What's in Bloom

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Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:18:00 EDT

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In Bloom in the Garden, April 23, 2013

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:04:00 EDT

Dalmatian Purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Purple') has spikes of purple flowers with throats intensely spotted with maroon. This cultivar is unique in that it blooms the first year from seed (all other species and cultivars are biennials and will only bloom the second year), and that the flowers face all directions (typically the flowers all tend to one side or the other of the stem).

Foxgloves are one of the few traditional herbal medicine plants to have transitioned into modern pharmacology; extracts of various plant parts are still prescribed to treat various heart ailments. As with all medicines, the difference between beneficial effects and poisoning is a matter of dosage. Because of the cardiac glycosides and other chemicals within the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds, this group of plants is rarely eaten by rabbits and deer.

Dalmatian purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Purple') is in the Sensory Garden.

	Pistachio trumpet daffodil (Narcissus 'Pistachio') features soft yellow petals with a greenish cast and a white halo around the trumpet. The trumpet is white at the base, changing to yellow at the edge of the cup. The original cross creating this new cultivar was made in 1978, and like other new Narcissus cultivars, it was not patented until 2004. Hybridizing flower bulbs is a long-term process, because many bulbs grown from seed do not flower until they are 5 to 7 years old; then they begin the process of evaluation for insect and disease resistance, and ease of propagation. Pistachio trumpet daffodil (Narcissus 'Pistachio') is in the Lakeside Garden.
	Tubergen milk squill (Scilla mischtschenkoana 'Tubergeniana') produces masses of milk-white flowers with the faintest of blue midribs on the flower petals. Frequently the flowers start to open at soil level, but as the flowering season progresses, the flower stalks elongate to approximately 4 inches tall. This is a sterile cultivar, and increase in the garden is achieved slowly through production of bulb offsets, commonly referred to as daughter bulbs. The species range extends from the Caucasus Mountains south to the mountains of Iran, and it was introduced to cultivation in 1931. Like many other early spring-flowering bulbs, it can be grown in full sun, or underneath the canopy of deciduous trees, where it completes its growth cycle before the trees start to leaf out. Tubergen milk squill (Scilla mischtschenkoana 'Tubergeniana') is in the Bulb Garden underneath the crabapples.
	Helleborus × hybridus 'Blue Metallic Lady' features purpley-blue flowers with a silvery metallic cast surrounded by dark green, rapidly expanding tufts of deeply divided leaves. Hellebores thrive in shady woodland settings in moist humus-rich soils that are slightly alkaline in pH. Mature height and width is a little less than 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. This selection is a seed strain, so there will be slight variations on the flowers sold under this name. In climates with shorter winters, Lenten roses bloom more closely to their namesake date on the calendar; in the Chicago area, they usually begin to flower in April and frequently continue into early May. This specimen is one of a number of new exciting cultivars developed by Gisella Schmeimann of Cologne, Germany. Blue Metallic Lady Lenten rose (Helleborus × hybridus 'Blue Metallic Lady') is in the English Walled Garden.
	In spring, Cytisus × praecox 'Allgold', also known as Scotch broom, is covered with canary-yellow flowers topped with a pale yellow flag on a shrub maturing at 6 feet in height and width. Not reliably hardy in the Chicago area, this plant is also noted for its tolerance of salt spray and poor, acidic soils. The very small leaves are deciduous during droughts, leaving the task of photosynthesis to the green chlorophyll covering the stems and trunk. Allgold Scotch broom (Cytisus × praecox 'Allgold') is in the Circle Garden.
	Meconopsis 'Lingholm' is a beautiful selection of the Himalayan blue poppy, noted for an absence of purpley veining in the flowers. True-blue flowers are held well above the gray-green foliage covered with golden to silver hairs that glisten in the sunlight. Native to the very high elevations of southwestern China and the Himalayas, this plant thrives in lower elevations in areas with moist, cool summers, like the Pacific Northwest and the west coast of Scotland. Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis Lingholm') is in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

In Bloom in the Garden, April 19, 2013

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:00:03 EDT

Passiflora vitifolia is a spectacular red-flowered passion vine native to a broad region stretching from Costa Rica to northwestern South America. The deeply lobed green leaves resemble those of grapes—the grape genus is Vitis—ergo the specific epithet referring to grape-like foliage. The leaves are an important food source for larvae of Heliconius butterfly species; the adults visit the flowers to obtain nectar. (Species of Heliconius butterflies can be seen later this year in Butterflies & Blooms.)

Pollinated flowers are followed by 5-inch, speckled, egg-shaped fruit with edible, juicy, whitish pulp. The fruit is very sour until fully ripened.

This is a large, and fast-growing vine (to 20 feet) that requires a warm, humid greenhouse with bright light to thrive in the Chicago area.

Red-flowered passion vine (Passiflora vitifolia) is blooming in the Tropical Greenhouse.

[CC-BY-2.0] via Wikimedia Commons.

	The Subtropical Greenhouse, with its Mediterranean climate, features Brunfelsia pauciflora — accurately named the yesterday, today and tomorrow plant for the transformation of deep purple flowers to lavender and then finally white as they age. This fragrant shrub is a moderate grower, but can reach a fairly large size in a non-greenhouse environment. In USDA Zones 9–11 it will reach 3 to 8 feet tall, with a spread of 4 to 6 feet. When grown indoors, it can be pruned to a modest size as a specimen plant. Yesterday, today and tomorrow plant is known to contain poisonous alkaloids. The berries are especially toxic. The yesterday, today and tomorrow plant (Brunfelsia pauciflora) is in the Subtropical Greenhouse.
	Barbara Karst bougainvillea (Bougainvillea x buttiana 'Barbara Karst') is a strong, upright-growing, woody tropical vine that features masses of pink bracts tinted with apricot and red whenever the soil is relatively dry. Bougainvilleas are almost entirely pest-free and have very low watering needs, making them a great pick for a larger container plant. This plant can be kept in a container for years, rotating indoors during the winter months into a bright lighted window for continuing bloom. Barbara Karst bougainvillea (Bougainvillea x buttiana 'Barbara Karst') is growing in the Temperate Greenhouse, south section, against the wall.
	Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) is a rare find in U.S. botanical gardens. Aside from the Chicago Botanic Garden, only the Fairchild Botanical Gardens, south of Miami, Florida, and the Waimea Botanic Gardens in Hawaii have this interesting plant. The unusual color of the jade vine's blooms is the result of pigments in two different color classes being modified by high pH in the sap of the stems. Native to the Philippines, only old, mature plants produce flowers. Jade vine is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae) and is bat-pollinated in the wild. The brilliantly colored, oddly shaped flowers are adapted for bats to hang upside down and sip the nectar within. Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) is at the entrance to the Tropical Greenhouse.
	Pachypodium of Madagascar (Pachypodium decaryi) is currently covered with 4-inch, heavily textured white flowers held in clusters at the ends of long, fleshy stems. Not particularly fragrant, the color suggests a moth or bat may be the pollinator. Unlike other pachypodiums, the stems of Pachypodium decaryi are not armed with spines. It is among the rarest of its species, due to difficulties with propagation. "Pachypodium" translates into "elephant foot," in reference to the thickened lower trunks used to store up water for the prolonged droughts of its homeland. It is native to the island of Madagascar — one of the world's most threatened biological hotspots, due to conversion of the natural ecosystems into agricultural land to support a growing population. Pachypodium of Madagascar (Pachypodium decaryi) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

In Bloom in the Garden, April 12, 2013

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:00:03 EDT

Clairette dwarf iris (Iris 'Clairette') is a vibrant purple- and-white-flowered cultivar of Iris reticulata, or netted iris. The species name reticulata refers to the netted pattern on the dry bulbs. This award-winning variety is a low-growing, bulbous plant that blooms in early April at about the same time as snowdrops (Galanthus), glory-of- the-snow (Chionodoxa), and early crocuses. Its striking, long-lasting, 2.5-inch purple flowers have streaks of white on the deeper purple falls. The flowers bloom on naked stems, typically reaching 4 inches tall. Narrow, lance-shaped, grasslike leaves elongate to 15 inches after blooming, and they disappear by late spring as the plants go dormant.

These dwarf herbaceous perennials are especially effective when planted in large masses in sunny or lightly shaded areas of rock gardens, in the fronts of borders, along walks, or near streams or ponds. To ensure consistent flowering from year to year, plant supplemental bulbs each fall, or grow as annuals by planting new bulbs every fall. The bulbs also may be forced in pots indoors. Clairette dwarf iris thrives in USDA Zones 5 to 9. Don't be tempted to nibble the leaves, however; it is highly toxic.

Clairette dwarf iris (Iris reticulata 'Clairette') is blooming in the iris family bed of the Heritage Garden.

	Galanthus nivalis 'Atkinsii' is a very showy, large-flowered snowdrop, among the first bulbs to bloom in early spring. The name was given to the genus by Carl Linnaeus in 1735. Native to large areas of Europe, from Spain to the Ukraine, the name is derived from the Greek gala (milk) and anthos (flower). The epithet "nivalis" means "of the snow," referring either to the snowlike flower or the plant's early flowering. With especially hardened tips to push through the late-spring snow, Galanthus nivalis was described at the 1891 meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society as "second to none in size, form, quality, and freedom of growth." The 'Atkinsii' cultivar is a vigorous, tall variety that grows to 9 inches. This dwarf bulbous perennial has linear or strap-shaped green to gray-green, glaucous leaves (with a powdery surface, like that on grapes). At the top of its erect, leafless flowering stalk is a solitary, pendulous, bell-shaped flower with three pear-shaped, white, outer segments and three shorter inner ones, marked with a prominent green heart-shaped mark at the tips. The whitish seeds have small, fleshy tails containing substances attractive to ants, who distribute the seeds. Best planted in partial shade in moist, hummus-rich soil, snowdrops can be naturalized in grass under trees, where they look spectacular mixed with crocuses. The leaves die back a few weeks after the flowers have faded. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis 'Atkinsii') may be found in the middle level of the Waterfall Garden, on the south side.
	Iris histrioides 'George' is among the first of the very early spring flowers to come into bloom in the Chicago area. 'George' is actually a hybrid between Iris reticulata and Iris histrioides and combines the early flowering of histrioides with the robust vigor of the reticulata parent. The flowers are composed of three upright petals known as "flags" and three petals that hang down, known as "falls." The dark purple falls contain a blotch of white edged in yellow, known as a nectar guide. Close observation on a sunny day will provide an opportunity to see bees and other nectar-gathering insects landing on the blotch and following the yellow strips inside the flower to the nectar. Very close observation will reveal pollen stuck to the backs of the insects, which provides for pollination of the flowers as the bees move from one flower to another. The genus name is derived from the Greek iris, a messenger from the gods that traveled to earth on a rainbow. About 300 species of iris can be found in a wide range of habitats in the northern hemisphere, varying in size from diminutive very-early-spring alpines to tall bearded and juno iris, up to 3 feet in height, blooming near midsummer. George dwarf iris (Iris histroides 'George') is in the Sensory Garden, on the west side of the path.
	Amur adonis (Adonis amurensis) and its ties to the namesake god are a good match. This plant is as handsome as any perennial, and once seen in bloom, its perfection is almost impossible to resist. Adonis is as ephemeral as the god Adonis, and soon after blooming, the plant returns underground to await the next late winter or early spring. This beautiful plant is native to the hills of Japanese islands and China along the Amur River, from which it derives its species name. A member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family, the flowers have waxy, heavy, bright yellow petals. The 1- to 2-inch, large-for-the-plant blooms emerge and open first. Just as the flowers fully mature, bright green, divided, featherlike foliage appears to form a fluffy collar around each individual blossom. The blooms are hermaphrodite (having both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees, flies, and beetles. Reaching a height and width of about a foot, amur adonis quickly forms a very well-behaved, open clump in the garden. It thrives in full sun or light shade in USDA Zones 3 to 7, where the blooms react to cold or cloudy days by closing and waiting for sunshine and warmer days to return. It's a delightful choice for sun-dappled woodland areas, rock gardens, and cultivated beds that are humus rich, moist, and well drained. Amur adonis (Adonis amurensis) is on the hillside facing the exit to the Graham Bulb Garden.
	A herald of early spring, winter aconite's beautiful yellow blooms are borne over a mound of rich green foliage. A member of the Ranunculaceae family, Eranthus hyemalis is one of the earliest spring-flowering bulbs to bloom — and also among the smallest. Because these bulbs grow closer to the soil's surface, it takes only a few sunny days or thawing rains to warm the soil and signal to dormant bulbs that it's time to start growing. Cold winters typical of the plant's native European woodland origin, and cooler, humus-rich soil often bring the best show of flowers for the aconite. There is, however, a dark side to these showstopping beauties — the entire plant is quite poisonous and may cause nausea, vomiting, colic attacks, and visual disturbances. Don't let this information compel you to remove them from your yard, though — the aconite's bitter taste makes it unlikely that a pet will fall victim to the plant through curious nibbling. Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is in the path between the Graham Bulb Garden and Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, April 5, 2013

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:03:00 EDT

Pink Pixie paper flower (Bougainvillea glabra 'Pink Pixie') is a member of the Nyctaginaceae family. It is a true dwarf form of the huge tropical vines that are star performers in tropical gardens, and is used to provide a bright splash of color in bonsai gardens. Imported from the Philippines, this sun-loving plant is so unusual because of the short distance between nodes on its stems. This feature results in flowers and leaves packed tightly together—a different look from typical bougainvillea hybrids. The blooms of 'Pink Pixie' come from small, bright pink bracts set amid densely packed, matte, yellow-green leaves. The bracts are modified leaves evolved to lure pollinators to the true flowers: small, white, tubular blooms that attract hummingbirds.

This large, widely branched, upright shrub reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet and a width of 2 to 3 feet in USDA Zones 10 and 11. It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil in relatively dry conditions. Plant with care, because it is sensitive to root disturbance and will not transplant successfully once in the ground. This is the best species for containers, patios, and any small, sunny space.

Pink Pixie paper flower (Bougainvillea glabra 'Pink Pixie') is in the Subtropical Greenhouse near the south entrance.

	Rondeletia leucophylla is often sold under the name of Panama rose, even though it is actually a native of Chiapas, Mexico. This bushy, large shrub produces masses of pink flowers virtually all year when planted in the ground in a conservatory. Both hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the flowers, which, interestingly, don't become fragrant until after the sun goes down — suggesting that it may be pollinated by moths as well. Panama rose can be grown as a container plant, or in the ground in a frost-free conservatory. Grow in full sun in a setting with moderate moisture. Panama rose (Rondeletia leucophylla) is in the Tropical Greenhouse.
	The hybrid orchid ×Odontocidium 'Areur C. Ching' blooms with dozens of silver-dollar-sized yellow blossoms with reddish-brown banding on long (up to 18-inch), arching bloom spikes. Multiple bloom spikes per plant turn this relatively small-flowered treasure into a bouquet up to 3 feet wide. The banding is inherited from the Odontoglossum parents, while the bright yellow color and multiple flowers are characteristic of the Oncidium side of the family. It likes cool, bright conditions with weekly fertilizing and a temperature range of 50 degrees F. at night and 80 degrees F. during the day. If container grown, a 12-inch or larger clay pot (for stability) is recommended. Hybrid orchid ×Odontocidium 'Aeur C. Ching' is blooming on the southwestern orchid tree in the Tropical Greenhouse.
	Japtropha integerrima 'Compacta', commonly known as compact spicy jatropha, produces showy bright pink flowers throughout most of the year. This "compact" selection features shortened internodes (the length of stem between the buds), resulting in a large shrub (versus a medium-sized tree for the straight species). Compare and contrast the very succulent-appearing Jatropha podagricea in the Arid Greenhouse with this species from the relatively moist island of Cuba. Like almost all members of the Euphorbiaceae family, this plant's sap contains a white latex substance that is a skin irritant and can be poisonous if swallowed. Compact spicy jatropha (Jatropha integerrima 'Compacta') is just west of the Palm Allée in the Tropical Greenhouse.
	Haage mammillaria (Mammillaria haageana) originated in Mexico. The first species was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The genus Mammillaria is currently one of the largest in the cactus family, with 171 known species and varieties. This amazing plant, with its cylindrical form and bright carmine rose flowers, is a showstopper of a cactus. The top of each cylinder is crowned with bright, funnel-shaped flowers in a circle surrounding the center. This small gem only grows up to 6 inches tall and 4 inches wide. Its outer spines are short and white, and the inner spines are longer and black. Spine groups on the side are arranged in a closely spaced, spiral pattern (instead of vertically). This genus has an unusual approach to plant metabolism, absorbing carbon dioxide at night and re-emitting it during the day in a way that improves photosynthesis—a trait these cacti have in common with pineapples. A late-winter bloomer, haage mammillaria should be watered sparingly and grown in light shade with good drainage. Recommended for USDA Zones 9b to 11, it is hardy to 25 degrees F. Haage mammillaria (Mammillaria haageana) is at the far end of the Arid Greenhouse.

In Bloom in the Garden, March 29, 2013

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:00:03 EDT

Variegated shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana 'Variegata') is a special form of the popular variegated shrimp plant. Native to Mexico, the common name of this plant refers to its striking shrimplike blossoms. Its true flowers are 1-inch, white, tubular blooms held between and arching from spikes of reddish-maroon bracts (modified leaves) atop the flecked foliage. Its medium green, matte leaves are splashed with creamy white markings and covered with soft hairs.

Hardy in USDA Zones 8 to 11, this herbaceous perennial becomes full and dense as it ages, reaching a height of 2 to 5 feet with a width of 3 to 5 feet. It thrives in full or part sun in well-drained, moist soil. If killed to the ground during cold weather in the northern part of its range, it will quickly return in the warmth of spring. The tropical character of this ever-blooming old favorite adds color to any American southern garden, where it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. In other regions, it can be successfully grown as a tender container plant.

Variegated shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana 'Variegata') is in the Semitropical Greenhouse.

	Primula malacoides 'Special Mix', commonly known as fairy primrose, produces a rainbow of color in early spring. Its ½-inch-wide, dense, open flowers bloom in clusters in a colorful range of pink, burgundy, purple, red, and white on soft, hairy stalks held just above the medium green foliage. Its dainty, oval, pale green leaves have slightly frilly edges. This is a rosette-forming, upright perennial usually grown as an annual. Fairy primrose is low-maintenance and thrives in USDA Zones 8 to 10. It prefers part-shade to part-sun in moist, loamy soil with moderate water and good drainage. It makes a cheerful showing as a seasonal bedding plant and sited in rock gardens and containers in cooler zones. This cultivar, 'Special Mix', is named for a seed mix blend unique to the Ivy Garth Seed Company. Fairy primrose (Primula malacoides 'Special Mix') is in the Semitropical Greenhouse checkerboard area.
	Coral aloe (Aloe striata) is a succulent native to South Africa. Succulents originated in climates where rain is not regular or predictable, and many are therefore drought tolerant — their leaves and stems can store water to tide them over during dry spells. Coral aloe's smooth, fleshy leaves form a tight rosette at the base of the plant, and can reach 18 inches long before tapering to a point. The tubular, coral-orange flowers bloom on erect stems held 2 feet above the foliage, and the nodding, dense inflorescences provide a colorful contrast to the leaves below. Coral aloe is one of the easiest aloe species to grow. It isn't fussy about where it is sited, but it likes well-drained soil and handles all but hot sun or significant shade. As with most aloes, the flowers provide nectar to hummingbirds when grown outdoors in USDA Zones 9a to 11. Coral aloe (Aloe striata) is blooming in the Arid Greenhouse near the agave collection.
	Shrubby bulbine (Bulbine frutescens), a member of the Liliaceae family, is native to desert grasslands of South Africa. The name Bulbine comes from the Latin word bulbus, meaning onion or bulb. This name is misleading, however, as these plants do not have a bulbous base. A clump-forming succulent, it grows to 1½ feet tall with a 2-foot spread. The leaves are tall, fleshy green cylinders, similar to the onion leaf blade. The tall spikes of small, star-shaped yellow flowers bloom on stalks 2 to 3 feet above the foliage. The plant produces ten to 12 stalks per individual plant, which bloom continually in mid-spring and again in the fall. Hardy in USDA Zones 9a to 11, Bulbine frutescens survives to 20 degrees F., but at that temperature the foliage will be damaged. In its native habitat it is known as the burn jelly plant, because the fresh leaves produce a jellylike juice that is wonderful for burns, rashes, blisters, insect bites, dry lips, acne, cold sores, and areas of cracked skin. The Rastafarians make an infusion of a few fresh leaves in boiling water, which they take for coughs, colds, and arthritis. Shrubby bulbine (Bulbine frutescens) is in the central bed of the Arid Greenhouse, surrounded by paths on the south side and the northernmost raised bed near the west end.
	The epiphytic dragon's mouth orchid (Encyclia cordigera var. rosea) is native from Guatemala to Panama, where the subspecies rosea is found. The flower spikes can produce flowers for up to three months, and each of the flowers smells like chocolate. This species requires very bright light whether grown in greenhouses, on a windowsill, or under artificial lights. During the summer growing season it prefers a moist, humid growing environment, but in the winter the watering should be reduced and diurnal — the difference between night and day low temperatures —with temperature fluctuations of 10 degrees F. to initiate flower production. Most of the Encyclia species are easy to grow, making them popular with beginners and expert hobbyists alike. They are often found in the company of ants, which probably are necessary to their well-being. English botanist William Hooker first described the type species, Encyclia viridiflora, in 1828. Dragon's mouth orchid (Encyclia cordigera var. rosea) is in the Tropical Greenhouse, lower level, on the east epiphyte tree.

In Bloom in the Garden, March 22, 2013

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:00:03 EDT

Pinky Lee orchid (× Vuylstekeara Cindy 'Pinky Lee)', an Oncidium-type hybrid orchid, is a cross between Miltonia 'My Clown' and Oncidium Shonan 'Pinky'. It is one of the few pink-blooming oncidinae with amazing, relatively large mottled blossoms. The beautiful colors range from shades of pink and lavender to purple and red, with some yellow in the center. The matte flowers have purple sepals and mottled petals with a light purple lip and a darker purple margin. Mature plants can have six to eight flowers per bloom spike.

Very easy to grow in medium light with average watering, this stunning orchid is best grown in slightly humid, cool, well-ventilated conditions because of the Miltoniopsis in its breeding background. It is named in honor of Charles Vuylsteke (1844–1927), considered the father of orchid cultivation. In 1904, he became the first nurseryman in the world to create an Odontioda intergeneric hybrid, and shortly before the First World War, he also was the first to produce a tri-generic hybrid containing three genera of orchids, something that had previously been considered impossible.

Pinky Lee oncidium-type orchid (Vuylstekeara Cindy 'Pinky Lee') is featured on both orchid trees in the Tropical Greenhouse.

	Genista canariensis, commonly known as Canary Island broom, is a shrubby member of the pea family (Fabaceae) endemic to the Canary Islands, off the northwest coast of Africa. For two to three weeks in early spring, it is covered with masses of fragrant gold flowers. For years it was taxonomically placed in the genus Cytissus. Despite its limited natural distribution, it has become widespread in natural communities in southestern Europe, California, and Washington state. Canary Island broom (Genista canariensis) is in the East Greenhouse checkerboard.
	Red tower or spiral ginger is a large member of the Costus genus (Costaceae) that grows in a spiral habit to a height of 4 to 8 feet. Beginning in early April and lasting through autumn, Costus barbatus 'Red Velvet' sends forth blooms in long inflorescences ending in bright red, waxy bracts. Lemon-yellow (and edible) tubular flowers emerge one at a time from between the bracts. Each flower lasts only a day, but the bracts continue to grow throughout the season, reaching a length of 6 to 10 inches. Old bracts die off quickly and new ones replace them throughout the bloom season, giving this plant the illusion of being perpetually in bloom. When not in bloom, this Costa Rican native is still a very attractive ginger, bearing dark green, shiny leaves with a soft, downy, sage-green underside, making it a staple attraction in any tropical environment. Red tower or spiral ginger (Costus barbatus 'Red Velvet') is in the South Greenhouse.
	Crinum augustum 'Queen Emma', commonly known as Queen Emma giant spider lily, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family. Native to tropical Southeast Asia, it is commonly grown in Mexico's hot lowlands. Its fragrant white, star-shaped flowers with purple on the back of the petals are borne on large inflorescences on red stems. The handsome, strappy foliage arises from giant fleshy bulbs, which can weigh as much as 20 pounds. The broad, dark maroon-tinted leaves are centered with a depressed midvein that runs the entire length of the leaf, which can reach 36 inches in height. This striking, exotic plant blooms best in full sunlight in USDA Zones 8 to 11, where it can grow to a height of 5 feet with a 3-foot spread. It requires very high moisture and should not be allowed to dry out between watering. The cultivar is named for humanitarian Queen Emma (Emma Rooke (1836–85), the queen consort of Kamehameha IV), who ruled Hawaii from 1855 to 1863. Queen Emma giant spider lily (Crinum augustum 'Queen Emma') is in the Tropical Greenhouse, near the fountain.
	Golden shrimp plant or golden candle plant (Pachystachys lutea) is a subtropical, soft-stemmed, broadleaf evergreen shrub native to Peru, where it grows 2 to 6 feet tall. Its opposite, 6-inch, lance-shaped to elliptic medium green leaves are heavily veined, providing an attractive backdrop to its interesting flowers. The blooms are zygomorphic (divided by a single plane into two mirror-image halves). They are two-lipped, long-throated, short-lived white flowers that emerge sequentially from showy, overlapping, bright yellow bracts on racemes (flowers that bloom along a single central axis) produced throughout the warm months. Its four-sided, 3- to 5-inch bracts somewhat resemble the overlapping scales on a shrimp—the inspiration for one of its common names. A popular landscape plant in tropical and subtropical areas, the golden shrimp plant grows in almost any moist, organically rich, well-drained acid soil. It thrives in full sun but will tolerate part shade. Winter hardy in USDA Zones 10 to 11, in the Midwest it blooms in the summer. As a houseplant, it requires warm, humid, sunny locations. Golden shrimp plant or golden candle plant (Pachystachys lutea) is near the west exit of the Tropical Greenhouse.

In Bloom in the Garden, March 15, 2013

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 09:00:06 EDT

Blue Elf aloe (Aloe 'Blue Elf') is a vigorous, tight-clumping aloe that grows 18 inches tall by 2 feet wide. It forms upright rosettes with narrow, tapered, gray-blue leaves with red-brown teeth along the margins. The foliage contrasts beautifully with its 16- to 18-inch-tall spikes of tubular orange flowers. The plant explodes with blossoms in late winter and throughout the spring. When the show is over, the slender-leafed foliage remains blue throughout the rest of the year. It thrives in full sun or light shade and will even grow in deep shade, where it will be a bit greener and more prostrate, but won't flower.

