… Grape hyacinth ( Muscari armeniacum ) is a tried-and-true mainstay of the early spring garden, producing spikes of deep-blue flowers … accented with white markings around the petticoat or base of the individual flowers. This is the plant the Dutch use in their gardens to create rivers of blue in their landscape designs. Despite the tendency for the foliage to come into growth in fall, this plant is reliably hardy in the Chicago region. The bulbs slowly create clumps by producing "daughter" …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Hydrangea macrophylla is a deciduous shrub that grows 3-6’ tall and wide. It features dark green leaves and large clusters of flowers which are either lace cap or mophead in structure. Let’s Dance Easy is a mophead hydrangea which will bloom on both old and new wood from early to late summer. The … the flowers age. 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
… Hydrangea macrophylla is a deciduous shrub that grows 3-6’ tall and wide. It features dark green leaves and large clusters of flowers which are either lace cap or mophead in structure. Let’s Dance Easy is a mophead hydrangea which will bloom on both old and new wood from early to late summer. The … the flowers age. 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
… ‘The Swan’ is a semi dwarf shrub typically 6 ft. tall with a spread of 6 ft. The conical flowerheads are 6 … to the fact that the emerging flowers are like an ugly duckling. The color of the flowers is not affected by the pH of the soil. The ’Swan’ does well in full sun to light shade and is moderately drought- tolerant.It blooms on new wood so the flowers are not susceptible to late …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This white form of Lebanon striped squill is classed as a minor bulb because of its size, but it is a major asset to a well-rounded bulb garden. Tucked between tulips and narcissus, it covers … squills in the genus Scilla. Each stiffly upright spike can have up to about 20 flowers. It is very long-lived and not bothered much by squirrels or chipmunks. The only problem with this …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Aloysia virgata is more commonly known as sweet almond verbena, or incense bush, and originated in Argentina. The primary attraction of sweet almond verbena is its white flowers. The flower is not only attractive, but it also smells good; hence the second common name of incense bush. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… American bittersweet is a twining vine with alternate leaves that are ovate, glossy, and toothed. In early summer it … are produced at the branch tips. Each berry emerges from a three-valved orange capsule, which is persistent. It is found in oak savannas, dune areas, and scrambling among rocks throughout eastern and central …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 'Clara Curtis' is a very late flowering cultivar of Korean mum with large, light pink to lavender "daisies" covering the foliage. An heirloom cultivar originally from Russia, this plant is sometimes sold under the name of 'Country Girl'. Reliably hardy in the Chicago area, this is a mum that gardeners can plant and forget about; it thrives in full sun and average soils with …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Hybridized by Kail-Rudolf Beckmann in 1991, the Maren poinsettia is an early- to mid-season cultivar with medium vigor. Its traditionally shaped bracts are a … pink, which will turn pink when grown in warm greenhouses. The broad, elliptical foliage is medium green. At a height of 12 to18 inches and a spread of 12 to14 inches, it is a good midseason selection to perk up holiday displays. It attracts butterflies and is deer …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Spring Grove Ginkgo is a dwarf tree with an upright pyramidal shape. It will mature to a height of 6 feet and width … Grove' are bright green in color and grow in a whorled arrangement around the branches. This is a male clone and will not produce the distinctive strong smelling fruit. 'Spring Grove' has … and with its dwarf size makes a nice accent in a smaller garden space. Like all Ginkgoes it is one of the most pollution-tolerant trees and works well in the city. Ginkgo is sometimes …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
