Top Plant Picks October 2022
Fall is here and the gardens are changing! Cheekwood’s Horticulturist Sage McClain, shares her top plant picks for October.
Illcium parviflorum (Small Anise Tree )
Bloom Time: May to June
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Full Shade
Water Requirement: Medium to Wet
Wildlife: Fly pollinated
Tolerates: Tolerates heavy shade, erosion, and wet soil. Deer resistant.
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 7 – 10
Other: This evergreen shrub does well in woodland or shade gardens. The leaves of this plant emit a licorice aroma when crushed.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Physostegia virginiana (Fall Obedient Plant)
Bloom Time: August to November
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: A good nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds
Tolerates: Tolerates moist soils and is fairly pest resistant
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 3 – 9
Other: Forms dense upright clumps with beautiful lavendar flowers that are typically teeming with bumblebees.
Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden
Stylophorum diphyllum (Yellow Wood Poppy)
Bloom Time: March to October
Sun Requirement: Full Shade to Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Chipmunks feed on seeds
Tolerates: Tolerates lime and acidic soils
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 4 – 9
Other: This native wildflower is considered endangered in many areas. Adds a pop of yellow to shade gardens.
Location: Howe Garden
Solidago rugosa (Fireworks Goldenrod)
Bloom Time: July to October
Sun Requirement: Full Sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Good for pollinators. Deer Resistant
Tolerates: Appreciates moisture, Average Soil
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 4 – 9
Other: This plant grows in clumps and produces tall golden yellow blooms. Does not cause allergies contrary to popular thought
Location: Herb Garden
Tricyrtis hirta (Toad Lily)
Bloom Time: September to November
Sun Requirement: Shade to Part Shade
Water Requirement: Medium to Wet
Wildlife: Attracts bumblebees!
Tolerates: Needs moist but well drained soil
Native to North America: No
Zones: 4 – 8
Other: This beautiful perennial is best used in woodland shade gardens. It has unique pale lilac flowers that bloom in fall.
Location: Dogwood Garden
Cleome hassleriana (Spider Flower)
Bloom Time: June to November
Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Attracts multiple pollinators, including bats
Tolerates: Tolerates shade, just may need staking
Native to North America: No
Zones: 10, 11
Other: This quick growing annual produces blooms with long, wispy stamens and seedpods. Not Hardy but a prolific Reseeder.
Location: Burr Garden
Lantana camara (Miss Huff Lantana)
Bloom Time: June to November
Sun Requirement: Full Sun
Water Requirement: Low to Medium
Wildlife: Will attract pollinators, Birds for berries
Tolerates:Extreme heat and reflected heat from sidewalks etc.
Native to North America: No
Zones: 7 – 11
Other: This showy shrub is great used as an annual bedding plant, in containers, or even as a house plant.
Location: Literary Garden
Symphyotrichum spp. (Aster)
Bloom Time: August to October
Sun Requirement: Full Sun
Water Requirement: Medium
Wildlife: Late season source for pollinators
Tolerates: Tolerates low humidity and even short frosts
Native to North America: Yes
Zones: 3 – 8
Other: Prolific Reseeder. Easy to pull. Great late season color for your garden!
Location: Wills Perennial Garden
