… Pampas grass is one of the most beautiful and imposing grasses of the plains of South America. Giant clumps of … that can reach 12 feet in height. Ivory Feathers® pampas grass ( Cortaderia selloana 'Pumila') is a dwarf selection that will produce clumps 5 feet tall, with feathery ivory flower spikes to 8 feet tall. It is not winter hardy in the Chicago area. In warmer climates such as California, Hawaii, and New …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Native to Japan, ‘Mops’ is a semi-dwarf shrubby conifer that reaches 4 – 5 feet high and 4 – 5 feet wide. The dramatic foliage is bright yellow green with a feathery, almost stringy appearance. The glowing foliage holds its … cultivars. The slightly weeping branches give the plant a shaggy, mophead form. This plant is easy to grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Atlas Mountain palm is a native of north Africa where it grows in the Atlas mountains of Morocco and Algeria to … fan-shaped frond that have a waxy coating lending the leaves a grayish tone. This tree is rounded when young but can eventually reach a height and width of 10 to 15 feet. This tree requires very sunny conditions and dryish well-drained soils. It is not hardy in Chicago, but can be grown in a container in a warm sunny location. …
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
… 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
… Glossy dark foliage complements striking dark red blooms of this peony form dahlia. This is a good cut flower with long stems, which won its class in exhibition. It is an iconic dahlia -one of oldest dahlias being grown and shown - bred pre-1900 but not … be dug, cleaned, and stored over winter. Plant in full sun in spring after danger of frost is past. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Taiheijo' has spectacular violet-red blooms that can grow to 12 inches in diameter. Staking is recommended, especially in windy locations. The flowers are so large that it will take a few … and stored over winter in a cool dry place. Plant this dahlia in spring when danger of frost is past. There is also a cultivar 'Taiheijo', which has white streaks in the petals. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… leafless stems. The each flower has an inner petal which protrudes from the bottom and is reminiscent of a drop of blood, thus giving the plant the name “bleeding heart. The plant can … and disappear when the weather warms but it will regrow in fall or the following spring. It is hardy in zones 5 – 9. It is attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies while resistant to rabbits and deer. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
