… This clump-forming, tender (U.S.D.A Zone 7) evergreen shrub needs partial shade to full shade to reach a height of about 5 feet. In early spring it produces yellow flowers that give way to blue fruit. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This tender (Zone 8) evergreen shrub can grow to 6 feet tall with partial shade to full shade and moderate moisture conditions in a greenhouse. From midspring to early fall it blooms repeatedly with pink flowers. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… the Chicago Botanic Garden has been tracking the recent rains. We know many of you are anxious to get planting done—it is spring, right? But we encourage caution and patience. If it squishes, wait. Working with wet soil and turf damages it. Here are tips to help gardeners navigate Chicago’s spring: Wait until the soil dries out to get back in your …
Type: Blog
… This specimen evergreen bulb grows to a height of 8 feet with full sun to partial shade and moist soil conditions. It has red, orange, and green blooms from January to April that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This small, round cactus grows to a maximum height of 12 inches under full sun to partial shade and moderate moisture conditions. It produces small pink, red, and white blooms from late winter to mid spring. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Like so many things in tending bonsai, how you overwinter your trees is specific to the tree species and the region in which you live. Bonsai in fall color, before … being prepped for storage. The same bonsai prepped for winter storage; tags indicate tasks to do in spring on this tree. Here in the Chicago area, we need to take special care to protect …
Type: Blog
… noticed more garlic mustard in your garden, yard, or alley this year. The ecologists who tend to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s natural areas have, too. We had not seen much garlic mustard in our natural areas in recent years, and its reemergence is a reminder for all of us that controlling and managing invasive species is an ongoing … Botanic Garden’s 385 acres, and these woods, prairie, river, shorelines, and lakes are home to a remarkably diverse collection of plants. In most of our natural areas, we allow natural …
Type: Blog
… might be a gall, or an injury that had healed-over. On closer inspection, the lump turned out to be a ruby-throated hummingbird nest from last summer. Although I see hummingbirds regularly … of avian architecture. Not much larger in diameter than a quarter, they are just large enough to hold the one to three navy bean-sized eggs of the hummer. For the pint-sized bird to be able … much larger than her body. Not much larger than a quarter, the ruby-throated hummingbird nest is an engineering marvel. This is all well and good until the eggs hatch. Growing young …
Type: Blog
… Bronze Giant garden mum ( Chrysanthemum 'Bronze Giant') was released to the gardening public in 1956, and since then it has proven to be hardy as far north as Minnesota. Five-inch blossoms of bronze-orange are produced in October from plants reaching up to 3 feet in height and 15 inches in width. To increase winter hardiness, avoid applying …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Some cultivars stand the test of time. Thomas Edison was introduced to horticulture in 1929 and remains a favorite of gardeners world wide. Deep purple petals are … in an informal decorative style flower and appear in late July with flowering continuing up to the first heavy frosts of fall. Pollinators are drawn to the flowers and seed eating songbirds will gladly gather to feast upon the ripened seeds in …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
