… Margaret is a miniature hosta with medium green foliage. Hostas are shade tolerant, easy to grow, and … are also common; new introductions abound. Hosta cultivars range in size from several inches to several feet; it may take 3-8 years for hostas to reach their full size. They all prefer …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Iris 'Midday Blue' is an intermediate bearded iris which stands 22 to 24 inches high. It blooms in mid season with … beards add a final touch of blue. Typically the flowers of intermediate bearded irises are 3 ½ to 5 inches in width and are good for cutting. They are resistant to deer and attractive to …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Iris bucharcai has creamy yellow flowers with darker yellow falls. It is commonly known as Bukkhara iris or corn leaf iris. The stems stand 14 to 16 inches high and have up to 6 buds each. It is native to grassy slopes of northeastern Afghanistan, Tadjikistan, and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… glistening white flowers appear above the green finely dissected foliage as temperatures start to warm in late spring to early summer. Not reliably winter hardy in Chicago gardens, this cool season annual is usually sold as a potted plant early in spring for planting outdoors. As temperatures warm, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Growing 30' to 50' tall, Japanese pagoda tree has a nice rounded outline. Also known as Japanese scholar tree, it is a great specimen tree for the home landscape. Creamy-white fragrant flowers, borne in 6" to 12" pendulous panicles, adorn the tree in late July and August. The twisted fruits, which …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Henry's viburnum is a native of China and was discovered by Augustine Henry, for whom it is named, and introduced to the U.S. in 1901. It features deep green willow shaped leaves. Its white flowers and red fruit turning to black are typical of the genus. Viburnums are a versatile genus of multi-stemmed shrubs that …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Downy-leaved arrowwood viburnum is a species native to Canada and the eastern U.S. found primarily in the woodland understory. It … finer than most other viburnums. White flowers in May are followed by red fruit that matures to black. Fall foliage is dark red. Viburnums are a versatile genus of multi-stemmed shrubs that …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Pink Truffles baptisia is a hybrid cultivar that features soft pink blooms, an unusual color for the genus. It is also … Hans Hansen. Members of the genus Baptisia are commonly known as wild or false indigo due to their use by early Americans as a blue dye. Although "indigo" is in the common name, the … are followed in the fall by dark pods. Overall habits of the plant are broad-rounded mounds to vase-shaped and range in height from two to five feet. Baptisia are considered easy-to-grow, …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… flowering stems comes into flower in midwinter in the Chicago area. Dancing lady orchids adapt to home cultivation if they receive bright light, humidity, and very well-drained soils. Gower … 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 … and contrasting colors and in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although some orchids are native to temperate zones, most orchids tend to prefer a semitropical or tropical environment (USDA …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… drained potting media. Move outdoors in summer and fertilize weekly with a dilute foliar feed to build up energy for the flowering cycle in winter. The orchid family consists of a large … 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 -- … and contrasting colors and in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although some orchids are native to temperate zones, most orchids tend to prefer a semi-tropical or tropical environment (USDA …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
