… stems have whorled foliage and may eventually reach a height of well over 4 fteet, although for several years they may be as short as 2 ft. Martagon lilies such as Lilium hansonii are the most adapted to shade, but are quite sensitive to late spring frosts. The unsurpassed grace and beauty of this lily makes it a lovely addition …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Hybridized by Kail-Rudolf Beckmann in 1991, the Maren poinsettia is an early- to mid-season cultivar with medium vigor. Its traditionally shaped bracts are a pretty salmon … At a height of 12 to18 inches and a spread of 12 to14 inches, it is a good midseason selection to perk up holiday displays. It attracts butterflies and is deer resistant. Although historically … discomfort. To preserve poinsettias throughout the season, place plants in indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day. Provide room temperatures of 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Description: Look for this woodland-nesting flycatcher in the McDonald Woods or in the Barbara Brown Nature … refrain. "Pee-a-wee. Pee-er. Pee-a-wee." This denizen of native woodlands in Illinois belongs to the flycatcher family. Many flycatchers sit on a snag, then sally out to snatch an insect full of protein. The pewee sports gray-olive upper parts and pale gray …
Type: Birding
… Q. How do I harvest gourds? A. Gourds belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes utilitarian gourds (lagenaria) and vegetable-sponges … frost, but immature gourds will be damaged and should be discarded. Harvest gourds leaving 1 to 2 inches of the stem attached. Be careful to handle the gourd carefully; bruises, scratches, … of gourd. Please contact Plant Information at (847) 835-0972 or plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org for more information. …
Type: Plant Info
… Siberian fir is an evergreen tree native to the tundra and boreal forests of Siberia and northern China. The Russian name is Пихта сибирская. The tree grows into a nice pyramidal form, become more narrow as it grows to an ultimate height of over 100 feet. The flattened, one-inch needles are fragrant and green above, with two white stomatal bands beneath. The tree is used as lumber for framing and wood pulp, but is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. The 3-4 inch cones grow …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… monks. They attract a variety of butterflies and moths, and are the primary food source for Old World bees. Another common name, wolfbane, refers to the poison made from this plant's roots, which was used to tip hunting arrows. Medicinal (and poisonous) uses of this plant date back to ancient times. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Variegated Feather Reed Grass is a clumping ornamental grass that has leaf clumps growing to about 4 feet high and 3 feet wide, and vertical flower spikes growing to 6 feet high. The dark green leaves have white stripes down the middle. The purplish-yellow … clay soils, it struggles in hot humid summer climates. The flower spikes are usually retained for winter interest and the entire plant is cut back or in late winter to promote new growth. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 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 … than other beautyberries, which permits gardeners with shorter growing seasons—like Chicago—to enjoy the bright, shiny, purple berries. The genus Callicarpa is derived from the Greek kallos … zone trees and shrubs in this genus. Many of them have ornamental fruit, and some are known to have medicinal properties or are used as fish poison. Birds are attracted to the berries in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Hellebores or Lenten roses are prized for their flowers which appear in late winter or early spring and are often the first flowers to appear in the Chicago garden. Flower Girl hellebore grows into a low mound about eighteen … spring but are protected in hotter months. The entire plant contains chemicals that are toxic to humans but makes them unappealing to deer and other wildlife. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Woolly summersweet is a deciduous shrub native to the south-eastern US. It has white flowers that appear in mid summer and attract butterflies … along with other insects and birds. The flowers are produced on woolly flower spikes up to 6 inches long that protrude from the dark green foliage. Woolly summersweet is a medium height shrub growing to about 6-8 feet high and 6 feet wide and is suitable for borders, screens or as a specimen plant. Summersweet is tolerant of a range of garden …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
