… Q. I would like to bring some of my patio plants indoors for the winter. Is it necessary to change the soil or repot them first? A. Most plants do not appreciate being repotted in early fall. This chore is best done in spring right before a plant begins its new growth. If your patio plants are insect- and …
Type: Plant Info
… Spanish bluebells, bulbs native to the Iberian Peninsula come in a variety of colors ranging from the typical blue to pink and white. Flower spikes measuring 12 inches tall are covered in dainty, bell-shaped flowers in April. Several exceptional color forms have been selected over the years and given cultivar names, but the natural range of colors is charming as well when used in a mass planting. In its native habitat, it is frequently found …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Preziosa is classified as a mophead-type hydrangea; a compact, deciduous shrub with a rounded habit that … stems, emerge with a purple tint, mature to green, and finally take on red to purple tints in fall. The plant prefers rich, moist soil in partial shade and, although known among hydrangeas for its winter hardiness, is best protected …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… SCENTLANDIA™ sweetspire is a variety of the native Virginia sweetspire. Virginia sweetspire is a native of the stream … banks and swamps of the southern and eastern US including Missouri and southern Illinois. In summer SCENTLANDIA™ sweetspire bears showy racemes of fragrant white flowers that are attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds. In fall the leaves turn various shades of red and purple prior to falling. SCENTLANDIA™ …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Narcissus ‘Spellbinder’ is in Division 1. It blooms in early to mid spring with 4 inch wide flowers. The petals are broad and brilliant yellow with a … not be eaten by deer or rabbits. The name Narcissus comes from the Greek word for narcotic and is tied to the myth of a young man known as Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflection. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… rhododendron with small to medium-sized leaves. Rhododendrons have a tough time of it in most Chicago gardens. Typically, the soils are alkaline clay, which are not ideal, and snow cover to buffer the coldest temperatures in winter is not always available. 'Pillow Party' is one of the few that reliably survive, despite all of … plant in acidic, well-drained, moisture-retentive soils in partial shaded locations, and site in the garden to avoid, if possible, cold, dry winter winds. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Narcissus ‘Bridal Crown’ is in Division 4. It blooms in mid spring with small 1 ½ inch flowers which have a strong fragrance. The flowers are doubles … not be eaten by deer or rabbits. The name Narcissus comes from the Greek word for narcotic and is tied to the myth of a young man known as Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflection. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… originated as a hybrid between Mahonia japonica and Mahonia lomariifolia at the Donard Nursery in Northern Ireland. This statuesque evergreen shrub is an outstanding specimen during the winter, when it produces an explosion of sprays of … tip of each compound stem of blue-green, pinnate leaves. The dramatic frond-like leaves grow in whorls along coarsely branched stems. This plant's bluish-purple berries are very attractive …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Wild bergamot is a member of the mint family that is native to a wide range of North America. It thrives in sunny locations with moderate to dryish soils and with little or no cultivation or attention. … minty scented leaves and lavender, pink or white flowers that are attractive to pollinators. In an evaluation at the Chicago Botanic Garden, wild bergamot had 2-inch flowers covering 80 to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… may already know Persian Shield. It’s been available for many years both as a houseplant and, in our Northern climate, a bedding annual. While it can be grown in the sun, the foliage develops its best color in part to full shade. There, the puckered leaves … of purple, magenta, and silver, dramatically outlined by deep green veins. Persian Shield is a soft-stemmed shrub that reaches 3 feet or more in its native tropics. Though it may not have …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
