… Native to the European Alps, Dutch crocus emerges in March-April from an underground tuber called a corm. It grows 4–5 inches tall. The violet … Use in beds or borders or naturalize in lawns to introduce spring to the garden. Watch out for squirrels and rodents whose radar is especially adapted to finding and devouring the corms. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… with extremely tiny light green needles, grows into a perfectly symmetrical cone over time to 12 feet tall x 8 feet wide (very old plants). Plant this spruce in full sun and with enough space around it to keep neighboring vegetation from shading out some of the branches and destroying the symmetry. The straight species is used for Christmas trees, for …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… A striking member of the Bromelioideae family, the urn plant, Aechmea zebrina ‘Surprise’, is an exotic, stately plant … for months, making this one of the most popular bromeliads for the home. It should be planted in fast-draining potting soil with its central cup filled with fresh water, where it will thrive in indirect to moderate light in temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Native to Mexico through South …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Above the dark mahogany foliage rises single flowers in pink with a yellow halo, and darker pink eye surrounding the dark fertile disc flowers in the center of the bloom. Bred to not require staking, the dwarfed height and sturdy stems make this a low-maintenance dahlia …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. Is there anything special that I need to do before planting a tree? A. A very important first step before planting a tree is to select the right tree for your location. In order to ensure a healthy tree, many factors need to be taken into consideration such as …
Type: Plant Info
… ( Gardenia jasminoides ) indoors as a houseplant. However, it takes specific cultural care to trigger bud formation. For flower buds to form, the plant needs to be subjected to night temperatures of 60–65 degrees Fahrenheit with daytime temperatures about ten degrees higher. In summer, place your gardenia plant outdoors in a part-sun location, avoiding midday sun. In …
Type: Plant Info
… Tabernaemontana holtstii produces immense ivory to white pinwheel shaped fragrant flowers primarily during the winter months in the Chicago area. A native of tropical east Africa, it desires filtered sunlight with average …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The redbud crabapple is noted for its abundant, deep red buds that open to pinkish to white flowers, followed by red fruit, which are not persistent. This cultivar is … the Chicago Botanic Garden. Crabapples are small flowering trees that provide a showy display in the spring landscape for one to two weeks. In addition to the eye-catching buds and flowers, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q: Should I cut back my perennials to prepare them for winter? If so, when? A: Cutting back perennials in the fall can be confusing because there are different reasons to cut plants back or leave them …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. How can I display a live Christmas tree this year? A. A live Christmas tree cannot be kept in a heated house for more than seven days, or it will break its dormant state. If you purchase … or on a porch a few days before Christmas. On Christmas Eve, move it into a large container (to facilitate watering) and bring it indoors. Make sure the rootball stays moist while the tree is in the house. Avoid decorating it with heavy ornaments …
Type: Plant Info
