… One of my summer interns found a little plant, under a bunch of big plants, and we thought for a second it might be the same as the big plants, but it is definitely different. It’s our … we flip through the book one last time, and it seems to open all on its own to the right place. It’s called water horehound ( Lycopus americanus ). We cheer! Now that we know this little … all else fails, we post to Twitter or Facebook botany groups and someone always knows. The best part of the job—doing research in the field! I’m asking you to combat species blindness by …
Type: Blog
This interesting vine is becoming more popular as an alternative to the more common pothos plants with gold-streaked leaves, which belong to the species Epipremnum aureum . Native to tropical Asia, the heart-shaped leaves have a silvery-gray sheen to them. It will grow to six feet or more if not pruned, and it can trained on a support or allowed to cascade from a hanging basket. The flowers, if …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… says Joan O’Shaughnessy, the Garden’s prairie and river senior ecologist. It’s challenging for her to suggest the “best” time to visit the prairie because it’s constantly changing—every week, every month, there’s something …
Type: Blog
… Q. How do I mulch in preparation for the winter? A. There are some things to remember when preparing to mulch for the upcoming winter months. If you mulched in the spring, check to see how much mulch is … Please contact Plant Information Service at (847) 835-0972 or [email protected] for more detailed information. … Type: Plant Info
… one this autumn. A. Nine cubic feet, in a neat pile or container, is a good, manageable size for a backyard compost heap. Begin the layering process with a few inches of twigs, which allows for air circulation under the pile. Then add 5 to 10 inches of leaves, grass and shredded garden … less often; piles that are heating up quickly should be turned every three or four days. For complete details, order the Plant Facts publication Compost. …
Type: Plant Info
… flowers held high above the foliage on long stalks called scapes, they are grown primarily for their foliage and neat habit. Hostas are actively hybridized for leaf color, size, shape, and texture; natural mutations or “sports” are common, and new … Hosta cultivars range in size from several inches to several feet; it may take 3 to 8 years for hostas to reach their full size. They all prefer moist, loamy soil enriched with organic …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… flowers held high above the foliage on long stalks called scapes, they are grown primarily for their foliage and neat habit. Hostas are actively hybridized for leaf color, size, shape, and texture; natural mutations or “sports” are also common; new … Hosta cultivars range in size from several inches to several feet; it may take 3-8 years for hostas to reach their full size. They all prefer moist, loamy soil enriched with organic …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… and open land from the Caribbean well into South America. In fact, one of the common names for it is Brazilian aloe. </p> <p>After maturing for years, it flowers just once, but dramatically, on a single stalk that can reach 25 feet high. The white, fragrant bloom goes on for weeks. Then, instead of seeds, it produces plantlets along the flowering stalk to begin the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Elegant cornelian cherry dogwood was selected as a cultivar for its abundant fruit, which are sweeter than is typical of the species and considered an edible fruit crop in Europe where the fruits may be used for preserves or syrups. In other respects the Elegant cultivar is typical of the species -- … bark. 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 …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… good growth habit with large 3-inch scarlet blossoms covering 80% to 100% of the plant for about 6 weeks in mid summer. It had fair to good mildew resistance and experienced no winter injury. Overall it received a good evaluation for planting in the Chicagoland area. Beebalm grows in sunny or partially shady areas. If you … bloom in mid summer, and removing faded flowers will extend flowering. Beebalm is great for attracting bees and butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. It's easy to grow and adds a …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
