… change color depending on the season: In early summer they are white, by mid-summer they begin to turn pink, and by fall they will have turned ruby red. That's why this plant is called 'Ruby Slippers!' Ruby Slippers oak-leaf hydrangea is derived from a shrub that is native to the moist woods of eastern north America. This plant has a dwarf form only reaching three to four feet in height and about four to five feet in width. It prefers rich, consistently moist …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… well above the foliage. The flowers feature an upper or dorsal sepal ranging from white to green with distinctive darker green veins. The 'pouch' can range from dull to somewhat lustrous brown-purple in color. Flanking the pouch on either side are two wide … in yellow-green with copious purple spots. Black 'whiskers' fringe the edges of the petals to complete the exotic display. Lady slipper orchids typically need a slight rest period when the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… double blooms from June through frost. The new growth is a dark burgundy color that matures to deep glossy green. The ultimate height and spread of this rose is 3 feet by 3 feet in the … is more tolerant of summer heat than many other cultivars, but unfortunately, it is very prone to powdery mildew and blackspot. Plant it in full sun and provide plenty of space around the plant to encourage good air movement, which reduces the conditions conducive to foliar diseases. This …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… known as willows. These woody plants range in size from the imposing weeping willow tree to small shrubs. While not fussy about soil quality, they generally require moderate to wet soil moisture. In the wild, willows are commonly found near streams, rivers and ponds. In cultivation, willows are often used to control erosion in such areas. They are easily propagated from cuttings; willows root and grow …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… known as willows. These woody plants range in size from the imposing weeping willow tree to small shrubs. While not fussy about soil quality, they generally require moderate to wet soil moisture. In the wild, willows are commonly found near streams, rivers and ponds. In cultivation, willows are often used to control erosion in such areas. They are easily propagated from cuttings; willows root and grow …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… elm is a deciduous pyramidal elm tree growing 50 – 60 feet tall and 24-40 feet wide. Its claim to fame is its resistance to Dutch elm disease and the elm leaf miner. This elm grows vigorously, displaying dark green … and yellow color in the fall. At Grant Park in Chicago, it has replaced trees that fell victim to Dutch elm disease. It was named 2012 Urban Tree of the Year by the Society of Municipal …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… jade green outer petals, or corolla lobes, are slightly cupped forward. Five spoon-shaped pink to purple petals with white spots nestle in the center. In late summer to fall, narrow, 4-inch long, curved follicles (seedpods) form and split open, releasing seeds … of Illinois but is more abundant in Kansas and Texas, where it is an important species to migrating monarch butterflies. Plants do not transplant well due to long rhizomes, and seed …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… spider mums are produced at the ends of tall stems early in the spider mum season (September to October in Chicago gardens). Tall growing, it will need to be planted near the back of the flower bed and staked. It can be disbudded (remove the lateral or side buds) to create a single flower or left to flower naturally, which will create a bouquet of flowers. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… A definite tropical vibe. The color development varies with time and sun exposure. Green to start, with red veins, more red tones with more sun and towards the end of the summer, but the chartreuse edging remains consistent. White flowers scapes appear in late spring to early summer adding height and a frothy aspect, but the foliage is the outstanding feature. … Mature size is a leafy clump 8 inches tall b y 12 inches wide, flowers can increase the height to 24 inches. Would look fantastic in a mixed container planting, front of a shady perennial …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… in Michigan. Members of the genus Baptisia are commonly known as wild or false indigo due to their use by early Americans as a blue dye. Although "indigo" is in the common name, the … are followed in the fall by dark pods. Overall habits of the plant are broad-rounded mounds to vase-shaped and range in height from two to five feet. Baptisia are considered easy-to-grow, sun-loving, long-lived perennials with very …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
