Category: Gardens

Gardeners’ Top Picks January 2020

Kick off the new year by checking out a few of our featured plants! Our garden team has hand selected their top plant picks for January. Use this as your guide as you explore the grounds.

Bushy Bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus)

Bloom Time: September – February

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Wildlife: The seed provides food for the sparrow, junco, and finch.

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Other: Provides fall & winter interest. Great for floral arrangements.

Zones: 5 – 9

Location: Howe Garden (Tool Shed Bed)

Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Wilma’)

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Tolerates: Seaside conditions

Native to North America: No – Native to the Central Coast of CA

Other: Evergreen

Zones: 7 – 10

Location: Turner Seasons Garden (TRAINS!)

Lentern Rose (Helleborus hybrid)

Bloom Time: November – February

Sun Requirement: Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Tolerates: Deer & heavy shade

Native to North America: No

Other: Evergreen, easy-to-grow, no serious disease issues.

Zones: 4 – 9

Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)

Bloom Time: January – March

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Provides cover for wildlife.

Tolerates: Heavy shade

Native to North America: No

Other: Use as a groundcover in a naturalized area.

Zones: 6 – 10

Location: Robinson Family Water Garden

Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)

Bloom Time: March

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Insect pollinators

Tolerates: Clay soil, drought, and poor drainage.

Native to North America: No

Other: Excellent specimen Magnolia. Buds provide winter interest.

Zones: 4 – 8

Location: Wills Perennial Garden

Maidenhair Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Silberfeder’)

Bloom Time: August – February

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Birds

Tolerates: Drought

Native to North America: No

Other: Provides fall & winter interest. Great for floral arrangements. Though the species is considered invasive in many states, this cultivar is less aggressive.

Zones: 5 – 9

Location: Wills Perennial Garden

Japanese Apricot (Prunus mume ‘Peggy Clarke’)

Bloom Time: January – February

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Native to North America: No

Other: Fragrant. The fruit can be used to make jams and preserves.

Zones: 6 – 9

Location: Bradford Robinson Color Garden

Goldie’s Wood Fern (Dryopteris goldiana)

Sun Requirement: Part shade – full shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Tolerates: Rabbits, Heavy shade

Native to North America: Yes

Other: Perfect evergreen fern for massing in woodland gardens.

Zones: 3 – 7

Location: Howe Garden (Wildings)

3 Tips for Caring for Poinsettias

Published 12/12/19

If you’ve visited Cheekwood during the holiday season, you’ve probably seen several poinsettias throughout the beautifully decorated Historic Mansion & Museum. Our famous 20-foot-tall Poinsettia Tree is a favorite amongst visitors over the years. Located in the Loggia, the tree is made up over over 500 poinsettias! This year, we’ve added a new Poinsettia Wall to add to the magic of Holiday LIGHTS. Nearly 1,000 poinsettias line the Great Hall in our Frist Learning Center – making the perfect photo opp for visitors.

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are by far one of the most popular plants this time of year. Want to care for a poinsettia of your own? Check out these three tips from our garden team to insure your poinsettia looks stunning throughout the holiday season:

1. Don’t overwater it!

Poinsettias don’t need a lot of water – just enough to keep the soil medium moist. A small bit of room-temperature water every few days should be sufficient. If you overwater your poinsettia or let it sit in water, it could lead to root rot or wilting!

2. Make sure it has plenty of sunlight!

Place your poinsettia in a spot where it will get plenty of daylight – preferably near a window. Poinsettias are tropicals, so they need about 6 hours of indirect sunlight a day to thrive!

3. Be aware of the temperature and humidity!

When choosing a place to display your poinsettia, keep the temperature in mind – don’t put your plant outside in the cold temperatures. Try to maintain a temperature between 65 – 70 degrees, and be aware that you may have to water your poinsettia frequently if your house is dry during the winter months. Poinsettias originate from Mexico, so they are used to a warmer and more humid climate!

Gardeners’ Top Picks November 2019

Sourwood (Oxydendron arboreum)

Bloom Time: June – July

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Dry – medium

Wildlife: Bees

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: Yes

Other: Source of sourwood honey. Fragrant flowers. Brilliant red fall color.

