Category: What’s In Bloom

Origanum x ‘Kent Beauty’ (Ornamental Oregano)

Bloom Time: June to August

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Low

Wildlife: N/A

Tolerates: Drought and Deer

Native to North America: N/A

Zones: 6 to 9

Other: This perennial features pendulous flowers with rosy pink bracts and aromatic silvery foliage.

Location: Petite Swan Garden

Lilium michiganense (Michigan Lily)

Bloom Time: June to July

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium to High

Wildlife: Hummingbirds and butterflies

Tolerates: Wet Soils

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: Vibrant orange blooms swaying from a tall upright stem.

Location: Howe Garden

Echinacea ‘Sweet Sandia’ (Sweet Sandia Coneflower)

Bloom Time: June to August

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Low to Medium

Wildlife: Bees, birds, butterflies, hummingbirds

Tolerates: Drought and Deer

Native to North America: N/A

Zones: 4 to 9

Other: A coneflower with petals reminiscent of a slice of watermelon–deep pink in the center and green on the edges.

Location: Wills Perennial Garden

Asclepias perennis (Aquatic Milkweed)

Bloom Time: May to September

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: High

Wildlife: Monarch Butterflies

Tolerates: Deer, Rabbit, and Wet Soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 6 to 10

Other: A host plant for monarch butterflies, this wildflower thrives in continously wet locations and has white star-shaped blooms.

Location: Howe Garden

Salvia sclarea (Clary Sage)

Bloom Time: June to August

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Deer, Drought, and Shallow-Rocky Soil

Native to North America: No

Zones: 5 to 9

Other: The gray-green foliage and lilac-colored flowers of this medicinal plant are very aromatic.

Location: Herb Garden

Rosa setigera (Climbing Prairie Rose)

Bloom Time: June to July

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Small mammals, birds, moths and bees

Tolerates:

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: A native vining rose with gragrant clusters of deep pink flowers.

Location: Burr Terrace Garden

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Forever Pink’ (Bigleaf Hydrangea)

Bloom Time: June to August

Sun Requirement: Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: N/A

Tolerates: Salt

Native to North America: N/A

Zones: 6 to 9

Other: This hydrangea features large rounded clusters of pink or blue florets.

Location: Dogwood Garden

Hosta ‘Golden Tiara’ (Plantain Lily)

Bloom Time: June to August

Sun Requirement: Part Shade to Full Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies and Hummingbirds

Tolerates: Clay Soils

Native to North America: N/A

Zones: 3 to 9

Other: This shade-loving perennial is noted for its variegated leaves of golden yellow surrounded by dark green edges.

Location: Dogwood Garden

Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ (Beardtongue)

Bloom Time: May to July

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Low to Medium

Wildlife: Hummingbirds and bumble bees

Tolerates: Deer tolerant

Native to North America: N/A

Zones: 3 to 8

Other: A perennial noted for its dark wine-red foliage and pink tubular flowers.

Location: Wills Perennial Garden

Rosa ‘Mister Lincoln’ (Mister Lincoln Hybrid Tea Rose)

Bloom Time: May to September

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bees

Tolerates: Disease resistant

Native to North America: N/A

Zones: 7 to 11

Other: This classic rose has dark velvety red blooms and is tall and upright in habit.

Location: Rose Study Garden

Coreopsis lanceolata (Lance-leaved Coreopsis)

Bloom Time: May to July

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Seeds provide food for birds.

Tolerates: Deer, Drought, Dry and Rocky Soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 to 9

Other: A durable perennial that shows off with a beautiful display of golden yellow flowers.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Lilium ‘Regale’ (Regal Lily)

Bloom Time: June to July

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies

Tolerates: Tolerates a wide array of soils

Native to North America: N/A

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: Grown from a bulb, this majestic lily has pure white trumpet flowers with purple streaks.

Location: Color Garden

Eschscholzia californica ‘Golden West’ (California Poppy)

Bloom Time: May to July

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Honey bees, bumble bees, butterflies and beetles

Tolerates: Drought and heat tolerant

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 6 to 10

Other: This wildflower has golden, cup-shaped flowers and fern-like blue-green leaves.

Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden

Rosa ‘Peggy Martin’ (Peggy Martin Rose)

Bloom Time: May to September

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bees

Tolerates: Salt water

Native to North America: N/A

Zones: 4 to 10

Other: A vigorous spring blooming climbing rose with dark pink flowers.

