… subject for a hanging basket or trellis. In site of its common name, it is not related to begonias but to grapes. In its native southeast Asia and Indonesia it climbs trees and shrubs by forked tendrils or cascades down rocks. The flowers are not ornamental and rarely seen. It needs very warm temperatures and high humidity for best growth. Lower light levels during winter in northern climates will cause older leaves to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Vernal or Ozark witch hazels, although native from Missouri to Texas, are fully hardy in the Chicago area and are a welcome harbinger of spring. These are … of three or four. The petals unfurl late in winter or early spring as soon as temperatures get above 40 degrees. If temperatures go below freezing, they curl up again. As the leaves …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This is a deciduous shrub that is native to China and Japan. It can grow to 6’ in height and 9’ in width. It blooms in late spring with four-petalled white flowers that give way to jet black berries that ripen in the fall and persist through winter. It will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions and types …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Zebra-leaf Aloe, Aloe zebrine , is a striking aloe species native to southern Africa. It gets its zebra name from the bold markings on the leaves. It is highly variable, several other aloe species such as Aloe … a variable example of Aloe zebrine . Wide spread across much of southern Africa, it is found in dry grasslands, along rivers and can tolerate some cold temperatures. It usually found a as a …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Rantings & Ravings of a Pruning Freak “When’s the best time to prune?” “Anytime!” It doesn’t matter what season you’re in because there’s always something …
Type: Plant Info
… New! This seasonal change comes slowly to the Garden and usually requires the photographer to patiently wait for these small-scale … of light is different in spring, when longer days are accompanied by brighter light. Learn the best perspectives for capturing nature as it reawakens. Macro/close-focusing lens and tripod are …
Type: Item Detail
… Ivory tower wisteria is a climbing vine that grows to a maximum of 30 feet under full sun with moderate moisture conditions. In spring it produces white flowers, giving way to brown fruit in the fall that are attractive to birds and butterflies. The plant can be used on a trellis, arbor, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This long-blooming perennial has saucer-shaped flowers on sturdy, ascending stems. The Fastigiata cultivar has a neater appearance than the species, so it is usually the best one for a perennial border. The rose, pink, or white flowers with a slight notch in each petal have a silky appearance. The gray-green leaves are three-lobed to five-lobed. Although this plant may be short-lived, it remains a garden presence because of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… mountain ash ( Sorbus alnifolia ) has a broad, rounded shape, and can attain heights of 35 to 50 feet. This tree is a great specimen plant for the home landscape. A member of the rose family, this small, flowering tree displays clusters of … handsome red fruit and great color in fall, and nice gray bark for winter interest. It's the best mountain ash for Illinois. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… yellow flowers with bars and spots of orange are a classic example of insect mimicry used to achieve pollination. The very thin upper petals are very distinctive, as are the long, flowering spikes. This … this orchid in bright light, high humidity, and exceptionally well-drained growing media for best results; it needs consistently warm temperatures. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
