… Advice from our horticulturist as the Rose Garden "Be brave." Tom Soulsby says it's the best advice he has for rose gardeners. As the senior horticulturist at the Rose Garden, Tom knows how to deal with roses at every stage of their lives: young and old, tended and in need of pruning, …
Type: Plant Info
… A tall-grass prairie native that adds beauty to gardens and nurtures wildlife, switchgrass is now being considered as a potential new fuel … ethanol" and mentioned switchgrass as a possible source. The most promising cultivars for bioenergy are 'Alamo' in the deep south, 'Kanlow' for mid latitudes, and 'Cave-in-Rock' for … considered an important strategy for reducing atmospheric CO2, and switchgrass is one of the best crops for achieving this "carbon sequestration." When above-ground switchgrass is harvested …
Type: Plant Info
… sun or light shade, are tolerant of clay, and can take drought once they are established. Due to their large size, they are best suited as a background plant. They become very large and leggy, and need occasional renewal pruning (immediately after flowering) to maintain their shape. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party. " — Robin Williams, American Actor While I’d like to party outside—sowing seeds and enjoying the spring blossoms—I’m keeping a cautious eye on the … collected by the National Weather Service ( NOAA.gov ) states that the “normal” April snowfall for the Chicago area is 1.3 inches. That’s nothing compared to the 7.9 inches of snow the area … vegetable plants this month. They’ve been coddled in a warm greenhouse up until now. If you buy warm-season crops (like tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash) wait to plant them until after …
Type: Plant Info
… It’s rare that a plant's cultivar name makes it into everyday conversation—'Peace' comes to mind for roses, or 'Stella d'Oro' for daylilies. But say "'Annabelle'," and everyone knows you're … in the sitting area across from the Circle Garden. The oakleaf hydrangeas: H. quercifolia The best of the best in this popular group is Snow Queen ™ . Regal in size at 6 feet tall, with the …
Type: Plant Info
… I remember vividly the first time I visited the Chicago Botanic Garden. I was silent (unusual for me) and in awe. Everywhere I looked, I saw plant labels, and looking at them provided me some kind of familiarity—like when you meet someone new, you want to know their name, what they do, what they like, right? Well, the same with plants. One … around 7 to 8 inches across, and is made to withstand the constant humidity. Next time you visit the Garden, check out the Linnaeus statue in the Heritage Garden and see the decoding of a …
Type: Blog
… In very early spring, Abeliophyllum distichum ‘Rosea’ provides a pale pink alternative to the bright yellows and golds of the more commonly seen Forsythia shrubs that bloom at the same … shrub is a wonderful compliment to the early spring bulbs that bloom at the same time. Best grown as an open arching shrub in the landscape because annual pruning to maintain a … endangered in its native range but has not been officially added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Within cultivation, it can be found in many northern …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Froebelii spirea is noted for better heat and drought tolerance than other Spiraea japonica . Foliage emerges red-tinged and turns to blue-green as the season progresses. Blooms are bright carmine pink. The Spiraea japonica … 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
… its pinkish red flowers are somewhat lighter than those of Anthony Waterer. It is distinctive for its twisted and incised leaves. 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 … 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
… Zebra grass is one of the last cultivars of Miscanthus sinensis to bloom in this area, waiting until October to send up 8-foot tall pinkish-red flower spikes that gradually become silver with age. During … reaches 5 feet tall and wide, but the clumps will continue to spread by rhizomes. It grows best in sun or partial shade, and because of its size, it needs to be at the back of the flower …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
