… My work is focused on breeding novel ornamental cultivars that are well-suited for the harsh environmental conditions of the Upper Midwest, with a preference for native taxa. … chosen subjectively and made by hand, these methods are supplemented by chemical mutagenesis to introduce genetic and phenotypic variation into the program. Promising accessions are studied … University in 2022 while studying hazelnut ( Corylus spp.). I am excited for the opportunity to transition back to ornamental plants, as they are what originally drew me to plants in general. …
Type: Staff bio
… the willowy stems from spring into mid-summer. Use in containers and directly in flower beds for their eye-catching color and motion in even slight breezes. The flowers are very attractive to pollinator insects searching for nectar. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Related to the American elder, 'Guincho Purple' is grown mainly for its bright leaves. This cultivar has dark green leaves, turning blackish purple and then red … pink-tinged flat umbels of flowers with purple stalks. This plant makes a nice shrub suitable for the wild border. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The brilliant blossoms are those of butterfly milkweed or butterfly weed—curious common names for Asclepias tuberosa , which isn’t a weed at all. A more suitable name might be “butterfly … that butterfly weed was named the 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year. It’s a welcome addition to the home garden. It requires little maintenance, tolerates drought, resists disease, and … which contains latex and complex chemicals (cardenolides) that make the plants unappealing to most animals, including deer and rabbits. Unlike most other milkweeds, butterfly weed does not …
Type: Plant Info
… flower scapes are almost 3 feet in length and bear lavender flowers which can be attractive to hummingbirds in mid to late summer. Hostas are shade tolerant, easy to grow, and long lived. Although they produce … flowers held high above the foliage on long stalks called scapes, they are grown primarily for their foliage and neat habit. Hostas are actively hybridized for leaf color, size, shape, and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Umbrellas forms a very large (3 feet tall by 4 feet wide) mound of dark green leaves that tend to cup downward. This hosta tends to lose its initial bluish color earlier than other blue-leaved hosta. It blooms in June with … flowers held high above the foliage on long stalks called scapes, they are grown primarily for their foliage and neat habit. Hostas are actively hybridized for leaf color, size, shape, and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. How do I mulch in preparation for the winter? A. There are some things to remember when preparing to mulch for the upcoming winter months. If you mulched in the spring, check to see how much …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. I am looking for some unusual summer-blooming shrubs for my landscape. Do you have some suggestions for hardy … shrubs? A. You can extend your season of blooming shrubs by adding any of the following to your landscape: Clethra alnifolia (summersweet) blooms in July; Cotinus coggygria (smoke tree) … or shrub roses that can provide non-stop blossoms up until frost. Additionally, you might want to try one of the summer-flowering dieback shrubs such as Buddleja (butterfly bush), Caryopteris …
Type: Plant Info
… These sturdy, stately plants, hybrids of our native rose mallows, are prized for their use as structure in a perennial border. Everything about them is large, from their rich green, three-lobed lobed leaves to their immense flowers. ‘Airbrush Effect’ has bright pink flowers brushed with white and a … for other perennials in the border, and along the water’s edge. Hummingbirds are drawn to this plant. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… that is quite shiny and is distinguished by a leafy ridge running along the midrib. Growing to 12' tall or more with a spread equal to its height, shining sumac forms dense thickets. It is a large spreading shrub for mass planting in open space. Give this plant lots of space as it spreads aggressively by …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
