… Native to the northern hemisphere and named for the Latin word for garlic, alliums have adapted to climates in every part of the world. Ornamental alliums are …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… a reddish blush at the center of each tube on this short-lived perennial. This plant is ideal for sun or partial shaded locations in the garden, where they can be allowed to naturalize. Plant … moist soils, and permit the plants to mature and disperse their seeds at the end of the season for future generations. Aquilegias are known as short-lived perennials. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… over 12 feet in height and whose leaves have taken on the larger deep green mature form. Grown for the juvenile growth that features green cordate (heart shaped) leaves with pale green mottling. Great plant for a hanging basket, filler or groundcover in frost free landscapes. Tolerates a lot of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… fill the garden with color from July through the first part of October. Bred specifically for landscape, pot, and cut flower sales, this cultivar is an improvement over older cultivars … full sun and in well- drained, moisture-retentive soils. This plant is a pollinator attractor for the home and commercial landscape. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… just about everywhere you go you'll see pumpkins. These Central American natives are great for crafts, decorations and food. A member of the squash family, pumpkin is high in … and vitamin C; low in fat; and high in fiber. Smaller, three- to six-pounders are the best for pies since they're sweet and non-stringy. As with all squash, the flowers are edible too! If you can find named pumpkins at your local farmer's market, look for these tasty baking types: 'Small Sugar', 'Sugar Pie', 'Baby Bear' and 'New England Pie' …
Type: Plant Info
… Why Best for the Midwest is Best for the Planet Think twice before you plant those flowers! Are they a native species that promotes healthy habits for plants and animals, or could they be an invasive species? The Chicago region has a diverse …
Type: Plant Info
… are in a winter dormancy and require bright light but very cool conditions with no water for up to two months. Overwatering will create soft brown patches on stems and foliage. Monitor houseplants for insect problems that often occur when plants become stressed due to insufficient light; … harbor pests. Isolate these plants before adding them to your collection. Pests to look out for include the following: Spider mites — Look for webbing in leaf axils, stippled foliage, and …
Type: Plant Info
… flower he ever saw and he would probably shout out "sunflower." Ask a prairie aficionado for a list of the top ten prairie plants blooming now, and a sunflower will surely be on that … associated with the farmlands of the Great Plains—a plant cherished by the Native Americans for its seeds, its silage and later on, for its oil. There are dozens of different varieties of annual sunflowers, some 10 feet tall, …
Type: Plant Info
… with the roots of a healthy tree, or by contaminated pruning tools. There is no cure for the disease once a tree is infected. Susceptible Plants American elms ( Ulmus americana ) are … streaking in the sapwood immediately under the bark. Tissues must be cultured in a laboratory for positive identification of Dutch elm disease. Because there are other wilt diseases that can … no chemicals available to homeowners to cure this disease. Commercial fungicides are available for Dutch elm disease; however, only licensed applicators are able to purchase and apply these …
Type: Plant Info
… Ash Tree Alternatives Looking for a replacement for an ailing ash tree? Dr. Andrew C. Bell, curator of woody plants, offers these suggestions. … Arborists as the 2012 Urban Tree of the Year, Accolade™ elm is one of the top-performing trees for urban and residential planting in the Chicago region. This hybrid elm provides the iconic …
Type: Plant Info