Tartarian Aster (Aster tartaricus ‘Jindai’)
Bloom Time: September – October
Sun Requirement: Full sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Butterflies
Tolerates: Disease and insect damage
Native to North America: No
Zones: 4 – 8
Other: This cultivar seldom needs summer pinching to control height as long as it is grown in full sun.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Bloom Time: June – July
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium – wet
Wildlife: Birds
Tolerates: Wet soil
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 3 – 9
Other: Be sure to plant at least one male in a grouping to ensure berry production occurs.
Location: Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail & Howe Garden
Fig (Ficus carica ‘Chicago Hardy’)
Bloom Time: Spring – inconspicuous
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Birds
Tolerates: Colder temps than any other F. carica
Native to North America: No
Zones: 6 – 10
Other: Produces fruit in late summer or early fall. ‘Chicago Hardy’ is the most cold-hardy of the species.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
White Oak (Quercus alba)
Bloom Time: May – June
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Dry – medium
Wildlife: Acorns provide fruit for a variety of wildlife
Tolerates: Drought, dry soil
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 3 – 9
Other: The white oak is commonly used as a street tree and makes a picturesque shade tree at maturity.
Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden
Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa)
Bloom Time: July – August
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Birds
Tolerates: Drought
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 4 – 9
Other: Leaves present a tropical effect. Fruit is an excellent food source for birds.
Location: Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail & Herb Study Garden
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Bloom Time: April – May
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Butterflies
Tolerates: Deer & drought
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 4 – 8
Other: Seed heads provide attractive garden interest in the fall
Location: Wills Perennial Garden
Toadlily (Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki’)
Bloom Time: August – October
Sun Requirement: Part shade – full shade
Water Requirement: Medium – wet
Wildlife: Butterflies, bees & hummingbirds
Native to North America: No
Zones: 4 – 8
Other: Plant where detailed flowers can be appreciated up close. Rabbits enjoy eating the new leaves and flower buds.
Location: Carell Dogwood Garden
Chinese Abelia (Abelia chinensis)
Bloom Time: August – October
Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Butterflies & bees
Tolerates: Deer
Native to North America: No
Zones: 7 – 9
Other: Makes an effective hedge when planted in mass.
Location: Bradford Robertson Color GardenThere’s so much more than mums to see during Cheekwood Harvest! Cheekwood’s Plant Collections Manager, Shanna Jones, shares her top plant picks for October.