serveral butterflies, acorns are a food source for many mammals such as chipmunks, deer, foxes, racoons, and birds

Tolerates: Drought and Clay Soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 to 9

Other: A great shade tree growing around 100 feet tall. The fall foliage varies from shades of dark red to brown.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

quercus alba CH Nov Dec

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