… summer peach, a hue between pink and orange—that’s “Peach Fuzz,” Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2024. As curator of plant collections at the Chicago Botanic Garden, I immediately began thinking of how to wrap this refreshing color into outdoor spaces and containers. According to Pantone, the global color … plants that are pollinator friendly and play well with the rest of your blooms. Terracotta is a fantastic companion, so basic pottery can look luxurious next to Peach Fuzz. If you’re a …
Type: Blog
… yellow cattleya styled flowers come 3 to 5 per spike. Cattleya related orchids are challenging for Chicago area gardeners requiring a high quality grow light and the ability to maintain high humidity levels 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 -- …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… orchid flowers with 3 to 5 flowers per stem in winter. Cattleya orchids can be a challenge for homeowners in the Chicago area to keep overwinter requiring high quality grow lights and high humidity. 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
… This plant stands 2 to 4 feet tall with hairy white stems, and its leaves are 6 to 8 inches long … will begin to appear in late June and bloom until nearly September. The stiff stems are good for cut and dried flowers. Deadhead to prevent self-seeding. Small globe thistle is an excellent, drought-tolerant, back-of-the-border anchor plant; it is also a favorite of bees …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ is an upright perennial featuring glossy bronze red foliage topped by spikes of light pink tubular flowers. This cultivar grows to 30” in height and is tolerant of the heat and humidity common to Chicago … but their susceptibility to diseases in a high humidity environment make them a challenge for most Chicago gardeners. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, and is …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Staghorn or Elkhorn fern is native to the tropical rainforests of South East Asia, Polynesia and Australia where it grows … reach 2-3 feet in height and width. A warm humid environment with filtered light is necessary for successfully growing these epiphytic ferns. In home gardens it is commonly grown by tying the … it can be placed outside in a sheltered location in the warmer summer months. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, and is no longer being updated. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… edges of the leaves are spiked with light green teeth. Hardy outdoors in USDA Zones 9 to 11, this aloe is a low-maintenance, drought- , heat- , and clay-tolerant evergreen succulent that prefers full sun or dappled shade. Grown primarily for its foliage, in mid-winter, little gator aloe is graced with salmon-pink flowers on simple …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Boltonia is a spectacular addition to the late-summer garden. Its tall, sturdy stems and wide spread give … may be white, lilac, or purple with yellow centers. Plant it as an accent plant or a backdrop for early perennials. It's a magnificent, large, late-summer bloomer. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, and is no longer being updated. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst', commonly known as purple beautyberry, is a member of the Verbenaceae (verbena) plant family originally from Japan and China. This species is known for exquisite clumps of purple berries at each node along the stem in fall. The cultivar 'Early …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… on top of tall 42-inch high foliage. The flowers have distinctly long thin petals, a form that is referred to as spider. This is a stunning addition to any garden. In milder climates, the foliage is green all year … stalks on each plant. The buds open in series, so a single plant will continue to bloom for 2 weeks or more. It is easy to grow and does well in full sun to part shade. Red Ribbons …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
