… 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 inches high and 2 feet wide. The foliage is medium green and is evergreen throughout the winter except in extremely cold locations. Flower … pink edging. Hellebores prefer cool moist soils but are very adaptable requiring only that the site be well-drained. Typically they are planted in woodland settings under deciduous trees where …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… in milder climates, the colorful leaves remain decorative all winter. It grows well in full to partial sun locations. Green Spice Coral Bells will attract birds, bees and is resistant to deer. Its mature size is a small mound 9 inches tall by 16 inches wide, with the flowers …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Midnight Rose Alumroot, with dark purple leaves splattered with hot pink polka dots, is so delightful. This lovely Heuchera hybrid would be a lively feature in any shady garden. It can be used in full sun to part shade. As with many colorful alumroot selections, the variegation or spot color evolves … wide at maturity. The foamy white spike of late spring flowers will extend the height up to 24 inches and add additional interest. It will attract birds, bees and is resistant to deer. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… plant. Redbuds are a small-scale tree with big impact. A midwestern native plant growing 15 to 25 feet tall, eastern redbuds often have short trunks that begin branching close to the ground. Purple-pink flowers in March or April bloom directly on branches and mature … appeal. In native habitats, redbud grows as an understory tree in partial shade and soil that is naturally rich with organic matter. In cultivated gardens, redbud feels at home in dappled …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Crown-of-thorns ( Euphorbia milii var. splendens ) is a slow-growing plant with a rambling growth habit. Individual plants can grow to 5 feet by 3 feet on this Madagascar native that may be extinct in the wild. Its 5- to 6-sided fleshy, thorny stems are adorned with short, oblong leaves that are slightly larger …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The scarlet oak is so named because of its brilliant red fall color. Young pyramidal shaped trees mature into … U.S. 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 …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… and lobed foliage, which emerges pinkish in the spring. Indeed, the intriguing spring foliage is the primary reason for this oak's selection. Its growth rate is often described as glacial and … 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 …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This slow-growing tree is a five-needled pine with lustrous dark-green foliage. Use it as a specimen plant. It produces 2"- to 3"-long brown cones on the ends of its branches and also has very attractive bark that exfoliates to reveal green, white and brown areas. This plant deserves greater attention in the horticulture …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… To promote a second, late-summer flower show, cut back, shear, or remove flower spikes from the … and hanging baskets may require daily watering during hot or windy weather. Continue to fertilize container plants with half-strength balanced liquid, but avoid applying in the heat … water plants before fertilizing. Remove spent flowers or seedheads of daylilies immediately to conserve plant energy. Monitor foliage of densely planted annuals and perennials that might …
Type: Plant Info
… When our daughter was growing up, we wanted to teach her about the cycles of nature and, in the process, maybe sneak some science in there. This naturally led to the reasons the seasons occur in terms of planetary motions, and this led to discussions of the solstice and equinox. Over the years, we have created our own family …
Type: Blog