… The Red Obelisk beech is notable for its reddish purple foliage and columnar growth habit. In a good year the fall … of the species. The genus Fagus includes 10-13 species of the beech tree, which are native to temperate regions of Asia, Europe and North America. Only Fagus grandifolia , the American beech, is native to the U.S. and Illinois. A single species, Fagus sylvatica or the European beech, accounts for …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… When the sun begins to shine brighter in late April and the day temperatures reach into the 50s, Chicagoans become eager to reunite with their gardens. Unfortunately, April and most of May yield temperatures too cool … many of our favorite vegetable crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, but there still is hope. By the third to fourth week of April, we can begin to plant a salad garden. Most leaf …
Type: Plant Info
… purple flowers are produced on this terrestrial orchid in winter in the Chicago area. Native to warm environments, these cultivars, like their parents, thrive when grown under hot day time temperatures and warm night time temperatures. Full sun to partial shade and moisture retentive well drained soils are important to indoor culture. The … 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 -- …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… between the veins. This genus of orchids produces a single growing stem that uses aerial roots to cling to surrounding vegetation and hold it upright in the hot, humid jungles of the Philippines and … 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 …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… A. Build your own cornucopia with our Cornucopia 101 by Nancy Clifton ! This is a great time of year to collect interesting plant materials from your own backyard to make interesting centerpieces. Here are some plants to look for: Osage orange ( Maclura …
Type: Plant Info
… Arabica coffee ( Coffea arabica ) is indigenous to the mountains of the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Also known as "the coffee shrub of Arabia," it is believed to be the first species of coffee to have been cultivated in southwest Arabia, grown there for …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… York-based landscape design firm Deborah Nevins & Associates, and include examples of its work to create landscapes with a purpose that extends beyond the simply beautiful. As part of its ethos, the firm is deeply committed to creating sustainable landscapes. Ease of maintenance, function and performance, safety, and …
Type: Item Detail
… winter in the bark of the sunny side of trees, particularly on the side of the trunk oriented to the south or southwest. Frost cracks are injuries caused by the expansion and contraction of bark and underlying tissues in response to warm daytime temperatures and cold nighttime temperatures. Timing & Life Cycle Frost cracks are a winter problem that is especially severe if warm afternoon sun is followed by a rapid drop in temperature at sundown. …
Type: Plant Info
… in your own back yard? Not the grocery store kind. But the fruit of 'Hardy Red' kiwi vine is a cousin. The berries have the same sweet-and-sour taste, maybe a little sweeter. And they're … can eat them like grapes. 'Hardy Red' kiwi vine is female, and that's important if you want to grow it for the fruit as well as the flowers, because you'll need a male vine for pollination. 'Hardy Red' is hardy to -25, so you can be confident Chicago winters won't faze it. And it's happy in full sun or …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Did you know you can grow kiwis right in your own back yard? The fruit of 'Issai' kiwi vine is a cousin of the familiar grocery store kiwis. The berries have the same sweet-and-citrus … Unlike so many kiwi vines, 'Issai' is self polinating. It doesn't need a male vine nearby to bear fruit. 'Issai' is hardy to -25, so you can be confident Chicago winters won't faze it. And it's happy in full sun or …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