Location: Color Garden

Cladrastis kentukea (Yellowwood)

Bloom Time: May to June

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Nectar for pollinators and nesting sites for songbirds.

Tolerates: Urban conditions

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: Medium-sized native tree with fragrant white flowers followed by long flat seed pods.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ (Virginia Sweetspire)

Bloom Time: May to June

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. Seeds eaten by songbirds.

Tolerates: Tolerates a wide array of soils

Native to North America: N/A

Zones: 5 to 9

Other: This shrub features fragrant white flowers in late spring or early summer and brilliant red-purple foliage in the fall.

Location: Museum of Art

Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle)

Bloom Time: March to July

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Birds, hummingbirds, and butterflies

Tolerates: Deer resistant, tolerates black walnut

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 to 9

Other: This gorgeous native vine has brillaint scarlet blooms followed by ornamental red berries.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Ajuga tenorii ‘Chocolate Chip’ (Bugleweed)

Bloom Time: March to May

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds

Tolerates: Deer resistant

Native to North America: No

Zones: 3 to 9

Other: A quick spreading groundcover that forms a dense mat with chocolate-brown foliage and vibrant blue blooms.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Kerria japonica ‘Gold Guinea’ (Japanese Kerria)

Bloom Time: April to May

Sun Requirement: Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies and Hummingbirds

Tolerates: Deer resistant

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 to 9

Other: The bright yellow flowers of Japanese Kerria appear in the spring and sporadically throughout the growing season.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip Tree)

Bloom Time: May to June

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts birds and hummingbirds

Tolerates: Tolerates rabbit, deer, and black walnut

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 to 9

Other: Designated the official state tree of Tennessee, this stately native tree features tulip-like flowers and golden yellow fall foliage.

Location: Frist Learning Center

Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’ (Lady Banks Rose)

Bloom Time: April to June

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts butterflies

Tolerates: N/A

Native to North America: No

Zones: 8 to 10

Other: A vigorous climbing rose with pale yellow flowers. Ideal for growing up arbors but plant in a protected area from cold winds.

Location: Color Garden

Bletilla striata ‘Albostriata’ (Striped Hardy Ground Orchid)

Bloom Time: April to May

Sun Requirement: Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Long-horned bees and honeybees

Tolerates: Drought tolerant

Native to North America: No

Zones: 6 to 9

Other: This terrestrial orchid has showy pink-purple flowers in early summer and can be amazingly drought tolerant.

Location: Water Garden

Camassia leichtlinii (Large Camas)

Bloom Time: April to May

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts bumblebees, mason bees, and beetles

Tolerates: Clay Soil, Black Walnut

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 5 to 9

Other: This bulbous perennial sends up tall spires of star-shaped blue flowers.

Location: Water Garden

Viburnum opulus ‘Sterile’ (Sterile European Cranberrybush)

Bloom Time: April to May

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Provides shelter for birds

Tolerates: N/A

Native to North America: No

Zones: 3 to 8

Other: This sterile cultivar of viburnum won’t produce berries and spread, but it does produce masses of pure white blooms.

Location: Color Garden

Iris cristata (Dwarf Crested Iris)

Bloom Time: April

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds and bees

Tolerates: Deer and Drought

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 to 9

Other: A native iris that grows six inches tall and produces pale blue flowers.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Corylopsis spicata (Winter Hazel)

Bloom Time: March to April

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators

Tolerates: Insect Pests and Deer

Native to North America: No

Zones: 5 to 8

Other: Soft yellow pendulous flowers appear on this shrub before the leaves emerge.

Location: Turner Seasons Garden

Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Jan Bos’ (Dutch Hyacinth)

Bloom Time: March to April

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: N/A

Tolerates: Deer and Rabbit

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: An upright, cheerful hot pink bulb that blooms for several weeks in the spring.

Location: Color Garden

Lindera benzoin (Spicebush)

Bloom Time: March to April

Sun Requirement: Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar

Tolerates: Deer and Clay Soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 to 9

Other: A medium rounded shrub noted for its yellow flowers and glossy red berries.

Location: Howe Garden

Magnolia x ‘Butterflies’ (Magnolia)

Bloom Time: March to April

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: N/A

Tolerates: Air Pollution

Native to North America: No

Zones: 5 to 9

Other: This small tree explodes with showy, fragrant yellow flowers in the spring.