This hardy aloe (in USDA Zones 9-11) requires only occasional irrigation and grows well in full sun in desert heat. Attractive in mass plantings as a succulent groundcover or potted specimen, it's also successful placed into rock or succulent gardens, where it acts as a strong magnet to bees and hummingbirds. It requires very porous soil and excellent drainage with ample airflow.

Blue Elf aloe (Aloe 'Blue Elf') is in the Arid Greenhouse at the far west end.

	New Gold lantana (Lantana camara 'New Gold') is a sterile lantana hybrid producing a continuous display of brilliant golden-yellow flowers in profuse clusters on a trailing/mounding plant to 15 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Outdoors, it attracts butterflies and bees, but the scents produced by the crushed leaves repel deer and rabbits. In climates that do not get colder than 25 degrees Fahrenheit, this plant is a deciduous perennial that flowers from spring to fall, but in warmer climates, it is evergreen and flowers continuously. The sterility of this hybrid is a great boon for gardeners in USDA Zones 8a and warmer, where the seeds of other cultivars are spread outside the garden by birds who favor the turquoise-colored fruits. New Gold lantana (Lantana camara 'New Gold') is flowering in checkerboards of the Subtropical Greenhouse.
	Flamingo flower (Anthurium andreanum 'White Heart') is native to the wet tropical mountain forests of Central and South America and therefore thrives in greenhouses or conservatories where the temperature doesn't drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This spectacular plant has glossy, heart-shaped, dark green leaves up to 1 foot long and stems that may grow to a height of 15 to 20 inches. It is one of the few plants that can move its leaves toward or away from the sun. Its white blossoms are distinguished by a straight flower spike. The heart-shaped flower is really a spathe (waxy, modified leaf), flaring out from the base of a fleshy spike (spadix), where the tiny, real, unisexual flowers grow. They appear as a roughness on the spadix. Flamingo flower is an epiphytic plant, often growing on other plants and hanging from trees, but it is independent and not parasitic. Popular foliage plants, anthuriums are grown for their attractive, long-lasting, flowering bracts and are widely used by the cut-flower trade. Discovered in 1876 in Columbia, the name Anthurium means "tail flower." All parts of this stunning plant are poisonous, so admire this selection from afar, and keep it away from pets. If ingested, it may cause mild stomach disorders, and the plant's sap can cause skin irritation. White Heart flamingo flower (Anthurium andreanum 'White Heart') is in the Tropical Greenhouse, near the eastern entrance.
	Blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora), a member of the Commelinaceae family, is a tropical plant that resembles ginger in growth and habit but is actually related to the spiderworts (genus Tradescantia). This striking plant is native to the tropical woodlands of North, Central, and South America, especially in Atlantic forest vegetation in Brazil. It is cultivated for its handsome spotted stems and large shiny foliage, which is held horizontally, surmounted by intense blue flowers. The lance-shaped leaves grow in a spiral arrangement around its tall stem. The leaf sheaths wrap the stems, and the fleshy, canelike stems emerge from underground rhizomes. The upright, three-petaled flowers have three sepals, small bright yellow stamens, and a tricornered central white "eye." Individual blooms are ½ inch in diameter, and grow in terminal flower clusters up to 8 inches long. This is one of the few tropical plants that blooms in a cool blue; most tropicals bloom in the warmer yellow, orange, or red hues, so it is a prized selection for the outdoor tropical landscape garden, where it can grow to 6 feet in moist, shady areas. First described by naturalist Johann Christian Mikan in 1823, blue ginger was first grown in England in 1822 and is recorded from Sir William MacArthur's "catalogue" in 1857 of plants he grew in Camden, southwest of Sydney. Blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) is in the Tropical Greenhouse, near the western exit.
	Lampranthus godmaniae is a species of ice plant with 1-inch daisylike, vibrant magenta flowers that bloom in the morning and close in the late afternoon. The bushy, creeping succulents consist of pairs of short, waxy, cylindrical blue-green leaves. A member of the Aizoaceae family, it provides one of the most spectacular displays of bright flowers from the succulent world and is therefore widely used as either annual or perennial groundcover, as the climate allows. A native of South Africa, it thrives in full sun with frequent watering; in intense sunlight its leaves tend to turn red. Ice plant will grow in rather poor soil with good drainage, making it a good choice for planting on slopes or in rock gardens, where it will provide dense coverage and brilliant color. Ice plant (Lampranthus godmaniae) is in the Arid Greenhouse near the agaves.

In Bloom in the Garden, March 8, 2013

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:11:00 EDT

Pink jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) is an evergreen, twining climber native to China. It produces an abundance of light pink flower buds in late winter and early spring, followed by masses of fragrant, trumpet-shaped, starlike white flowers. The plant bears compound leaves with five to seven leaflets. The leaves are dark green on the upper surface and a lighter green on the lower.

Pink jasmine is very vigorous and can grow up to 9 feet in height when supported. In USDA Zones 8 to 11 it can be grown in the garden, where it provides an effective cover on walls and fences with its semideciduous to evergreen foliage. It grows quickly in either sun or light shade, does not suffer pest or disease problems, and can be propagated by stem material, seeds, or suckers. Well known as a house plant in the United States and Europe, pink jasmine was first described by Adrien René Franchet in Revue Horticole 1891. It was given the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in 1993 and was chosen on the bicentenary list of 200 plants for the RHS.

Pink jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) is in the Tropical Greenhouse, on the lower level, near the fountain.

	The Triumph orchid (x Laeliocattleya Drumbeat 'Triumph') has it all! This 2-foot-tall, reliable, lavender orchid bears enormous 5-inch flowers with up to 8 blooms per spike. Its lavender tepals (outer part of the flower) have dark magenta markings on the lip and a free-blooming character. Its hardiness indoors (and at USDA Zones above 9 outdoors) makes it a popular member of the Orchidaceae family. It is easily recognizable as the classic, fragrant corsage orchid. The cultivar 'Triumph' has been produced from the intergeneric hybrid (Drumbeat) between the genera Laelia and Cattleya. It blooms from May to June, is temperature tolerant, and does well in partial sun. The soil should be allowed to almost dry out between waterings. Triumph orchid (x Laeliocattleya Drumbeat 'Triumph') is in the Tropical Greenhouse on the easternmost orchid tree in the banana belt.
	Cardinal's guard (Pachystachys spicata), a member of the Acanthaceae family, is native to South America and the greater Caribbean. This ornamental tropical plant bears large clusters of brilliant red flowers along an erect terminal spike with overlapping green leaf-like bracts. The flower clusters are composed of 2-inch tubes with two central lobes at right angles and two protruding stamens. Its dark green, glossy, oval leaves have prominent veins and grow to 12 inches. The shrub will reach 6 feet in height and grows best in a sunny location in fertile, sandy, loamy, well-drained, moderately moist soil, where hummingbirds love to feed at its tubular blossoms. The name was validly published by Hipólito Ruiz López and José Antonio Pavon, but it was not until 1986 that Dieter Carl Wasshausen reclassified it into today's valid botanical systematics. Cardinal's guard (Pachystachys spicata) is in the Tropical Greenhouse, just to the east of the Palm Allée, near the entrance.
	Hanging lobster claw (Heliconia rostrata) is native to Central America, where migrating hummingbirds from North America pollinate the flowers while hovering to sip nectar. Their foreheads get dusted with pollen in the process — which apparently annoys some of them, because they have learned to poke a hole in the side of the flower to access the nectar and avoid the messy pollen! Let us hope not too many adopt this approach, because this is a spectacularly ornamental species. Hanging lobster claw (Heliconia rostrata) is in the Tropical Greenhouse, west side, behind the queen cycad.
	Acacia decora, commonly called showy wattle, is native to eastern Australia. It derives its species name from the plant's decorative qualities. This shrub grows in an erect or spreading shape from 9 to 12 feet in height, with variable gray-blue, spearhead-shaped foliage and reddish-brown-ridged, hairy branchlets. The phyllodes (flattened leaf stalks that function as leaves) are generally thin and grow up to 2 inches long with a prominent midvein. It produces profuse racemes of golden, ball-like, bright yellow flowers in clusters of 15 to 30 blooms, each of which is ½- to 1½-inch long. Showy wattle is a fast grower that blooms from February to April in a frost-free conservatory with full sun and dry, well-drained soils. Not surprisingly, it thrives in open positions on rocky ridges or outcrops with degraded soils, but it adapts happily in cultivation to a range of lighter, drier, well-drained soils. It is also drought hardy. Showy wattle (Acacia decora) is in the Arid Greenhouse, just inside the southernmost doorway.

In Bloom in the Garden, March 1, 2013

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:00:12 EDT

Red Dragon paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Red Dragon') is a compact and beautiful addition to the sunny or lightly shaded garden. The genus, a member of the Thymelaeaceae family, was named for Michael Pakenham Edgeworth (1812–81), a keen amateur English botanist. The intensely fragrant blooms of the paperbush are the size and shape of golf balls, and cover the shrub before leaves appear in early spring. Dozens of tiny florets with a flare of watermelon-red emerge from green buds at the very end of each elegant branch, creating a stylized and unusual look. The blossoms remain for weeks, and may be cut for indoor arrangements for those who find the heavy, musky-sweet aroma—not unlike lilies—appealing.

Paperbush blooms at just the perfect time to join spring bulbs in the garden to produce an incredible show of color and fragrance. This magnificent shrub has a very open, branching habit — spidery, yet rounded. It can reach 5 to 6 feet in height and width, and is covered in pointed olive-green foliage from midspring through fall. Very slow growing, it gradually acquires a beautiful shape; the outline of its bare winter silhouette is almost as exciting as its blossoms. After the flowers pass, the widely spaced, bowl-shaped branches produce whorls at the ends, giving an entirely different look to 'Red Dragon'. Grown in moist, well-drained soil, it is suitable for large containers, and given its resistance to most pests and diseases, this Asian native is long-lived and carefree.

Red Dragon paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha 'Red Dragon') is near the carnivorous bog in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

	Red Fox™ Red Purple cineraria (Pericallis x hybrida Red Fox™ 'Todaisy' Red Purple) is an herbaceous flowering plant that originated as a hybrid between Pericallis cruenta and P. lanata, both natives of the Canary Islands. First developed in the British royal gardens in 1777, it was originally known as Cineraria x hybrida, but the genus Cineraria is now restricted to a group of South African species, with the Canary Island species being transferred to the genus Pericallis. Some botanists also treat it in a broad view of the large and widespread genus Senecio. When in full bloom, Red Fox™ is covered with showy, daisylike flowers in a vibrant pink. There are other named hybrids and strains in an astonishing range of deep and pastel colors in white, pink, blue, lavender, and purple; many display white sections. The plants form a 12- by 12-inch mound with generally ovate, light green, softly hairy foliage. They prefer temperate climates with bright, filtered light and are treated as summer annuals or winter-flowering indoor plants in this region; they grow best in humus-rich cool, moist, well-drained soil. Red Fox™ Red Purple cineraria (Pericallis x hybrida Red Fox™ 'Todaisy' Red Purple) is blooming in the Subtropical Greenhouse beneath the calamondin orange tree.
	Wine Shades Mona Lisa™ anemone (Anemone coronaria 'PAS1863' Mona Lisa™ Wine Shades) is commonly called a poppy anemone. Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean, this showy, vibrantly colored specimen has 4- to 4½-inch, dark-centered flowers borne above mounded clumps of divided, matte, ferny leaves. Its blossoms sit atop sturdy, thick, 18-inch stems, which make the blooms excellent for cutting. Mona Lisa™ will flower under lower light levels than other anemones, and low temperatures (46 to 54 degrees F.) will promote optimum stem length. A must-have for the spring garden in USDA Zones 7 and warmer, compared with many other cool cut-flower greenhouse crops such as carnations, this anemone is less labor-intensive and doesn't require staking, netting, or disbudding. It is also well suited to greenhouse or field production. The beautiful plant provides texture and color in containers, moist woodland settings, or rock gardens. Wine Shades Mona Lisa™ anemone (Anemone coronaria 'PAS 1863' Mona Lisa™ Wine Shades) is just to the north of the carnivorous bog in the Subtropical Greenhouse.
	Pink lantern (Medinilla magnifica), a member of the Melastomataceae family, is more commonly known as the Malaysian orchid, despite not being part of the orchid family. Native to the mountains of the Philippines, this species is found mostly in the tropics. The leaves are somewhat distinctive, being opposite, decussate (x-shaped), and usually with three to seven longitudinal veins arising from the base of the blade. Its exotic cascading blossoms are borne either singly or in clusters on a central stem with a single terminal flower that develops first, with the other flowers in the cluster developing afterwards. The blossom is made up of many small flowers cupped in bracts (large petal-like leaves) that can grow to 20 inches. Look carefully, and you can see delicate purple anthers sticking out of the trumpet-shaped flowers. This small detail is the finishing touch and its hallmark. Easy to grow, it likes a lot of light and prefers to become somewhat dry between watering. This unique, elegant plant won the title Favorite New Flowering Plant at the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition in 2012, and is now being called "the Rolls Royce of houseplants." Pink lantern (Medinilla magnifica) has replaced the hanging basket of orchids at the end of the Palm Allée in the Tropical Greenhouse.
	(Phaius tankervilliae 'Rabin's Raven') is commonly called nun's orchid because if you look into the throat of the flower, there appears to be a nun with her head bowed in prayer. This lovely terrestrial orchid is a robust plant that blooms with clusters of four to 12 fragrant blossoms; they are marked by burgundy or bronze on the lips, and brown petals that are creamy white on the reverse side. It displays its delightful flowers prominently above elongated, pleated leaves, on stalks that can be up to 6 feet tall. Relatively easy to grow, it clumps vigorously and is believed to be the largest of the Australian orchids. It is one of about 30 species of Phaius that grow from East Africa to Australia, and it has naturalized in some areas of Florida. This impressive plant likes well-drained soil in bright shade. Nun's orchid (Phaius tankervilliae 'Rabin's Raven') is in the Tropical Greenhouse near the west exit.

In Bloom in the Garden, February 22, 2013

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:00:05 EDT

Giant wild iris (Dietes grandiflora), a member of the Iridaceae family, has large white blossoms marked with yellow nectar guides and outer tepals (outer part of the flowers) and violet central segments. Dark markings are found at the base of the outer tepals. The flowers are held on erect, slender, 3-foot-long stems amid dark green, sword-shaped leaves held in a fan shape.

This perennial plant grows up to 5 feet in large clumps and blooms abundantly during the summer (in the southern hemisphere — winter in Chicago). Native to South Africa, it grows naturally along the eastern coastal areas of the southern and eastern capes, and southern Kwazulu-Natal, where it may be found at forest margins or in the shelter of taller shrubs on exposed slopes facing the sea. The plants prefer dappled shade to full sun, where they will flower in profusion. The individual flowers do not last more than a couple of days, but the plant bears many flowers during its peak bloom, attracting bees and other pollinators.

The name Dietes means "having two relatives" and grandiflora means "large flower." This plant is occasionally called the fairy iris because the fragile white petals not only look like fairy wings, but also have a tendency to disappear mysteriously overnight!

Giant wild iris (Dietes grandiflora) is blooming in the Semitropical Greenhouse near the carnivorous plant display.

	Begonia 'Lana', a member of the Begoniaceae family, is referred to as an angelwing cane begonia and is considered a variegated wonder. This grand superba-type cane was developed by Paul Lee in 1973. A tender perennial grown for its colorful flowers and foliage, its angel-winglike leaves appear even more delicate due to the grayish green variegation that runs the whole width and breadth of the leaves. The stem is canelike with evenly spaced nodes, and it branches readily. Long-lasting, dainty, brilliantly colored pink blossoms are brushed with white and yellow contrast. The very large inflorescences on plants up to 3 feet in height make it a real attention-getter. Most begonias can be grown outdoors in pots, in the ground, or in hanging baskets in filtered light and moist, but well-drained, soil. They also grow very well in peat-based compost. They like humidity but not cold weather, so they make wonderful, low-maintenance house plants. Begonias can be propagated from leaf, stem, or rhizome cuttings in addition to being sown from seed. Bush lily makes a spectacular indoor plant, due to its tolerance of low light levels and need for little to no water during the winter. Although it is one of those rare plants that actually blooms best if slightly potbound, its roots are perennial, and the plant resents root disturbance (which usually displays as a skipped flowering cycle). Angelwing cane begonia (Begonia 'Lana') is blooming at the south end of the Palm Allée in the Tropical Greenhouse.
	Heliconia psittacorum 'Lady Di', commonly called the parakeet flower, is an ever-blooming tropical plant that produces an abundance of bright flowers borne above clumps of lush, dark green, bananalike leaves. Bright red showy bracts (modified petal-like leaves) hold small, tubular flowers. Each true flower is white and has a dark spot at the end, which makes it look like a parrot's tongue. Native to the moist areas of the Lesser Antilles to northern South America, this vigorous broadleaf ornamental spreads by rhizomes. Hummingbirds enjoy its nectar and pollinate the blooms; the small drupe fruits that follow are blue-black. The plants reach a height of 2 to 5 feet with a spread of 3 to 5 feet and grow best in full sun to partial shade in organic-rich, evenly moist soil with good drainage. For best performance, they should be fertilized regularly. Established plants will tolerate short periods of drought, but this cold-sensitive species will quickly die if subjected to frost. In USDA Zones 9a and colder, it is used as a container plant and provides extensive color for a long period of time, as do the cut flowers. Parakeet flower (Heliconia psittacorum 'Lady Di') is in bloom at the west end of the Tropical Greenhouse.
	Bush lily (Clivia miniata 'Sir John Thouron') is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family. Unlike most amaryllids, however, Clivias do not form bulbs; instead they have large, fleshy, white and yellow roots. Their deep green leaves are two-ranked — arising from the soil directly opposite one another in an alternating sequence. Because they arch directly above one another, a mature plant develops a symmetrical, fan-shaped silhouette that provides a perfect foil for its masses of trumpet-shaped flowers. Native to damp woodlands in southern Africa, their habitat ranges from subtropical coastal forests to ravines in high-altitude forests, where they thrive in dappled shade in well drained, humus-rich soil. In their native habitat, they are often found in large colonies, but unfortunately, in many of those areas, colonies of wild bush lilies have been destroyed by harvesting for traditional medicine; the plants are extremely toxic to people and pets, but are used medicinally for various purposes. The world's love affair with Clivia began in 1854, when specimens were sent back to England from Kwazulu-Natal. The plant was named after the Duchess of Northumberland, Lady Charlotte Clive, who first cultivated and flowered the specimen in England. The 'Sir John Thouron' cultivar is valued for its showy, pale yellow flowers that form a ball-shaped umbrel well above its dark green leaves. The flowers are small versions of amaryllis blossoms, clustered atop a thick, fleshy stalk. To many collectors, this cultivar has become the plant world's Holy Grail. Originally discovered in the forests of Zululand in 1888, it was only eight years ago that White Flower Farms offered 36 plants for $950 each; all were sold out to a movie star, a fashion designer, and several collectors. (The cost has dropped since then.) Bush lilies make spectacular indoor plants, due to their tolerance of low light levels and the need for little to no water during the winter. They grow to a height of about 18 to 24 inches and emit a faint, but very sweet, perfume. Relatively easy to grow, they need a 6- to 8-week rest period in the winter. During this rest period, plants should be kept at 50 to 55 degrees F. and allowed to dry out. When a flower stalk begins to emerge in late winter, increase watering and move the plant to a warmer area. After danger of frost is past, plants can be placed outdoors in a shaded location. The soil should be kept uniformly moist and the plant fertilized every two weeks in spring and summer. Move the plant back indoors in fall. Although it is one of those rare plants that actually blooms best if slightly potbound, its roots are perennial, and the plant resents root disturbance (which usually displays as a skipped flowering cycle). Repot carefully in all-purpose potting soil only when roots can be seen at the surface of the soil, usually about every three years. Clivia miniata 'Sir John Thouron' is in the Arid Greenhouse, only a few feet away from the Clivia miniata featured last week.
	Turquoise puya (Puya alpestris) produces brilliant turquoise flowers accentuated by intensely orange anthers. Best grown in full sun with a very well-drained potting soil in low humidity, it takes years for a plant from seed to reach flowering size. To grow your own, foliar feed no more than one time per month at the lowest solution recommended. This particular accession was received as a small plant from the Huntington Botanical Garden in San Marino, California, in 1993, and has come into flower for the first time. You may be wondering how a bromeliad (air plant) can survive in a desert. In this case, the species is native to the high desert mountains of southern Chile, and obtains almost all of its water from the morning dews that briefly precipitate water before sunrise. The long, thin, arching leaves are protected by spines along the margin that discourage herbivores from taking a bite. Turquoise puya (Puya alpestris) is flowering in the Arid Greenhouse near the armadillo topiary.

In Bloom in the Garden, February 15, 2013

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:00:02 EDT

Cameron's Magnetism dwarf cattelya orchid (x Potinara Cameron's Magnetism) is a member of the Orchidaceae family. Potinara is a manmade genus created from several species of cattleya-type orchids. The genus consists of grandparents from Brassovola, Cattleya, Laelia, and Sophronitis. These varieties seem well suited for home culture, due to hybridization and their small size. It can easily be imagined that a combination of desirable qualities from a hybrid would be an outstandingly handsome thing, and many lovely combinations do occur in Potinara crosses. The beautifully colored Cameron's Magnetism is produced from the aurea form of Guarianthe aurantiaca; it blooms with lovely yellow-orange flowers.

Potinara orchids prefer the same general conditions as cattelya orchids, including partial sun in an eastern or western exposure, and high humidity. They are susceptible to root rot, so make sure to allow the potting medium to almost completely dry between waterings.

Cameron's Magnetism dwarf cattelya orchid (x Potinara Cameron's Magnetism) can be found low on the westernmost orchid tree (not in the banana belt), near the path.

	Bush lily (Clivia miniata) is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family native to damp woodlands in southern Africa, where they grow in the forests of Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and Swaziland. They do not occur naturally anywhere else. Their habitat ranges from subtropical coastal forests to ravines in high-altitude forests, where they thrive in dappled shade in well drained, humus-rich soil. In their native habitat, they are often found in large colonies and sometimes growing in the fork of a tree. The world's love affair with Clivia began in the 1800s, when specimens were sent back to England from Kwazulu-Natal. The plant was named after the Duchess of Northumberland, Lady Charlotte Clive, who first cultivated and flowered the specimen in England. Bush lilies grow to a height of about 18 to 24 inches with orangey/peachy, trumpet-shaped flowers that emit a faint, but very sweet, perfume. The foliage of this clump-forming perennial with its dark green, strap-shaped leaves arises from a fleshy underground stem, forming a perfect foil for its masses of beautifully colored flowers. Unfortunately, in many areas of its natural habitat, colonies of wild bush lilies have been destroyed by harvesting for traditional medicine; the plants are extremely toxic but are used medicinally for various purposes. Bush lily makes a spectacular indoor plant, due to its tolerance of low light levels and need for little to no water during the winter. Although it is one of those rare plants that actually blooms best if slightly potbound, its roots are perennial, and the plant resents root disturbance (which usually displays as a skipped flowering cycle). Bush lily (Clivia miniata) is in the Arid Greenhouse, by the southernmost door.
	Cape jasmine (Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore Pleno'), a member of the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family, is a showy tropical shrub with extremely fragrant, nocturnal, double white, 1.5-inch flowers with crimped or wavy corollas. Its glossy 6- by 2-inch leaves are elliptic and wavy-margined, colored mid- to dark green above and pale green beneath, and its many-branched foliage tends to grow almost parallel to the ground, giving the shrub an attractive horizontal aspect. The species name, divaricata, means "at an obtuse angle." A fast and easy grower, it reaches a height of 6 feet and a width of 5 to 8 feet. Native to parts of India, China, and Thailand, this plant thrives in full sun or partial shade, where temperatures are above 50 degrees in moist and fertile soil. Somewhat drought- and heat-tolerant, the cape jasmine is grown for its ornamental features and grows very well in containers. Like many members of the Apocynaceae family, the stems of cape jasmine exude a milky latex when broken. Cape jasmine (Tabernaemontana divaricata 'Flore Pleno') can be found in the Semitropical Greenhouse near the south door.
	Ecuador angel's trumpet (Brugmansia versicolor) is a large shrub or small tree that grows up to 15 feet tall and wide, bearing immense (12- to 20-inch), pendulous, peach-colored, heavenly scented flowers. A member of the Solanaceae (potato) family, it is a native of the Guayaquil Basin in Ecuador. It thrives in sun or shade with moderate watering and flowers perennially with the largest bloom of all the Brugmansia. This genus was initially grouped with Daturas by the famous botanist Carl Linné (who documented them in 1753 from a drawing and not from live plant material). In 1805, South African taxonomist Christiaan Hendrik Persoon created a separate genus for Brugmansia, but it was not until 1973 that Tom E. Lockwood created a final division between the two genera. Like the closely related Datura, Ecuador angel's trumpet is exceptionally poisonous if ingested in large quantities. It contains various alkaloids that have toxic properties which affect the mind and body. Some of these alkaloids include atropine and scopolamine. Whether swallowed or inhaled, the flowers, leaves, and seeds will most likely cause symptoms of hallucinations, dry mouth, muscle weakness, increased pulse and blood pressure, fever, dilated pupils, and paralysis. So enjoy this beautiful plant, but don't eat the flowers! Ecuador angel's trumpet (Brugmansia versicolor) can be found in the Tropical Greenhouse just east of the Palm Allée.
	Fantasy Valley Starburst epidendrum orchid (Epidendrum Fantasy Valley 'Starburst') is a reed-stem orchid with very showy, delicate, bright orange flowers. A member of the Orchidaceae family, it is native to the Western hemisphere, found from South Carolina to Argentina, where it grows in all sorts of locations, including humid jungles; dry tropical forests; sunny, grassy slopes; cool cloud forests; and sandy barrier islands. Many of this genus are relatively easy to grow in rich humus compost. In nature, species can be epiphytic (growing on tree trunks), terrestrial (growing in very loose well drained disturbed soils), or lithophytic (growing on rock). Fantasy Valley Starburst epidendrum orchid (Epidendrum Fantasy Valley 'Starburst') is planted in the soil on the west side of the Tropical Greenhouse.

In Bloom in the Garden, February 8, 2013

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:17:00 EDT

Bat plant (Tacca chantrieri) has deep purple, almost black bracts on tall, 20-inch flowering stems. The flowers, which can grow up to 10 inches long, superficially resemble a bat in flight with long whiskers. The foliage of this unusual-looking shade-loving plant resembles Spathiphyllum, and its color and odor attract bats and flies to achieve cross-pollination.

Tacca is a monotypic genus in the Taccadeae family, with a natural population range limited to Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. In some species, the flowers act as traps to ensure that flies crawl around the flowers enough to guarantee the transfer of pollen. Tubers from one species in this genus are used as a source of starch (Tahiti arrowroot), while the leaves of a second are used to make hats; a third has medicinal properties.

Bat plant (Tacca chantrieri) is blooming in the lower level of the Tropical Greenhouse.

	Aloe burgerfortensis is one of more than 200 species of aloe native to southern Africa, the island of Madagascar, and the Arabian peninsula. Given their genus name by Linnaeus in 1753, aloes have been known for thousands of years. Their images appear in bushman rock art, and the genus name derives from the Greek alsos, referring to the leaves' bitter sap. This succulent's unusual, brightly colored, downward-angled orange flowers, and attractive variegated foliage make it a stand-out. The waxy leaves have sunken pores that prevent water loss. Many aloes are used as ornamentals, while the juice of others is utilized in purgatives, for the treatment of boils, in shampoo and cosmetics, and for tanning leather. Aloe burgerfortensis is in the Arid Greenhouse, near the base of the ponytail palms.
	Flowering bush coleus (Plectranthus thyrsoideus) is a 35-inch shrubby perennial herb with fragrant foliage and tall spikes of blue flowers that are valued for being one of the rare "true blue" flowers. Its leaves are bright green on top and paler beneath, with coarsely toothed margins, and grow smaller toward the tops of the branches. A member of the Labiatae (mint) family, this genus contains 300 species found in the Old World and tropical regions. Other species are used in shampoo, medicine, and flavorings, as well as edible tubers and ornamentals. Classified earlier under the genus name Coleus (which is still in its common name), this genus was eventually split into two — Plectranthus and Solenostemon, the latter of which is the genus commonly found in our summer perennial gardens. Flowering bush coleus (Plectranthus thyrsoideus) blooms throughout the winter season in the Semitropical Greenhouse.
	Chirita (Chirita 'Aiko') is an interesting member of the African violet (Gesneriaceae) family, an excellent choice for the windowsill or light garden. A hybrid of C. eburnea and C. subrhomboidea, it reaches a compact height of 6 to 12 inches with yellow flower sprays clustered on the ends of the outreaching stems. The abundant, bright yellow flowers open one at a time from buds at the end of the flowering stalks, above medium green, quilted foliage. Grown in moist soil, it's a strong and vigorous plant appreciated both for blooming during the cooler months of the year and for remaining contained. The plant does not set seed and is propagated by leaf cuttings. Genus Chirita contains 77 species, all of which are native to the Indo-Malaysian region. Chirita 'Aiko' can be found growing in the Semitropical Greenhouse, tucked between the gardenia and walking iris.
	Blue Springs penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus var. purdyi 'Blue Springs') is a short-statured seasonal plant with almost luminous, intense blue-purple, bell-shaped flowers on short, 6- to 12-inch spikes with blue-green foliage. Much loved by hummingbirds and butterflies, its dense and compact growth habit reaches a maximum size of 14 inches in height and spread. Once established in full sun, it will live long and prosper in low fertility soil with little summer water. A superb choice for dry gardens and containers, this penstemon is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant. This genus contains 250 species, all native to the American west. Many of these herbaceous perennials and small woody shrubs are used as ornamentals. Blue Springs penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus var. purdyi 'Blue Springs') is at the far west end of the Arid Greenhouse.

In Bloom in the Garden, February 1, 2013

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:13:00 EDT

Tilt Head aloe (Aloe speciosa 'Tilt Head') is a tall, erect, handsome aloe that reaches a height of 9 to nearly 20 feet in height. The serrated leaves are pale bluish-green, often tinged pink at the tips and edges with small, red teeth. Dense cylindrical flower heads of red buds open greenish-white. This species is easy to distinguish, with its head of rosette leaves tilting to catch maximum amount of sunlight.

Each inflorescence is a short, cylindrical raceme (cluster) about 20 inches long, densely packed with flowers. The inflorescence is solitary, but one rosette can produce up to four inflorescences. The peduncle, or stalk, is short, and covered at the base by papery bracts. When the flowers open, the dark orange stamens and style protrude conspicuously from the tips of the flowers.

Tilt Head aloe's flowers are rich in nectar, attracting sunbirds, bees, butterflies, and ants. Aloe speciosa was named in the Journal of the Linnean Society in 1880. The name "speciosa" means "showy" in Latin, and refers to this aloe's striking floral display. Although no medicinal use of this aloe has been recorded, the leaves can be used to dye wool a delicate pink without the need for substances that set the dye on fabric. This plant thrives in sunny locations, in a fertile, sandy loam soil, and once established, it should be self-sustaining.

Tilt Head aloe (Aloe speciosa 'Tilt Head') is in the far northwestern corner of the Arid Greenhouse.

	Clerodendron quadriloculare, or shooting star, is a stunning subtropical shrub featuring pink-and-white balls of flowers from 6 to 10 inches across in winter. The foliage, to 6 inches in length, is greenish purple on the top of the leaf, and deep purple underneath. A member of Verbenaceae family, molecular data now suggests this genus is really more closely allied with the Lamiaceae, or mint, family. In subtropical climates this plant can reach 10 feet in height and be trained as a large shrub or a single-trunked small tree. If pruned back too hard, the plant responds by sending out root suckers that can be controlled by hand pulling (or by running over them with a lawnmower, as one gardener recommended). The distribution of this plant is odd, being found in the wilds in Africa and some of the islands in the Pacific — which raises the question of how it got to those two widely dispersed locations without any populations in the intervening countries. Shooting star (Clerodendron quadriloculare) is in the south corner of the Semitropical Greenhouse.
	Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii splendens) is a slow-growing plant with a rambling growth habit, whose individual plants can grow to 3 feet by 3 feet. Its five- to six-sided fleshy, thorny stems are adorned with short, oblong leaves. The flowers — yellow cyathia enclosed by red bracts — require full sun and moderate temperatures, and low humidity. It's a perfect addition to the desert garden. The name of this plant is from the Latin euphorbea for Euphorbius, a Greek physician in 1 A.D. who used the sap medicinally. The milky latex sap of this Madagascar native "bleeds" when stems are cut, and can be stopped by immersing in warm water. The Euphorbiaceae are a very large genus, containing more than 2,000 species, including the popular poinsettia. Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii var. splendens) is in the Arid Greenhouse.
	Roy Tokunaga orchid (Dendrobium Roy Tokunaga) is a cross between Dendrobium johnsoniae and Dendrobium atroviolaceum, and its main feature is an incredibly long bloom time: it begins to flower in November, and continues blooming for close to six months. This Latouria, or New Guinea-type orchid, is white with dark purple nectar guides. Like most Latouria orchids, Roy Tokunaga requires a brightly lit environment (not direct sunlight) with relatively high humidity, and it must be kept well-watered, but not soggy. This host of requirements can make this particular dendrobium a challenge for Chicago-area homeowners. Roy Tokunaga orchid (Dendrobium Roy Tokunaga) is on the easternmost orchid tree in the Tropical Greenhouse.
	Satin Doll orchid (Brassolaelia Sea Urchin 'Satin Doll') is the darkest cultivar of this primary hybrid of Laelia anceps and Brassovola glauca. It's a very free-flowering plant with an occasional off-season spike. Lightly fragrant, it is temperature-tolerant and begins blooming during November and December. Northern orchid growers particularly appreciate the lower costs associated with keeping this orchid "warm enough" in their greenhouses during Chicago winters. Satin Doll orchid (Brassolaelia Sea Urchin 'Satin Doll') is on the westernmost orchid tree in the Tropical Greenhouse.

In Bloom in the Garden, January 25, 2013

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:55:00 EDT

x Citrofortunella mitis is commonly known as calamondin orange, and as the "x" in front of the genus name denotes, it is a hybrid between species in two different genera — an oddity in the plant world. Citrus reticulata (a tangerine) was crossed with Fortunella margarita (the Nagami kumquat) to create a small fruited hybrid with a loose skin and very bitter pulp, whose juice can be used like lemon or lime juice. This hybrid of Philippine origin can survive a few degrees of frost, which is why it is featured in the Semitropical Greenhouse.

All types of citrus grow best in full sun and warm temperatures. Flowers are typically pollinated by honey bees, and the resulting orange blossom-scented honey is highly prized. Somewhat drought-tolerant once established, calamondin oranges will need frequent watering if grown in containers.

Calamondin orange (x Citrofortunella mitis) can be found in the Semitropical Greenhouse.

	Rondeletia leucophylla is often sold under the name of Panama rose, even though it is actually a native of Chiapas, Mexico. This bushy, large shrub produces masses of pink flowers virtually all year when planted in the ground in a conservatory. Both hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the flowers, which, interestingly, don't become fragrant until after the sun goes down — suggesting that it may be pollinated by moths as well. Panama rose can be grown as a container plant, or in the ground in a frost-free conservatory. Grow in full sun in a setting with moderate moisture. Panama rose (Rondeletia leucophylla) is in the Tropical Greenhouse near the date palm.
	Pink Sapphire No. 4 orchid (Dendrobium Burana 'Pink Sapphire No. 4') produces spikes of brilliantly colored pink flowers in winter. This cultivar is one of the 'cane orchids' that produce thickened pseudobulbs whose leaves sometimes drop before the flower spike begins to grow from near the end of the cane. The genus Dendrobium is one of the easiest for Chicago-area gardeners to successfully grow and reflower in their homes. Grow indoors in bright light, in a free-draining media (pumice, coarse bark, or orchid potting soil), and water two to three times per week. Pink Sapphire No. 4 orchid (Dendrobium Burana 'Pink Sapphire No. 4') is in the Tropical Greenhouse, on the east orchid tree, near the bananas.
	Cutleaf acacia (Acacia cultriformis) produces brilliant golden clusters of flowers from the terminal (tip) and axillary (side) buds in late winter/early spring. The leaves are solid, not divided (unlike most acacias) and are an attractive glaucus (bluish cast). This acacia requires full sun and well-drained soils in a frost free climate, and dislikes transplanting, so young seedlings should be moved to their final location in the garden or in containers early. Like other members of the pea family, this species plays host to microorganisms that return the favor of a free meal by making atmospheric nitrogen available to the acacia. This plant is used regionally to make honey; acacia honey is a bit darker than clover honey, but it has a fragrance that is highly desirable. Cutleaf acacia (Acacia cultriformis) is in the Arid Greenhouse, behind the agaves.
	During what is winter in North America, spider aloe (Aloe x spinosissima) produces a profusion of unbranched spikes of brilliant orange-red flowers — a favorite of hummingbirds in its native growing region of South Africa. This hybrid will tolerate temperatures down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit for short periods of time, but it grows best in full sun, in frost-free environments with well-drained soils. The specific epithet of this cultivar refers to the abundance of blunt-tipped spines along the leaf edge. Spider aloe (Aloe x spinosissima) is in the Arid Greenhouse near the base of the Saguaro cactus.

In Bloom in the Garden, January 18, 2013

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:31:00 EDT

What's in Bloom — Highlight 01.18.13

Up to four times a year, the blue Vanda orchid (Vanda caerulea) produces very showy terminal spikes bearing large bluish-purple flowers. Northern gardeners like this species. It can thrive at much lower temperatures than many other showy orchids typically can, because it is native to the Himalayan foothills, from Assam east to China and Vietnam.

In the wild, this species grows on large, deciduous trees — primarily oak. It is listed as "vulnerable" on the Convention on the International Trade in Species (CITES) Appendix II, due to loss of habitat. The native oaks upon which it thrives are cut down to produce charcoal. And the orchids are harvested directly from the wild for sale.

Blue Vanda orchid (Vanda caerulea) is at the top of the easternmost orchid tree, near the bananas in the Tropical Greenhouse.

	Kalanchoe beharensis is known as felt bush because of the heavy covering of indumentum (hairs) on all surfaces of the large, triangular leaves. This species is native to some of the drier parts of the island of Madagascar, where the indumentum helps retain moisture during drying winds while also reflectiing some of the intensive tropical sunlight. The terminal flower clusters are very rarely seen in cultivation. Pale green flowers are marked with maroon nectar guides that direct pollinating insects to the nectaries — and past the pollen that sticks to the insect until it rubs it off on the next plant it visits. Felt bush (Kalanchoe beharensis) can be found in the Arid Greenhouse.
	x Miltassia Charles M. Fitch 'Hilo Triple Lip' is a unique cultivar with two of the upright petals modified to resemble the lower lip. The petals are mottled lavender and purple on an olive green background — an elegant combination. Like other tropical orchids, this plant grows best in warm temperatures, bright light, and high humidity in perfectly drained soils or mounted on a bark slab. The late George Izumi crossed Brassia verucossa with Miltonia spectabilis to create the hybrid genera known as x Miltoniopsis. These wide crosses between two different genera can result in very different characteristics of each of the surviving seedlings. One cross was particularly beautiful and was given the grex name (referring to all of the seedlings from this one cross) in honor of Charles M. Fitch. One seedling out of the batch exhibited this very unique flower morphology (shape) and was given the cultivar name of 'Hilo Triple Lip'. x Miltassia Charles M. Fitch 'Hilo Triple Lip' is in the Tropical Greenhouse, on the lower-level orchid tree, next to the Princess of Wales orchids.
	Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) is a rare find in U.S. botanical gardens. Aside from the Chicago Botanic Garden, only the Fairchild Botanical Gardens, south of Miami, Florida, and the Waimea Botanic Gardens in Hawaii have this interesting plant. The unusual color of the jade vine's blooms is the result of pigments in two different color classes being modified by high pH in the sap of the stems. Native to the Philippines, only old, mature plants produce flowers. Jade vine is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae) and is bat-pollinated in the wild. The brilliantly colored, oddly shaped flowers are adapted for bats to hang upside down and sip the nectar within. Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) is at the entrance to the Tropical Greenhouse.
	Whitfieldia elongata is commonly called White Candles for its never-ending display of 2- to 3-inch pure white flowers surrounded by a petaloid calyx. Glossy leaves with prominent drip tips are all indicative of its origins in tropical rainforests. In cultivation it requires relatively warm temperatures and high humidity, and grows equally well in a large container or planted in the soil of a conservatory. Bright light is preferable. This genus was named in honor of T. Whitfield, a nineteenth-century collector of African plants. The species was discovered by the intrepid explorer Vogel in a region known as Fernando Po in equatorial Guinea. Its range extends across much of equatorial West Africa. White candles (Whitfieldia elongata) are in the Semitropical Greenhouse, near the checkerboards.

In Bloom in the Garden, January 11, 2013

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:20:00 EDT

Salm Dyck aloe (Aloe salm-dyckiana) was given a species name early in the eighteenth century, before it was recognized — thanks to DNA analysis — as representing a hybrid swarm* between Aloe ferox and Aloe arborescens. Individual plants can have flowers of deep scarlet, tangerine, orange, or a combination of orange and yellow, depending on what part of the hybrid swarm they descend from.

Aloes require low humidity and deep, well-drained soils. Some of the smaller-maturing species make exceptional container plants, but this species matures at 8 to 10 feet in height and produces enormous, branched, candelabralike inflorescences. Unfortunately, this plant requires a container too large and heavy for most Chicago-area gardeners to move indoors in the fall to escape winter's freezing temperatures.

*A hybrid swarm is a variable local population at the junction of the range of two interfertile species or subspecies resulting from extensive interbreeding and hybridization.

Salm Dyck aloe (Aloe salm-dyckiana) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

Juanulloa aurantica, frequently sold as the gold finger plant, continuously produces long, orange bracts enclosing a salmon-colored flower at the tips of each branch. A semi-epiphyte, aerial roots originating from the stems help this plant cling to the trunks of trees from Mexico south to Chile.

Maturing at 4 feet by 4 feet in size, this plant is easily adapted to container culture. Grow outdoors during the frost-free season in full sun with a little afternoon shade. Once temperatures start to cool, bring it indoors into a brightly lit room. If the light levels are too low, the plant may enter dormancy and drop leaves. As new growth appears towards the end of winter, place the plant in the brightest light available until the danger of frost has past.

Gold finger plant (Juanulloa aurantica) is in the Tropical Greenhouse.

African glory bower (Clerodendrum splendens) climbs up to 10 feet in height by twining around a support. The tips of the branches are graced with a large number of scarlet red flowers, forming a spectacular sight. This native of tropical West Africa begins to flower as soon as the days start to lengthen in late December, and continues until sometime in May.

This plant adapts well to the home environment, requiring only a brightly lit exposure and temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. After flowering, reduce the length of the stems to keep the plant within a manageable size.

African glory bower (Clerodendrum splendens) is in the Temperate Greenhouse.

Aloe ferox is called bitter aloe in its native South Africa. A large plant with broad, bold foliage, the candelabralike spikes feature flowers that are tightly held against the flowering stem, unlike many of its cousins. The plant's sap is used internally as a laxative and externally as a treatment for skin ailments, similar to Aloe vera.

All members of this genus are protected by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This international agreement regulates the international trade in plants and plant products to ensure that harvest activities do not drive the species to extinction.

Bitter aloe (Aloe ferox) is on the south side of the Arid Greenhouse near the entrance.

A large shrub or small tree, pinkball dombeya (Dombeya wallichii) features rounded, hanging clusters of flowers 4 to 6 inches across. Native to East Africa and Madagascar, the genus is a highly sought-after ornamental in USDA Zones 9 and warmer.

The genus name celebrates the French physician, botanist, and explorer Joseph Dombey. Under the auspices of the French crown, he undertook plant explorations in South America in the eighteenth century. The British seized Dombey's first shipment of specimens, including valuable notes on Cinchona, the source of quinine. The Peruvian government admired the color prints he commissioned, seized them, and turned them over to two Spanish botanists who were working on the flora of Panama. On Dombey's return trip to France, his ship was diverted to Spain, where remaining specimens were seized and he was thrown into jail until he agreed not to publish his notes until after the Spanish botanists published their Panamanian flora. Dombey's acquiescence to the Spanish demands led him back to France, where he was commissioned to collect plants in the United States. Enroute, his ship was captured by privateers, and the intrepid Dombey died in captivity in Monserrat. Dombey's collections are highly valued parts of British, Spanish, and French herbaria; his name has been used by his fellow botanists to commemorate this beautiful genus of flowering shrubs and several species of South American trees and perennials.

The species name celebrates Danish physician and botanist Nathaniel Wallich. Dr. Wallich was in the Danish colony at Serampore in India when it was taken over by the British as a result of Denmark's support for France during the Napoleonic Wars. Due to his education, Dr. Wallich was released from prison and continued to work in India under the auspices of the East India Company. He helped establish Assam as a primary tea-growing area, created the first European Museum of Indian art, and helped found the Calcutta Botanical Garden.

Pinkball dombeya (Dombeya wallichii) is growing in the Temperate Greenhouse against the north wall.

In Bloom in the Garden, January 4, 2013

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:00:05 EDT

Red Streak terrestrial orchid (x Phaiocalanthe Kryptonite 'Red Streak') was created by fourth-generation orchid grower George Hausermann of E.F.G. Orchids in Deland, Florida, by hybridizing Calanthe 'Rozel' with Phaius tankervilleae. The resulting hybrid is a compact plant that features multiple flower spikes, producing a total of up to 25 flowers at a time. The white buds open to reveal pink petals and a dark red throat.

Terrestrial orchids are orchids that grow in the ground in soil. This cultivar requires a long, hot, moist growing season followed by a cooler, dryer — but not bone-dry — dormancy in order to flower.

Red Streak terrestrial orchid (x Phaiocalanthe Kryptonite 'Red Streak') is in the Tropical Greenhouse, at the overlook.

Red Pearl lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea 'Red Pearl') is one of the more creative plant choices used in holiday displays. The small, glossy evergreen leaves create the perfect backdrop for the ruby-red fruit.

This lingonberry requires acidic soils with a large mixture of sand and peat moss for best growth, but its light needs are not as strict, and it grows well in full sun or partial shade. Small, upright, lateral branches near the center of the plant produce most of the flowers and fruit, while the low-lying horizontal branches rapidly expand the plant's footprint.

Red Pearl lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea 'Red Pearl') is in the Greenhouse Gallery.

The single-leaf pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla) is native to pinyon-juniper woodlands at moderate elevations from Nevada south to Baja, California, and east to the Sierra Madre Occidentale in north-central Mexico. It is unique among pine trees in that it produces a single needle per fascicle, in comparison with other species that produce two, three, five, or more needles at each fascicle. Despite living in semiarid climates, the trees can be long-lived, with the oldest known specimen celebrating a birthday sometime in 1106 A.D.

In the Chicago area, plant this pine in sandy soils on high ground, or on well-drained slopes.

Single-leaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla) can be found behind the bungalows in the Wonderland Express exhibition in Nichols Hall.

When grown in full sun and given frost-free conditions, white scarlet plume (Euphorbia fulgens 'Alba') displays creamy white flowers throughout the winter. These flowers are produced at the nodes all along the wandlike stems.

A native of Mexico, this deciduous shrub can reach up to 6.5 feet in height and width. The flowers are visited by native Mexican pollinating insects, and the milky sap deters deer browsing. When handling euphorbia, it is advisable to wear gloves, as the sap is also a skin irritant and can cause a nasty rash.

White scarlet plume (Euphorbia fulgens 'Alba') is in the Greenhouse Gallery, Nichols Hall, and the Greenhouses.

Ashfield Weeper Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis 'Ashfield Weeper') will grow only as high as it is staked. When staked, the lateral branches are gracefully pendulous. If left unstaked, this cultivar can be used as a ground cover, and it is particularly effective if allowed to cascade over retaining walls. Like all hemlocks, it prefers acidic, sandy soils and protection from winter winds.

Ashfield Weeper Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis 'Ashfield Weeper') can be found next to the Chicago Water Tower in the Wonderland Express exhibition in Nichols Hall.

In Bloom in the Garden, December 28, 2012

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 09:00:05 EDT

Miss Alice™ paper flower (Bougainvillea 'Singapore White') is a low-thorn cultivar covered in exceptionally large white bracts (often mistaken as flowers) throughout the winter months. In locations with low humidity and lots of sun, this bouganvillea can be coaxed to bloom year-round.

With a compact (maturing at 4 feet in height and width) and slow-growing habit, this plant makes a great specimen in a large container if Chicago area homeowners have a frost free, sunny location in which to site it. The Garden's Miss Alice™ paper flower is being trained to cover a low fence surrounding the checkerboard in the Temperate Greenhouse.

Bougainvilleas are almost entirely pest-free and have very low watering needs, making them a great pick for a larger container plant.

Miss Alice™ paper flower (Bougainvillea 'Singapore White') is in the Temperate Greenhouse.

Karl Gottling pansy orchid (Miltoniopsis Lennart Karl Gottling) is descended from species adapted to cool, high-elevation rainforests, so while it can't tolerate freezing temperatures, it also suffers in hot temperatures — making this genus very challenging for most gardeners to grow. Large, pansylike flowers feature a central burgandy blotch outlined in white on a deep-fuchsia bloom.

Karl Gottling pansy orchid (Miltoniopsis Lennart Karl Gottling) can be found in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Rhapsody Clementine African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha 'Rhapsody Clementine') flowers virtually all year and is valued for pale blue flowers that contrast with the dark green foliage. African violets make long-lived house plants when grown on windowsills or under artificial lights. Moisture-retentive but well drained soils are required.

This is one of the cultivars specifically developed for the NASA space program plant evaluation trials. It is truly a special holiday season when we have a plant with extraterrestrial aspirations featured in Wonderland Express!

Rhapsody Clementine African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha 'Rhapsody Clementine') is in the Greenhouse Gallery and Wonderland Express.

Prestige Red poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Prestige Red') has among the largest bracts of any of the poinsettia cultivars available this holiday season. It was rated among the best of the traditional red poinsettias in consumer preference tests conducted at Purdue University, North Carolina State University, and the University of Florida.

Prestige Red poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Prestige Red') is arranged in hanging balls in the Temperate Greenhouse.

Pendula Nootka cypress (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula') is a statuesque evergreen addition to the Chicago landscape. Gracefully pendulous lateral branches fold out from a central trunk. Taxonomists have argued over which genus this plant should correctly be placed in. By any name, this plant makes a strong focal point in the landscape.

Pendula Nootka cypress (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula') can be found in Nichols Hall, behind the Chicago Theatre sign in Wonderland Express.

In Bloom in the Garden, December 21, 2012

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:00:04 EDT

Timothy Christopher moth orchid (Phalaenopsis 'Timothy Christopher') produces multiple spikes throughout the winter, each carrying dozens of yellow-lipped white flowers. This flowering characteristic is described as "floribunda type" by orchid growers. 'Timothy Christopher' has been used extensively in breeding work to create moth orchids with a large number of flowers that open simultaneously.

Moth orchids are among the easiest orchids to adapt to growing conditions found within Chicago-area homes. The large white flowers are a remarkably accurate mimic of a large white female moth native to southeastern Asia. Almost all orchid flowers depend upon insects to pollinate their flowers, and that is the reason this plant family has so many unusual and distinctive flower petal shapes, sizes, and coloration patterns.

Grow moth orchids in a well-lit room with the pot resting on a bed of gravel to hold water, increasing the humidity immediately around the plant. Repot the plant immediately after flowering is completed (in late winter to early spring) using a very well-drained soil mix composed primarily of bark, volcanic pumice, and charcoal.

Timothy Christopher moth orchid (Phalaenopsis 'Timothy Christopher') is arranged in the small hanging balls in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Barbara Karst bougainvillea (Bougainvillea x buttiana 'Barbara Karst') is a strong, upright-growing, woody tropical vine that features masses of pink bracts tinted with apricot and red whenever the soil is relatively dry. This plant can be kept in a container for years, rotating indoors during the winter months into a bright lighted window for continuing bloom.

Barbara Karst bougainvillea (Bougainvillea x buttiana 'Barbara Karst') is growing in the Temperate Greenhouse, south section, against the wall.

Sequoiadendron giganteum 'Von Martin' is a dwarf form of the giant redwoods of California. About 6 to 7 feet tall, our specimens display a perfect pyramidal growth habit — no pruning is necessary! Excellent lateral branching creates a dense green canopy without the necessity of shearing or pruning.

Surprisingly, a small specimen of giant redwood has survived several winters in the Model Railroad Garden. Could this species be hardier than suspected?

Von Martin dwarf giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum 'Von Martin') can be found in Nichols Hall behind the bungalows in Wonderland Express.

Forever Midi Red™ kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana 'Aroi') is covered in deep red blooms that do not fade throughout the winter season. A native of drier regions of southern Africa, this plant is well adapted to the low humidity found in most homes during the winter. If provided with bright light, this species has been known to be a very long-lived container plant.

Forever Midi Red™ kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana 'Aroi') can be found throughout Wonderland Express.

During the winter months, Charity Oregon grape holly (Mahonia x media 'Charity') produces an explosion of sprays of golden-yellow flowers at the tip of each compound stem of blue-green, pinnate leaves. Its bluish-purple berries are very attractive in fall, and a favorite of birds. Unfortunately, it is not hardy enough to be grown outdoors in the Chicago region.

Charity Oregon grape holly (Mahonia x media 'Charity') is in the Temperate Greenhouse.

In Bloom in the Garden, December 17

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:06 EDT

Red Lion amaryllis (Hippeastrum 'Red Lion') produces up to three flower spikes in succession from each large bulb. Each of the flower spikes carries between four and five flowers, and each of the scarlet-red flowers measures over 8 inches in diameter. Amaryllis are a distinctive choice of traditional holiday flower, and provide an extended bloom period.

Amaryllis (the old genera name that is now used as the common name for this group of plants) are native to frost-free regions of South America, and they make wonderful container plants for Chicago-area gardeners. Once the last of the blooms has faded, continue to water and fertilize the bulb (with diluted levels once a week) until it is safe to plant tomatoes outdoors. Move the container outside in bright light and let it continue to grow throughout the summer. Once fall approaches, reduce water to encourage the plant to go dormant (the leaves will droop and turn yellow), and store in a frost free, dry location. Six weeks after entering dormancy, the plant can be brought back into a sunny location and watered. Once the bloom spikes start to emerge, gradually increase watering. Flowering typically begins about six weeks after it has been watered.

Red Lion amaryllis (Hippeastrum 'Red Lion') is in the Tropical Greenhouse palm allée.

Aeschynanthus radicans is also known as the lipstick plant. This relative of African violets makes a beautiful hanging basket around the holiday season with its dark green foliage and long, bright-red, tubular flowers. Grow indoors under bright light in African violet potting soil. Siting this plant in a hanging basket or tall container will accentuate the long, pendulous stems on which the flowers are borne.

This species grows as an epiphyte near the top of old-growth tropical trees in Malaysia and Java. A waxy cuticle on the leaves prevents dessication during the dry season — it also helps the plant survive the relatively low humidity levels in Chicago-area homes during the winter months.

Lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) can be found in the hanging baskets in the Temperate Greenhouse.

The Madagascar native crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii var. sonorae) blooms in masses of bright pink flowers throughout the winter. Its succulent stems are armed with thorns and its sap with distasteful chemicals, both of which discourage herbivores from feeding on the tissues. Grown indoors on bright windowsills with almost no water during the summer, this long-lived plant continues to reward such inattention with masses of blooms.

Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii var. sonorae) can be found near the saguaro cactus in the Arid Greenhouse.

Jack Frost® calla lily (Zantedeschia 'NZPV2894') produces chalices of pure white flowers with a light citrus scent during the winter months. Often used as a cut flower, this freeze-sensitive, long-lived bulb can also be grown in containers to provide color during the holiday season. Bright light in the winter is key to keeping this plant alive for years. In summer, place the container in a lightly shaded environment to avoid leaf scorch.

Jack Frost® calla lily (Zantedeschia 'NZPV2894') is in the Greenhouse Gallery.

Gold Coast® English holly (Ilex aquifolium 'Monvila') provides the quintessential holly for a holiday-season arrangment. This cultivar features the typical scalloped dark green leaves, but bordered in gold. The male cultivar doesn't produce fruit, but is a great pollinator for any female holly plants that might be around. Unfortunately, English hollies are not reliably hardy in the Chicago area. For gardeners who love a challenge, the locations most amenable to growing this plant outdoors are sandy ridges protected by a wind brake of mature trees on a slope (for good air movement).

Gold Coast® English holly (Ilex aquifolium 'Monvila') is in the main Wonderland Express exhibition hall.

In Bloom in the Garden, December 7, 2012

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:00:02 EDT

The white form of this Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum thyrsioides 'Chesapeake Snowflake') is quite rare in nature. Dense heads of long-lasting, pure white flowers sit atop a sturdy 10-inch scape. This cultivar contrasts brilliant white petals with very dark-colored anthers and stigma.

Chesapeake Snowflake Star of Bethlehem is native to South Africa and is in the same plant family as hyacinths. It is not reliably hardy outdoors in the Chicago area, and is best grown as a seasonal bulb to add contrast in holiday container plantings.

Ornithogalum thyrsioides 'Chesapeake Snowflake' can be found in the window boxes in the Greenhouse Gallery.

MarbleStar poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'MarbleStar') features salmon-pink bracts edged in cream. The ultimate size of the plant depends on the size of pot it is grown in and the growth regulators applied by the growers to control height. Growers "pinch" or remove the tip of the rooted cutting to encourage branching that produces a bushier plant. Place plants in a sunny location and avoid overwatering or cold drafts.

In the wild in Mexico, this species can reach 12 feet in height, but it is rarely as bushy or well-branched as greenhouse-grown plants.

MarbleStar poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'MarbleStar') is in the Wonderland Express exhibition.

Winter Rose™ Eggnog™ poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'PER1125') is noted for pink-tinged, ivory-white, recurved and puckered flower bracts borne on sturdy, upright stems. Grow in full sun and water whenever the leaves begin to wilt and the soil is dry. Poinsettias are infamous for wilting if the soils are too wet, so test the moisture content of the pot before adding more water.

Winter Rose™ Eggnog™ poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'PER1125') can be found on the south side of the Temperate Greenhouse.

Starting in late fall and continuing through the following summer, large, luminous white petals on tall flowering spikes adorn a wide range of cultivars of the moth orchid (Phalaenopsis). These orchids are among the most amenable to home culture and thrive if provided with a sunny location free of cold drafts. The roots are very sensitive to standing water (deadly to an orchid), so make sure all of the water has an opportunity to freely drain through the soil media.

Mixed white moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) cultivars are arranged in a spectacular large hanging ball at end of the palm allée in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Strand aloe (Aloe thraskii) lights up the Arid Greenhouse in winter with candelabralike inflorescences of yellow flowers with bright orange stamens. Featured last year as well, this tall, spectacular species is native to the strand, or sand dunes, along the eastern coast of South Africa. The mature height of this cultivar is about 10 feet when grown in the ground, in a frost-free climate.

Strand aloe (Aloe thraskii) is at the south end of the Arid Greenhouse.

In Bloom in the Garden, November 30, 2012

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:02:00 EDT

A statuesque, upright, urn-shaped plant, variegated smooth agave or dwarf century plant (Agave desmettiana 'Variegata') displays succulent green leaves edged in bright yellow, making the plant look backlit by golden sunlight no matter where it is sited. Unlike most agaves the leaf edges are smooth, although care must still be taken near this plant — the leaf tips have sharp, reddish-brown spines.

This year we can announce a spectacular display in our greenhouses: the agave is blooming! Every 10 to 15 years Agave desmettiana produces yellow flowers on tall spikes growing to 8 feet in height. As the stalk matures and blooms, it turns bright red. Agaves are monocarpic, which means that at the end of the bloom cycle the agave dies — but not before leaving many new offspring.

Two specimens of Agave desmettiana 'Variegata' can be found in the West Greenhouse — one in flower, and the other in bud.

Poinsettia abound in Wonderland Express! Eleven cultivars featured in the exhibit this year come from breeders in the United States, Central America, and Europe. Our cultivars come in a combination of traditional red (with traditionally shaped bracts) and unique color combinations, including orange-red; red with white dots; pink; pale pink; pink and white; and pure white.

In 2011, 34.7 million poinsettias were grown, primarily in 15 states, with a retail value exceeding $250 million.

Go on a poinsettia hunt this week and see if you can find our four featured cultivars!

Maren™ poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima '9,336') has traditionally shaped salmon-pink bracts and leaves. The bracts of this cultivar will turn pink when grown in warm greenhouses. This is a good midseason poinsettia cultivar to perk up a holiday display.

Maren™ poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima '9,336') is in the North Greenhouse Gallery at the base of the walls with the window decorations.

Euphorbia pulcherrima 'PER975' is known as Visions of Grandeur™ in the retail market. It features large bracts of baby pink to white throughout the holiday season.

Visions of Grandeur™ poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'PER975') is in the center of the gingerbread exhibit in Joutras Gallery.

Eckespoint® Primero™ poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Red Glitter') is a member of the Jingle Bell group, which display deep red bracts randomly punctuated by white spots and splotches. Jingle Bell poinsettias all possess either a red or pink background color with contrasting spots/splotches of white or pink. Growers using more than one cutting per pot closely examine the leaf petioles of this cultivar at the time of planting (when the leaves are still green). Leaf petioles — the stem connecting the leaf to the trunk — that have the same amount of striping will produce a uniform finished pot.

Eckespoint® Primero™ poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Red Glitter') can be found in the main Wonderland Express exhibit.

Euphorbia pulcherrima 'PER1124' is sold under the name Winter Rose™ Peppermint Twist™ poinsettia. This cultivar features pink red bracts with small red dots. The bracts are puckered and recurved, a characteristic of all of the cultivars in the WINTER ROSE™ series.

Winter Rose™ Peppermint Twist™ poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'PER1124') is in the East Greenhouse.

In Bloom in the Garden, November 23, 2012

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 09:00:03 EDT

Borneo Sunset pagoda flower (Clerodendron paniculata 'Borneo Sunset') is a large, tropical perennial with reddish-bronze foliage. It produces large inflorescences of red-orange flowers at the tips of its branches during the winter months in Chicago inside a greenhouse, but it flowers outside year-round in warm climates. This plant is the perfect choice for homeowners looking for something slightly different during the holiday season. When planted in a conservatory or greenhouse, this fast-growing 3-foot-tall by 3-foot-wide tropical shrub flowers best in full to partial sunlight and moist, well-drained soils.

Borneo Sunset pagoda flower (Clerodendron paniculata 'Borneo Sunset') can be found in the South Greenhouse east of the palm allée.

Ardie bromeliad (Neoregelia 'Ardie') features broad white leaves with green stripes and margins. The small flowers are produced in a center cup formed by the leaves merging at the base of the plant. When the plant comes in to flower, the leaf bases turn brilliant red to signal to pollinators the availability of nectar.

Ardie bromeliad (Neoregelia 'Ardie') can be found displayed as two "Christmas trees" in the corners of the Greenhouse galleries.

Cortez® Electric Fire poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Fiscor Electric') produces orange-red bracts, a marked contrast to traditional dark red poinsettias. Poinsettias respond to changing day lengths to initiate flowering. In commercial applications, growers shade and/or supply additional light in order to bring them into flower for the Christmas season.

Cortez® Electric Fire poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Fiscor Electric') can be found in the East Greenhouse.

Featuring extra-large flowers of dark red with a brilliant green splotch, Welcome Home euphorbia (Euphorbia x lomi 'Welcome Home') is one of a new series of hybrid euphorbias created by horticulturists in Thailand when they hybridized Euphorbia lophogona with Euphorbia millii and selected for seedlings with larger flowers (actually, the colorful parts are botanically described as bracts). The parental species are also displayed in the West Greenhouse and offer a rare opportunity for visitors to compare the improved hybrid with both parents. Grow this species under conditions recommended for cacti and succulents.

Welcome Home euphorbia (Euphorbia x lomi 'Welcome Home') is in the south section of the West Greenhouse.

Candle Light White poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Candle Light White') was developed for greater longevity under the low light and dry atmospheric conditions found in most homes in the winter months. Its creamy white bracts provide a striking alternative to the traditional red poinsettia.

Candle Light White poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Candle Light White') can be found in the North Greenhouse Gallery central display.

In Bloom in the Garden, November 16, 2012

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:05:00 EDT

At 3 feet in height with a 6-foot spread, Compacta Korean azalea (Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense 'Compacta') makes a wonderful addition to the garden for azalea lovers working with smaller spaces. Early spring flowers range from rose to lilac-lavender and literally cover the entire surface of the shrub. The dark green, semievergreen foliage turns purple, then red, in the fall. To successfully grow rhododendrons in the Chicago area, gardeners must modify the soil to increase acidity and improve the moisture-retention capacity. This typically involves the addition of peat moss and powdered sulfur.

Like other plants native to Korea, this species is winter hardy in many parts of the Upper Midwest, including the Chicago region. The cultivar is a hybrid of the straight species (yedoense) and the naturally occurring regional variant (var. poukhanense).

Compacta Korean azalea (Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense 'Compacta') is in the Japanese Garden.

Hook's #15 crabapple (Malus 'Hook's #15') grows into a small tree ideal for smaller home landscapes. Fragrant white to pale pink flowers in spring develop into golden-yellow crabapples at season's end.

A grand, large Hook's #15 crabapple (Malus 'Hook's #15') can be found near the triangle fountain in the Landscape Garden.

Dallas Blues switchgrass (Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues') features powder-blue foliage to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide that turns a russet- golden color in fall. The mauve flower heads that appear in midsummer can reach 2 feet across and mature to reddish purple in fall before going to seed. Plant in full sun, in average soils, and ensure supplemental water during establishment or droughts.

Dallas Blues switchgrass (Panicum virgatum 'Dallas Blues') can be found on either side of the eastern path to Evening Island.

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo' goes by the common name of Diablo® eastern ninebark, and it has attractive characteristics in all four seasons. Burgundy foliage in spring and summer is the perfect backdrop for the blush-white flowers that turn into red berries in late summer and early fall. The early frosts of fall bring out reddish tints in the leaves, and in winter, after the leaves have dropped, the attractive exfoliating bark on the main trunk is revealed.

Diablo® eastern ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo') can be found on the left side of the north path, on the lower level of the Waterfall Garden.

Royo red cedar (Juniperus virginiana 'Royo') is a low-growing, spreading plant featuring silvery foliage in fall and winter accented with pale blue fruit. Plant in full sun and well-drained soils and provide room for it to spread. Bagworms can be problematic if it is planted in large masses, or under the illumination of night lights.

Royo red cedar (Juniperus virginiana 'Royo') can be found along the west flower walk near the west portico of the Regenstein Center.

In Bloom in the Garden, November 9, 2012

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:01:00 EDT

We have retired the What's In Bloom cart in front of the Visitor Center for the season, but continue our weekly updates of notable blooms around the Garden.

Magic Carousel™ miniature shrub rose (Rosa 'Moorcar') continues to produce masses of cream- to yellow-centered flowers edged in an eye-popping fuchsia pink. Colder temperatures rob some of the light, delicate perfume of this rose, but not its show-stopping display. This tiny, prolific bloomer is also known for having bright, glossy, disease-resistant foliage. First released to commerce in 1972, the smaller size and continual production of flowers of Magic Carousel™ rose continues to be in demand by gardeners.

We will soon be putting our rose garden to bed for the winter. Come see the show while it lasts!

Magic Carousel™ miniature shrub rose (Rosa 'Moorcar') is on the right side of the north walk of the Rose Garden.

Paperbark maple (Acer griseum x maximowiczianum) is a very rare hybrid maple that features beautiful red fall color and attractive cinnamon-sticklike exfoliating bark. This small tree is a hybrid of two Chinese species, both of whom have trifoliate leaves, and this taxon is very rare in cultivation — in fact, no other members of Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) indicate they have this tree in their collections.

Recently the Flora of China editorial committee reversed earlier judgements on the nomenclature for paperbark maples, and recommends that all Acer maximowicizianum be referred to as
Acer nikoense.

Paperbark maple (Acer griseum x maximowiczianum) can be found in the middle level of the Waterfall Garden.

Clematis henryi produces enormous white blooms 8 inches in diameter on old wood in June, and again in fall on the current season's growth. The ability to flower on last season's as well as the current season's growth is very unusual in the plant world.

Clematis flower best in locations that enable the vine to have shaded roots and most of the stems in full sun. In the Chicago area, plant all clematis with at least 2 to 3 of the lowest buds below soil level to overcome a disease that kills the stems at soil level. The buried buds will come into growth if the top is killed.

Clematis (Clematis henryi) can be found on the rose trellises in the English Walled Garden.

Donald Wyman crabapple (Malus 'Donald Wyman') is covered with hundreds of 3/8-inch, bright red crabapples that persist throughout the winter. Maturing at 20 feet in height by 22 feet in width, this cultivar also features 1.75-inch fragrant white flowers in spring, and disease-resistant foliage throughout the summer. Earlier in the fall, the leaves of this cultivar gave an exquisite amber gold seasonal display.

This crabapple was discovered as a chance seedling at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in the early 1950s and named in honor of Dr. Donald Wyman, who had recently retired as horticulturist at the Arboretum.

Donald Wyman crabapple (Malus 'Donald Wyman') is on the perimeter of the Circle Garden.

The centers of Nagoya Garnish Red ornamental kale (Brassica olearacea 'Nagoya Garnish Red') turn a deep reddish-purple color as temperatures cool in fall and early winter, and provide a brilliant contrast to a collar ring of leaves that retain their blue-green color. This interesting plant can be used as a late-season ornamental annual, as well as a provider of edible leaves that can be cooked in stir fry, left raw in a salad, or used as a garnish. Ornamental kale and its closely related cousin, the ornamental cabbage, both benefit from being planted in full sun in nutrient-rich soils with adequate moisture. This kale is insect- and disease-free when planted under ideal conditions.

Nagoya Garnish Red ornamental kale (Brassica olearacea 'Nagoya Garnish Red') can be found at the entrance to the Enabling Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, November 2, 2012

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:33:00 EDT

We are retiring the What's In Bloom cart in front of the Visitor Center for the season with a tribute to the diversity of flower types within the genus Chrysanthemum, including Ajania, a flower until recently classified as a chrysanthemum. Join us online again Tuesday for continuing weekly updates from our greenhouses. Our bloom cart will return in spring.

The flowers of Matchsticks quill-flowered mum (Chrysanthemum 'Matchsticks') are golden yellow with fire-engine-red tips. The quill form is created when normally flat petals don't split down a seam as they mature. The red at the tips of this cultivar is the color that would be seen if this was a daisy-flowered mum.

This hardy cultivar does not need pinching or staking to reach the mature height and spread of 2 feet by 2 feet in the garden, and it often produces an early flush of flowers in July in addition to the spectacular main display from September through early November. Like all mums, butterflies and other insects that feed on nectar find this plant irresistible.

Matchsticks mum (Chrysanthemum 'Matchsticks') is in the English Walled Garden.

Ajania pacifica, gold and silver chrysanthemum, used to be included in the genus Chrysanthemum until recent DNA analysis placed it in its own genus. The scalloped, silver-edged leaves are the perfect foil for the bright yellow, buttonlike flowers that arrive in fall. This hardy plant will grow to 1 foot in height and up to 4 feet in width.

The flowers of Ajania lack the sterile flowers (florets) seen on members of most of the ornamental chrysanthemums. The yellow button is actually composed of hundreds of small, yellow, fertile flowers.

Gold and silver chrysanthemum (Ajania pacifica) is in the English Walled Garden.

Pittsburgh™ Purple mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'PL&MA') is another example of a mum with quill-like flowers. The deep purple flowers on this nonhardy mum are a show stopper.

Quill- , spoon- , and spider- or Japanese-flowered mums are all closely related. The differences between them depend upon the extent the florets remain rolled, and whether the tips curve down or stay horizontal to the soil surface.

Pittsburgh™ Purple mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'PL&MA') is in the Landscape Garden.

Innocence mum (Chrysanthemum 'Innocence') is covered by pale pink flowers on a hardy perennial plant maturing at 2 feet in height and width. These daisy-shaped flowers are closest to the wild species in shape and form.

Innocence mum (Chrysanthemum 'Innocence') is in the English Walled Garden.

Ashley Dark Orange decorative garden mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'Ashley Dark Orange') represents the flower shape most people associate with mums.

Most of the small, yellow, fertile flowers (seen prominently in daisy-flowered mums and Ajania) are replaced with sterile florets that are very ornamental. This characteristic is genetically stable, and is passed down to future generations. Supporting healthy populations of pollinating insects, the fertile flowers are still present, but visually hidden.

Ashley Dark Orange mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'Ashley Dark Orange') is in the Sensory Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, October 30, 2012

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:14:00 EDT

Blue Autumn hardy aster (Symphyotrichum 'Blue Autumn') is covered with remarkable blue-violet flowers in late September and October. The flowers attract bees and butterflies, while the seeds are a treat for small songbirds. To maintain a bushy look to this aster, pinch plants in mid-July. Blue Autumn also makes an excellent, long-lasting addition to indoor cut flower arrangements.

While asters are native to North America, this cultivar was bred and released by Herbert Oudshoorn of the Netherlands. Divide plants every other year to maintain a healthy growth habit and air circulation, preventing powdery mildew. Hardy in USDA Zones 3–8, grow in full sun and well-drained, moderately moist soils. Blue Autumn aster is drought tolerant once established.

Blue Autumn aster (Symphyotrichum 'Blue Autumn') is in the English Walled Garden.

Shock anemone-flowered mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'Shock') is a purple cultivar originally created for the cut flower market. The color and hardiness of this mum have made it a favorite with gardeners throughout the United States.

Shock anemone mum (Chrysanthemum 'Shock') is in the Sensory Garden.

Goldilocks Rocks™ bidens (Bidens ferulifolia 'Bidcontis') grows to 14 inches in height by 18 inches across and produces bright, golden yellow miniature daisies throughout summer and fall. This cultivar is a great choice for a seasonal groundcover or hanging basket.

Goldilocks Rocks™ bidens (Bidens ferulifolia 'Bidcontis') is in the Circle Garden.

'Argentina Skies' anise-scented sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Argentina Skies') is noted for the sky-blue flowers produced atop this 5-foot, non-hardy perennial. Like other salvias, this cultivar is a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies. The scented foliage is disagreeable to deer. Once established, this plant is heat and drought tolerant.

Argentina Skies anise-scented sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Argentina Skies') is in the Landscape Garden.

The registered name for Lavaglut® floribunda rose (Rosa 'Korlech') translates from German into "lava flow." Deep red, almost black flowers are produced from June up to frost on a short (3-foot tall) disease-, heat-, and rain-tolerant rose with an upright growth habit.

Lavaglut® floribunda rose (Rosa 'Korlech') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, October 26, 2012

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 17:02:00 EDT

The delicate, purple-spotted, light lavender blooms of Mona Lavender^® spur flower (Plectranthus 'Plepalila') brighten partially shaded locations in the home landscape from June until frost. This nonhardy perennial is a mounding plant whose dark green leaves feature purple undersides that look great in hanging baskets. Constantly moist soils ensure uninterrupted flower production. If you are working with soil that doesn't drain well, incorporate enough leaf mulch compost or other organic matter to fill in 6 to 8 inches deep around the planting.

This cultivar was developed at the internationally famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in South Africa and is marketed throughout the world through a partnership with Ball Seed Company in West Chicago, Illinois, which returns a portion of the profits to South Africa.

Mona Lavender® spur flower (Plectranthus 'Plepalila') is in the containers in the English Walled Garden.

Dahlia 'Emory Paul' is a late-season informal decorative dahlia with rosy- purple dinner-plate-sized blooms to 14 inches in diameter. Like all dahlias, it needs a sunny spot in the garden in soils rich in compost that are kept moist throughout the growing season. This cultivar will grow to 4½ feet in height and might need staking to keep it upright in windy situations. The flowers are favorites of butterflies and hummingbirds. Unfortunately, dahlias are not hardy in the Chicago area, and the tubers should be dug and stored in a cool, dry place over winter or purchased new each spring.

Emory Paul dahlia (Dahlia 'Emory Paul') is in the Bulb Garden.

Chrysanthemum 'Shamrock' is a spider mum with semidouble chartreuse flowers on a plant maturing at 4 feet in height and width. Its pale yellowish-green blossoms are a most unusual and striking color in this most exotic-appearing classification of mums.

Shamrock mum (Chrysanthemum 'Shamrock') is in the Sensory Garden.

Lili Marleen® floribunda rose (Rosa 'KORlima') is a vibrant red rose with lightly fragrant, cupped, semidouble flowers. Established plants can be expected to reach 2½ feet in height and 2 feet in width if grown in full sun, in moderately fertile soils with adequate moisture. This is an older cultivar that is, unfortunately, susceptible to diseases and very thorny. Siting the plant in a landscape position with good air movement is particularly important to reduce the amount of pesticides that have to be sprayed to control diseases.

Lili Marleen® floribunda rose (Rosa 'KORlima') is in the Rose Garden.

Salvia leucantha 'Midnight' is a bush sage featuring dark purple calyces (bracts that surround the flower) and flowers on a plant that can reach up to 5 feet in height and width. This cultivar is drought tolerant once established, not an attractive food source to deer, and a butterfly and hummingbird magnet.

Midnight bush sage (Salvia leucantha 'Midnight') is in the Circle Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, October 23, 2012

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:05:00 EDT

Heptacodium miconoides, or seven son flower, is really more of a shrub or ornamental tree, as it grows 15 to perhaps 20 feet in height. It has a loose, open habit, along with a handsome, strongly three-veined leaf. Use it in a shrub border as a background plant. This honeysuckle relative begins flowering in late summer to early autumn, displaying clusters of fragrant, creamy white flowers when little else is blooming. After the flowers fade, the sepals encircling the flowers change to rosy-purple for a second display of color, which lasts a few more weeks. These appear to be flowers, giving this curious plant the appearance of blooming twice.

During winter, the bark of seven son flower is also attractive, with long strips of brownish gray peeling away to reveal a bleached, sandy, smooth stem. Multiple stemmed and fast-growing, this plant can be trained to a single-stemmed tree. Native to China, seven son flower was introduced into the U.S. in 1907 and then again in 1980, rediscovered by the Arnold Arboretum and distributed to several botanic gardens, including the Chicago Botanic Garden. It is an unusual late-summer standout.

Seven son flower (Heptacodium miconoides) is in the Sensory Garden.

Versailles Red common cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus 'Versailles Red') is a tetraploid — a plant with double the normal diploid chromosome number. These 4-foot-tall annual plants display large, 4-inch flowers with yellow centers that open wine red and fade to cerise pink. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the nectar, while songbirds are attracted to the seeds.

Versailles Red common cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus 'Versailles Red') is in the Heritage Garden.

Chyrsanthemum 'Vyron' is a spray mum — a mum with multiple flowers at the tips of the stems. Featuring yellow flowers with a brownish center, it was discovered as a sport (natural mutation) on Chrysanthemum 'Regoltime' in the Netherlands. This is a great mum for gardeners in the Chicago region to purchase from their local nursery to plant in their gardens. Plant this cultivar as soon as the flower buds are set for best results.

Vyron mum (Chrysanthemum 'Vyron') is in the Circle Garden.

Opening Night™ hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Jacolber') is a tall-growing hybrid tea rose — to 4 feet — featuring clear, fire-engine-red, 5-inch blooms with just a hint of fragrance. This cultivar produces 16-inch-long stems and is perfect for cutting and bringing indoors. The parents of this cultivar are two of the best red hybrid tea roses, 'Olympiad' and 'Ingrid Bergman'. Site this heat-tolerant cultivar toward the back of the flower bed to accommodate its unusual height.

Opening Night™ hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Jacolber') is in the Rose Garden.

Darling Daisy shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum 'Darling Daisy') is a dwarf form of shasta daisy growing to 8 inches height and 10 inches in width, with 3-inch single white daisy flowers. Attractive to butterflies and repellent to deer, this cultivar is unfortunately not winter hardy in the Chicago area.

Darling Daisy shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum 'Darling Daisy') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, October 19, 2012

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:53:00 EDT

Yellow Garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus 'Yellow Garden') begins to flower later in the season than other cosmos cultivars — typically from the end of September until the first hard frost. The large, soft yellow petals surrounding the white eye in the center of the flower make this a welcome addition to the garden at any time of the year. Fairly large — up to 4 feet in height — it prefers sunny, hot, dry planting locations.

This native of the Americas was given its genus name (Cosmos, Greek for "universe") by Spanish monks who admired the orderly, evenly spaced petals. The soft yellow color is a recessive trait in this species, and sometimes seedlings will exhibit other flower colors. If grown apart from other cultivars, the seedlings from this plant will come true from seed in following years.

Yellow Garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus 'Yellow Garden') is in the English Walled Garden.

Callicarpa japonica, or Japanese beautyberry, is one of the stars of the fall garden, with its rounded clusters of metallic-purple berries produced at almost every node along the arching stems. This root-hardy shrub can be planted in partially shaded to full-sun locations that provide constant moisture throughout the growing season. In most winters, the stems will sustain freeze damage and should be cut to within a few inches of the soil surface in late winter. Most plantings in the Chicago region max out at 3½ feet in height, whereas in warmer climates it can reach almost twice that size.

Japanese beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica) is outside the Landscape Garden.

Seaton's Ruby anemone-flowered mum (Chrysanthemum 'Seaton's Ruby') is a tried-and-true, consistent award winner at chrysanthemum shows. The flower shape, described as anemone, features broad red ray flowers with a gold reverse, while the central cushion of petal-like flowers are the same shade of red. This cultivar is not hardy outdoors in the Chicago region. Gardeners replant rooted cuttings each spring that can be obtained from specialist nurseries. Mums require full sun, moderate moisture and fertilization, and—in the case of this cultivar— staking.

Seaton's Ruby anemone mum (Chrysanthemum 'Seaton's Ruby') is in the Circle Garden.

Charles Aznavour™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'Meibeausai') is known for flowering continuously from mid-June until the first hard frost. Up to seven white to light pink blooms edged in carmine are produced on each stem, producing a mild tea rose fragrance. This cultivar from the French rose breeding firm of Meilland first became available in the United States in 1991. Good disease resistance is an important characteristic of this cultivar.

Charles Aznavour™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'Meibeausai') is in the Rose Garden.

Purple Dwarf Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha 'Purple Dwarf') matures at almost half the size of other cultivars (2 feet by 3 feet), making it an ideal addition for the front of the flower border or in containers. Deep velvety-purple bracts surround the lavender flowers. Heat- and drought-tolerant as well as deer- and gopher-resistant, butterflies and hummingbirds find the flowers irresistible.

Purple Dwarf Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha 'Purple Dwarf') is in the Sensory Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, October 16, 2012

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:43:00 EDT

Symphony mum (Chrysanthemum 'Symphony') produces large, bronze, "spider" flowers with fine, lacy florets late in fall. The plant is reliably hardy to USDA Zone 6. The United States National Chrysanthemum Society recognizes 13 classes of mums based upon the characteristics of their flowers. 'Symphony' is described as a "spider" mum, featuring completely concealed disk (fertile) flowers and ray florets that are tubelike with hooked or barbed ends, hanging loosely around the stem.

Cultivation of chrysanthemums dates back to the fifteenth century B.C.E. in China. By the eighth century C.E. mums had made their way to Japan, where the emperor chose them to use on the Imperial Seal.

The keeping power of chrysanthemums as cut flowers has lead to their association with funerals and grave flowers in many European countries, whereas white chrysanthemums in many Asian countries are associated with mourning. Extracts of the flowers and leaves have shown some efficacy in treating bacterial and fungal infections.

Symphony mum (Chrysanthemum 'Symphony') is in the Circle Garden.

Belleza™ Dark Pink gaura (Gaura lindheimeri 'KLEAU04263') produces hundreds of butterfly-attracting pink to dark red "dancing ladies" atop 2-foot stems from summer through fall. This native of Texas and Louisiana prefers well-drained soils in full sun. If provided with a warm microclimate (for instance, the south face of a building), this half-hardy perennial may survive winters in the Chicago region.

Belleza™ Dark Pink gaura (Gaura lindheimeri 'KLEAU04263') is in the English Walled Garden.

The white-edged, apple-green leaves of Frosty Morn sedum (Hylotelephium erythrostichum 'Frosty Morn') provide interest in the home landscape garden prior to the appearance of pale pink flowers in September and October. This hardy, rabbit-resistant, drought-tolerant sedum attracts butterflies and prefers well-drained soils and full sun.

Frosty Morn sedum (Hylotelephium erythrostichum 'Frosty Morn') is in the Landscape Garden.

Gizmo™ miniature rose (Rosa 'Wekcatlart') is covered with orange-red single rose flowers boasting a white eye in the center of the blossom from June up to the first frost. This hardy rose matures at 18 inches in height and width, and the flowers smell lightly of apples. Grow this rose in full sun and moderately moist soils with periodic additions of soluble fertilizer.

Gizmo™ miniature rose (Rosa 'Wekcatlart') is in the Rose Garden.

Karmijn Milka aster (Symphyotrichum 'Karmijn Milka') has a compact growth habit and flowers that open simultaneously. These traits, combined with its purple ray florets, produce an outstanding fall display in Chicago-area gardens. This butterfly attractant prefers to grow in sunny positions in well-drained, moderately moist soils. Avoid heavy fertilization to prevent plants from growing so tall they flop over sideways.

Karmijn Milka aster (Symphyotrichum 'Karmijn Milka') is in the Sensory Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, October 12, 2012

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 11:24:00 EDT

New Gold lantana (Lantana camara 'New Gold' ) is a sterile hybrid producing a continuous display of brilliant golden-yellow flowers in profuse clusters on a trailing, mounding plant that grows to 15 inches tall and 24 inches wide. While very attractive to butterflies and bees, the odors produced by the crushed leaves repel deer and rabbits. Grow in full sun. In climates that do not exceed 25 degrees Fahrenheit, this plant is a deciduous perennial that flowers from spring to fall; in warmer climates, it is evergreen and flowers continuously.

The sterility of this hybrid is a great boon for gardeners in USDA Zones 8a and warmer, where the seeds of other cultivars are spread outside the garden by birds who favor the turquoise-colored fruits.

New Gold lantana (Lantana camara 'New Gold') is in the Sensory Garden.

Bronze Giant giant 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 fertilizer once the flower buds reach the size of peas.

Bronze Giant mum (Chrysanthemum 'Bronze Giant') is in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden.

The white, 2-inch-wide, semidouble flowers — often with twisted tips to the petals — of Whirlwind Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida 'Whirlwind') dance gracefully atop 3-foot-tall stems in the fall garden. Preferring temperate climates to hot, humid summers, this hardy perennial also needs consistently moist soils. When given those optimal conditions, its long-lasting blooms will brighten the garden bed throughout autumn.

Whirlwind Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida 'Whirlwind') is in the English Walled Garden.

The fuzzy, tubular orange flowers of lion's tail (Leonotis leonurus) are produced at widely spaced nodes along the stem of this tall (to 6 feet), nonhardy perennial from South Africa. Gray lanceolate leaves provide a perfect backdrop for the distinctive flowers, which attract bees, butterflies, and birds to the garden.

Lion's tail (Leonotis leonurus) is in the Circle Garden

La France hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'La France') is the first hybrid tea cultivar to combine the hardiness of European cultivars with the pointed buds; high, centered, open flowers; and fragrance of the nonhardy tea rose. Discovered by the French nurseryman Jean-Baptiste André Guillot in 1867 and marketed under the name Guillet et Fils ("Guillot and sons"), its discovery is credited with the creation of the hybrid tea group of roses and the start of the modern rose industry.

The long, pointed buds of La France open to high-centered, silvery white flowers with a lilac-pink hue. When fully open, the very fragrant flowers are so heavy they droop — a characteristic bred out of more recent hybrid tea cultivars.

La France hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'La France') is in the All-America Rose Selections rose bed in the Krasberg Rose Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, October 9, 2012

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:18:00 EDT

Paint Box mum (Chrysanthemum 'Paint Box') is a brilliant orange, reflexed mum bred for exhibitions, and it is not hardy outdoors in the Chicago region. However, you can grow this pest-resistant, nonhardy perennial as an annual, to produce show-stopping fall displays.

Want to grow this gorgeous mum in your garden? Purchase and plant rooted cuttings shallowly, as soon as the soil begins to warm in spring, in soils that have been amended with organic matter. Fertilize weekly with both liquid and slow-release fertilizers. Spacing on the plants should be a minimum of 15 inches apart. On the Fourth of July, cut back the stem to 4 to 6 inches in height. As new lateral buds begin growth, select three buds per plant to retain and gently remove the rest when they are still green and soft. Continue to apply a fertilizer rich in nitrogen and phosphorus until the flower buds begin to show at the top of the stem. Gently disbud (remove lateral flower buds) to ensure that each of the three stems produces only one flower. After temperatures drop to near freezing, dig the plants up and move them to a cold frame or other frost-free growing environment — or go through your favorite mum catalog to select new year's "wow."

Paint Box garden mum (Chrysanthemum 'Paint Box') is in the Sensory Garden.

Zahara Scarlet zinnia (Zinnia marylandica 'Zahara Scarlet') displays brilliant scarlet flowers on a low-mounding annual to 18 inches in height and width. This zinnia endears itself to Chicago-area gardeners with its multiple features of drought tolerance, insect and disease resistance, and a love for midwestern heat, all combined with flowers 20 percent larger than other cultivars of this species.

Zahara Scarlet zinnia (Zinnia marylandica 'Zahara Scarlet') is in the Enabling Garden.

Honey Perfume™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'Jacarque') produces spicy-scented, apricot-yellow, 4-inch-wide flowers on a disease-resistant bush maturing at 3½ feet tall by 2½ feet wide.

This vigorous grower is a long bloomer, beginning in June and lasting through the end of October, and it is highly resistant to black spot.

Honey Perfume™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'Jacarque') is in the Rose Garden.

Treasure New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Treasure') is a hardy addition to any midwestern garden. Large, pale violet flowers cover this large perennial throughout September and October.

Typically growing from 3 to 6 feet tall, this butterfly attractant tolerates clay soil and naturalizes well. Pinching back stems in early summer can help control plant height in the garden — those 6-foot-tall plants can topple, and will need staking once blooming begins in fall.

Treasure New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Treasure') is in the Landscape Garden.

Funfair Orange cape fuchsia (Phygelius 'Funfair Orange') matures at 18 inches in height and width. Tubular orange flowers produced on spikes at the tips of the stems make this hummingbird magnet a knockout border plant. It grows well in full sun with moderate water and fertilization. While this cape fuchsia survives the heat of midsummer, it really thrives during the cooler spring and fall weather.

Funfair Orange cape fuchsia (Phygelius 'Funfair Orange') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, October 5, 2012

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 15:37:00 EDT

Azure monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii) is a favorite of gardeners and florists. Native to China, this 5-foot perennial is topped by dense spikes of royal purple flowers with inner markings in a lighter shade. Full sun and moist soils are the plant's preferred growing conditions. In its native range, Aconitum is disliked by herders because of its toxicity to livestock (who avoid it assiduously).

Medicinal (and poisonous) uses of this plant date back to the fifteenth century. All parts are considered poisonous. What is the difference between a medicine and poison? Dosage.

Azure monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii) is in the Landscape Garden.

Dazzling Stacy™ daisy garden mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'Dazzling Stacy') matures to 2 feet tall; it has a mounded habit covered in daisy-shaped flowers with red-orange tips to the petals and a yellow center. This midseason mum thrives in full sun and fertile soils, and is disease- and insect-resistant.

This hardy cultivar will establish as a perennial in Chicago-area gardens if planted at least six weeks before the first hard frost. To obtain full, bushy plants, pinch back the growing tips when they reach 4 to 6 inches in height in spring.

Dazzling Stacy™ garden mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'Dazzling Stacy') is in the Enabling Garden.

Only the Lonely woodland tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris 'Only the Lonely') produces stately 6-foot-tall plants that feature 6-inch-long tubular, sweetly scented flowers from midsummer up to frost. This plant prefers full sun to partial shade and moderate soil fertility. It will gently reseed about the garden if given the opportunity. The deer-resistant flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds by day and moths by night. This is a great plant to place near an entrance or patio, where the fragrance from the flowers can be enjoyed.

Only the Lonely woodland tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris 'Only the Lonely') is in the English Walled Garden.

Playboy floribunda rose (Rosa 'Playboy) features orange-scarlet semi-double blooms on a medium-sized bush that is disease-resistant if planted in full sun and provided with moderate water and fertilizer. Floribunda roses typically produce sprays of multiple flowers from June until frost.

Playboy floribunda rose (Rosa 'Playboy') is in the Rose Garden.

Milka New England aster (Symphyotrichum 'Milka') is hardy in the Chicago area and is widely grown for the lavender-purple flowers that cover the plant from late September through mid-October (first frost). It is insect- and disease-resistant when grown in full sun with open space between plants.

Milka New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii 'Milka') is in the Circle Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, October 2, 2012

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:49:00 EDT

Warm Megan decorative garden mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'Warm Megan') is an orange-bronze-flowered hardy chrysanthemum with a rounded growth habit and dark green foliage; it grows to 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. Hardy mums grow best when planted in full sun and provided with periodic fertilizer throughout the growing season. "Leginess," a term referring to plants that grow too tall and flop over, can be corrected by pinching the growing tips of the plant back to half its height just before midsummer. Insect- and disease- resistant for the most part, mums are susceptible to leaf miners, particularly if the plants are beneath an overhead street lamp or security lights.

'Warm Megan' is a sport (genetic variation) of the cultivar 'Megan' (a mum with reddish-purple flowers) developed after 2,167 unrooted cuttings were exposed to 2,000 rads of radiation. Of the resulting genetic mutations, only six showed promise as new cultivars. After several years of evaluation at four different locations around the country, only Warm Megan was selected for release.

Warm Megan mum (Chrystanthemum x morifolium 'Warm Megan') is in the Circle Garden.

Monte Cassino aster (Symphiotrichum pilosum var. pringlei 'Monte Cassino') grows to 3 feet in height and is covered in white daisylike flowers on mounded plants with wispy leaves in late fall. A native of North America, Monte Cassino — like all other species formerly included in the genus Aster — has been moved to other genera, based upon the results of DNA analysis. Plant Monte Cassino in full sun in average soil, and avoid excessive fertilization to prevent plants from flopping over. This aster is beloved by bees and other pollinators stocking up on pollen and nectar before the onset of winter.

Monte Cassino aster (Symphiotrichum pilosum var. pringlei 'Monte Cassino') is in the Landscape Garden.

Savannah Sunset lion's tail (Leonotis ocymifolia 'Savannah Sunset') produces bright orange, fuzzy, tubular flowers in whorls from mid-summer through fall. A native of Africa, this plant is not hardy in the Chicago area, but it will provide a colorful annual display if planted in full sun and not overwatered. The flowering stems reach 6 feet in height and the plant will grow to 3 feet in width — so a position at the back of the flower bed or border is most appropriate. The leaves are fragrant when crushed.

Savannah Sunset lion's tail (Leonotis ocymifolia 'Savannah Sunset') is in the Sensory Garden.

Pitcher's sage (Salvia azurea var. grandilflora) is a drought-hardy, humidity-proof native of the lower Midwest known for the pairs of blue flowers that open consecutively from late summer through fall. Native to thin nutrient-poor soils overlaying limestone, in cultivation with richer soils it can get too tall and flop over. Cutting the total height of the plant back to half in midsummer has been used by some gardeners to reduce the incidence of this problem. Once established in the garden, Pitcher's sage is very drought-tolerant. The inch-long tubular flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

The common name honors Dr. Zina Pitcher, a nineteenth-century Army surgeon and botanist.

Pitcher's sage (Salvia azurea var. grandiflora) is in the English Walled Garden.

Love™ rose (Rosa 'JACtwin') is covered with high-centered scarlet red flowers featuring white on the reverse of the petals. Its fragrance is described as light and spicy. The ultimate size for this disease-resistant cultivar is 5 feet in height with a 4-foot spread, and it is known for having very thorny stems. Like all roses, this cultivar grows best in full sun, moist, well-drained soils, and with moderate fertilization.

Love™ rose (Rosa 'JACtwin') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, September 28, 2012

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:43:00 EDT

The worlds of fashion and annual flower cultivars have a couple of things in common. Color and form are very important, and in the end, customers can be very picky. This makes the choice to feature 'Golden Star' spoon-flowered mum (Chrysanthemum 'Golden Star') on the Bloom Cart all that more special.

Like fine fashion, this cultivar has been around for some time (since 1977) and exhibits a timeless appeal. Golden, daisylike flowers, whose petals are flared to resemble spoons, open to 3½ inches across on nonhardy perennial plants maturing at 18 inches in height and 20 inches in width. Mums prefer full sun, average soils, and moderate water, and when provided with these basic necessities will produce masses of flowers in September and October. Mums are insect- and disease-resistant when planted in their preferred environment.

Spoon-flowered Golden Star mum (Chrysanthemum 'Golden Star') is in the English Walled Garden.

October Skies aromatic aster (Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies') was selected because of its intense lavender-blue color. It is also less aggressive in spreading (by rhizomes) then the species. The 1-inch flowers are freely produced in September and October and are magnets for butterflies and bees at the end of the season. The leaves are fragrant when crushed, and the small ripe seeds are beloved by goldfinches and other small seed-consuming birds. Newly planted plants may need protection from rabbits until they get established, but otherwise this cultivar is insect- and pest-resistant.

October Skies aromatic aster (Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) is one of the few goldenrods to actually thrive in partially shaded conditions in rich woodland soils. This distinctive species produces flowers on an upright spike, in contrast to most other species that produce flattened or rounded inflorescences. The common name derives from some plants producing a distinctive stem that changes direction at each node. Once established, this plant will reach 3 feet in height by 3 feet in width. Zigzag goldenrod is another butterfly magnet for the fall garden and is virtually insect- and disease- free.

Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) is in the Sensory Garden.

Flower Carpet® Pink groundcover rose (Rosa 'Noatrum') produces double pink flowers surrounded by glossy green, disease-resistant foliage. This cultivar is described as "self cleaning," which means gardeners don't need to spend time deadheading old flower heads.

This cultivar, like many other disease-resistant landscape roses, comes to us from the breeding work of Dr. Werner Noak of Noak Rosen in Germany. Dr. Noak has dedicated more than35 years to breeding landscape roses that are disease free. This cultivar has won three prestigious international awards including the very challenging All Deutsche Rose Trials, in which no pesticide spray treatments are allowed during the three-year evaluation period.

Flower Carpet® Pink groundcover rose (Rosa 'Noatrum') is on Evening Island.

Crackerjack Mix African marigold (Tagetes erecta 'Crackerjack Mix') is another 40-something-year-old, tried-and-true annual cultivar featured at the Chicago Botanic Garden this week. This mix of flower colors in orange, gold, and yellow will reach 4 feet in height and 2 feet in width by the end of the season. The 5-inch flowers are mostly doubles, and the leaves still provide that strong scent of marigold when crushed. Plant in full sun in fertile soils and provide water throughout the growing season to produce insect- , disease- , and deer-resistant plants. Spider mites can become an issue during very hot dry weather and are difficult to treat effectively, because their webs prevent the pesticide from reaching the insects.

Marigold flower petals have long been used as dyes in their native Central America, and a prominent producer of poultry products in the Midwest is proud of their incorporation into his all-organic chicken feed. The roots of marigolds produce a chemical identified as alpha-terthienyl, which has been shown to inhibit root-knot nematodes (usually a problem on sandy soils) and other soil pathogens for up to three years.

Crackerjack Mix African marigold (Tagetes erecta 'Crackerjack Mix') is in the English Oak Meadow.

In Bloom in the Garden, September 25, 2012

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:51:00 EDT

Honeysuckle fuchsia (Fuchsia triphylla 'Gartenmeister Bonstedt') is still going strong, 107 years after the creation of this hybrid. Its coral-red tubular flowers are produced in clusters near the ends of the branches, complemented by deep green foliage tinged bronze on the undersides of the leaves. Maturing at 3 feet by 3 feet, this nonhardy shrub prefers partially shaded conditions and humus-rich, moist soils. It is insect and disease resistant in the Chicago area as long as the soils are kept moist throughout the growing season.

The species name of this plant (triphylla) references the production of three leaves at each node, in contrast to the norm for the other Fuchsia species that produce two leaves per node. This species was first described by Father Charles Plumier on the island of Hispaniola between 1689 and 1697. Carl Bonstedt of Germany created this, and other triphylla hybrids, in 1905.

Honeysuckle fuchsia (Fuchsia triphylla 'Gartenmeister Bonstedt') is in the Sensory Garden.

Symphyotrichum shortii, known as Short's aster, is a native of eastern North America that grows well in full sun to partially shaded environments. Among the most floriferous of the native asters, this plant produces violet-blue flowers with a bright golden center which turns brick-red once the flowers are pollinated. In bloom, the flowers are visited by a wide array of insects including butterflies, while the ripe seeds are a favorite of a number of small seed-eating birds. Free of insect and disease pests, this plant will reseed around the garden.

Short's aster (Symphiotrichum shortii) is on Spider Island.

Sun Sprinkles™ miniature rose (Rosa 'JAChal'), is only the fifth miniature rose to win the coveted AARS Award of Excellence since 1933. Maturing at 2 feet in height, this rose is covered with 2-inch, deep golden-yellow blooms throughout the growing season. The dark green, glossy leaves are disease resistant.

Sun Sprinkles™ miniature rose (Rosa 'JAChal') is in the Rose Garden.

Although the foliage makes this tidy plant an attractive addition to the shade garden, the flowers of Miyazaki hairy toadlily (Tricyrtis hirta 'Miyazaki') are so unusual that they must be viewed up close. They are white with pale purple spots, and they occur in clusters all along the stems in the leaf axils. What an amazing plant! Use it where its orchidlike flowers can be appreciated, as an accent plant or container plant. This is a fall-blooming perennial with striking, unusual flowers.

Hairy toadlily (Tricyrtis hirta 'Miyazaki') is in the English Walled Garden.

Waterlily crocus (Colchicum 'Waterlily') delights and thrills gardeners in September when the large (6-inch-tall by 5-inch-wide) double flowers begin to open. Reliably hardy in the Chicago region, the broad green leaves are produced in spring and die back in early summer, so that the flowers appear to spring from the bare soil in fall. Deer and rabbits dislike the chemicals in the sap — which are toxic and cause chromosomal abnormalities — but slugs, for some reason, appear resistant to the chemicals (only a problem in wet falls). Plant these bulbs in full sun to partial shade and avoid disturbance. Over time the original bulb (a corm, actually) will produce "daughter" bulbs, resulting in dozens of flowers.

This cultivar is the result of a cross between Colchicum autumnale 'Alboplenum' and Colchicum speciosum 'Album'. Through the miracle of genetic recombination, these two small-flowered white cultivars created this very large-flowering lavender cultivar, which sports dozens of petals in a single bloom.

Waterlily autumn crocus (Colchicum 'Waterlily') is in the walk between the Bulb Garden and Home Landscape Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, September 21, 2012

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EDT

Carmen showy sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile 'Carmen') is the cultivar of the large-flowered, herbaceous, perennial sedums that comes closest to a true-red flower color. Growing 18 x 18 inches, this fall-blooming plant thrives in average soils with average water. The blooms are a butterfly magnet.

Hylotelephium used to be called Sedum until its DNA was analyzed. Both genera remain members of the Crassulaceae, or stonecrop, family, which were the first group of plants discovered with the Crassulean Acid Metabolism (CAM) approach to photosynthesis. For those not familiar with the process, water (H2O) plus carbon dioxide (CO2) in the presence of light within a chloroplast (containing enzymes) produces sugars (multiples of CH2O) used to supply energy for plant cells. In CAM plants, some of the chemical processes are delayed until the sun goes down and the danger of transpiring (equivalent to perspiring and breathing combined in people) is less likely to result in the loss of large quantities of water.

Carmen showy sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile 'Carmen') s in the Landscape Garden.

Rainbow Knockout™ grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Radcor') blooms from mid-June until the first frost, producing five-petaled, yellow-centered flowers of coral pink. The new foliage is burgundy and ages to a deep green. Hips (rose fruit) are produced in fall and carry over into winter. This rose is among the most resistant to diseases of any rose cultivar. Plant in moderately fertile, moist soils with plenty of room between it and the neighboring plants to provide for good air circulation.

Rainbow Knockout™ grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Radcor') is on Evening Island.

Silky Gold blood flower (Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold') is a nonnative plant the Garden grows from seed and uses as a warm-season annual. It is a member of the milkweed family, which includes butterfly weed (A. tuberosa), prairie milkweed (A. sullivantii), and swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), midwestern native perennials in the Garden's permanent collection. Asclepias flowers form seedpods from which seeds with silky hairs are dispersed by wind.

Silky Gold blood flower (Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold') is in the English Oak Meadow.

Santa Barbara chaparral sage (Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara') is a nonhardy perennial discovered in a garden in Santa Barbara, California; it features a compact growth habit with increased branching. The hairy silver stems produce velvety purple flower spikes ("verticillasters" is the technical term) with light lavender flowers from late summer through frost. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths all visit the flowers to gather nectar. This plant is deer and rabbit resistant and prefers full sun and slightly dry soils.

Santa Barbara chaparral sage is a native of Mexico and Central America. The genus Salvia includes more than 900 species of plants around the world with perennial, annual, shrub, or subshrub growth habits. Many of these species are ornamental because of their showy flowers, while others are grown for culinary and medicinal uses.

Santa Barbara chaparral sage (Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara') is in the Circle Garden.

Vernonia lettermannii, known as Letterman's ironweed, is covered with purple flowers in September and October. This rounded 3-foot by 3-foot herbaceous perennial hails from the dry, stony soils of the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Butterflies and other nectar-seeking insects flock to this plant when it comes into flower.

In the Chicago region, ironweed requires well-drained soils on the dry side in order to thrive. This plant is insect and disease resistant.

Letterman's ironweed (Vernonia lettermannii) is in the Sensory Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, September 18, 2012

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EDT

Sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) features pure white, lightly fragrant flowers in late summer when grown in full sun or partial shade. The flowers are followed by billowing masses of silvery, silk-like seeds in late fall. This perennial is excellent for use as an informal vine, or trained formally on arbors, and it flowers on the current season's growth, so plants that get too large can be reduced in size in spring without decreasing flower production.

Most sources identify Clematis terniflora as a native of Japan, but it is also listed in Flora of China, where it goes by the common name of yuan zhui tie zian lian. It has been grown in the southeastern United States since 1877 — about 60 years after it was first described by Augustus de Candolle, one of the most prominent botanists of ninteeth-century France.

Sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) is in the Lakeside Garden.

Grand Bleu™ bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Inoveris') is a French-bred cultivar featuring a more compact growth habit with intense blue-purple flowers closely spaced in the flower cluster to provide more visual impact in the landscape. Deep-green foliage provides great contrast to the flowers. Like other bluebeards, it attracts butterflies and grows best in sunny, well-drained soils. Cut back this short-lived plant (in the Chicago area) hard in late winter to early spring to remove stems killed over winter, and to encourage a tighter growth habit.

Grand Bleu™ bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Inoveris') is in the Bulb Garden.

Sabra spike sage (Salvia confertifolia) is a tropical perennial (annual in Chicago) native to Brazil that features stems up to 5 feet in height with long straight spikes of red flowers. The leaves are large — 7 inches long by 3 inches wide — and deep green with rough texture. The flower stalks and calyxes of the flower are covered with velvety dark-brown hairs. This sage is beloved by hummingbirds and butterflies.

Pliny named this group of plants after the word salver (to heal) for their medicinal uses in the ancient world. The species name, confertifolia, refers to the densely packed flowers on the flowering spikes.

Sabra spike sage (Salvia confertifolia) is in the Circle Garden.

Fireworks rough goldenrod (Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks') produces fountains of bright yellow flowers resembling starbursts on a plant shorter in stature than the species. This plant prefers full sun and moist soils, and when provided with these conditions,it is insect and disease resistant. Bees and migrating butterflies swarm the flowers to obtain the nutrient-rich nectar, while a number of small seed-eating birds enjoy feasting upon the seeds. Goldenrod is deer resistant and NOT responsible for triggering allergies.

Fireworks rough goldenrod (Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks') is in the Sensory Garden.

At 2 feet in height, Vivid obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana 'Vivid') is shorter than the straight species, and produces lavender-pink flowers in vertical rows on spikes to 10 inches in height. This salt-tolerant cultivar attracts butterflies but is not appealing to browsing deer. Like other descendents of midwestern natives, it prefers full sun and moist soils, and when provided with these conditions, it is not prone to disease and insect infestations.

Vivid obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana 'Vivid') is in the Landscape Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, September 14, 2012

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:18:00 EDT

If Italian White sunflowers had steamer trunks, they would be covered with stickers from exotic locales. No one is quite sure who first took seeds of a creamy, white-flowered variant of the southeastern Texas annual sunflower to Europe, or how it made its way to Italy — where it thrived. What we do know is that Italian immigrants brought the seeds back with them to the northeastern U.S. (primarily) when they immigrated, seeking jobs. The creamy white petals surround the dark-brown center on 3- to 4-foot plants that sometimes have purplish blotches on the stem. Like other sunflowers, this cultivar thrives in full sun with adequate fertilization and a well-drained soil.

Sunflowers of all kinds are beloved by a number of species of native (and exotic) birds; perhaps the most colorful are the Golden Finches. Thousands of acres worldwide are planted annually in sunflowers for oil production. Although the plant is a native of the United States, sunflower oil was first produced in Imperial Russia in 1835. The oil has been used for food, frying oil, in cosmetics, and to protect the skin of premature infants from infections.

Italian White cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus debilis 'Italian White') is in the English Walled Garden.

White fluffy clumps of flowers virtually cover the top of native perennial white snake root (Eupatorium rugosum) for much of the fall. Growing to 5 feet in height and 3 feet in width, Chicago-area gardeners should take care to deadhead this plant towards the end of October before the seeds are dispersed, to prevent reseeding in their gardens. White snake root grows well in full sun, tolerates some shade, and thrives in moderate to slightly dry soils. Butterflies, bees, wasps, and moths all cover this plant when it is in full bloom — it is truly a pollinator magnet!

A toxin (tremetol) found in this plant is responsible for 'milk fever', a disease that was widespread across much of eastern and central North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Cattle can pass this toxin to humans through meat and milk, but it has been found to be deadly in all mammals.

White snake root (Eupatorium rugosum) is in the Sensory Garden.

Flower Carpet™ Scarlet groundcover rose (Rosa 'NOA83100B') can produce over 2,000 scarlet rose flowers each season on a low growing, disease-, heat- and humidity-tolerant landscape rose. Plant in full sun and provide space between plants to encourage good air movement for this 32-inch by 40-inch-wide rose. Unfortunately, this cultivar is not fragrant.

Flower Carpet™ Scarlet groundcover rose (Rosa 'NOA83100B') is in the Bulb Garden.

Giant daisy (Leucanthemella serotina) is a sprawling perennial from southeastern Europe which can reach 6 feet in height and up to 3 feet in width before it produces large, glistening, white daisy flowers in September and October. Giant daisy grows best in full sun and moist soils, attracts butterflies, and is prone to no serious pests or diseases in the Chicago area.

Giant daisy (Leucanthemella serotina) is in the Landscape Garden.

Salvia madrensis 'Red Neck Girl' features butter-yellow flowers highlighted by red to reddish-purple stems, growing to 7' from September to frost. It is native to elevations between 4,000 and 5,000 feet in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in Mexico. This selection comes to us from Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery. Tony's sense of humor is well known in the plant community as evidenced by the cultivar name.

The genus Salvia comes from the Latin salveo — "I heal," and salvarae — "to heal," first used to describe species in this genus by the physician Pliny. More than 900 species can be found in a variety of environments from tropical through temperate in the Old and New Worlds. Species in this genus are distinguished by the presence of a single fertile anther cell positioned to deposit pollen on the backs of visiting bees.

The species within this genus are immensely valuable as bee food plants, and to human society through these uses:

Culinary — including chia (drink), seasoning, cakes, soups, vermouth, and liquors
Oils — in paints, soaps, scents, and eau de cologne
Ornamental — dozens of species and hundreds of cultivars
Hallucinogenic — plant notes state that the species (not the one featured on the Bloom Cart) is only used when no others are available — makes one wonder!
Medical — in China, as treatment for heart disease

Red Neck Girl forsythia sage (Salvia madrensis 'Red Neck Girl'), is in the Circle Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, September 11, 2012

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:54:00 EDT

Beginning in mid-September, Autumn Herald crocus (Colchicum 'Autumn Herald') produces goblets of amethyst-violet flowers with orange stamens and a white blotch at the base of the petals. The broad, elegantly pleated foliage appears in spring and dies down by early summer. Shortened days, cooling temperatures, and autumn rains initiate the flowering cycle for the most frequently purchased fall-blooming crocuses. Plant this fairly large corm in sunny or partially shaded areas in soils that never completely dry in summer.

All parts of the plant are poisonous to people and animals alike. Extracts were once prescribed to treat a variety of ailments—before the side effects were fully understood. A chemical known as a mitotic poison prevents cells from dividing normally, resulting in cells with double the number of chromosomes. Plant breeders have used this attribute to create new hybrid lines of agronomic and horticultural crops, but beneficial effects on animals are less common. An infamous nineteenth-century murderess is thought to have used Colchicum to poison her victims.

Autumn Herald autumn crocus (Colchicum 'Autumn Herald') is in the Bulb Garden.

New York aster (Symphiotrichum novi-belgii) is a perennial that can range in height from 1 to 6 feet tall!

Noted for producing more flowers than its relatives, Symphiotrichum novi-belgii 'Chequers' is a cultivar that features violet-purple daisy flowers with golden centers on a reliable perennial reaching 2 feet in height and width. Use it for a nice splash of color in a fall garden. Plant in full sun and moist soils for best flower production. A butterfly attractant, this plant is insect and disease free. However, rabbits and deer can be problematic.

Hundreds of New York aster cultivars are now commercially available; 'Pink Bouquet' and 'Professor Kippenburg' are Chicago Botanic Garden favorites. As its name suggests, the New York aster is native to the eastern part of the United States.

Chequers New York aster (Symphiotrichum novi-belgii 'Chequers') is in the English Walled Garden.

Throughout the summer and into fall, Starry Night™ shrub rose (Rosa 'Orawichkay') produces masses of pure white, single flowers reminiscent of dogwoods in the South. The flowers are sterile and "self clean" (fall off by themselves), and the foliage is deep green and disease resistant. Plant in full sun, in well-drained but moist soils, and provide a minimum radius of 3 feet between this rose and other plants. Its final growth height in the Chicago region is about 3 feet during a normal year.

This rose is recommended by the All-America Rose Society Selection as a landscape rose. Landscape roses, an informal class, all feature plants that are disease free and require little maintenance, while returning maximum flower production. Winter-hardy roses mean less work in early winter to mound the plants with a protective layer of mulch, less time in very early spring removing the protective mulch, and less time and money spent replacing plants that died over the winter.

Starry Night™ shrub rose (Rosa 'Orawichkay') is in the Rose Garden.

Heartthrob dahlia (Dahlia 'Heartthrob') is classified as a collarette dahlia. It has an outer ring of eight large crimson petals overlaid by smaller, frilly petals of red and pale yellow. The bright yellow central disk is prominent and provides a nice contrast to the dark petals. Heartthrob dahlia grows to 3 feet tall with flowers measuring 3 inches across.

Dahlias grow from tubers, which can be saved for another season if you wish to go to the trouble. Doing this requires cutting back the plants before a heavy frost and leaving at least 3 to 4 inches of the stems, where "eyes" form. Soil needs to be washed off. The tubers need to be packed in dry sphagnum moss and stored in a cool, dark place at temperatures between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If they become shriveled, a little water can be added. Replant in the spring when all danger of frost is past.

Heartthrob dahlia (Dahlia 'Heartthrob') is in the Circle Garden.

Sweet Purple sweet William (Dianthus barbatus 'Sweet Purple') is a very fragrant bachelor button or sweet William-type dianthus, with deep purple flowers to 3 feet in height on very sturdy stems. Unlike other Dianthus barbatus cultivars, this variety does not need to experience cool temperatures before it comes into flower. This butterfly attractant makes a great cut flower or short-lived perennial in a flower bed. Plant in full sun and provide moderate water. Avoid heavy mulching around the base of plants, which can cause damping off.

Sweet Purple sweet William (Dianthus barbatus 'Sweet Purple') is in the Sensory Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, September 7, 2012

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EDT

Late in the twentieth century, a new species of fuchsia was discovered growing in a relatively hot environment on one of the Caribbean islands. As fuchsiaphiles (lovers of fuchsia) are all painfully aware, almost all fuchsia species — and their hundreds of hybrids — prefer moist, cool, frost-free growing environments. Prior to this new-species discovery, fuchsias were limited in their use in outdoor garden settings for everyone outside of coastal California and the Pacific Northwest. 'Billy Green' is an offspring of that heat-tolerant fuchsia, and it has expanded the range of garden fuchsias to much of the central and eastern United States.

When grown outdoors, natural predators (particularly lacewings) keep whitefly populations on fuchsias down to manageable levels.

Billy Green honeysuckle fuchsia (Fuchsia triphylla 'Billy Green') is at the hilltop of the Sensory Garden.

Turn of the Century rose mallow (Hibiscus 'Turn of the Century') bears 6-inch-wide flowers with overlapping petals, which transition from red on one side of the petal to light pink on the other, from late summer through fall. This hardy perennial grows to 6 feet in height by 6 feet in width, and prefers moist soils in sunny locations. Hummingbirds find the flowers attactive, while deer find the foliage distasteful. Perennial hibiscus are North American natives.

Turn of the Century rose mallow (Hibiscus 'Turn of the Century') is in the Waterfall Garden.

Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst', commonly known as purple beautyberry, is a member of the Verbenaceae (verbena) plant family, originally from Japan and China. This species is known for exquisite clumps of purple berries at each node along the stem in fall. The cultivar Early Amethyst was identified as a seedling in the plant collection at the Tyler Arboretum in Pennsylvania. It blooms several weeks earlier that other beautyberries, which permits gardeners with shorter growing seasons — like Chicago — to enjoy the bright shiny purple berries.

The genus Callicarpa is derived from the Greek kallos (beauty) and karpos (berry). There are 140 species of subtropical and temperate-zone trees and shrubs in this genus. Many of them have ornamental fruit, and some are known to have medicinal properties or are used as a fish poison. Birds are attracted to the berries in fall and winter.

Early Amethyst purple beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Autumn Bride alumroot (Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride') supports billowing fountains of small white flowers on stems to 2 feet in height. These elegant blooms are held well above the fuzzy chartreuse to lime-coloredleaves. This selection of our native alumroot grows well in moderate to moist soils and partial shade to full sun. Maturing at 18 inches tall with an 18-inch spread, this adaptable plant is deer resistant.

Autumn Bride alumroot (Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride') is on Evening Island.

Autumn Fire sedum (Sedum 'Autumn Fire') — an improvement over the traditional 'Autumn Joy' sedum — features stronger, sturdier stems that are less prone to falling over, and rosy pink flowers that age to a coppery red color. Its blue-green leaves are deer resistant, and its flowers are butterfly and bee attractants. Plant in full sun in moderately fertile soils. Once established (after the first year), this cultivar rarely needs supplemental watering in Chicago region gardens.

Autumn Fire sedum (Sedum 'Autumn Fire') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, September 4, 2012

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:09:00 EDT

Arthur Simmonds bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Arthur Simmonds') won the prize as the hardiest cultivar of Caryopteris in the Ornamental Plant Evaluation trials at Chicago Botanic Garden. This low-growing, half-hardy shrub features dark green leaves with silver undersides, and clumps of violet blue flowers at each node. Plant in full sun, in sandy, well drained soils for best long-term survival in the Chicago region (they don't do well in heavy clay soils in winter). This is a butterfly and bee magnet when in flower from mid-summer through fall. Insect and disease resistant, the fragrant foliage is also a turn-off to rabbits and deer.

This cultivar is a classic example of "what's in a name." Arthur Simmonds was a gardener in Clandon near Surrey in 1930 when he collected seed from a rare Caryopteris mongolhica in his garden. Some of the seedlings showed obvious hybrid characteristics and he very carefully gave them tender, loving care. However, he didn't collect all of the seed, and one of the hybrid seedlings made itself known by outperforming its parent (it basically smothered it). The specific epithet (a fancy word for species name) celebrates the city of Clandon ("clandonensis" translating into "from the city of Clandon" in Latin); the x in front of the specific epithet identifying this cultivar as a hybrid, and the cultivar name honoring the gardener who raised this seedling and eventually shared it with the gardening world.

Arthur Simmonds bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Arthur Simmonds') is in the Landscape Garden.

Lovely semi-double richly colored rose pink flowers wave gracefully in the slightest breeze on Queen Charlotte anemone (Anemone x hybrida 'Queen Charlotte'). The tips of each of the 10 to 15 petals are notched — an excellent diagnostic characteristic when trying to differentiate the cultivars. The flowers are produced well above the dark green compound leaves that effectively smother out most weeds. This plant can be grown in full sun, but prefers partial shade and soils that are well drained but constantly moist throughout the growing season. The leaves and foliage are deer and rabbit resistant.

Queen Charlotte anemone comes with her own "what's in a name" story. In America, she is most frequently sold as 'Queen Charlotte', while in parts of Europe this same cultivar is sold under the names 'Konigin Charlotte' or 'Reine Charlotte'.

Queen Charlotte anemone (Anemone x hybrida 'Queen Charlotte') is in the English Walled Garden.

Tropicanna® Gold canna lily (Canna x generalis 'Tropicanna Gold') is not hardy in the Chicago area (USDA Zones 7 – 11), but still deserves a place where her elegantly-striped green and gold foliage, topped by soft, orange flowers edged in bright yellow provide a tropical ambience. This cultivar can be grown as an aquatic, or in a traditional flower bed in full sun (to maximize flower production) or light shade (utilizing the variegated foliage to lighten dark spots in the garden). Hummingbirds recognize this genus as one of their favorite nectar plants in Central and South America, but deer find the foliage distasteful.

Tropicanna® Gold is the result of an open-pollinated cross between original Tropicanna® (darker foliage and orange flower).

Tropicanna® Gold canna lily (Canna x generalis 'Tropicanna Gold') is in the Circle Garden.

Strawberry Fields globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa 'Strawberry Fields') can be used in several different ways. The strawberry-red flowers (actually bracts below the inconspicuous flowers) are produced from early summer through frost. Grow in full sun with moderate moisture and low fertilizer for best flower production.

If stems are cut as the flowers just reach mature size, they can be stripped of leaves and dried in a cool, dry environment for enjoyment in dried arrangements later. If the flowers are allowed to produce seeds, seed-eating songbirds and small mammals will be frequent visitors to your garden.

Strawberry Fields globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa 'Strawberry Fields') is in the Enabling Garden.

Spirit of Freedom™ English shrub rose (Rosa 'Ausbite') produces beautifully-cupped light violet to light pink flowers featuring the scent of myrrh. Like all roses, it prefers a garden location in full sun with space between it and surrounding plants to encourage good air movement (and discourage powdery mildew and black spot). Honeybees gambol about in the multiple petals in search of nectar.

Spirit of Freedom™ English shrub rose (Rosa 'Ausbite') is in the East Walk of the Rose Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, August 31, 2012

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:36:00 EDT

Bonfire® Chocolate Pink begonia (Begonia boliviensis 'Bonfire Chocolate Pink') is an ideal plant for hanging baskets and containers. Elegantly draping stems are graced with small pink flowers in clusters of three at each leaf node from summer through fall. The foliage is darkly colored, providing a rich contrast to the pink flowers. This plant will mature at 18 inches by 18 inches. It performs well in partially shaded conditions in moist, well drained soils, and is free of most insect and disease pests.

The species was discovered in Bolivia in the mid-nineteenth century and became hugely popular when exhibited for the first time at the International Horticultural Show in Paris in 1867. The very popular class of tuberous begonia cultivars are all descendants of this species.

Bonfire® Chocolate Pink begonia (Begonia boliviensis 'Bonfire Chocolate Pink') is in the Bulb Garden.

Japanese cutleaf aster (Kalimeris incisa) is a heat, humidity, and drought tolerant perennial that produces blue flowers from August through October in the Chicago area. This pest- and disease-free plant thrives in sunny conditions in soils that stay on the moist side, and will reach 5 feet in height.

Japanese cutleaf aster (Kalimeris incisa) is in the Woodland Walk of the Sensory Garden.

Stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida) has some of the largest individual flowers of the genus—up to a half inch in diameter. This native perennial, growing to 5 feet with a 2½-foot spread, bears flat-topped inflorescences (group of flowers) which are frequented by butterflies and birds (once the seeds are ripe). This plant thrives in full sun in average soils. The gray-green foliage of summer leaves ages to a dusky rose color in autumn. Gardeners may want to deadhead the flowers to discourage this plant from becoming weedy. Stiff goldenrod is free of major insect and disease problems, and not a favorite of deer.

Stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida) is in the Native Plant Garden.

The six inch-long, fragrant, double white flowers of fragrant plantain lily (Hosta plantaginea 'Aphrodite') don't open until 4 p.m. in the afternoon. Scientists hypothesize this trait is linked to a pollination strategy dependent upon moths. With a fragrance reminiscent of honeysuckle, this is a "must have'" plant near evening outdoor entertainment areas.

Like many other white-flowered species, the flowers seem to glow by starlight. This hosta is partial to fully-shaded sites, and soils that remain constantly moist are ideal. Slugs disfigure the early spring foliage, but a simple cleanup of the dead leaves in fall usually keeps the slug populations in check. This cultivar is actually a natural mutation of the straight species that was discovered in Japan.

Fragrant plantain lily (Hosta plantaginea 'Aphrodite') is on Evening Island.

Soft pink flowers to 1½ inches across cover the dark green, disease resistant foliage of Carefree Delight® shrub rose (Rosa 'Meipotal') throughout the growing season. The summer and fall displays are complemented with bright red shiny hips from late fall through winter. This cultivar is completely hardy in the Chicago area without the need for mulches or other protective coverings. Its ultimate size is 5 feet high by 4 feet wide. This cultivar roots easily where ever the arching canes come into contact with the soil, which can significantly increase the landscape impact of this rose. Once established, the thorny canes are not often eaten by rabbits.

Carefree Delight® shrub rose (Rosa 'Meipotal') is along the road between the Circle Garden and Landscape Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, August 28, 2012

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:51:00 EDT

Europeana floribunda rose (Rosa 'Europeana' ) is covered with deep red, lightly fragrant double blooms from June through frost. New plant growth is a dark burgundy color that matures to deep, glossy green. Its ultimate height and spread is 3 feet by 3 feet in the Chicago region. This rose is more tolerant of summer heat than many other cultivars, but unfortunately is very prone to powdery mildew and black spot. Plant 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 cultivar was bred in the Netherlands by the firm of De Ruiter Innovations and commercially released in 1963. It has won many awards, including The Hague Gold Medal in 1962, the All-America Rose Selections Gold Medal in 1968, and the Portland Gold Medal in 1970 (Portland Rose Society).

Europeana floribunda rose (Rosa 'Europeana') is in the Rose Garden.

Snow Nymph Texas sage (Salvia coccinea 'Snow Nymph') is covered in spikes of pure-white flowers from spring to fall on top of a nonhardy perennial that matures at 2 feet in height and 16 inches in width. This native of the Southwest thrives in full sun with moderate water and low fertilization. Ruby-throated hummingbirds feed upon this native species as they migrate south for the winter.

Snow Nymph Texas sage (Salvia coccinea 'Snow Nymph') is in the Circle Garden.

Lepechinia hastata, known as pakaha in its native homeland of Hawaii, resembles salvias in many respects, including the spikes of deep magenta-rose upfacing flowers from August through October. A nonhardy perennial, this plant will still reach up to 4 feet in height with a flower spike of an additional foot. Its exotic-looking, large, broad, mint-scented, spade-shaped leaves completely cover the soil, eliminating weeds. Plant in full sun (or very limited shade) in moist, fertile soils for best growth and flower production.

This plant is reputed to contain antibiotics, and deters deer.

Pakaha (Lepechinia hastata) is in the Sensory Garden.

Bishop of York peony dahlia (Dahlia 'Bishop of York') produces spikes of 3½-inch daisylike golden flowers blushed with orange above dark purple-tinted foliage throughout the growing season. These nonhardy perennials are most often available through local garden centers after danger of the last frost has past. Plant in full sun in moist soils. This dahlia is not significantly troubled by pests or diseases in the Chicago region.

Dahlias were cultivated by the Aztecs well before the conquistadors arrived in central Mexico. Native to the high plains of Mexico through Central America, these plants are hummingbird magnets wherever they are grown. The Spanish introduced dahlias to Europe in 1784, and the curator of the introduction station in Spain named the genus in honor of Andreas Dahl, a student of Carl Linnaeus. This cultivar name is slightly inaccurate, as the diocese of York has an archbishop, not a bishop.

Bishop of York peony dahlia (Dahlia 'Bishop of York') is in the English Walled Garden.

Firetail mountain fleeceflower (Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail') grows to 4 inches in height, and features thin red flower stalks in late summer and fall. This species is not invasive — unlike many other taxa in this genus — but it will need a large space assigned to it. Use mountain fleeceflower at the back of a large border or mixed bed. This fleeceflower earned a 2010 Plant of Merit award from the Royal Horticultural Society, and it is used frequently in landscape designs by James Van Sweden and Piet Oudolf.

Firetail mountain fleeceflower (Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail') is in the Lakeside Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, August 24, 2012

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:08:00 EDT

In 1987, the French rose breeding firm of Meilland introduced Rosa 'Meidomonac' Bonica® shrub rose — the first disease-resistant rose tough enough to be widely used in the commercial landscape industry and by homeowners averse to weekly pesticide applications.This created a demand for roses that are hardy and disease resistant, while providing continuous bloom from early summer through fall.

Two-and-a-half-inch shell-pink flowers are accentuated by the dark green, glossy foliage. Orange-red hips appear in fall, extending the ornamental value of this rose well into winter.

Plant in full sun and well-drained, moist soils, and fertilize with rose fertilizer according to the manufacturer's directions for best results.

Meidomonac Bonica® shrub rose (Rosa 'Meidomonac') is in the Rose Garden.

Rose turtlehead (Chelone oblique) is a native of moist soils in shaded environments in the Midwest, and thrives in homeowners' gardens when provided those same environments. Deep rose-colored, two-lipped flowers are held well above the dark green foliage on spikelike racemes. The flowers are produced July through August and are frequently visited by bees and hummingbirds in search of nectar. Chelone are insect and disease free, and unpalatable to rabbits and deer!

Rose turtlehead (Chelone oblique) is in the English Walled Garden.

Deam's coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii) produces orange-yellow, thin-petaled, daisylike flowers from midsummer through fall on plants reaching 3 feet in height. The central cone of this coneflower is dark brown and distinctly raised. The slightly hairy leaves are insect, disease, rabbit, and deer resistant. Plant in full sun, in well-drained soils, and fertilize sparingly.

This North American native species was awarded the coveted Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit due to its outstanding performance in gardens and prairie creation projects.

Deam's coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii) is in the Sensory Garden.

Mystic Spires Blue™ salvia (Salvia longispicata x farinacea 'Balsalmisp') is topped by spikes of intensely blue flowers and bracts (modified leaves surrounding the actual flowers). Topping out at 2 feet in height, the leaves on this nonhardy perennial salvia are fragrant in a way that deer find objectionable. It thrives in the heat and humidity — and midsummer drought — of Chicago summers. This is a great selection for sunny flower beds and is a bee and hummingbird attractant.

Mystic Spires Blue™ salvia (Salvia longispicata x farinacea 'Balsalmisp') is in the Circle Garden.

Starting in midsummer and continuing through fall, the branch tips of Brussels Lace panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Brussels Lace') are graced with masses of small, white, fertile flowers, surrounded by sterile, large, showy white petals that age to pink. Growing to 6 feet by 6 feet, this cultivar is ideal for the smaller garden, or where space is limited. Hydrangeas are best grown in full sun to partial shade in moist soils. They are insect and disease resistant, but young plants need protection from rabbits.

Brussels Lace panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Brussels Lace') is on Evening Island.

In Bloom at the Garden, August 21, 2012

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:36:00 EDT

David summer phlox (Phlox paniculata 'David') is covered with fragrant white flowers from midsummer through fall on a plant featuring the most disease-resistant foliage of any of the white-flowered cultivars. Flowering height slightly exceeds 3 feet tall, and this phlox spreads to about 16 inches. Plant in full sun, in moist, well-drained soils, and avoid excessive fertilization. 'David' was awarded the Perennial Plant of the Year award by the Perennial Plant Association in 2002.

"Volunteer" seedlings of this cultivar sometimes appear in the garden and will feature a wide variety of lilac, lavender, and pink flowers, some of them with darker or lighter centers. In informal cottage gardens, they make a nice complement to the pure-white parent.

David summer phlox (Phlox paniculata 'David') is in the Landscape Garden.

The clumps of small blue flowers of tube clematis (Clematis heracleifolia) are held well above the foliage of this deciduous shrub. Growing to 4 feet in height with a 2-foot spread, this species grows and flowers best in sun to partial shade conditions and is a great addition to the mixed border, where its height adds interest among the taller perennials. In fall, the flowers are replaced by fluffy white seedheads. Average soils, water, and fertilization make this a trouble-free addition to the garden.

Tube clematis (Clematis heracleifolia) is in the English Walled Garden.

Othello bigleaf goldenray (Ligularia dentata 'Othello') graces the shade garden this time of year with sprays of golden-yellow daisy flowers held well above the bold, broad green leaves with purple undersides. The stems and petioles of this cultivar are known for their deep burgundy color. This species performs best in shade and moist soils with a nice mulch of composted leaves in fall to bring it through the winter. In the Chicago region it is insect and disease free. During very hot periods, particularly when the humidity is low, the leaves will temporarily wilt, but they revive once temperatures cool.

Othello bigleaf goldenray (Ligularia dentata 'Othello') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Polly Spout green dragon (Pinellia tripartita 'Polly Spout') is a hardy member of the Aroid (philodendron) family, which produces spikes of green flowers in late summer. This cultivar is named for the hometown of We-Du Nursery in South Carolina, where this sterile cultivar was created. Plant Polly Spout in shade or woodland gardens for the textural effects of the deeply divided green leaves that resemble jack-in-the-pulpit. One of the few hardy aroids that hold their foliage all summer long, rabbits and deer avoid this species because of toxic chemicals in the sap. These chemicals can also cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Polly Spout green dragon (Pinellia tripartita 'Polly Spout') is in the Sensory Garden.

Bright red double flowers up to 4 inches in diameter are features of Hi Neighbor grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Hi Neighbor'), a hardy, disease-resistant grandiflora rose created by the Buck Rose breeding program in Iowa. Glossy green foliage covers a shrub that can reach 4 feet by 4 feet in size. Very hardy, with survival documented at -30 degrees Fahrenheit, this rose has a light scent but rarely produces fruit. Grow in full sun and prune to shape, removing deadwood in early spring after the danger of very cold weather has passed. Treat cutting implements with a disinfectant to avoid spreading viruses between plants.

Hi Neighbor grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Hi Neighbor') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, August 10, 2012

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 09:02:00 EDT

Glory bush (Tibouchina urvilleana) is native to northeastern Brazil, and so it thrives in the bright sun, heat, and humidity of Chicago summers. Royal purple flowers 5 inches in diameter cover this large, velvet-leaved shrub throughout most of the growing season. Glory bush will tolerate partial shade but flowers best in full sun, and it needs moist soils. Insect and disease free, this tough tropical makes a bold statement planted directly in the ground as an annual, or in a container that is overwintered in a warm, sunny location.

There are 350 species in the genus Tibouchina, all of them native to tropical areas of the Americas. Their plant family, the Melastomaceae, can easily be distinguished — even when not in flower — because of the distinctive parallel veins that run lengthwise down the leaf (in contrast to all other plant families, which have a single prominent vein in the leaf). When in flower, the distinctive arrangement of the stamens is a dead give away.

Glory bush (Tibouchina urvilleana) is in the Sensory Garden.

Profusion Double Fire zinnia (Zinnia 'Profusion Double Fire') lights up the summer and fall garden with 2-inch, daisy-shaped, dark orange, gold, and red flowers on an annual that grows to 15 inches in height with an 18-inch spread. This tough little annual is resistant to mildew (the bane of zinnia growers), heat, cold, and poor soils. Plant in full sun and water a couple of times a week until the seedlings are up. Thin to one plant every square foot. Water early in the day to avoid foliage remaining damp overnight. Butterflies are definitely attracted to this plant.

Profusion Double Fire zinnia (Zinnia 'Profusion Double Fire') is in the Circle Garden.

Eastern valerian (Patrinia scabiosaefolia) can produce stems up to 70 inches in height, topped by chrome-yellow flowers throughout much of the growing season. A hardy perennial from Korea and Japan, this plant thrives in full sun and average soil. Like many perennials, this plant focuses on establishing its root system the first year, and will produce only a relatively short rosette of leaves. Once established it blooms profusely, is insect and disease free, and in favored climates it may reseed within the perennial border.

Eastern valerian (Patrinia scabiosaefolia) is on Evening Island.

Champlain rose (Rosa 'Champlain') is one of the very hardy and disease resistant shrub roses developed in Canada known collectively as Explorer roses (named after famous North American explorers). Deep red, semidouble blooms are produced freely throughout much of the summer atop a hardy shrub that tops out at 3 feet, but it will slowly increase in width by suckers. Excellent disease resistance, perfect hardiness, light fragrance, and colorful orange hips in fall and winter all recommend this rose to gardeners in the Chicago area.

Champlain rose (Rosa 'Champlain') is in the Rose Garden.

Snow White lesser calamint (Calamintha nepeta ssp. Nepeta 'Snow White') grows to 1 foot in height, and during the summer it produces sprays of dainty, sweet-tasting, pure white flowers. Plant along a path to enjoy the delicious minty fragrance from the leaves as you stroll by. This cultivar is not nearly as aggressive as the true mints! Plant in full sun and water moderately until established, and thereafter only in drought conditions. Avoid heavy fertilization and do not plant in areas with poor air movement — both of which can kill your mint. Snow White will provide you years of enjoyment in the garden.

Snow White lesser calamint (Calamintha nepeta ssp. Nepeta 'Snow White') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, August 7, 2012

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:54:00 EDT

Japanese anemone, or windflower (Anemone tomentosa 'Robustissima') produces single light pink to lavender flowers from late summer through fall on a perennial that tops out at 32 inches in height. Anemones are best grown in shade to partial-shade conditions with room to spread over time. This cultivar is among the most heat and drought tolerant of the fall-blooming windflowers; however, it still requires consistently moist soils to avoid leaf burn and damage to the flowers. The deep green foliage is densely hirsute (hairy) on the underside, making it an unattractive meal for rabbits. The flowers attract butterflies.

Japanese anemone (Anemone tomentosa 'Robustissima') is in the Landscape Garden.

In late summer great angelica (Angelica gigas) produces immense, deep plum, 8-inch blooms above bold, textured foliage with purple stems that max out at 6 feet in height. Great angelica prefers moist, shady, or partially shaded locations, and it is not particular about soils. Its blooms are pollinated by a wide range of pollinator insects.

This species typically lives for three to four years. Its sap is known to cause allergic dermatitis, and an extract of the roots contains chemicals with coumarinlike effects (blood thinning) and can be fatal if ingested.

Great angelica (Angelica gigas) is in the Lakeside Garden.

Magic lily (Lycoris squamigera) is a "pass along" plant with a long history of cultivation in the U.S. Originally a native of China, this sterile triploid produces no viable seeds, saving all of its energy for the production of flowers and additional bulbs. This is one of the indicator species that help archeologists identify old farmsteads. Depending on how spicy your grandmothers or great aunts were, you may know it by the common names of "surprise lilies" or "naked ladies" — the latter common name referring to the habit of the plant to flower in fall well after the leaves have died down (in spring), bursting as a leafless flower stalk from the soil, apparently overnight.

Rabbits, deer, and other wildlife avoid munching on the leaves of this member of the Amaryllis family — they contain crystalline calcium oxylate molecules that cause delicate mouth and throat tissues to become inflammed and swell. All species in this genus are native to the edges of woodlands in Asia and come in white, yellow, pink, orange, and an almost irridescent turquoise blue. Interplant with hostas and other perennials and groundcovers that come up late, but produce attractive foliage to cover the base of the bare stems of the Lycoris.

Magic lily (Lycoris squamigera) is in the English Walled Garden.

Brazilian button flower (Centratherum intermedium) — noted for its lavender-blue button-shaped flowers — is a nonhardy perennial that thrives in heat and drought. It can reach 2 feet at maturity and reseeds in tropical climates (USDA Zones 9 to 11). Another butterfly magnet, this sunflower relative does not appeal to rabbits and deer.

Taxonomists associated with the flora of Mesoamerica recently determined that the correct scientific name for this species should be Centratherum punctatum subspecies punctatum (published in January, 2012). Name changes like this typically take two or more years to filter through the horticultural community to the commercial growers. Regardless of the name, this is a great plant across much of the United States during our unusually hot summer this year.

Brazilian button flower (Centratherum intermedium) is in the Sensory Garden.

Tiffany hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Tiffany') grows to 4 feet in height with a 3-foot spread, and it is famous for its long stems topped by phlox-pink flowers with yellow at the base of the petals. As a group, hybrid teas are known for producing long, elegantly pointed flower buds, and in the case of Tiffany, sweetly scented flowers. Unfortunately, this rose cultivar is particularly susceptible to powdery and downy mildews, which accentuates the need to plant it in a sunny location away from buildings or other shrubs. This can help to provide air movement in an effort to dry the leaf surface before the mildews take hold.

Tiffany hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Tiffany') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, August 3, 2012

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:19:00 EDT

Herbstonne cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata 'Herbstonne' is a very tall perennial (4 to 7 feet) featuring 3- to 4-inch-wide golden-yellow flowers from midsummer until frost. A plant with several aliases, it is sometimes identified as R. laciniata 'Herbstonne', R. nitida 'Herbstonne', R. laciniata x nitida 'Herbstonne', or R. 'Autumn Sun'. Water well the first year to get the root system established, and then only during periods of extreme drought thereafter. Cutleaf coneflower can spread over time to make a sizeable clump.

This is a wonderful selection for the "back of the border" position in full sun and moderately fertile soil. Like other late-summer members of the Asteraceae (sunflower) family, it attracts a number of pollinating insects. Goldfinches love this plant.

Herbstonne cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata 'Herbstonne') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Graffiti® Rose star cluster (Pentas lanceolata 'Graffiti® Rose') produces vivid pink flowers on 3- by 3-foot plants that thrive in heat, humidity, and full sun as long as they are well watered and fertilized. It also thrives in most soil types and is relatively insect and disease free. The Graffiti® series features a wide variety of colors on plants that all come into flower at the same time and grow to the same size.

Graffiti® Rose star cluster (Pentas lanceolata 'Graffiti Rose) is in the Circle Garden.

Benary's Giant Lime double zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Lime') was originally released for use in cut flower production. Fortunately, bedding plant nurseries have picked up this cultivar for use in the back of the flower bed during the dog days of summer when most other annuals have melted out. Growing to 3 feet tall, it has fully double flowers to 5 inches in diameter on sturdy stems. This cultivar is more resistant to powdery mildew than many other zinnias on the market.

Benary's Giant Lime double zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Lime) is in the English Oak Meadow.

Singin' in the Rain™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'Macivy') is described as an apricot blend whose colors soften over time. The 2.75-inch flowers have a strong musk rose fragrance, and the bush will eventually reach 5 feet in height. Full sun, moderate water, and fertilizer are keys to success with this award-winning rose.

Singin' in the Rain™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'Macivy') is in the Rose Garden.

Strawberry Fields globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa 'Strawberry Fields') is in the Enabling Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, July 31, 2012

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:29:00 EDT

Campsis radicans, commonly known as trumpetcreeper or trumpet vine, features large orange flowers shaped like a trumpet from late summer until frost. A favorite of hummingbirds and pollinating insects, the flowers increase the attraction with external nectaries as well as nectar-producing glands inside the flower near the base. Once established, this native vine can become large if grown on mature trees.

Campsis radicans 'Flamenco' differs from the straight species in having red flowers with orange throats on the current season's growth. For gardeners who prefer a more restrained size, the stems produced last year can be pruned back to retain two dormant buds in late winter.

The genus Campsis is derived from the Greek term kampsis, meaning "bending," because the stamens are curved. This genus contains only two species — the second is native to China, and has a long history of medicinal use. Related species in the same genus occurring in both China and eastern North America are not all that unusual. Before the supercontinent Pangaea split into the seven continents we know today, these genera were found throughout. Since then, the ancestral plants have been modified by their different climates, diverging to produce the species we see today.

Flamenco trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans 'Flamenco') is in the Circle Garden.

Rosa 'Distant Drums' is a grandiflora rose with a floribunda habit — producing flowers in sprays that can include dozens on flowers on each stem. The buds open to reveal double hybrid tea-shaped blooms with bronzy centers surrounded by orchid-pink petals that fade to lavender at the tips. Another of the Buck series of hardy shrub roses (known for dark green, disease-resistant foliage), Distant Drums grows to 4 feet in height with a 5-foot spread, and it is perfectly hardy in the Chicago region.

Distant Drums shrub rose (Rosa 'Distant Drums') is in the Rose Garden.

A black-and-blue plant? The distinctive black color on this South American cultivar is found on the calyx — the floral part surrounding the outstanding violet-blue flowers, which attract hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies looking for nectar. The leaves, when crushed, smell like licorice.

Brazilian sage (Salvia guaranitica) can grow up to 5 feet tall in full sun, in humus-rich, well-drained soil. A better plant for warmer climes, this sage can be grown in the Midwest if well established by midsummer. The plant spreads by rhizomes, which overwinter and can spread to 3 feet underground. A good cover of leaf mulch will help keep them warm in winter and offer soil amendment in spring.

Brazilian sage, or Black and Blue anise-scented sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue') is in the Bulb Garden.

Ginger Snap waterlily dahlia (Dahlia 'Ginger Snap') grows to 3 feet in height and is covered from mid-summer to the first frost with 3-inch rich-gold blooms that fade to caramel at the edges of the petals. This cultivar produces a large number of lateral flower buds, so cut flowers judiciously to avoid removing too many flower buds. Rich, moisture-retentive garden soil and full sun with moderate irrigation and fertilization will produce the greatest number of flowers.

Ginger Snap waterlily dahlia (Dahlia 'Ginger Snap') is in the Sensory Garden.

Fan Blue lobelia (Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Blue') provides dense spikes of widely flared, birdlike flowers from July through fall on 2.5-foot-tall plants. The flowers are an intense blue in the center, shading to purple on the edges. This series of lobelias were bred to come into flower earlier than the straight species, and to continue flowering up to frost.

Fan Blue lobelia (Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Blue') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, July 27, 2012

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EDT

Rosa 'Winter Sunset' shrub rose produces yellow buds that open to double flowers with amber petals shading to orange at the center of the flower. Another of the really tough shrub roses to be released from Iowa by noted breeder Griffith Buck, Winter Sunset has good resistance to fungus and mildew. This shrub rose has a bush-like habit, reaching 4 feet in height with a 36-inch spread. This color range is more typically found in hybrid tea roses, and is a real treat for USDA Zone 5 gardeners (Chicago area) who don't want to have to heavily mulch their roses at the onset of winter.

Hybridizing two hardy parents — one from Russia and the other from famous Kordes Rose Nursery in Germany — Mr. Buck was able to obtain only a single seedling, which he hybridized with a series of hybrid tea, grandiflora, and multiflora roses to develop hardy roses with different colors and sizes. Collectively, the roses resulting from his work are referred to as Buck roses.

Winter Sunset shrub rose (Rosa 'Winter Sunset') is in the Rose Garden.

Benary's Red zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Red) features fully double, deep red 4- to 6-inch blooms on thick, sturdy stems. This plant thrives in the heat and humidity of Chicago summers. (It's nice to know at least one species is enjoying this summer!) This cultivar is highly disease resistant and attracts bees and butterflies. A great, quick-growing choice to fill in holes where less heat tolerant plants have 'melted' out.

Benary's Red Zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Red') is in the English Oak Meadow.

Waooh sunflower (Helianthus annuus 'Waooh') is a diminutive sunflower maxing out at 3 feet of height. Another cultivar that is pollenless, the female-only flowers on this plant will produce a crop of seeds to delight gold finches and people alike. Its blooms are covered with 4-inch golden petals surrounding a deep black center. Waooh is a great choice for late summer flowers after most other sunflower varieties have gone past peak bloom.

Waooh sunflower (Helianthus annuus 'Waooh') is in the Enabling Garden.

The wine-red, pincushion-like flowers of crimson pincushion (Knautia macedonica) bloom continuously from early summer through late fall. This short-lived perennial thrives in full sun and dry-ish soils. The flowers are great for use as fresh cut or dried flowers and the nectar is a favorite of bees and butterflies.

Crimson pincushion (Knautia macedonica) is on Evening Island.

Mesa Yellow blanket flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Mesa Yellow') is the first F1 hybrid of this genus native to the South and Southwestern United States to be commercially available. A short-lived perennial which grows to 24 inches in height with an 18-inch spread, it is covered in clear, vivid yellow flowers throughout most of the late summer and fall. For those whose flowers must meet strict standards, the flowers are all produced in a flat topped 'mesa-like' inflorescence. Unlike the parental species, this cultivar thrives in cool and moist climates as well as hot and humid summers, expanding its appeal to most of the United States.

F1 hybrids are the first generation of offspring produced by hybridizing two parents. Scientists and plant breeders hybridize species to produce plants that typically reflect some characteristics from both parents, but are better adapted to the cultivated urban environment.

Mesa Yellow blanket flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Mesa Yellow') is in the Circle Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, July 24, 2012

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:32:00 EDT

From midsummer through fall, Autumn Colors black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors') produces 5- to 7-inch flowers with a mix of orange, red, bronze, and maroon colors on each flower. Individual flowers on the same plant also are variable in color. This plant's drought tolerance and and deer resistance, along with its attractiveness to butterflies, make this an exceptional plant to have in the garden during this summer of extreme heat and drought, which has forced wildlife into our gardens for nourishment.

Hardy in the Chicago region, Autumn Colors black-eyed Susan is a short-lived perennial — however, if the spent flowers are not removed (deadheaded), it will self-seed to produce a neverending supply of plants for future growing seasons.

Autumn Colors black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors') is in the Circle Garden.

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is blooming throughout the Garden, but perhaps most abundantly in a garden bed between the entrance to the Model Railroad Garden and the Regenstein Center. Similar to butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), in the Chicago area chaste tree is considered a dieback shrub. During winter stems die to the ground, but the roots survive and produce new growth the following spring. Chaste tree's butterfly-friendly and fragrant blue spikes are in flower from late summer into fall. Chaste tree is best planted in spring in full sun and well-drained soil.

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is in the path north of the Circle Garden.

Starburst Lemon Aura sunflower (Helianthus annuus 'Starburst Lemon Aura') produces a multitude of fully double flowers on a well-branched annual growing to 5 feet in height. Its flowers are lemon yellow and lack the stereotypical dark eye of a sunflower in the center. This cultivar is pollenless — an ideal selection for allergy and hay fever sufferers, and for the cut-flower market. This cultivar is drought and heat tolerant.

Starburst Lemon Aura sunflower (Helianthus annuus 'Starburst Lemon Aura') is in the Enabling Garden.

Love and Peace™ rose (Rosa 'Baipeace') is a hybrid tea featuring long, pointed buds with flowers that open golden-yellow, edged in pink. The fragrance is described as fruity, and is not overpoweringly strong. Unlike many other hybrid teas, the foliage remains on the stem all the way to the ground throughout the growing season, eliminating the need to plant annuals in front of the rose to hide the "ugly ankles." It is hardy to USDA Zone 6, so plants must be protected in the Chicago region over winter with a layer of leaves or mulch about 18 inches high over the crown. Love and Peace rose is also prone to black spot and powdery mildew — two banes of rose growers everywhere. This particular cultivar is an offspring of the famous Peace rose introduced shortly after World War II.

Gardeners have been mystified by cultivar names for Rosa and other genera over the last ten years or so; they appear to be gobbledygook. (What is 'Baipeace'?) Actually, cultivar names reflect a trend among plant breeders and purveyors of new plants to protect their investment of time and money for a greater period of time. Under the system used until relatively recently, a new cultivar was patented, and the patent protection lasted for 18 years. By using a "gobbledygook" cultivar name and then assigning a "people-friendly" trademark or registered name, an originator of a new cultivar is able to obtain indefinite protection. This translates to payments to the originator for every plant of that cultivar that is sold — indefinitely.

Love and Peace™ hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Baipeace') is in the Rose Garden.

This quintessential midwestern native dots prairies from Illinois to Virginia, and Louisiana to Georgia. A popular, easily grown, drought-tolerant plant, purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) attracts beneficial insects to the garden, including butterflies and soldier beetles.

Hardy from USDA Zones 3 through 9, Echinacea purpurea 'Fragrant Angel' boasts 5-inch fragrant white flowers on a hardy perennial to 2 feet in height by 20 inches wide. Plant in full sun and well drained soils for best bloom production and longevity of the plant. Coneflower may need protection from rabbits until the plant is well established and able to survive some nibbling of the leaves.

Traditionally used to treat a range of infections and malignancies, the roots and herb (above-ground parts) of Echinacea species are purported to have "immune stimulant" properties and can be found in many dietary supplements.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea 'Fragrant Angel') is in the Sensory Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, July 20, 2012

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:18:00 EDT

Bright Eyes™ crocosmia (Crocosmia 'Walbreyes') produces spikes up to 18 inches high of bright, yellow-orange flowers with a deep-red throat. The flowers face or point slightly upright compared to other varieties, producing a more attractive display. This sterile cultivar created by noted U.K. horticulturist, David Tristan, continues to flower even when the corms become crowded — a boon for gardeners who dislike dividing clumps of bulbs. Bright Eyes crocosmia is hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 10.

Plant this cultivar in full sun, in areas that frequently dry out and get hot. Protect the corms from voles, if possible. Hummingbirds are strongly attracted to the flowers.

All seven species are native to South Africa. The dried flowers of C. aurea, one of the parents of this cultivar, smell like saffron when placed in water. Another species is a source of yellow dye.

Bright Eyes™ crocosmia (Crocosmia 'Walbreyes') is in the Circle Garden.

German Garlic (Allium senescens) is a tough perennial for the Chicago area with pink or lavender flowers from July through August. The long strap-like leaves are frequently curved. This species can reach 20 inches in height with an 8-inch spread when grown in full sun and well-drained soils. Butterflies, moths, and bees are attracted to the flowers, while the sap from the bruised leaves/bulbs is reported to deter insects and moles.

German garlic (Allium senescens) is in the Landscape Garden.

Fan Burgundy lobelia (Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Burgundy') blooms much earlier than either of its parental species. A stocky perennial, it requires soils that do not dry out to perform best. The large burgundy-ish colored flowers are produced on sturdy stalks. Once established, the flower spikes get long enough to be used as cut flowers. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, but deer find the foliage and flowers unpalatable.

Fan Burgundy lobelia (Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Burgundy') is in the Sensory Garden.

Candelabra™ grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Jaccinqo') produces bright coral-orange buds opening to flowers 4 inches across. This rose will grow to 5 feet in height with a 3-foot spread, and will be covered with dark-green glossy leaves throughout the growing season. Candelabra rose is moderately disease resistant. Its light fragrance is reminiscent of cotton candy.

Candelabra™ grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Jaccinqo') is in the Rose Garden.

Perovskia atriplicifolia, commonly called Russian Sage, is actually native to a large part of Central Asia extending from Russia south to Afghanistan and Pakistan, east to Tibet, and west to Iran. Small blue flowers contrast with gray, finely dissected leaves on a widely branched, clump-forming, hardy perennial. Once its root system has become established in the second year of growth, this becomes a perfect plant for very hot, dry, sunny garden settings. Plantings can reach 3 feet in height and spread an equal distance. Rabbits, voles, and deer find the foliage and flowers to be disagreeable.

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is on Evening Island.

In Bloom in the Garden, July 17, 2012

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:38:00 EDT

Growing to only 12 inches tall, dwarf lily-of-the-nile, or Peter Pan agapanthus (Agapanthus 'Peter Pan') is a beautiful mini version of traditional agapanthus. From early summer through fall, this cultivar displays delicate blue flowers borne in rounded umbels at the end of inflorescences to 18 inches tall, held above clumps of strap-shaped, deep green leaves. Native to the South African coast with some species migrating inland to rivers and streams, the long coastal dry season has bred drought resistance into those cultivars — agapanthus tend to be evergreen in coastal areas, with deciduous species occuring in inland regions. This plant's very strong root system makes it ideal for growing in rock gardens and as a border plant in warmer climates (USDA Zones 8a through 11), but it is also very successful as a container plant, where keeping the plant slightly rootbound improves flowering.

