Search

  • … Native to midwestern swamps and marshes, pepper vine is a deciduous bushy vine that grows as a ground cover or a vine growing 35 feet or more. The dark green compound foliage is up to 6 inches long and wide and turns pale yellow in fall. The leaflets are toothed, dark … are attractive to birds. The plant grows best in full to part shade and moist soil where it is short-lived, but aggressive; it can become invasive. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … “Ananas” is the name used for pineapple in most languages. It may look like a giant pine cone to English-speakers, but the fruit of this bromeliad is a syncarp to botanists. In Spanish it is ananá or piña. The species name comosus means “tufted” or “crowned”, in this case with a …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … IROQUOIS BEAUTY™ chokeberry is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub selected for its unique compact habit, showy display of small … refers to the tart taste of the edible fruit to humans; birds have no objection. This shrub is a Chicagoland Grows® selection. Chicagoland Grows® is a plant introduction partnership of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum and the …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Artemisia vulgaris 'Janlim' Oriental Limelight™ is a cultivar of the common herb mugwort and is used in gardens for its beautiful green and cream variegated foliage. Its leaves are aromatic, … dense panicles of white flowers in late summer to early fall. Horticulturally speaking, this is an easy plant to care for but it does produce rhizomes and will spread aggressively if not …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … Bloodflower ( Asclepias curassavica ) is a nonnative perennial plant from South America 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. Bloodflower is a host plant for monarch and queen butterfly larvae and its nectar attracts many other species …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … well in partial shade to shade where it adds a welcome touch of color to a shady garden. It is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds while it is resistant to rabbits and deer. This is an excellent cut flower. After the blooms have died, the stalks with the dried seed heads are …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … daisies throughout summer and fall. It has finely divided ferny foliage. This cultivar is a great choice for a seasonal groundcover or hanging basket. The species is native to Arizona and Mexico, making it tolerant of heat and drought. We have nine species of … ticks or bur marigold, refer to the two-pronged seeds that can stick to clothing or fur. This is a mechanism to ensure the spreading of the seeds. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … moisture conditions. In late spring it produces insignificant yellowish-green blooms. It is commonly used in a hedge or a border. This boxwood is more tolerant of sunlight and alkaline soils than the common boxwood. In spring, very small … with a thin (1- to 2-inch) layer of mulch due to their shallow root systems. This cultivar is one of the most cold hardy. It also retains its dark green color better during the winter. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … The Fraser fir is native to the Appalachian Mountains. It is a relatively small tree compared to other firs with a mature height between 30 and 50 feet. … the tree whole, but slowly disintegrate as the seeds are dispersed. Their most common habitat is mountainous regions, where they enjoy cool summers and good, rich soil. …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … tubular flowers have a dusky plum-purple upper lip and a white lower lip. Beneath each flower is a spiny bract that is white with green veins. This perennial is marginally hardy in the Chicago area and may not flower after an extremely cold winter. It …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant