… What is it about red? The red leaves of Full Moon maple (Acer Japonicum) herald the changing of … flower in a sea of goldenrod. And when the woods take on a golden glow, the flame of red is what makes an autumn spectacular. Trees and shrubs whose leaves turn red are the secret divas … But as nights turn cool, they drop the bashful act and step to center stage. —Fall color is not something trees put on, says Andrew Bell, curator of woody plants. It's something they …
Type: Plant Info
… widely. The longitudinal cracks occur from the expansion and contraction of the bark that is warmed by the sun and then rapidly cooled by cloud cover or nightfall. The resulting crack may … be quite large during the winter months, but will usually close during the growing season. It is common for these cracks to reopen the following winters and close again in the summers. While these cracks can allow diseases and other organisms to infect the tree, there is no treatment specifically for frost cracking. Keeping the tree healthy is the best way to …
Type: Plant Info
… and how should I plant bare-root roses? A. Bare-root roses can be planted as soon as the soil is workable in the spring. Remove the wrapper and packing material and soak the roots or entire … the roots of the plant. Make a cone of soil in the bottom of the planting hole. If the soil is especially dry, fill it with water. When the water completely recedes, set the plant over the cone, and spread the roots out evenly. If the rose is grafted, place the plant so that the bud union is at soil level. Fill the hole with the …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. I noticed roots showing around some of my perennials. Is this normal? Is there anything that I should do about it? A. It is not uncommon to see perennials heaved out of the ground at this time of the year. Fluctuations …
Type: Plant Info
… this giant agave can be found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Century Plant is a hardy survivor, tolerating both heat and drought for long periods of time. Growing roughly … can produce a painful and long-lasting contact dermatitis for gardeners! The enormous agave is a monocarpic plant. After 10 years or more — though not a century — at the end of the plant's life cycle, a lofty asparagus-like flower stalk is produced, reaching a height of 20-30 feet, with horizontal branching structures ending in …
Type: Plant Info
… Crimson Frost birch is notable for its purple foliage and white exfoliating bark. It requires consistently moist … thrive and prefers cooler summer temperatures. The primary 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 …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Iris ‘Robin’s Egg’ is a light blue miniature dwarf bearded iris that blooms two to three weeks ahead of the more … a sunny location in well drained soil with no mulch in or around the crown. The other ‘trick’ is that the rhizomes must be planted so that they are on top of the soil with the roots anchoring … to be wild species have turned out to be very old hybrids. The white flowered Iris albicans is perhaps the oldest of the Iris hybrids, it was first recorded on the wall of the botanical …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… ‘Bric-a-Brac’ is an herbaceous peony with unique single blooms. The petals, edged with fringe and streaked with … and turn around red stigmas and styles and the flowers are mildly fragrant. Peony bloom time is classified as early, mid, and late; ‘Bric-a-Brac’ is a midseason bloomer. It grows to 24 inches tall, taking on a shrubby appearance throughout the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… ‘Lois E. Klehm’ is an herbaceous peony named after peony breeder Roy Klehm’s mother. He writes in his catalogue, … this exotic pink and gold with center pink petaloids to bear her name.” Peony bloom time is classified as early, mid-, and late. ‘Lois E. Klehm’ is a midseason bloomer. It grows to 32 inches tall, taking on a shrubby appearance throughout the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Fire Marshall beebalm is a Chicagoland Grows® selection. Chicagoland Grows® is a plant introduction partnership of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum and the … pompoms of flowers bloom in midsummer; removing faded flowers will extend flowering. Beebalm is great for attracting bees and butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. It is easy to grow …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
