… Ovens wattle is native to the temperate regions of southeastern Australia where its nectar-rich flowers … food for birds and insects. This small tree grows to about 15 feet in height and width and is notable for its attractive green leaves and pendulous growth habit. The small yellow … flowers completely cover the tree and provide a delicate honeyed scent. Although it is not hardy in the Chicago area it can be over-wintered successfully. It has received the Royal …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… leaves emerge early. The plant grows 10 feet in height with a similar spread, and it is highly admired for its semi-weeping branches. Use the Japanese maple as a specimen plant. May … flowers. The samaras, or winged fruits, mature in fall and turn a rich red. Foliage is red and turns a brighter red in the fall. 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. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 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. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Its leaves are quite beautiful; each is compound with three leaflets. It is a wonderful specimen plant. As its name implies, the flowers appear in clusters of three; … maple can reach a mature height of 20 to 25 feet and has a dense, rounded shape. It is a beautiful small maple with handsome bark. …
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
… Portodora Elephant's Ear is an impressive clump-forming plant with thick purple stems, and enormous dark green … leaves that are heavily scalloped. It grows to about eight feet tall and about wide and is an impressive statement plant in any garden. Portodora prefers full sun or part shade but needs consistently moist soils and protection from drying or damaging winds. It is not hardy in Chicago and the bulb can lifted and stored in a dry, cool, dark location such as …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Aphelandra sinclairiana is a showstopper every winter when it comes into flower. A relatively tall tropical perennial, … dozens of fuzzy apricot-colored buds that open to reveal pink flowers. The color combination is stunning! A native of the lowland tropics of Central America, this plant needs room to grow. It is best grown in full sun with reliable moisture, moderate fertilization, and temperatures no …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Silky Gold bloodflower ( Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold') is a nonnative perennial plant that the Chicago Botanic Garden grows from seed and uses as a warm-season annual. It is a member of the milkweed family, which includes butterfly weed ( A. tuberosa ), prairie … flowers form seedpods from which seeds with silky hairs are dispersed by wind. 'Silky Gold' is a host plant for monarch and queen butterfly larvae, and its nectar attracts many other …
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. …
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
