… The Virginia roundleaf birch is a critically endangered native species, which occurs naturally in the wild in only one county … ornamental feature of birch trees is the bark. Many of the common names of birch trees refer to the color of the bark -- white, gray, yellow or red. Another signature bark characteristic is its habit of separating into thin sheets; Native Americans used this property to harvest the bark from fallen paperbark birch trees to make canoes, bowls and shelter -- …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals, often … and contrasting colors and in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although some orchids are native to temperate zones, most orchids tend to prefer a semi-tropical or tropical environment (USDA Zones 9 to 11) and have epiphytic roots, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Japanese larch is a deciduous conifer that can grow to more than 100 feet in height. It needs full sun and … well-drained soil that will mimic its native mountainous environment in Japan. With wood that is tough and durable, the Japanese larch is an important forestry tree in Great Britain as well …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Freycinetia multiflora , or climbing pandanus, is one of the rarities of the South Greenhouse. A native of the Philippines, this member of the Pandanaceae (screwpine) family is one of the few ornamental members of this genus. The flowers are produced at the tips of the stems. This ancient family is most closely related to palms and cycads. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This is an irregular, vase-shaped, low-growing evergreen shrub with attractive soft gray-green foliage. It prefers full sun, good drainage, and moderate moisture and is hardy to USDA Zone 4. It is a slow-growing juniper, only reaching 3 feet in height and 4 feet in width. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Native to Texas and Northern Mexico, ‘Furman’s Red’ is a shrubby perennial sage that reaches 2 – 3 feet in height. It is fast growing, producing brilliant magenta-red tubular flowers from May through August. It …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Pyramidal in shape with attractive black-green needles, Pinus nigra is one of the most popular landscape pines in the Midwest. It is tolerant of clay soils, heat pollution and urban conditions and can be used as a specimen tree, a screen or a windbreak. It is susceptible to diplodia tip blight which can cause shoot dieback and pine nematode. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This corm is marginally hardy in the Chicago area. It can reach a height of 24 inches with an 18-inch spread. It blooms in mid to late summer with arching stems of bright yellow flowers. It is not fussy about soil type or conditions as long as it is well drained. It should be planted in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Glade mallow is an uncommon and valued native species found in the wild along river banks and open areas with moist soil. Considering that it grows to over six feet tall and stands out in the garden, it is odd that every year people wonder what it is. It is native only in scattered counties in the Midwest, east to Vermont and Pennsylvania. It has large, palmate, toothed leaves with 5 to 9 lobes, getting …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… maroon leaves that form a central rosette from which a dark red flower spike appears. It grow to be about eighteen inches high and wide. Neoregelias are the largest genus of bromeliads. These epiphytes are native to the rainforests of South America where they are found growing on tree branches and on rocks … moisture and can support a range of fauna including insects and frogs. Good quality light is necessary to develop and maintain leaf colors. Since this plant is epiphytic it is essential …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