Zones: 5 – 9

Location: Howe Garden

Hardy Mum (Chrysanthemum ‘Rustic Glow’)

Bloom Time: October – November

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bees & butterflies

Tolerates: Salt

Native to North America: No

Other: Great for last season pollinator food!

Zones: 4 – 9

Location: Burr Garden

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘National Arboretum’)

Bloom Time: September – November

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Wildlife: Bees & butterflies

Tolerates: Drought & erosion

Native to North America: No

Other: Provides fall and winter interest. Used for floral arrangements.

Zones: 5 – 9

Location: Color Garden

Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)

Bloom Time: July – November

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Dry – medium

Wildlife: Bees & butterflies

Tolerates: Drought, deer & some shade

Native to North America: Yes

Other: Plant for late season pollinator food. Good cut flower.

Zones: 3 – 9

Location: Wills Perennial Garden

Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’)

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Dry – medium

Wildlife: Bees & butterflies

Tolerates: Drought & erosion

Native to North America: Yes

Other: Four season interest! Magnificent fall color.

Zones: 3 – 9

Location: Frist Learning Center

Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera – Fruit)

Bloom Time: June

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Dry – medium

Tolerates: Drought & poor soil

Native to North America: Yes

Other: The seeds of the fruit are edible, however it takes a lot of effort for very little return.

Zones: 4 – 9

Location: Robinson Family Water Garden

Balsam Aster (Aster ageratoides ‘Ezo Murasaki’ )

Bloom Time: October – November

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies & bees

Tolerates: Frost

Native to North America: No

Other: Great plant for woodland areas.

Zones: 4 – 8

Location: Robinson Family Water Garden/ Weaver Walk

Gardeners’ Top Picks October 2019

There’s so much more than mums to see during Cheekwood Harvest! Our garden team has hand selected their top plant picks for October from 8 of our distinct gardens. Use this as your guide as you explore the grounds.

Grandiflora Rose (Rosa grandiflora ‘Gold Medal’)

Bloom Time: May – November

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Heat & Humidity

Native to North America: No

Other: Fragrant. Resistant to rust and powdery mildew.

Zones: 5 – 9

Location: Rose Study Garden

White Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana var. lactea)

Bloom Time: June

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Birds

Tolerates: Clay soils

Native to North America: Yes

Other: The showy fruit provides fall and winter interest.

Zones: 6 – 10

Location: Burr & Turner Seasons Gardens

Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa ‘Big Apple’)

Bloom Time: May – June

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Other: The fruit is attractive and even edible! Amazing fall color.

Zones: 5 – 8

Location: Dogwood Garden

Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana)

Bloom Time: August – February

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Dry – Medium

Tolerates: Drought

Native to North America: No

Other: Excellent specimen or border plant.

Zones: 8 – 10

Location: Wills Perennial Garden

Chinese Abelia (Abelia chinesis)

Bloom Time: August – October

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies, bees

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Other: This makes an effective hedge when planted in mass.

Zones: 7 – 9

Location: Bradford Robertson Color Garden

Lantana (Lantana ‘Lucky Sunrise Rose’ )

Bloom Time: June- Frost

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Drought

Native to North America: No

Other: Fragrant. Butterfly magnet. Wonderful in the landscape or in containers.

Zones: 10 – 11

Location: Burr Terrace Garden

Mexican Sage (Salvia leucantha ‘Santa Barbara’)

Bloom Time: August – frost

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies, bees

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Other: May overwinter here in Nashville if planted in a protected area and given plenty of mulch.

Zones: 8 – 10

Location: Howe Garden

Toadlily (Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki’)

Bloom Time: August – October

Sun Requirement: Part shade – full shade

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Native to North America: No

Other: Plant where detailed flowers can be appreciated up close.

Zones: 4 – 8

Location: Carell Dogwood Garden

Tennessee State University Partnership

This year marks Cheekwood’s third year partnering with Tennessee State University to provide paid internships to TSU students. This initiative was conceived by Cheekwood’s Outreach Committee to increase community connections, and the mutually beneficial program allows students of TSU’s College of Agriculture to gain quality experience in the horticultural industry.

