… The Spiraea japonica species includes the greatest range of cultivars available to the home gardener within the Spiraea genus. They all have a compact mounding habit in sizes ranging from 18" to 5' that makes them useful in borders and smaller spaces. The cultivars also offer foliage … are quite small, they occur in clusters of inflorescence that can be very showy. Spireas are best used in groupings in a shrub or mixed border, where they are valued as tough, reliable and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Spiraea japonica species includes the greatest range of cultivars available to the home gardener within the Spiraea genus. They all have a compact mounding habit in sizes ranging from 18" to 5' that makes them useful in borders and smaller spaces. The cultivars also offer foliage … are quite small, they occur in clusters of inflorescence that can be very showy. Spireas are best used in groupings in a shrub or mixed border, where they are valued as tough, reliable and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Explore the Bonsai courtyards Among the Chicago Botanic Garden's world-class plant displays is a specialty collection of close to 200 priceless bonsai — trees that have been trained to grow in pots or trays. These miniature artworks are the same trees we can grow in our own …
Type: Walks
… autumn color displays in trees and shrubs? A. Certain plants have a built-in genetic code that is responsible for their intense fall color displays. But even with these genes in place, trees and shrubs need ideal weather conditions to show off their best color. Trees should also be healthy, well-watered all season and located in full sun. During …
Type: Plant Info
… I manage the Plants of Concern, a citizen science rare-plant monitoring program designed to gather standardized, long-term regional monitoring data to detect population trends. The program is a collaboration of trained citizen scientists, land managers, and researchers using science to best conserve rare plants and habitats. In addition to our regional monitoring work, Plants of …
Type: Staff bio
… Pinky Lee orchid (× Vuylstekeara Cindy 'Pinky Lee'), an Oncidium -type hybrid orchid, is a cross between Miltonia 'My Clown' and Oncidium Shonan 'Pinky'. It is one of the few … relatively large mottled blossoms. The beautiful colors range from shades of pink and lavender to purple and red, with some yellow in the center. The matte flowers have purple sepals and … bloom spike. Very easy to grow in medium light with average watering, this stunning orchid is best grown in slightly humid, cool, well-ventilated conditions because of the Miltoniopsis in its …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Connecting Your Garden to Your Teaspoon Bees are part of every garden. Because bee populations continue to decline, and because September is National Honey Month…we dedicate this Smart Gardener to the story of how bees actually produce …
Type: Plant Info
… their flower buds and leaves. Underneath them, small but spectacular wildflowers continue to bloom and bees (and the occasional hummingbird) are buzzing around collecting nectar and … tiny soil organisms—all of which evolved with the plants. (One well-known example is the monarch butterfly, which only lays its eggs on milkweed ( Asclepias ) species. The … from the nest looking for suitable food. As Doug Tallamy writes in his book, “Nature’s Best Hope,” (Timber Press, 2019), “To realize the ecological potential of our landscapes, most of …
Type: Plant Info
… Jamie Berlin is the horticulturist for the Lavin Evaluation Garden and Green Roof Gardens at the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. The Lavin Evaluation Garden is home to the Garden's Plant Evaluation Program, featuring plants best suited for Midwestern gardens and those in similar climates. The Green Roof includes a south …
Type: Staff bio
… grew a prairie on my balcony—and how you can, too City spaces may seem limiting when it comes to plants, but even a small balcony can become an oasis. When we moved into our condo, I turned … Spotted beebalm ( Monarda punctata ) Soil Blue vervain ( Verbena hastata ) The Pot Struggle is Real First hurdle: winter. Chicago winters are no joke, and pots are a tough environment for … I couldn’t totally recreate the complexity of prairie soils, but I tried to mimic them the best I could. I used commercial potting mix as a base and tweaked each pot to simulate different …
Type: Blog
