… areas of Japan and China. This low growing grass-like plant reaches only four to six inches in height and about eight to twelve inches in width. It has very dark green leaves that resemble an ornamental grass but the compact growth … conditions however and supplemental watering during dry spells will be necessary if planted in a drier location. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Two-inch globes of rosy pink flowers rise above the glossy, deep green leaves in July and August on this rhizome-producing onion. Ornamental onions with rhizomes are typically … are much better adapted to Chicago soils than their bulb-producing cousins flowering earlier in the summer. This hybrid of A. nutans and another unknown Allium was apparently a spontaneous occurrence in the garden of Mark McDonough—internationally recognized for his work with Allium . It strongly …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… was bred to have a large, tight, softball-sized globe of lilac purple florets up to 8 inches in diameter which attracts bees and butterflies in late spring. 'Gladiator' grows to around 3-4 feet in height and prefers sunny well-drained locations. While spectacular on its own, it pairs well …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Current authoritative taxonomic treatment calls this Allium macleanii var. elatum . In a private garden in Glencoe from which the Chicago Botanic Garden's plants came, the scapes were 60 inches (250 … days the colorful florets lose their beauty. They are replaced by hundreds of seed capsules. In their native central Asia, the large bulbs of 4 or more cloves, plus the occasional corm, are …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Black alder is an upright tree native to Europe and Asia. It can reach a height of 80 feet in the wild. It actually prefers wet conditions and is often found on riverbanks in its native habitat. Related to birches, it produces catkins in the spring. The female flowers become tiny decorative cones. The leaves are glossy dark green …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… winter when it comes into flower. A relatively tall tropical perennial, growing upto 4 feet in the Chicago Botanic Garden Greenhouse (up to 10 feet outdoors in the Tropics), the large green leaves are surmounted by terminal flower spikes containing … of the lowland tropics of Central America, this plant needs room to grow. It is best grown in full sun with reliable moisture, moderate fertilization, and temperatures no lower than 50 …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… be mistaken for a buttercup, with its shiny, yellow, 5-petaled, cupped flowers that bloom in April. The species name ranunculoides is derived from the genus name for buttercup, Ranunculus … slowly spread by rhizomes and are tolerant of dry clay soils, which will hasten their dormancy in late summer. You can see patches of these perennials in the Bulb Garden, where they make a nice filler between taller bulbs. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… nectar feeding pollinators while the leaves are food for monarch butterfly larvae. Plant in full sun, moderately fertile soil and water to get the root system established. Unfortunately this native of southern Mexico and Central America is not root hardy in the Chicago area. Milky sap can cause contact dermatitis and is poisonous if ingested. Ingestion is unlikely because a different compound in the sap produces a gag reflex. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… foliage. The thick, fluffy panicles are comprised of tiny densely packed flowers which bloom in mid summer. Pink Lightning is a dwarf astilbe, growing to only 16 inches tall. It does well in partial shade to shade and will add a welcome touch of color to a shady garden. It is … and deer. After the blooms have died, the stalks with the dried seed heads are often left in place for winter interest. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… green foliage. The fluffy upright panicles are comprised of tiny, densely packed flowers in early to mid summer. 'Fire' does well in shade to partial shade and adds a welcome touch of color to a shady garden. It is generally … cut flower. After the blooms have died, the stalks with the dried seed heads are often left in place for winter interest. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
