… <p>'Elvera', perhaps better known as MIDNIGHT WINE®, is a deciduous shrub that has pink blooms from April through June and beautiful purple-burgundy … even in smaller yards. It can handle a wide range of soil types and conditions so long as it is well drained. Full sun is ideal, but it can tolerate some shade.</p> <p>Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Pretty as those pink flowers are in spring, the foliage is the main attraction with 'Sunset.', and it puts on an ever-changing show. In spring, the … will turn gold, and by fall it's washed with red-orange. At just 18 inches tall, 'Sunset' is an ideal candidate for the front of the border, where the color show is on full display. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love Weigela , and so do gardeners. For a …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Pollen Bank is a critical tool for advancing our work to prevent plant extinctions, reintroduce species into … Amorphophallus perrieri flower for pollen collection. Photo by Jeremy Foster. Storing pollen is an efficient and effective way to protect the genetic diversity of a plant species, allowing … with pollen on its face and in the pollen sac on its hind leg. Photo by Nick Dorian. What is pollen, and why store it? Pollen is a fine, powdery substance produced by the male part of a …
Type: Research
… Fritillaria imperialis . On a stalk up to 3 feet tall, a flashy cluster of orange bells is surmounted by an odd-looking topknot of green leaves. As if Dr. Seuss had drawn it, the fritillary may be quirky, but it is certainly spectacular. Crown imperial fritillary (Fritillaria imperialis) has striking orange … raddaeana) bears pale yellow blooms. Unlike many spring bulbs, the checkered fritillary is a little bit shade tolerant, and prefers moist soils. The checkered snake's head fritillary, …
Type: Plant Info
… Hours Where do gardeners go to satisfy their plant cravings when the weather outside is less than perfect? Within minutes, a walk through the Garden’s Greenhouses can transport … grow to the ceiling, ancient plants bloom, and cacti spawn families. When the weather outside is not delightful, come inside and refresh yourself as you discover another benefit of these … where temperatures hover between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and the humidity is close to 30 percent, visitors will find plants from all over the globe, many of which …
Type: Walks
… Brambles are those tasty, colorful delights of early summer and fall. The genus Rubus is divided into many species that include raspberries, blackberries, dewberries, and … all colors produce in the spring, the everbearing varieties produce in fall as well. 'Sodus' is a good purple form with few thorns, and 'Fall Gold' has extremely sweet yellow fruit. 'Royalty' is a sweet purple raspberry that can be eaten when it is red, but the flavor is much better when …
Type: Plant Info
… can see the base of the tree's trunk where the larger roots spread out into the soil. If there is no widening at the base, the tree may not be healthy. The trunk should flare out at the soil level—this is known as the "root flare." When finally planted, this root flare should be at least three … circling (girdling) roots will be disrupted. If the roots are less dense and the potting soil is loose, it is easier to tease out the roots to grow away from the main trunk. When placing the …
Type: Plant Info
… until October. Seasons of Blooms Hamamelis mollis The Chinese witch hazel, Hamamelis mollis , is less hardy than the natives. Grown in the warmer parts of USDA zone 5 to 8, it is the most fragrant of them all. It is one of the earliest plants to flower in Illinois, with a profusion of slightly larger, yellow …
Type: Plant Info
… plants that are pollinator friendly and play well with the rest of your blooms. Terracotta is a fantastic companion, so basic pottery can look luxurious next to Peach Fuzz. If you’re a … combining multiple kinds of plants per pot, thoughtfully playing with color and texture. Gray is stylish with Peach Fuzz, so silver-leaved plants make wonderful companions, maybe with white … ‘Firefly Peach Sky’ Yarrow With flat flower heads, yarrow is the perfect perennial for spiky or globe-shaped companions. It’s a taller perennial, 32 to 36 …
Type: Blog
… should first take care of their "dirty" business. Starting with and maintaining healthy soil is fundamental to good gardening, but too often it is overlooked in the frenzy to get those plants in the ground. Since many plant problems can be traced to poor soil, compacted soil, depleted soil, or even the wrong type of soil, it is well worth the gardener's time to learn a few facts about soil science. Fall is an ideal time …
Type: Plant Info