Location: Boxwood Garden

Leucojum aestivum (Summer Snowflake)

Bloom Time: April

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts moths

Tolerates: Deer and Clay Soil

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: Easily grown, this beautiful perennial features nodding, bell-shaped flowers.

Location: Dogwood Garden

Polemonium reptans (Jacob’s Ladder)

Bloom Time: April to June

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts pollinators

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 to 8

Other: A perfect shade garden perennial with deleicate compound leaves and lavendar blooms.

Location: Howe Garden

Epimedium x warleyense ‘Orange Queen’ (Barrenwort)

Bloom Time: March to June

Sun Requirement: Full Shade to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bumblebees and small native bees

Tolerates: Tolerates dry shade

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: This groundcover features dainty orange flowers and heart-shaped leaves.

Location: Dogwood Garden

Hyacinthoides hispanica (Spanish Bluebell)

Bloom Time: March to May

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bees and other pollinators

Tolerates: Black Walnut

Native to North America: No

Zones: 3 to 8

Other: A charming bulbous perennial that provides color to any woodland garden with bluish-lavendar flowers in spring.

Location: Howe Garden

Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’ (Daffodil)

Bloom Time: February to March

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Provides nectar for early season pollinators

Tolerates: Cold tolerant

Native to North America: No

Zones: 3 to 8

Other: This very early bloomer doesn’t mind a suprise snowfall in early spring. It is a cherry golden-yellow.

Location: Pineapple Hill

Rhododendron ‘Frederick Douglas’ (Hybrid Azalea)

Bloom Time: March to April

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Heat Tolerance

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 5 to 9

Other: Noted for its larger fragrant flowers that are nearly white with soft pink flushes, blooms in the spring but has interesting buds and structure throughout the cold months.

Location: Howe Garden

Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower)

Bloom Time: April to May

Sun Requirement: Part Shade to Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts bees, butterflies, and moths

Tolerates: Deer and Rabbits

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 to 9

Other: This perennial has beautiful foliage with reddish variegation along the veins. Tiny white fowers appear in spring.

Location: Sculpture Trail

Helleborus niger subsp. macranthus (Christmas Rose)

Bloom Time: February to March

Sun Requirement: Part Shade to Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bees and other pollinators

Tolerates: Deer and Rabbits

Native to North America: No

Zones: 6 to 9

Other: A winter-blooming perennial with large flowers in late winter or early spring. Has glossy, leathery evergreen leaves.

Location: Blevins Japanese Garden

Illicium parviflorum ‘Florida Sunshine’ (Yellow Anisetree)

Bloom Time: May to June

Sun Requirement: Part Shade to Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Provides shelter for birds and other wildlife

Tolerates: Deer and wet conditions

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 6 to 9

Other: This shrub is beautiful year round with chartreuse foliage that emits a delightful fragrance when crushed.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Hamamelis vernalis ‘Sandra’ (Ozark Witchhazel)

Bloom Time: January to March

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts native bees and moths

Tolerates: Deer and Erosion

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: Noted for its extremely early bloom and beautiful fall color.

Location: Howe Garden

Cercis canadensis var. texensis ‘Texas Whitebud’ (Texas Whitebud)

Bloom Time: March to April

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies, bumblebees, mason bees.

Tolerates: Deer and Clay Soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 6 to 9

Other: A small tree that has clusters of white

Location: Bradford Robertson Color Garden

Prunus subhirtella var. autumnalis (Rosebud Cherry)

Bloom Time: December to April

Sun Requirement: Full sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts birds and bees

Tolerates: Tolerates winter cold better than most flowering cherries

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: This elegant cherry tree blooms in flushes from late fall to early spring with masses of delicate pale pink flowers.

Location: Blevins Japanese Garden

Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite)

Bloom Time: March to April

Sun Requirement: Full sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Provides early season food for bees and other pollinators

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Zones: 3 to 7

Other: A small perennial that blooms in late winter with bright yellow buttercup flowers.

Location: Howe Garden

Carpinus betulus ‘Columnaris Nana’ (European Hornbeam)

Bloom Time: March

Sun Requirement: Full sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Food source for birds and small mammals

Tolerates: Urban Pollution

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: A dwarf, columnar tree with attractive branch structure that makes a good hedge.

Location: Blevins Japanese Garden

Chimonanthus praecox (Fragrant Wintersweet)

Bloom Time: February to March

Sun Requirement: Full sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Attracts pollinators and songbirds

Tolerates: High resistance to disease and insects

Native to North America: No

Zones: 7 to 9

Other: Makes an excellent winter flowering specimen shrub and is sweetly fragrant.

