… Admit it: you're always drawn to them. It's their height…their interesting contrast…those smoky good looks. This month in Smart … for tall plants, they need not be relegated to a line-up against the wall. On your next summer visit, keep an eye out for the many different ways that horticulturists are using tall, dark … in our Plant Finder —see sidebar for details. Angelica gigas Canna 'Intrigue' are sure to get noticed. Tall, Dark, and Bold A "what is that?" plant to be sure, Giant Angelica ( Angelica …
Type: Plant Info
… Large-flowered inula is an easy to grow, clump-forming perennial that prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun. It is grown for its large, daisy-like, yellow flowers composed of numerous, narrow, ray florets. Good drainage is essential, and the plants do best in cold climates. Orientalis is hardy to USDA Zone 3 and grows to 2½ feet tall, featuring …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Native to Japan, the vine-leaved maple is a small, deciduous tree that typically grows to a height of 20 … climates. The tree is dioecious (there are separate male and female plants) and is known best for its compound trifoliate leaves that resemble those of some ashes and ivies. Archived Copy: …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This shrubby perennial grows to a maximum height of five feet with full sun. From midsummer to fall it has large, fragrant panicles of lavender-purple spikes that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It’s best used for massed plantings in borders. It is deer resistant and will tolerate drought once it is …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… ) is a dominant grass of tallgrass prairies in the Midwest. It forms deep-rooted clumps and is best used for naturalizing or soil retention. When in bloom, the flowering stems reach to 6 feet or taller. The flowers are 3- to 5-part spikelets that resemble turkey feet. The …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… a warm-season crop because plants need warm soil and frost-free nights, tomatoes are best planted outdoors after mid-May in the Chicago area. Even then you might need to cover plants, which is why many gardeners wait until after Memorial Day to plant. Choosing the … rich soil that stays evenly moist yet drains well and is rarely soggy. Make sure plants get 1 inch of water a week, more if the weather is especially hot or windy. A 2- to 3-inch layer …
Type: Plant Info
… is this and when should it be done? A. Aeration is a process that creates openings in turf to reduce thatch and help with water infiltration, nutrient absorption, and air movement to … Core aeration is the most effective method of aeration because it allows the most room for water, nutrients, and root development. The best time to aerate lawns is in the spring or fall when the turf is actively growing but not …
Type: Plant Info
… In addition to the large, architectural foliage typical of so many Rodgersias 'Cherry Blush' adds striking … then mature to green bordered in bronzed burgundy. Those dark leaves form an effective setting for the airy spikes of pink flowers that appear in late spring. In the shade garden, Rodgersias … and not reliably, at least in our climate. The drama's in the foliage. Give them time to get established, dappled sun, and consistent moisture, and they'll thrive. Archived Copy: This …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Justicia brandegeeana is known colloquially as shrimp plant due to the resemblance of its flowers to those tiny crustaceans. The showy reddish-pink to chartreuse bracts are actually modified leaves; the true flowers are white and appear for a relatively short period of time. A member of the Acanthaceae family, this species has long … featuring excellent soil drainage and moderate air movement. Over time, the plants tend to get leggy as they grow in height and lose their lower leaves. This issue can be overcome by …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… is hardy it can be grown outside or in pots, in colder climates, containers that can be moved to a greenhouse in winter would work best. Low temperatures and dry conditions increase the range and intensity of colors in the … leaf margins have sharp red brown teeth. It will grow well in full sun in well drained soils. For the best colors keep it dry. Mature size is a messy shrubby mound about 3 feet tall and 4 …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
