Chicago Botanic Garden

for immediate release

New! Carousel Little Bluestem PPAF

Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicagoland Grows®, Inc.
Announce Summer Availability

 

Media Only:
Julie McCaffrey
(847) 835-8213
jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org

GLENCOE, Ill. (Jan. 16, 2008)—Chicagoland Grows®, Inc. introduced Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Carousel’, at the Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show in Chicago in mid-January. This compact, native prairie grass was selected for its dwarf, unique rounded, bowl-shaped habit and its ability to stay upright throughout winter. It is perfect for sunny borders, native plant gardens, naturalized areas, prairies and meadows.

Schizachyrium is a clump-forming, warm-season native grass that is widely distributed throughout the prairies and open woods of North America. ‘Carousel’ is an advanced selection that was developed by Don Boehm in Rushville, Ill. It has distinct, fine texture foliage that is blue-green with streaks of pink in midsummer, and then transitions to a radiant kaleidoscope of copper, pink, beige and mahogany hues in fall. This plant is hardy in USDA zones 3-9 and has a medium growth rate. Mature plants are broad-rounded and will reach full size—2 ½ feet tall by 2 ½ feet wide—in two years.

“ ‘Carousel’ is an excellent native grass for the garden that is truly exceptional in mass plantings,” said Chad Osborn, manager of plant introduction for Chicagoland Grows, Inc. “Its ornamental, fluffy silver seed heads persist for months, making this grass an excellent choice for fall color and winter landscape.”

‘Carousel’ is an extremely low-maintenance grass that requires only to be cut back every spring. This plant thrives best in well-drained, medium to dry soils and full sun. The plant will tolerate clay soils, as long as they are not too wet. Avoid planting in shade or areas with high-nutrient wet soils, as this will make the plant have weak stems that fall over. It is highly deer resistant and provides food and cover for wildlife all winter.

Chicagoland Grows, Inc. is a non-profit corporation of the Chicago Botanic Garden, The Morton Arboretum and the Ornamental Growers Association of Northern Illinois (OGA). The Chicagoland Grows, Inc. Plant Introduction Program is dedicated to the evaluation, selection, production and marketing of recommended and new plant cultivars. Plants selected for the program have proven to be adaptable to the Midwest and are made available to the commercial and retail landscape industry through an international network of growers and propagators.

For more information on Little Bluestem ‘Carousel’ or the Chicagoland Grows, Inc. Plant Introduction Program, visit www.chicagolandgrows.org .

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Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $15; free for members. On Tuesdays, senior citizens age 62 and older pay just $7 for parking. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. The Garden is also breaking new ground in urban horticulture and jobs training through a 15-acre project in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago called Windy City Harvest. The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.