… Also known as snakeroot, comb flower, hedgehog, and to the native Potawatomi as ashosikwimia'kuk, which means "smells like muskrat scent," Echinacea is a quintessential midwestern native that dots prairies from Illinois to Virginia, and Louisiana to Georgia. This late-summer bloom is not only a popular choice of …
Type: Plant Info
… Description: The junco is a very common migrant and winter resident. It can be found in most habitats at the Garden. Those of us who live in northerly climes refer to our family and friends who head south for the winter as snowbirds. A different kind of snowbird comes to northern Illinois for the winter. It's the dark-eyed junco, a chatty, active bird that …
Type: Birding
… A Multifaceted Resource A herbarium (say the “h”) is a place where preserved plants are collected and classified. The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Nancy Poole Rich Herbarium is home to 12,000 specimens of plants—from our own Cook County backyard and the Upper Midwest—all the way … database and images available online via vPlants: The Chicago Regional Virtual Herbarium . The site contains data for 80,000 plant specimens, and can provide real-time reference for scientists …
Type: Plant Info
… Hydrangea macrophylla is a deciduous shrub that grows 3-6’ tall and wide. It features dark green leaves and large … rose-pink in alkaline soils – and color will change as the flowers age. This plant is hardy to zones 6-9 and will not survive Chicago’s harsh winters unless given a sheltered site, winter mulch and a burlap wrap. Plant in moist soil in part shade; attractive when massed …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. What is compost? A. Compost is the result of an accelerated biological decomposition process of plants. Humus (decomposed plant material) is needed to maintain loose, well-drained soil that can be easily cultivated and promotes good root growth. …
Type: Plant Info
… Geum ‘Spanish Fly’ is also known by its common name of avens. It blooms in mid May to late June with single yellow … tall above a clump of green foliage 10 inches high. Plant it in full sun or partial shade. It is hardy in zones 4 – 8. This is a member of the Cocktail™ Series bred by Brent Horvath of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… stems that also feature aromatic foliage. This hybrid of the native Monarda bradburiensis is a butterfly and hummingbird attractant but is not so beloved by deer. Place 'Prairie Gypsy' in full sun in moderately fertile, moist soil with space between this plant and others to decrease the incidence of powdery mildew. Once established, this plant is more …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… densely covered in yellow daisy-like flowers with snowy white tips. Once established, it is drought tolerant. It is one of the first species of annuals to bloom in its native habitat. It is not fussy about soils, thriving even in clay, and it …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Hill's juniper is a dense, columnar, slow-growing evergreen shrub, growing 6 to 16 feet high; it is very long lived. The green leaves are striped with a broad, bluish-white band on the top, and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Monarda is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family that is is endemic to North America. The most common species are Monarda didyma (commonly known as …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
