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  • … 'Belle Poitevine' was introduced in 1894, and she's still regarded as one of the best hybrid rugosas available. Her magenta buds open to ruffled, almost frilly pink roses that are so fragrant you can smell them a yard away. And she … again and again. And when the flowering season is done, she has big, colorful rose hips for winter color.  Like all rugosas, she's very hardy (zone 3), and that wrinkled foliage that's …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Branches ascend in a loosely pyramidal fashion as this tree grows 40 to 60 feet in height. Insignificant flowers appear together with the leaves in April and May. … to the American hackberry; however, because of its adaptability, it is a tough tree, good for urban areas. This native woodland tree is best recognized by its corky, warty bark and sharply toothed leaves, which are often covered with …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … pagoda dogwood gets its common name because its distinctive horizontal branching habit appears to belong in a Japanese garden, though it is a native species. Its scientific name Cornus … Members of the genus Cornus , commonly known as dogwoods, are welcome in the home garden for their multi-season interest -- be it flowers, fruit, foliage and/or bark -- and their range of forms from small trees to suckering shrubs. The dominant display, however, varies among the species. Dogwoods are native …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … emerge from a corm. Crocosmias like it warm, and although ‘Lucifer’ is considered the hardiest for the Chicago area, it is best planted in full sun in a south-facing location close to a wall; plant the corms 3 inches deep. Mulch in winter or dig up the corms and replant in the …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … tree, easily recognized because it has a very strong horizontal growth habit.It reaches 20 to 30 feet tall and has 2- to 3-inch-long thorns. Use it in mass plantings, in hedges, or as a … the plant. Fall color ranges from bronze-red to purplish-red. Due to its sharp thorns, it is best not to plant this tree on a front lawn or where children may be playing. A recommended … selection, Inermis, is a thornless variety. The cockspur hawthorn is an effective tree for the landscape. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … daily. Discover their life cycle, species found in Illinois, and their habitats. Learn the best equipment and settings to capture images of these insects with amazing detail. The first class will be held at the Garden, and the second will consist of a field trip to local hotspots for instruction and practice. In the final session at the Garden, review images and make live …
    Type: Item Detail
  • … quickly go dormant—live their life. White trout lilies ( Erythronium albidum ) If you want to see some of the spring woodland flowers in bloom, you often have to be there on the day. In … pollinators associated with them, they usually have several different pollinators that can visit, including other native bees and many species of flies. For ephemerals in the genus … heat, by vibrating their wing muscles and restricting their blood flow in the thorax, to get themselves flying early in spring before it's warm enough for many other pollinators to go …
    Type: Blog
  • … five-petalled flowers have five petals and resemble orchids. The petals are magenta, fading to white at the base and streaked with carmine. A long staminal column protrudes from the flower … and swollen, covered with formidable stout thorns. Not winter hardy, this plant grows best with consistent moisture in humusy, well-drained soils in full sun. It tolerates some light shade, but it will flower best in full sun. Trees with established root systems have some drought tolerance, growing in an …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … and several stalks on each plant. The buds open in series, so a single plant will continue to bloom for 2 weeks or more. It may re-bloom. It is easy to grow and does well in full sun to part shade. … awarded 'Pardon Me' Honorable Mention in1984, Donn Fischer Memorial Cup Award in 1985 for best miniature and Award of Merit in 1987. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Trinette umbrella tree is a variegated dwarf version of an umbrella tree that is native to the islands of Taiwan and Hainan in eastern Asia. Like most umbrella trees, Trinette has … width. It will tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to full shade, but performs best in part shade where there is sufficient light for the variegation to develop and really pop. Trinette requires regular watering, but likes …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant