Growing to 20 feet feet tall with a slightly wider spread, this fullmoon maple has a spherical growth habit and beautiful leaves, similar to those of Japanese maple, rounded with up to 11 sharply pointed lobes. It makes a magnificent specimen plant. Its flowers, which are tiny and purplish-red, are produced in April. Fall color is quite noteworthy, ranging from yellow to red. Fullmoon maple is a …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
The flora of Madagascar is as different from the flora of Illinois as possible, and silver thicket is a real curiosity. The entire shrub is a mass of thorns. There are no leaves, just pale, frosty blue-green branches and twigs that have turned into sharp-pointed thorns. This makes the plants impervious to hot desert sun and grazers. It also makes it very difficult to repot. Flowers are small …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
Spikes of dark maroon petals surround the bright lemon yellow central stigma and stamens on this native of the humid, hot lowland rainforests of southeast Asia. Growing in the nutrient-poor tree canopies, this genus has developed modified leaves called pitchers that contain bright colors, fragrances, and sweet nectar to attract insects, small birds, and rodents. Sharp hair-like growths inside the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
This cultivar has bright orange flowers that look simple compared to most cultivated orchids. It has two large orange petals held horizontally and a smaller petal pointing upward. The lip has been modified into a pouch, giving rise to the common name "lady's slipper." Insects get trapped in the pouch, and end up pollinating the flower as they maneuver to escape. The genus Phragmipedium is native …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… angustifolia ) , and Spanish or French lavender (L. stoechas or L. dentata) . On your next visit to the Garden , drop by the Thomas English Walled Garden or Sensory Garden, take a deep … tsp. salt Drop by teaspoonfuls on to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-13 minutes. Icing (optional): 2 cups powdered sugar 5½ tsp. water 6½ tsp. rosewater Recipe courtesy of The Spice House, thespicehouse.com …
Type: Blog
… a shoe box, cardboard dividers, seeds, a pot with soil medium, and of course scissors and tape for constructing the maze. Stand the box on its side. Then cut two pieces of cardboard to fit in … in place as shown in the picture. Pardon the crude appearance of this maze. I wasn’t going for style points. Plant the seeds in the soil and put the container on the side opposite of the hole you …
Type: Blog
… of these companion plants focus on yellow, purple, blue, and chartreuse—excellent enhancements for the powerful pinks, reds, and whites of the five different varieties of flowering crabapples: … Wyman’, ‘Profusion’, and the Japanese flowering crabapple. These varieties have been chosen for their sequential bloom time; the long-lasting flower shows; the ornamental quality of the … masterpiece of color and texture, whether viewed up close or from across the lake. From all points, the reflected images of flowering trees are intensified in the water. When the petals …
Type: Walks
… without any leaves. And yes, you can…with a little help from Jim Jabcon, assistant ecologist for natural areas. The other day, Jabcon walked me through the McDonald Woods and began my … But let’s start with a major clue: bark. Jabcon cast a practiced eye—an artist’s eye, in fact, for his degree is in fine art—over the trees. He pointed out a tall tree whose trunk was covered … terminal bud—the bud at the very end of the branch. It consisted of a cluster of three tiny points, making the branch look almost like a miniature deer hoof. That distinctive shape settled …
Type: Blog
… as a Century Plant—has grown literally through the roof, choosing the dead of winter for a bloom that’s been three decades in the making. Agave sp. FO-76 on December 10, 2025 … Hector Ortiz Cano hopes to take a tissue sample to get a clear ID. Why go to the trouble? For one, without knowing the species, it’s hard to predict when an agave will bloom, and how long … issues arise,” said Laura. “For me, it’s ceremonial,” said Hector. “I couldn’t miss this.” Visit Agave sp. FO-76 now in our Arid Greenhouse. Note that our Regenstein Center Greenhouses …
Type: Blog
… Bright yellow flowers on this dancing lady orchid can last for a month or more each; dozens of flowers per stem. Grow indoors in bright light, high … Move outdoors in summer and fertilize weekly with a dilute foliar feed to build up energy for the flowering cycle in winter. The orchid family consists of a large number of genera, each … by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom display, most orchids will not tolerate sustained direct sun. Many varieties …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
