This wild apple is native to Europe and is thought to be an ancestor, or relative, of the domesticated eating apples raised as crops today. The difference between apples and crabapples is the size of the fruit. If the fruit is 2 inches or greater, it is considered an apple; if less than 2 inches, it is considered a crabapple. While apple fruit trees are generally grown commercially and in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
The Spartan apple is crunchy and sweet. It is recommended for eating fresh or for juice, but is not a good keeper. This cultivar was developed in 1926 in British Columbia and is derived from McIntosh and Newtown Pippin varieties. The difference between apples and crabapples is the size of the fruit. If the fruit is 2 inches or greater, it is considered an apple; if less than 2 inches, it is …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’ has stunning large, white blooms with contrasting red anthers and a delightful fragrance. The petals are recurved, and the flowers are bowl shaped, measuring 8 inches in diameter in mid to late summer. The stems stand 3 to 4 feet high and may have up to 8 flowers on a single stem. Casa Blanca is an Oriental hybrid. Oriental lilies generally have larger flowers and taller …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
( Lilium 'Montreal'flowers have yellow stars in the center which fade to white or near white toward the outer edges of the petals. The stems stand 3 to 4 feet tall with 3 to 6 inch out facing flowers in July and August. The flowers are fragrant and attractive to bees and butterflies. Montreal is an Oriental hybrid. Oriental lilies typically bloom a little later than the Asiatic lilies and have …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
Caesar's Brother Siberian iris ( Iris sibirica 'Caesar's Brother') features dark purple-blue flowers atop tall, slender stems extending to 31 inches after the bearded irises have peaked, and before the Japanese irises come into flower. Water this iris well the first year to establish the root system; after that, it can tolerate conditions ranging from dry soil to standing water along the edges of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
Tor birchleaf spirea typically grows into a dense, compact, rounded mound (3’ X 3’). Tiny white flowers that are attractive to butterflies grow in small, flattened clusters in late spring on new wood. The foliage turns shades of orange, red, and purple in the fall. Birchleaf spirea is named for the shape of its leaves, which resemble those of the birch genus. More than 100 of these spirea are in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
This Asian native spirea can grow to a height of 3’ with a 5’ spread and is covered with small white flowers in May or June. This shrub can be planted in full sun in a wide range of soil types as long as it is well drained. It flowers on new wood, so prune in late spring to maximize flower production for the next season. The genus Spiraea consists of small to medium sized flowering shrubs with a …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
Vanhoutte or bridalwreath spirea has a vase-shaped habit with long, arching branches. White flowers completely cover the branches in early May and may last for two or three weeks.It is one of the easiest plants to grow; it seems to thrive on neglect. This shrub is an old-fashioned favorite and continues to be one of the most widely grown spireas today. The genus Spiraea consists of small to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
Tulipa ‘Dordogne’ produces large, peach-apricot colored flowers on tall stems near the end of tulip season (historically near the end of May in the Chicago area). Tulips, for annual displays, can be planted just about anywhere; however, for naturalizing, a position in full sun with well-drained soils that tend to the dry side after mid-June is best. The Dutch, consummate tulip growers, leave the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
When gardening in the Midwest, it is truly a delight to discover plants that have saved their showier sides for the last months of the year. At this time especially, we welcome the graceful conifers, the rustling ornamental grasses, the broad-leaved evergreens, and all those other plants with interesting seed heads, seedpods, cones, and berries that contribute to the more subtle beauty of the …
Type: Plant Info
