Top Plant Picks January 2023
It’s a new year of plant picks! Cheekwood’s Horticulturist, Sage McClain, shares her top plant picks for January.
Thuja occidentalis ‘Bobozam’ (Mr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae)
Bloom Time: N/A
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Attracts birds
Tolerates: Wide range of soil tolerance
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 3 to 7
Other: This dwarf evergreen shrub has a perfectly round shape and aromatic foliage that is lacy and soft to the touch.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Alice’ (Oakleaf Hydrangea)
Bloom Time: Jun to July
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Provides roosting and nesting places for small mammals and birds.
Tolerates: No serious insect or disease problems
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 5 to 9
Other: This shrub makes a great accent plant and exfoliating reddish brown bark provides interesting color and texture in the winter!
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Yucca rostrata (Beaked Yucca)
Bloom Time: March to May
Sun Requirement: Full Sun
Water Requirement: Dry
Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds and small mammals.
Tolerates: Drought tolerant
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 5 to 11
Other: This slow-growing evergreen tree-like yucca forms a perfectly symmetrical pom-pom. It has pale bluish-green leaves.
Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden
Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ (Corkscrew Hazel)
Bloom Time: March to April
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Fruit is an edible nut that is enjoyed by wildlife. The blooms are known for attracting bees and other beneficial insects.
Tolerates:
Native to North America: No
Zones: 4 to 8
Other: This shrub’s winter beauty comes from its twisted and spiraling branches that stand out in the landscape after its dropped its leaves for the season.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paper Bush)
Bloom Time: January to April
Sun Requirement: Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Deer Resistant
Tolerates: Shade tolerant
Native to North America: No
Zones: 7 to 10
Other: This shrub makes for an interesting landscape plant, especially during the winter months– it produces silvery winter flower buds that bloom before new leaves emerge.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘White Cloud’ (White Cloud Muhly Grass)
Bloom Time: September to January
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirement: Dry to Medium
Wildlife: Muhly grass provides shelter for birds and beneficial insects.
Tolerates: Tolerates drought, heat, humidity, air pollution and poor soils
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 6 to 10
Other: Muhly Grass is beautiful year round with attractive summer foliage and stunning clouds of fall inflorescences that last through the winter.
Location: Japanese Garden
Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’ (Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar)
Bloom Time: N/A
Sun Requirement: Full Sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: N/A
Tolerates: Drought tolerant
Native to North America: No
Zones: 6 to 9
Other: This weeping cedar tree makes a wonderful specimen tree in a landscape due to its beautiful bluish-green needles and cascading branches.
Location: Herb Garden
Ilex x attenuata ‘Savannah’ (Topal Holly)
Bloom Time: April to May
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Berries attracts birds
Tolerates: Air pollution
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 6 to 9
Other: This small tree is a great landscape plant and is noted for producing showy, red fruit that is attractive in the fall and winter. This holly tree has softer leaves with fewer spines than other common holly trees.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s GardenIt’s a new year of plant picks! Cheekwood’s Horticulturist, Sage McClain, shares her top plant picks for January.