Search

  • … The samaras, or winged fruits, mature in fall and turn a rich red. Its purplish red foliage is outstanding and does not fade in heat. Fall color is a brilliant clear red. This lovely small tree, native to the Far East, can be grown only in very protected areas if you live in Zone 5. It is an exceptional small ornamental maple. Archived Copy: This content was captured before …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … foliage with a bluish cast in summer that changes to a rich black-green in mid-winter. It is notable for its excellent cold hardiness, compact, oval-rounded habit, delicate foliage and good growth rate. This shrub is a Chicagoland Grows® selection. Chicagoland Grows® is a plant introduction partnership of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum and the …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Brazilian ironwood, also known as leopard tree, is a highly ornamental Brazilian tree with many fine attributes. A single straight trunk is topped with a vase-shaped canopy. A member of the pea family, it has large, lacy pinnate … peels away to reveal patches of gray, creamy white and green, like a sycamore. The hard wood is used for furniture, flooring, fence posts and guitars. Archived Copy: This content was …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … hang from long, leafless stems. Each flower has a small protruding petal at the tip which is reminiscent of a drop of blood and gives the plant the name “bleeding heart”. The foliage is grayish green, deeply cut and fernlike. If given enough moisture, the foliage will remain attractive throughout the summer. The plant is resistant to deer and rabbits .The name dicentra comes from the Greek words dis meaning twice …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Fothergilla gardenii 'Klmtwo' Beaver Creek™ is a very compact and uniform form of dwarf fothergilla selected by Klehm Nursery, not far from … with consistently moist soils that are slightly on the acidic side of the pH range. It is tolerant of full sun to a half day of shade. This dwarf fothergilla is slow-growing but well worth the wait. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … ) has an upright habit and grows 2 to 3 feet in height. Native to our Illinois prairie, it is an outstanding addition to a sunny perennial or naturalistic garden. This late-summer bloomer … flowers, drought tolerance, and vigorous growth. It reseeds to produce new plants but is not weedy. The blooms are among the most vivid and beautiful of all of our native wildflowers. … cone has distinctive, neatly arranged prickly spines that enhance the flower's appearance. It is a perfect prairie garden plant. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … The horse chestnut is native to the Balkans. This cultivar was developed in Switzerland in 1819. It has double white … flowers in large panicles that appear in the spring. It does not produce any fruit. Fall color is not vivid (yellows and browns). It can reach a height of 80 with a spread of 60 feet. It can … tolerate some shade and has medium soil and water requirements. It should be noted that this is a taprooted tree which makes it difficult to transplant and will cause it to take a long time …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … are comprised of tiny densely packed flowers which bloom in mid summer. Pink Lightning is a dwarf astilbe, growing to only 16 inches tall. It does well in partial shade to shade and will add a welcome touch of color to a shady garden. It is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds while it is resistant to rabbits and deer. After the blooms have died, the stalks with the dried seed …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … does well in shade to partial shade and adds a welcome touch of color to a shady garden. It is generally pest free and tough. It is resistant to rabbits and deer, but attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. This is an excellent cut flower. After the blooms have died, the stalks with the dried seed heads are …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … the root system established. Unfortunately this native of southern Mexico and Central America is not root hardy in the Chicago area. Milky sap can cause contact dermatitis and is poisonous if ingested. Ingestion is unlikely because a different compound in the sap produces a gag reflex. Archived Copy: This …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant