… to rainforests, plants stole the spotlight in 2025. Here are the stories that made us fall for them all over again. Grassy plumage is the new black. Made from hand-dyed plant material, … reminds us of some beauties in the Arid Greenhouse, like Mammallaria gemnispina . “The fuzz on a cactus is actually modified leaves that protect the plant from the sun and keep water in,” … our own: “Back in 1991, Princess Margaret dedicated the English Walled Garden during a royal visit,” said Senior Horticulturist Heather Sherwood. “There’s another Princess here, too: a …
Type: Blog
… This is a Caribbean cultivar, Kashee, highly valued in Saint Vincent for cooking. Through genetic, historical, and morphological data, we were able to match this … to the Tahitian cultivar, Puero, which has the same distinct spiky skin. Breadfruit If you visit almost any island in the Caribbean, you will likely come across a tree with big, glossy … Caribbean variety The story of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is tied to the infamous mutiny on the HMS Bounty in 1789—a failed attempt to introduce seedless breadfruit to the Caribbean. The …
Type: Blog
… they prefer prik kee noo; in Ethiopia they enjoy piri piri; and the Brazilians use malagueta. (For the extremely local, no Chicago dog is complete unless it comes with sport peppers!) Use … that sets dozens of bright red, hot, delicious fruits. 'Red Marconi' is tasty and sweet—try it on a turkey burger, or simply roasted. 'Bulgarian Carrot' looks like its namesake, but tastes … forget to save those seeds! Looking ahead: sowing your own seed Most home gardeners prefer to buy peppers in pots at their local garden center—and let's face it, not everyone wants to start …
Type: Plant Info
… pollinators than honeybees when it comes to fruit trees? Honeybees carry pollen in sacks on their hind legs, which doesn’t always make it to the stigma of the flowers they visit (anthers are where the pollen grains are picked up; stigma is where they are deposited for successful pollination). Mason bees (Osmia lignaria) carry pollen all over their bodies, …
Type: Plant Info
… Winter solstice is just around the corner—December 21 to be exact. On that day, we in the Midwest will have about nine hours of daylight. Compare that to a whopping … , the stark white trunks of native sweet birch (Betula lenta) stand out on overcast days. Look for paperbark maples (Acer griseum) and Peking lilacs (Syringa pekinensis) and discover the … be cut back in early spring. So grab your coat, hat, gloves, and scarf and come out for a visit. There’s much to see. Written by Nina Koziol, garden writer and horticulturist who lives …
Type: Plant Info
… Stand still and close your eyes in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Dixon Prairie on a warm day in August and you’ll likely hear the hum of countless bees and the chirping of … the leaves of tall switchgrass or the sharp “chip” calls of migrating birds as they search for seeds on coneflowers and coreopsis. The Dixon Prairie is a wonderful 15-acre re-creation of … crescent butterflies and cuckoo bees are just a few of the many nectar-seeking insects that visit the blossoms. When crushed, the leaves emit a minty fragrance, which makes the plants …
Type: Plant Info
… blue, and deep purple). Form and foliage Unlike other forms of kale, ‘Redbor’ grows upright on strong stems. The seed packet may say the plant grows to two feet, but the plants in the … not pure muck. Choose a well-drained, full-sun spot and thin the plants as they grow, allowing for the full-body structure they are going to assume. An alternative would be to buy transplants and pop them in wherever you want them. Leaves from transplants can be harvested …
Type: Plant Info
… packed, and frozen, the seeds are available to the scientific and conservation communities for experiments, re-creations, and restorations. This seed bank represents a magnificent … distinct kinds of prairie — mesic, wet, fen, gravel, sand, and savanna — stand cheek-by-jowl on just 15 acres of land. In the wide-open spaces of naturally occurring prairies, much greater … these unusual outdoor conditions. Your walk is an act of conservation in itself. Enjoy your visit! VIEW WALK #1 …
Type: Walks
… and more as a Corporate Partner of the Chicago Botanic Garden. Please contact Rachel Rosenberg for more information. Download a corporate partnership brochure Partnership Benefits … and attractions during regular daytime hours. Each pass admits one. 50 75 100 150 Discount on facility room rentals for corporate events and meetings 20% 25% 30% 35% Complimentary facility … group tram tour* • • • 20% discount for all-day camp programs** • • • Member rate on classes at the Regenstein School** • • • • $10 discount on new or gift memberships** • • • • …
Type: Page
… As days grow longer in early spring, gardeners get itchy. And for vegetable gardeners, late March is not too soon to get started. But you can't plant just … well-prepared garden bed has thawed all the way down. That's often in mid-March, depending on where you are. A couple of weeks later, follow up with crops that like soil slightly warmer: … Then you'll be ready to sow in March without packing down the soil (as long as you don't walk on the planting beds). Of course, you can avoid the whole compaction issue if you sow your seeds …
Type: Plant Info