Location: Carell Dogwood Garden

Pinus mugo ‘Tyrolean’ (Dwarf Mugo Pine)

Bloom Time: N/A

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Moths and other pollinators

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: No

Zones: 2 to 7

Other: Compact, mounding evergreen shrub perfect for a rock garden.

Location: Blevins Japanese Garden

Juniperus virginiana ‘Burkii’ (Eastern Red Cedar)

Bloom Time: N/A

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Low to Medium

Wildlife: Food source for birds and small mammals

Tolerates: Deer, Drought, and Erosion

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 2 to 9

Other: This is a narrow pyramidal cultivar that featuers bluish-sliver foliage.

Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden

Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter Jasmine)

Bloom Time: January to March

Sun Requirement: Full sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: N/A

Tolerates: Heavy Shade

Native to North America: No

Zones: 6 to 10

Other: Blooms with bright yellow flowers on willowy stems in late winter.

Location: Robinson Family Water Garden

Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Gold’ (Winterberry)

Bloom Time: May to June

Sun Requirement: Full sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium to High

Wildlife: Attracts birds

Tolerates: Erosion and Wet Soil

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 3 to 9

Other: Noted for its dense, heavy fruiting of orange berries that stay on bare stems throughout the winter.

Location: Howe Garden

Download this month’s Top Plant Picks!

Arbutus unedo ‘Compacta’ (Compact Strawberry Tree)

Bloom Time: October to January

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Low to medium

Wildlife: Bees, Birds, Butterflies and Moths

Tolerates: Drought

Native to North America: No

Zones: 7 to 9

Other: A small evergreen shrub with glossy foliage, cinnamon-colored bark, and white-pink flowers that are produced in the fall to winter.

Location: Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden

Viola cornuta ‘Sorbet XP Marina’ (Horned Violet)

Bloom Time: October to May

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Sun

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bees

Tolerates: Cold tolerant

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 to 9

Other: This compact, uniform perennial has soft blue flowers with a deep violet center and heart-shaped leaves. A perfect addition to any garden bed to add color duing the winter months!

Location: Color Garden

Camellia japonica ‘April Remembered’ (Camellia)

Bloom Time: October to May

Sun Requirement: Part Sun to Full Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Bumblebees and Honeybees

Tolerates: Shade

Native to North America: No

Zones: 6 to 10

Other: A beautiful cold tolerant baby pink camellia that is a late winter bloomer with glossy evergreen foliage. Plant in a sheltered site to protect from cold winds.

Location: Herb Garden

Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii (Mediterranean Spurge)

Bloom Time: May to June

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Low to medium

Wildlife: Bees and Butterflies

Tolerates: Drought, Rabbits, and Deer

Native to North America: No

Zones: 6 to 8

Other: Noted for its erect stems with spirally arranged blue-green leaves, Mediterranean Spurge is evergreen and a unique addition to any garden bed!

Location: Boxwood Garden

Hypericum calycinum ‘Brigadoon’ (St. John’s Wort)

Bloom Time: July to August

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Butterflies

Tolerates: Drought

Native to North America: No

Zones: 5 to 8

Other: Evergreen during warmer winters, this groundcover has golden leaves with a reddish tint on the edges. During the summer, it produces bright yellow flowers.

Location: Herb Garden

Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’ (Star Magnolia)

Bloom Time: March

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Beetles

Tolerates: Clay Soil

Native to North America: No

Zones: 4 to 8

Other: A small tree that has large, fuzzy buds that open in late winter to fragrant, large white flowers.

Location: Seasons Garden

Acer buergerianum (Trident Maple)

Bloom Time: April to May

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Birds

Tolerates: Air Pollution

Native to North America: No

Zones: 5 to 9

Other: This tree grows to 30 feet tall and is noted for its lovely exfoliating bark and attractive yellow, orange and red fall color.

Location: Japanese Garden

Ilex opaca ‘Yellow-Berried’ (Yellow Berried Holly)

Bloom Time: May to June

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade

Water Requirement: Medium

Wildlife: Birds

Tolerates: Deer

Native to North America: Yes

Zones: 6 to 9

Other: Features an abundance of magnificent orange-yellow berries in the winter and evergreen leaves.

Location: Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden

Download this month’s Top Plant Picks!