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  • … The genus Quercus includes more than 600 species of the oak tree, of which 90 are native to North America; the Chicago Botanic Garden's collection contains more than 60 varieties and over 1,000 individual trees. Twenty oak species are native to Illinois. Oaks are slow growing, long lived, hard wood trees that produce fruit we all know as … (biennial). Oaks are often imposing shade trees at maturity and provide habitat and food for a variety of wildlife. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, and is …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … The genus Quercus includes more than 600 species of the oak tree, of which 90 are native to North America; the Chicago Botanic Garden's collection contains more than 60 varieties and over 1,000 individual trees. Twenty oak species are native to Illinois. Oaks are slow growing, long lived, hard wood trees that produce fruit we all know as … (biennial). Oaks are often imposing shade trees at maturity and provide habitat and food for a variety of wildlife. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, and is …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … notice that the white stems of the birch trees are especially clean and bright. That's thanks to six Chicago Botanic Garden volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and gently scrubbed the lower limbs of 30 whitespire birch trees to reveal their brilliant stems. While it's not necessary for the health of the trees, the task does make the trees more beautiful — and luckily, it is …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … It is an excellent choice as a shrub, because it can tolerate a wide range of light (full sun to partial shade) and soil conditions (wet to dry and clay). At maturity, it can reach a height and width of 6 feet. The black berries are … can be cooked with a lot of sugar and turned into jelly. The fruit will remain on the shrub for the winter, providing extra interest. Taxonomists have been considering whether to change the …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … As its name suggests, attraction butterfly bush ( Buddleja davidii 'Attraction') is a magnet for nectar-loving insects. Growing 4.5 to 5 feet in height and breadth, this cultivar has incredibly fragrant, bright reddish-purple to magenta-colored blooms borne on long canes with attractive gray-green foliage. Introduced by …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … ‘Orange Encore’ is a spreading, 9’-10’ tall shrub that grows in sun to partial shade and is noted for its early blooms, starting in February, as soon as temperatures rise above around 40 degrees … the petals will curl up and then open again when warmer temperatures return. Large oval to round leaves are initially a pale green with maroon tints, then a dark green also with maroon …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … 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 round. Although each flower … 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
  • … none are as spectacular as the 'Katharine Hodgkin' iris. The ethereal powder blue of this 4- to 8-inch-tall hybrid of Iris winogradowii and Iris histrioides is beautifully etched with darker blue to sea green markings with a splash of lemon yellow on the "falls"—the three lower petals of the … that may either hang down or flare out. 'Katharine Hodgkin' iris is a wonderful specimen for rock gardens, borders, pathside plantings, and places where deer like to nibble (it's deer …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … plumes of lilac pink that rise above the dark green, deeply cut foliage in late summer to early fall. The soft fluffy spikes are comprised of tiny, densely packed flowers on narrow … panicles. The foliage forms graceful fern-like mounds. 'Pumila' is a dwarf astilbe, growing to only 10-12 inches high. It does well in shade to partial shade and will add a welcome touch of … After the blooms have died, the stalks with the dried seed heads are often left in place for winter interest. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, and is no …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … a similar spread, fullmoon maple has a spherical growth habit and beautiful leaves, similar to those of Japanese maple, rounded with up to 11 sharply pointed lobes. It makes a magnificent specimen plant. Its flowers, which are tiny … evenly moist, well- drained soil. This is a beautiful small specimen tree. It is noted for having large shallowly lobed leaves (to 6" across) with coarsely toothed margins. The foliage …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant