Top Plant Picks May 2022
We’re gearing up for summer and so are our gardens! Cheekwood’s Plant Collections Manager, Shanna Jones, shares her top plant picks for May.
Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa ‘Big Apple’)
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Part sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees and butterflies visit the flowers. Birds love the fruit.
Tolerates: Deer
Native to North America: No
Zones: 4 – 8
Other: Attractive element for flower arrangements. Wear gloves when handling as the milky sap can be toxic to skin.
Location: Carell Dogwood Garden
White Azalea (Rhododendron ‘Delaware Valley White’)
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees & butterflies
Tolerates: Deer
Native to North America: No
Zones: 6 – 9
Other: An old fashioned hybrid first introduced from China into England in 1819. The blooms are pure white.
Location: Blevins Japanese Garden
Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’)
Bloom Time: April – May
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. A host plant for the Marine blue butterfly, Silver-spotted skipper, and Long-tailed skipper.
Tolerates: Deer
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 5 – 9
Other: Fragrant! Less aggressive than the Asian species. It is a member of the pea family
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Linden Viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum ‘Asian Beauty’ )
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Birds & butterflies
Tolerates: Wide range of soils
Native to North America: No
Zones: 4 – 8
Other: Multi-season interest. Ornamental fruits last from fall to late winer. Plant at least two for optimal fruiting!
Location: Bradford Robinson Color Garden
Siberian Flag (Iris sibirica)
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium – wet
Wildlife: Butterflies
Tolerates: Deer & rabbit
Native to North America: No
Zones: 3 – 8
Other: Plant rhizomes en masse for best effect. Irises are a suitable rain garden selection.
Location: Wills Perennial Garden
Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)
Bloom Time: May
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees
Tolerates: Drought
Native to North America: No
Zones: 2 – 11
Other: An annual re-seeder with fern-y foliage. Not only are the flowers of great interest, but the seed pods that follow are also very attractive.
Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden
Itoh Peony (Paeonia ‘Julia Rose’)
Bloom Time: May
Sun Requirement: Full sun-part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Bees & butterflies
Tolerates: Deer & rabbit
Native to North America: No
Zones: 4 – 9
Other: A cross between tree peony & herbaceous peony. ‘Julia Rose’ transforms in color from dark pink and purple to apricot.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
