… of bell-shaped flowers in the axils of the stiff, rough branches. Forsythia x intermedia is a cross between Forsythia viridissima and Forsythia suspensa var. fortunei. It was found as a … of Gottingen, Germany, in 1885. It has given rise to many popular cultivars. ‘Beatrix Farrand’ is a widely cultivated old standard, found in many old landscapes. It grows large and is very floriferous. However, it is not very cold hardy and after a cold winter, only a …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Showy medinilla ( Medinilla magnifica ), a member of the Melastomataceae family, is more commonly known as the Malaysian orchid, despite not being part of the orchid family. Native to the mountains of the Philippines, this species is found mostly in the tropics. The leaves are somewhat distinctive, being opposite, decussate … that develops first, with the other flowers in the cluster developing afterward. The blossom is made up of many small flowers cupped in bracts (large petal-like leaves) that can grow to 20 …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The English oak is native to Europe and can be a very imposing, majestic tree at maturity. In cultivation in the U.S., it is unlikely to reach the 75 to 100 feet scale often seen in Europe. Its wood has been used to … and furniture, as well as casks for maturing wines and spirits. The fruit of the oak tree is the acorn, which usually appears in September and is very popular with squirrels. The English …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The bracted balsam fir, also called "Canaan fir" is an evergreen fir native to the northeastern United States and Canada. Growing upwards of 50 … dark-green to blue-green needles, it has a narrow pyramidal form with upswept branches. It is primarily grown as a Christmas tree by the nursery trade but may be used as a specimen conifer in the garden. This fir is differentiated from the species by the conspicuous papery bracts protruding from the cones. It …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… STATE STREET® maple cultivar is a densely branched shade tree that can reach a height of 50 feet and width of 35 feet with … habit and symmetrical branching; it has deeply furrowed, corky bark. Though miyabie maple is listed as endangered in its native habitat in Japan, several cultivars are considered hardy, adaptable urban street trees. The dark green leaves turn golden in fall. This tree is a Chicagoland Grows® selection. Chicagoland Grows® is a plant introduction partnership of the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Coral aloe ( Aloe striata ) is a succulent native to South Africa. Succulents originated in climates where rain is not regular or predictable, and many are therefore drought tolerant—their leaves and stems can … the nodding, dense inflorescences provide a colorful contrast to the leaves below. Coral aloe is one of the easiest aloe species to grow. It isn't fussy about where it is sited, but it likes …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Avalanche Variegated Feather Reed Grass is a clumping ornamental grass that has leaf clumps growing to about 4 feet high and 3 feet wide, … climates. The flower spikes are usually retained for winter interest and the entire plant is cut back or in late winter to promote new growth. This plant is sterile, so self-seeding is not a problem, and the plant does not spread aggressively making …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Gerolds spurge is a critically endangered plant in its native Madagascar where it only grows in a small area of coastal forest with sandy soils. However this plant is a popular commercial nursery plant because of its appealing flowers and ease of maintenance. … to be circular but are actually two overlapping red petals with yellow centers. This spurge is thornless, but like most spurges it has caustic sap so care should be taken when pruning or …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… of tubular yellow flowers with long stamens and pistils protruding from the flowers. The fruit is a dry capsule with long filaments. Plants can spread by suckers and may form colonies. Diervilla lonicera is the most wide-spread of the three species, found is eastern Canada, eastern and central U.S., including Illinois. The yellow flowers turn …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Ginkgo is an ancient deciduous conifer. Evidence has been found which shows this tree coexisted with the … tree that grows to 50' or so. The spread can be wider than the height in mature plants. It is one of the most pollution-tolerant trees and works well in the city and in large, open areas. Insignificant green flowers appear in the spring. The fruit, an edible nut, is surrounded by a malodorous fleshy pulp, best described as "cheesy" or "gym-sock smelly." The …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
