January Plants of the Month

Wouldn't it be wonderful to look out your (kitchen, bedroom, den) window and see a splash of color in your landscape on a dreary winter day?  Don't you love driving down a street and suddenly there's the treat of a red berry-laden holly?  The UT Institute of Agriculture, of which Memphis Area Master Gardeners is a part, publishes a Plant of the Month every, well, month.  I thought it would be fun to go back into the archives and see what they've highlighted over the years.  What I especially like about this list is that these plants are chosen by the University of Tennessee horticulturists because they do well in our area.

Here they are, starting with 2012 and going back to 2003.  One selection show up twice as different cultivars; one selection appeared in two years.  Can you guess which one?  See the answer at the end of the post. Also at the end, the Plant of the Month for January, 2013.

If you want to know more about a particular one, just click on the name under the photo.  Most of these can be planted now, so get going and get your color fix started!

Bloodtwig Dogwood Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire'

Winterberry Holly Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite'

American Arborvitae Thuja Occidentalis 'Sunkist'

Redtwig Dogwood Cornus sanguinea 'Winter Flame'

Deodar Cedar Cedrus Deodara 'Feelin Blue'

Umbrella Pine Sciadopitys verticillata

Cocks-Comb Cedar Cryptomeria japonica 'Cristata'

Possum Haw Ilex decidua

Lenten Rose Helleborus x hybridus

Which one was selected two times in 10 years?  Our good friend Winterberry Holly!

What is the Plant of the Month for January, 2013???

Small Anise Tree Illicium parviflorum 'Florida Sunshine'

I'd love to see photos of any of these growing in your yard or neighborhood.  Send me an email with the subject "January POM" or post to the MAMG Facebook page using "January POM" and the approximate location in the comments.