Peter Grimaldi, Vice President of Gardens and Facilities, explains that the interns are plugged in to projects based on the needs of the department as well as the interest of the student. This summer’s interns were placed into two sectors, horticulture and arboriculture, but these two focuses are not mutually exclusive.

“Public Horticulture includes the full spectrum of horticulture, and the opportunities at our operation pretty much include bits and pieces of almost any professional opportunity you can seek out in the green industry. The interns have been very impressive, the students themselves, and if they are in anyway a representation of the young professionals that TSU is sending out into the workplace and the community, and they are, then that’s something the university should be proud of,” stated Grimaldi.

Student interns are given opportunities to work as a team as well as independently. Summer 2018 intern, Daiva Wilson, explained that she worked with her fellow TSU classmate, Steve Osborne, to care for Cheekwood’s gardens by marking new beds and making sure the old beds were in good condition. Using maps and research as references, they worked together on this project throughout the summer. Daiva was also given a horticulture project to work on independently during her time at Cheekwood. She worked on identifying, photographing, and caring for Cheekwood’s daylily collection which only bloom during the summer.

Daiva explained, “All of the daylilies that were dug out of the children’s train area were placed in the nursery. I had the responsibility to take care of the flowers. I also had to wait for them to bloom so that I could make sure the label that was with them was correct. I made a PowerPoint presentation of the correct plants and incorrect plants for documentation purposes.”

Interns from TSU have joined the garden team for the past three summers to support basic operations and add bandwidth to strategic initiatives such as tree mapping and plant collections management. Additionally, this year Cheekwood will be taking on two paid interns during the fall semester thanks to generous funding by Regions Bank.

“Regions is proud to support Cheekwood’s TSU Internship Program for low- or moderate-income students. We were excited to learn of the program and the success that TSU students have had in securing employment in the area of study upon graduation,” stated Latrisha Jemison, Senior Vice President / Regional Community Development & Partnerships Manager at Regions Bank.

For more information about TSU’s College of Agriculture, click here.

TSU students Steve Osborne (left), an Agricultural Sciences major with concentration in Environmental Sciences, and Davia Wilson (right), an Agriculture major with a concentration in Biotechnology, with Cheekwood Plant Collections Manager Shanna T. Jones (center) during their summer internship at Cheekwood in 2018.

Gardeners’ Top Picks September 2019

See what’s blooming during Cheekwood Harvest! Our garden team has hand selected their top plant picks for September from 8 of our distinct gardens. Use this as your guide as you explore the grounds.

White Gaura, Whirling Butterflies (Gaura lindheimeri ‘Sparkle White’)

Bloom Time: June – Frost

Sun Requirement: Full sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Deer, wet soil

Native to North America: Yes

Other: Great for wildflower gardens

Zones: 5 – 9

Location: Turner Seasons Garden: Summer Section/Trains Display

Hollow Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum)

Bloom Time: July – September

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Deer, wet soil

Native to North America: Yes

Other: Good cut flower, rain garden plant

Zones: 4 – 9

Location: Herb Study Garden

Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘National Arboretum’)

Bloom Time: August – October

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium – wet

Tolerates: Drought, erosion, wet soil

Native to North America: No

Other: Rain garden plant

Zones: 5 – 9

Location: Bradford Robertson Color Garden

Hinoki False Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Native to North America: No

Other: Specimen tree, year round interest

Zones: 4 – 8

Location: Shōmu-en, Blevins Japanese Garden

Stinking Cedar (Torreya taxifolia)

Sun Requirement: Part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Native to North America: Yes

Other: Endangered species, rain garden plant

Zones: 5 – 9

Location: Howe Garden

Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)

Bloom Time: July – September

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Tolerates: Erosion, clay soil

Native to North America: No

Other: Groundcover, true blue flowers, great fall color

Zones: 5 – 9

Location: Wills Perennial Garden

Japanese Anemone (Anemone x ‘September Charm’)

Bloom Time: August – October

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Other: Naturalize

Zones: 4 – 8

Location: Robinson Family Water Garden

Turtlehead (Chelone lyoniii ‘Hot Lips’)

Bloom Time: July – September

Sun Requirement: Full sun – part shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Deer, erosion, wet soil

Native to North America: Yes

Other: Naturalize, rain garden

Zones: 3 – 8

Location: Carell Dogwood Garden