… until August, with 3-inch spheres of starry pink flowers. The structure of the tiny flowers is complex, with 5 reflexed pink sepals and 5 forward-pointing petals. Each petal has a hood at the base and a little curled horn, giving the flower the appearance of a crown. The fruit is a soft, warty pod that splits open to disperse little brown seeds attached to white silky … monarch caterpillars eat the leaves, they become toxic and are avoided by birds. This species is native to east and central North America. It tends to grow in weedy fields and is difficult to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… May and June, have numerous overlapping strap-like petals and a fruity scent. ROY’S DARK RED is a hardier selection made by Roy Klehm of Song Sparrow Farm in Wisconsin. Flowers are a rich … states, it blooms on new growth, so do not prune until after flowering. The Chicago area is a little north of its native range, so some winter damage may occur, but will not affect flowering on new growth. The genus Calycanthus is separated into its own family, with its nearest relatives in the laurel family, which includes …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Hydrangea macrophylla is a deciduous shrub that grows 3-6’ tall and wide. It features dark green leaves and large … bloom from May through June on old wood and on new wood from July to October. Flower color is dependent on the soil in which the hydrangea is planted – blue in acidic soils and rose-pink … the winter. Although the plant is hardy to Chicago’s Zone 5, it benefits from a sheltered site, winter mulch and burlap wrap to protect the buds and stems from dying to the ground during …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Scarlet O'Hara is a cultivar of our native deciduous winterberry hollies. In the wild they are found in swampy sites and stream margins in the eastern US. Scarlett O'Hara is a slow grower to about 6-8 feet high and 6-8 feet wide. After the dark green leaves have … on the stems throughout winter, and are a food source for birds in the colder months. It is a female cultivar and requires a male pollinator nearby (within 50 feet) for berry production. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… White plume euphorbia ( Euphorbia fulgens ‘Alba’) is an upright, arching, sun-loving shrub that displays creamy white flowers throughout the … stems, the flowers are actually entire inflorescences in which each individual flower is reduced to a single stamen or pistil. They are aggregated in a small cup-like structure that … plume euphorbia can reach up to 6.5 feet in height and width. When handling euphorbia, it is advisable to wear gloves, because the sap is a skin irritant that can cause a nasty rash. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Spotted beebalm is a plant native to eastern North America, where it is found on the sandy edges of rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways. Its name refers to the … debris to prevent these diseases from harboring in the soil over the winter. As a native it is attractive to pollinators and generally repels deer. It is suitable for border plantings in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Glade mallow is an uncommon and valued native species found in the wild along river banks and open areas with … moist soil. Considering that it grows to over six feet tall and stands out in the garden, it is odd that every year people wonder what it is. It is native only in scattered counties in the Midwest, east to Vermont and Pennsylvania. It …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This plant is a Narcissus , named for a beautiful young hunter in Greek mythology who fell in love with his reflection. It is a spring-flowering bulb, and when flowering is over, you can see the strappy green leaves that provide nutrients for next year's flowers. Las …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… moisture and can support a range of fauna including insects and frogs. Good quality light is necessary to develop and maintain leaf colors. Since this plant is epiphytic it is essential that it be grown in freely draining soil. This plant is not hardy in Chicago but can …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… moisture and can support a range of fauna including insects and frogs. Good quality light is necessary to develop and maintain leaf colors. Since this plant is epiphytic, it is essential that it be grown in freely draining soil. This plant is not hardy in Chicago but can …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
