… (20 inches tall by 40 inches wide) hosta featuring white-centered green foliage. The tones in the center change as the season progresses. Flowers in purple shades that are attractive to hummingbirds appear in mid to late summer. Hostas are shade tolerant, easy to grow, and long-lived. Although they …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… ( Kalanchoe) is one of about 125 species of tropical, succulent, perennial flowering plants in the Crassulaceae family. Normally cultivated as ornamental houseplants and rock or succulent … of propagation, low water requirements, and wide variety of colors. They can grow to 2 feet in height and width with blossoms that are typically borne above the leaves in large, upright clusters of five petals with yellow stamens. The flowers can last anywhere from …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… that contain unusually large, showy but sterile florets with wavy, elongated petals 4 inches in length. Fertile but not showy florets are mixed in the flower clusters. The flowers emerge white in July, and turn pink as they mature. The blooms will continue into September. The color of the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Kohleria are herbacious perennial plants in the gesneriad family native to tropical America. Kohleria hirsuta has a broad distribution on … yellow with a dark red crescent. The leaves are dark green above and a rich purple beneath. In spite of the species name, it is no hairier than other kohlerias. Kohlerias are characterized … The tubes, which are an inch or two long are inflated and flare out into five spotted lobes. In the right conditions (indoors) kohlerias grow quickly and will need to be pinched back after …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… scent. The blooms are upfacing on stems that stand 3 feet tall with whorled foliage. In its natural setting, the florets have a very distinct shape, branching out in a unique manner. Lilium tsingtauense is native to China and Korea where the edible bulbs may be cooked and served in ways similar to potatoes. Although these bulbs are rarely available commercially, but their …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… In May, pink colored flower buds open up to pure white flowers, and if a different variety is … from late August to early September. Like most fruit trees, the flowers, and their fragrance, in May are a welcome addition to the garden. This cultivar, like many apples, requires a different cultivar nearby (within range of honey bee flight) in order to produce a crop of edible apples. Pristine is resistant to most apple disease but not …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… we move closer to winter. Frost or Freeze? The typical average date for the first fall frost in the greater Chicago area is October 15. In some years, the first frost happens in September or as late as November. Frost can form on the ground on clear, calm nights even …
Type: Plant Info
… Have you ever noticed how lovely houseplants look in area nurseries or garden centers? Such lush foliage! Such strong stems! Such gorgeous flowers … we find houseplants irresistible, and bring them into our homes. Most of us also know that, in addition to being attractive, indoor plants help purify the air we breathe. In fact, NASA proved houseplants reduce indoor air pollution. Sounds like a win-win situation, …
Type: Plant Info
… their flower display. Allow all stems to wither before cutting them off the bulb. Keep the pot in a bright, warm location, out of direct sun. Water the plant as needed. The green, strappy … to grow. When all danger of frost has past, take the pot outside to the garden and keep it in a location protected from afternoon sun. Fertilize the bulb every 10 to 14 days with a liquid … or 15-15-15 mix. This fertilizer helps refuel the bulb for another season’s flower show. In February many houseplants might show signs of stress caused by light deprivation, …
Type: Plant Info
… most effective precyclers and decomposers . Without them, we would be buried miles deep in dead leaves and logs. Other fungi are plant pathogens . In large forests that extend miles, older trees die to make way for new trees—it is a natural … for fungus root). Neither plant nor fungus can survive without the other. Trees provide energy in the form of sugars to fungi. In exchange, fungi, with huge underground networks (the …
Type: Plant Info
