Top Plant Picks July 2021
Published: July 5, 2021
Enjoy the summer by taking a stroll through our gardens! Cheekwood’s Plant Collections Manager, Shanna Jones, shares her top plant picks for July.
Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis)
Bloom Time: July – August
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium – dry
Tolerates: Deer, drought, dry, rocky soil
Wildlife: Bees, wasps, and butterflies
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 5 – 6
Other: On the Federal Endangered Plant List. Endemic to the Tennessee Cedar Glades. The cultivar of E. tennesseensis ‘Rocky Top’ is more vigorous than the species.
Location: Howe Garden
Chastetree (Vitex agnus-castus)
Bloom Time: July – August
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Tolerates: Heat and Humidity
Wildlife: Bees & butterflies
Native to North America: No
Zones: 6 – 9
Other: Can train as a shrub of a single-trunk tree. Perfect for either cottage or Mediterranean gardens.
Location: Cheekwood Entrance Bed
Sunflower (Helianthus ‘Sunfinity’)
Bloom Time: June – October
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Tolerates: Drought & rocky soils
Wildlife: Goldfinches, hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 11
Other: Great cut flower! Pollen free means no mess. Provides nectar for beneficial insects.
Location: Bradford Robertson Color Garden
Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
Bloom Time: April
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Dry – medium
Tolerates: Drought
Wildlife: Squirrels, blue jays, crows, and raccoons eat the acorns
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 5 – 7
Other: A stately shade tree with little maintenance required.
Location: Swan Lawn
Giant Cane/American Bamboo (Arundinaria gigantea)
Bloom Time: Rarely flowers
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium – wet
Tolerates: Erosion
Wildlife: Provides shelter for rabbits and terrestrial birds
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 5 – 9
Other: Native to swampy environments from TX – FL, and north to NY.
Location: Carell Dogwood Garden
Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’)
Bloom Time: July – August
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium – wet
Tolerates: Heavy shade & wet soil
Wildlife: Bees & Butterflies
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 4 – 8
Other: Fragrant, blooms well in shade. ‘Ruby Spice’ is a compact form.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Bloom Time: June – August
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Dry-medium
Tolerates: Drought, deer, & rabbit
Wildlife: Bees & butterflies
Native to North America: No
Zones: 5 – 9
Other: Long bloom period. Plant in mass for a dreamy, cottage garden effect.
Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale ‘Mariachi Salsa’)
Bloom Time: July – September
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium – wet
Tolerates: Deer
Wildlife: Bees & butterflies
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 3 – 8
Other: Almost all parts of this plants are toxic. DO NOT INGEST. Divide clumps every 3 – 4 years to keep the plants strong.
Location: Howe Garden