Agapanthus blooms best in a spot where it gets full sun and has moist, well-drained, acidic soil with a pH from 5.1 to 6.0. Difficult to cultivate true to seed, agapanthus is usually spread by division of rootstock. Divide every three to four years to keep clumps healthy and vigorous, but make sure to wear gloves, as agapanthus may cause allergic dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Peter Pan agapanthus (Agapanthus 'Peter Pan') is in the Bulb Garden.

Bred by Jack E. Christensen (Ontaria, Canada) and introduced in 1982 by Armstrong Nurseries, Inc., Gold Medal® grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Aroyqueli') is a mildly aromatic, stunning hybrid tea whose peach-colored buds open to double, cupped yellow blooms with delicate salmon to copper shading on the tips of the petals. Growing to 6 feet tall with a spread of 3 feet, Gold Medal is disease resistant with few thorns, and an upright, branching habit.

Hardy from USDA Zones 6b to 10a, Gold Medal rose holds up well in warmer climates, although blooms will fade to cream in temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gold Medal® grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Aroyqueli') is in the Rose Garden.

The long-lasting, pink, orchidlike blooms of Adessa Pink® snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia 'Adessa Pink') are a must-have for the midwestern summer annual garden. These upright 20-inch plants with glossy, narrow, dark green leaves thrive in heat and humidity, are deer resistant, and grow easily in moist, but well drained soil.

Don't have a yard but still want the "pop" of color? Snapdragons also are great container plants for window boxes or planters, and make a great cut flower. With care, summer snapdragons will bloom in profusion from July through October.

Adessa Pink® snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia 'Adessa Pink') is in the Sensory Garden.

Irish Eyes gloriosa daisy or black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta 'Irish Eyes') is a robust, herbaceous perennial whose bicolor yellow, daisylike blooms with lime green centers reach to 5 inches in diameter on a plant growing to 4 feet tall. Plant in full sun in well drained, mildly acidic to neutral pH soil (between 6.1 to 7.5), and water regularly, but do not overwater. Irish eyes will even do well in some sand and clay soils. This hardy member of the Asteraceae family is tolerant of a range of conditions including drought, heat and humidity, pollution, and salty seashore air; deer do not find it delicious, either. How can you go wrong?

Deadhead flowers for continual blooming throughout the summer, or leave spent blooms to seed for birds or seed your garden. Be warned, however — Irish Eyes can be a prodigious reseeder, which would be a welcome addition to a prairie or cottage garden, but perhaps not a formal garden area.

Irish Eyes black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta 'Irish Eyes') is in the English Oak Meadow.

Ageratums are members of the Asteraceae, or sunflower, family, known for their flowers lacking petals, which typically thrive under cool, moist conditions. The cultivar 'Diamond Blue' features 30-inch-tall plants with clusters of purpley-blue "feather-duster" flowers up to 4 inches across. Ageratum is beloved by butterflies, and the taller stems lend themselves to use as cut flowers.

The name Ageratum is derived from the Greek a (without) and geras (age) in recognition of their long-lasting flowers whose color does not fade as they age. The genus contains about 43 species, all of them native to the tropical regions of North and South America. One species, Ageratum conyzoides, has become a weed in tropical areas.

Diamond Blue floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum 'Diamond Blue') is in the Circle Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, July 13, 2012

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EDT

Graffiti^® Egyptian star cluster (Pentas lanceolata 'Graffiti Red Lace') is a woody perennial or subshrub that blooms all summer long. This cultivar grows to 1 foot in height and produces tight little clusters of red, star-shaped flowers accented with little white pairs of stamens. It works well as a greenhouse plant or a bedding plant.

Native to several regions of Africa, Egyptian star cluster attracts butterflies and is very heat-tolerant, as long as it has enough water. It can be brought indoors when frost threatens, and it will continue blooming as long as it has enough light and temperatures stay above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other varieties of star cluster grow up to 3 feet tall and have flowers in pink, white, or lilac. Egyptian star cluster is in the madder family, Rubiaceae, which means it is related to coffee and gardenias. The only hardy member in this family is the native buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis).

Graffiti® Egyptian Star Cluster (Pentas lanceolata 'Graffiti Red Lace') is in the Circle Garden.

Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), a wide-ranging native perennial, grows from Colorado to Kentucky and north into Canada. Also known as blue giant hyssop, it has large, toothed ovate leaves that are whitish below, with a scent like licorice. A member of the mint family, it has square stems and fuzzy 3-inch spikes of attractive tubular lavender-blue flowers with five lips. It attracts butterflies and bees, but not deer. At 3 to 5 feet in height, anise hyssop is a large plant for the back of the border. It should get full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It isn't fussy about soil, but does not want to be soggy. Although this plant is native to Illinois, it is only found now in one county due to loss of habitat. Normally it blooms in August, but we are a month ahead in bloom times due to the early spring.

Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is on Evening Island.

False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) is the earliest blooming of the natives with flowers that look like yellow daisies or small sunflowers. It is a tough, hardy native perennial found in prairies and along the edges of woodlands. It typically grows from 3 to 5 feet tall, with flowers that face straight up. The leaves are stiff, very broad at the base and coarsely toothed, to 5 inches long. Once established, it is drought tolerant and long blooming, usually from June to September.

The species is found in the wild from Hudson Bay to Florida, and west to North Dakota and New Mexico. It is a "false" sunflower, because the ray flowers are fertile — capable of producing seed. Plants in the aster family are also called "composites," because each flower is a combination of little central disc flowers and often showy outer ray flowers. There many species of yellow composites in this country, especially in the western states, that can only be distinguished by such details as minute differences in the calyx surrounding the flowers or the amount of hairs on the leaves. Frustrated botanists call these "DYCs" — darned yellow composites.

Sunflower heliopsis (Heliopsis helianthoides) is in the Native Plant Garden.

Dahlia 'Andrew Charles', a new variety released in 2010, has graceful flowers 5 inches across in a tasty blend of orange and melon. It grows to 4 feet tall with extra-long purple stems that make it easy to use as a cut flower.

There are at least 50,000 cultivars of dahlias that have been bred from about 30 wild species, all native from Mexico to Columbia. They are considered tuberous-rooted perennials and they are in the aster family. One wild species, Dahlia excelsa, grows up to 18 feet tall, but modern breeders seek shorter varieties for the home garden. The American Dahlia Society organizes the many cultivars, estimated at 50,000 or more, into classes that include 15 colors, 20 forms, and nine flower sizes. Sizes range from "mignon," which is 2 inches or less, to "giant," which exceeds 10 inches. Examples of forms are anemone-flowered, straight cactus, pompon, and formal decorative.

Andrew Charles dahlia (Dahlia 'Andrew Charles') is in the Bulb Garden.

The Iceberg floribunda rose (Rosa 'Iceberg') has medium-sized blooms that grow in clusters. It grows vigorously and is disease resistant. The flowers are snowy white, but with a tinge of pink before they open fully in cooler weather. Iceberg forms a dense shrub that is well-branched and good in masses. It can reach 6 feet in height but is easily trimmed to 4 feet or below.

A rose with several other names, it was bred in Germany, where it was given the cultivar name 'Korbin' but was marketed here under the name 'Iceberg'. It is also known in various countries as 'Fée des Neiges' and 'Schneewittchen', which attests to its popularity. It is a cross between 'Robin Hood', a red hybrid musk rose, and 'Virgo', a white hybrid tea rose. It was named the "World's Favorite Rose" in 1983 by the World Federation of Rose Societies.

Iceberg floribunda rose (Rosa 'Iceberg') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, July 10, 2012

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:50:00 EDT

The fragrant, pristinely white, tubular flowers of Croftway™ Snow Queen cape fuchsia (Phygelius aequalis 'Crosnoque') are borne on panicles extending up to 2 feet above the semievergreen, deep green ovate leaves, and dangle seductively over garden paths luring hummingbird and butterfly pollinators. An aggressive suckering perennial in its native habitat along the streambanks and wet slopes of South Africa, cape fuchsia is hardy in USDA Zones 7 to 9, and it is grown in our climate as an annual. Planted in well-drained soil with ample sun, it will reach 15 to 18 inches in height and spread, and when deadheaded promptly the plant will bloom continuously from May through August.

A hybrid of P. aequalis and P. capensis, 'Snow Queen' is the only pure-white cultivar in this genus. Its male parent, Phygelius aequalis, bears a yellow trumpet flower. The current cultivars of the other species in this genus, P. capensis, all bear a variety of salmon-colored, orange, pink, and red blooms.

Croftway™ Snow Queen cape fuchsia (Phygelius aequalis 'Crosnoque') is in the Enabling Garden.

Nancilee waterlily dahlia (Dahlia 'Nancilee') is a hot fuchsia waterlily dahlia whose interior petals are white with dark berry-colored tips. This cultivar grows to 3 feet tall with 5-inch blooms, and makes an excellent cut flower as well as a garden perennial. Water regularly, but do not overwater.

Nancilee waterlily dahlia (Dahlia 'Nancilee') is in the Circle Garden.

The McCartney Rose™ (Rosa 'Meizeli') is a double medium-pink, intensely fragrant, upright hybrid tea rose. Bred by Alain Meilland, it was introduced in France in 1992 by Meilland International and offered as a birthday gift to Sir Paul McCartney on his birthday by his record company.

This cultivar grows to a height of 4 to 6 feet, with a spread of 3 to 4 feet, and is susceptible to black spot. When well-mulched, it is hardy to USDA Zone 5.

The McCartney Rose™ (Rosa 'Meizeli') is in the All-America Selections bed of the Rose Garden.

Silk Road Orienpet lily begins with a white base color that deepens to intense crimson pink, with just a kiss of yellow at the very center. Blooms are borne on an enormous inflorescence with many well-spaced buds, ensuring blooms from mid-July through August. This lily can be up to 6 feet tall in the first year of planting, reblooming at 4 feet in consecutive years.

"Orienpet" lilies get their strange monikers from being a cross between Oriental lilies and trumpet lily hybrids. These lilies tend to gain both the height, fragrance, and bold blooms of their Oriental parent, and the disease resistance and heat tolerance of the trumpet parent. These are cultivars that look gorgeous and stand up to harsh winters and scorching summers alike.

Silk Road Orienpet lily (Lilium 'Silk Road') is in the Bulb Garden.

Nicky garden phlox (Phlox paniculata 'Nicky') displays one of the darkest hues of all tall garden phlox. This perennial magenta-to-purple-flowered, disease-resistant member of the phlox family (Polemoniaceae) has delightfully scented flowers. They are best grown in full sun or near the edge of wooded areas where they can benefit from good air movement (to reduce the incidence of powdery and downy mildews) and strong sunlight (to enhance the number and intensity of flower colors).

The genus name Phlox is derived from the name given by Greek philosopher/physician Theophrasus to the genus Lychnis. This genus is primarily North American in distribution and includes showy annuals (Phlox drummondii), rock garden plants (Phlox subulata and a number of other species), and perennials (like the numerous cultivars of Phlox paniculata).

Nicky garden phlox (Phlox paniculata 'Nicky') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom in the Garden, July 6, 2012

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:32:00 EDT

Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium ) is a one of a group of plants in the carrot family known for clumps of pale green, prickly leaves, and spiny, spherical flower heads. Rattlesnake master has clusters of up to 31 1-inch, silvery-white globes radiating from a central point, growing atop sturdy 3-foot stems. The flowers are slow to develop and slow to fade, and are effective from June to September. The clumps of stiff, narrow, prickly leaves resemble yucca leaves, except that they grow alternately along the stalk. The plant needs full sun and is moderately drought tolerant, but flowers will fade if not receiving adequate moisture. It attracts numerous small butterflies and bees.

There are two versions of how this plant got its common name: one was from an early belief that sap from the roots would ward off rattlesnakes; the other is that the dried seedheads were used as rattles by Native Americans. It is found growing in meadows and prairies of the Eastern and Central United States.

Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is in the Native Plant Garden.

Kanga™ pink kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos 'Bush Pearl') is loving this hot weather. Kangaroo paws, native to sandy or gravelly riverbanks in western Australia, produce flowers enclosed in long, curved calyces—the outer coverings of flower buds—covered in dense, brightly colored fuzz that persists long after the actual flower. The flower, white and green with pointy petals, eventually protrudes from the calyx. While they aren't as showy as the buds, in their native habitat they attract nectar-feeding birds and honey possums.

This cultivar reaches 2 feet in height with hot-pink fuzz extending down the stem. The clumps of stiff, narrow, swordlike leaves grow from a rhizome (a thickened underground root), which helps conserve moisture and allows the plant to become dormant in the dry season. Kangaroo paws need full sun and well-drained soil. They are a perennial in the family Haemodoraceae, which is related to the lily family.

Kanga™ pink kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos 'Bush Pearl') is in the Sensory Garden.

Indian Summer black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta 'Indian Summer') was bred for extra-large flowers that can measure 6 inches across the top of this 2-foot plant. Black-eyed Susans are among the most popular and easily recognized native perennials, with their yellow ray flowers and dark brown disks. Although this species is a perennial, it is often grown as an annual because the flowers it produces first season are not reproducable thereafter, and genetic diversity leads to many color variations. Cultivars with multiple colors such as maroon, orange, and yellow are often called "gloriosa daisies." The fuzzy, narrow leaves are not among its ornamental characteristics, and the plants tend to fade in a garden setting after a few years. This species has an extensive native range, growing throughout much of the United States and Canada.

Indian Summer black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta 'Indian Summer') is in the English Oak Meadow.

Dahlia 'Hearththrob' is classified as a collarette dahlia. It has an outer ring of eight large crimson petals, overlain by smaller, frilly petals of red and pale yellow. The bright yellow central disk is prominent and provides a nice contrast to the dark petals. Heartthrob dahlia grows to 3 feet tall with flowers measuring 3 inches across.

Dahlias grow from tubers, which can be saved for another season if you wish to go to the trouble. Doing this requires cutting back the plants before a heavy frost and leaving at least 3 to 4 inches of the stems, where "eyes" form. Soil needs to be washed off. The tubers need to be packed in dry sphagnum moss in a cool, dark place at temperatures between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If they become shriveled, a little water can be added. Replant in the spring when all danger of frost is past.

Heartthrob collarette dahlia (Dahlia 'Heartthrob') is in the Circle Garden.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a well-loved native that proves the point that native wildflowers are certainly not weeds. They produce 3- to 4-inch-diameter daisies in shades of pale purple, magenta, or pink. The attractive dark green basal leaves are broad and stiff.

Normally they begin to bloom late in July and last until September, but this year they started blooming in June. The central disk—the "cone"—is stiff and prickly, with little spiny floral receptacles called "paleae," which are rusty orange and tipped with dark red. Purple coneflowers grow 2 to 3 feet tall and are hardy from USDA Zones 3 to 8. Due to its brilliant color and long range of blooms that overlap other species such as yellow coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa), this plant has been used for much hybridizing in the last few years, including work done by our own Dr. Jim Ault in association with the Chicagoland Grows® program. Various species of Echinacea have been used as herbal remedies to treat colds and infections. Some species are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and careless collecting in the wild.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is on Evening Island.

In Bloom at the Garden, July 3, 2012

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:50:00 EDT

As its name suggests, Attraction butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii 'Attraction') is a magnet for nectar-loving insects. Growing 6 to 8 feet in height and breadth, this cultivar has incredibly fragrant, bright jelly-purple to magenta-colored blooms bourne on long canes with attractive gray-green foliage.

Introduced by Michael Dirr from the University of Georgia Research Foundation, this quick-growing Buddleja blossoms from July to frost and grows quickly in moist, well-drained soil with average fertility (although adding lime to the soil will result in increased growth and better floral quality). Deadhead to prolong the shrub's blooming season, and cut canes to the ground in late winter, as all growth and flowering occurs on new canes. Butterfly bush is often a late starter in the garden, so remember to have patience if yours leafs out more slowly than your other perennials.

Attraction butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii 'Attraction') is in the Bulb Garden.

Maggie Daley false goatsbeard (Astilbe chinensis 'Maggie Daley') was selected for the Lakeside Garden because it is better able to withstand summer heat and dry soils than other astilbes. Dark green foliage growing up to 20 inches tall with dense, lavender-purple flower spikes to 28 inches make this cultivar a wise choice for the shady garden with soils that remain moist for most of the year. (During droughts, supplemental water is necessary.) This cultivar is a favorite of butterflies, and blooms from mid- to late summer.

Maggie Daley false goatsbeard (Astilbe chinensis 'Maggie Daley') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) produces white, daisylike flowers from midsummer to late in the fall on perennial plants to 2 feet in height with nicely dissected green leaves. It grows best in full sun with moderate moisture and moderate fertilization. It is avoided by most herbivores because of the chemical constituents in the leaves.

The common name is derived from the Latin febrifugia (fever reducer). During the Middle Ages it was also recommended for tonic, digestive, and emmenagogic (menstruation-provoking) properties. Modern medicine has documented a series of negative side affects associated with the use of feverfew, but has been unable to confirm beneficial uses. A close relative of feverfew was used to flavor ale before the use of hops was adopted.

The native range for feverfew extends from the Balkans to the Caucasus region. Because of its folk-medicine reputation, it was carried by emigrants from Europe on their voyages and can now be found naturalized in parts of North America and Chile.

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is in the English Walled Garden.

The striking, white-tipped, fuchsia-red blooms of Zachary Roberts waterlily dahlia (Dahlia 'Zachary Roberts') bring stunning, long-lasting color to any garden. This formal decorative cultivar grows to 4 feet in height and produces regular 4-inch blooms. With regular deadheading, dahlias will bloom from early summer up until frost. Grow in humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun.

Zachary Roberts waterlily dahlia (Dahlia 'Zachary Roberts') is in the Circle Garden.

Mary Rose® English shrub rose (Rosa 'AUSmary') is a loosely petalled, strongly fragrant, pink double-flowered shrub rose with medium green foliage. In ideal conditions it grows very bushy and upright to a full size of roughly 4 to 5 feet in height, and 3 to 5 feet in breadth. This cultivar is very disease resistant and particularly winter hardy.

The Mary Rose rose was named after Henry VIII's flagship, which sank in 1545 in battle with the French at the Solent. The wreck was rediscovered in the 1830's when a partial recovery was done, but the silty riverbed reclaimed the ship again, and it was not rediscovered again until 1967. She was finally raised in October 1982, more than 400 years after her sinking. Divers recovered more than 22,000 artifacts from the ship, which will be on display in the Mary Rose Museum at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in England later this year.

Mary Rose English shrub rose (Rosa 'AUSmary') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, June 29, 2012

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:17:00 EDT

Sparkler White spider flower (Cleome hassleriana 'Sparkler White') is an easy-to-grow, self-seeding annual that rewards the gardener with large clusters of white flowers with very long stamens that give it a spidery appearance. The flowers are followed by narrow, long-stalked pods that host a wealth of seeds for the gardener to share with friends — and still ensure a planting of spider flower for next year in the same spot.

Growing 3 to 4 feet tall and tolerant of full sun or partial shade, it is a good plant for the back of a border or in front of trees or shrubs. The attractive compound leaves have glands that emit a pungent fragrance that smells like a combination of lemon and garlic, and deters deer from eating the flower and its neighboring plantings. In its native habitat in South America, it is pollinated by bats or moths.

Sparkler White spider flower (Cleome hassleriana 'Sparkler White') is on Evening Island.

Merlot dahlia (Dahlia 'Merlot') has rich crimson flowers that can grow to
6 inches across on 3-foot plants that do not require staking. This dahlia, which has purple stems, is placed in the cactus-flowering, incurved class of dahlias, and was introduced in 2006. It does well as a cut flower, with its graceful, narrow petals that curve upward toward the center of the flower.

Dahlias, native to Mexico, were named after Swedish botanist Andreas Dahl, a student of Carl Linnaeus. There are hundreds of varieties, and they have been classified by the American Dahlia Society into 12 basic classes based on the shape of the flower.

Merlot dahlia (Dahlia 'Merlot') is in the Circle Garden.

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Asahi' is a double-flowered cultivar of false sunflower, also known as ox-eye daisy. 'Asahi' is unique in having numerous congested, toothed central florets surrounded by several rings of larger, normal ray flowers. It is a tough, hardy native perennial found in prairies and along the edges of woodlands. At 2 feet tall, this false sunflower is shorter than the wild species. Once established, 'Asahi' is drought-tolerant and long-blooming — usually from June to September. This species is found in the wild from Hudson Bay to Florida, and west to North Dakota and New Mexico.

Asahi false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Asahi') is in the Sensory Garden.

Bred in France and introduced in 1989, White Meidiland® shrub rose (Rosa 'Meicoublan') is one of the first in the Meidland shrub rose line to be developed. This low-growing shrub rose is continuously covered in snowy white blooms all summer, as long as temperatures are not excessively high. White Meidiland shrub rose has a mild fragrance and is disease resistant. It is not fussy with its soil requirements, but needs watering during dry periods, and occasional deadheading of spent flowers. Meidiland roses make excellent low hedges lining a walkway or cascading from walls.

White Meidiiand® shrub rose (Rosa 'Meicoublan') is in the Rose Garden.

Bouquet™ Rose Magic pink (Dianthus barbatus 'Bouquet Rose Magic') is a hardy perennial that blooms in its first year with abundant lacy flowers in many shades of pink, all on the same plant. Each plant measures about 1½ feet tall and wide. The flowers open white, speckled with pink, and evolve into a darker shade as they mature, giving a multicolor effect. A hybrid of sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), these pinks were planted as an annual display in the English Walled Garden but came back this year with vigorous new growth. They are tolerant of heat and light frost. If they stop flowering, deadheading and trimming will encourage them to rebloom.

Bouquet™ Rose Magic pink (Dianthus barbatus 'Rose Magic') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, June 26, 2012

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:58:00 EDT

A plant endemic to the Great Lakes region of the United States, Gemo St. John's wort (Hypericum kalmaianum 'Gemo') is a Danish cultivar whose showy golden blooms flower from July through September — much longer than other Hypericum. This low-maintenance perennial forms a tightly branched, mounded shrub with dark green, willowlike leaves and grows to 30 inches by 30 inches. It requires moderately fertile, evenly moist soil, and once established, it is relatively drought tolerant.

This is not the species valued for its medicinal properties (H. perforatum). St. John's worts are poisonous to livestock when ingested, and in high doses it can cause many of the same symptoms in humans.

St. John's wort is one of the few plants tolerant of being planted near black walnut trees. Soil under these trees tends to be alkaline, influencing the growth of many plants. These trees produce a nontoxic, colorless chemical called hydrojuglone, which kills many plants as they take up the chemical from the soil. Hypericum, however, remain unaffected.

Gemo St. John's wort (Hypericum kalmianum 'Gemo') is on Evening Island.

Sunday Wine Red plumed celosia (Celosia argentea var. plumosa 'Sunday Wine Red') adds bold, long-lasting color and texture to the garden or border. As its name suggests, deep red, pyramidal, feather-like tufts or "plumes" from 4 to 10 inches long are the highlight of this cultivar.

A member of the Amaranthaceae family, it enjoys hot weather — full sun is definitely required for this plant native of equatorial tropics in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. While easily grown in humusy, consistently moist, well-drained soils, it will also tolerate dry soil and drought. Plants may reach 2 feet in height in optimal growing conditions, but an abundance of rain and high humidity may cause the flowers to rot.

Celosias make excellent cut flowers in both fresh and dried arrangements.

Sunday Wine Red plumed celosia (Celosia argentea var. plumosa 'Sunday Wine Red') is in the Sensory Garden.

Lamb's ears or wooly betony (Stachys byzantia) is a favorite of gardeners everywhere. The plant's thick, silvery, soft, wooly leaves combined with a low, spreading habit makes it perfectly suited as a foliage planting for borders and rock gardens — but right now, its purple flower spikes stand like sentinels in the midsummer garden!

Stachys species typically spread by runners, forming a rapidly spreading mat approximately 4 to 6 inches off the ground. Good drainage in summer and winter is essential for the health and longevity of S. byzantina and other woolly-leaved species.

The Stachys genus has several medicinally active species, and it is also known by the common name of "woundwort." Early documented use notes the antiseptic qualities of the leaves and their use to bandage wounds. Stachys byzantina extract has shown antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria.

Lamb's ears (Stachys byzantina) may be found in the English Walled Garden.

Prince Charming dwarf cactus dahlia (Dahlia 'Prince Charming') produces pure white, 4-inch flowers that are attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds. Deer-resistant dahlias require full sun and rich, loamy, well-drained soil. Heavy blooms generally mean staking these plants, but this shorter cultivar only grows to 2 feet in height, making it perfect to show off in the front of the garden bed.

Prince Charming dwarf cactus dahlia (Dahlia 'Prince Charming') is in the Circle Garden.

Ingrid Bergman hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Poulman') is a highly floriferous, fully double, true-red tea rose. Growing to 6 feet in USDA Zones 5 through 9, this is a vigorous cultivar with dark green, leathery leaves resistant to black spot, powdery mildew, and rust.

This nonfragrant hybrid by L. Pernille Olesen and Mogens N. Olesen was introduced in Denmark in 1984. Ingrid Bergman rose is very winter hardy when mulched well.

Ingrid Bergman® hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Poulman') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, June 22, 2012

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 08:00:07 EDT

Victoria Blue sage (Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue') is a compact, densely branched sage cultivar with striking, rich, deep-blue flower spikes held well above the grey-green foliage. Growing to 2 feet tall and spreading to about two feet, it is attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds, but not deer. The leaves on this cultivar are exceptionally healthy. A drought-tolerant plant native to the southwestern United States, Victoria Blue sage is hardy to USDA Zones 8 through 10, and is grown as an annual in the Chicago region, although it may return from winter dieback when planted in a protected location and mulched well.

The common name of "mealy cup sage" comes from the soft, fuzzy texture found on the upper stems of this plant — the powdery "meal." This is reflected in the Latin name as well, as "farinacea" comes from the Latin word for flour or meal (as in the farina grain found in Cream of Wheat hot cereal).

Victoria Blue mealy cup sage (Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue') is in the Sensory Garden.

All summer long, 2009 AARS winner Cinco de Mayo™ floribunda rose produces bright coral blooms reminiscent of the petticoats of a Spanish flamenco dancer's skirt. This disease-resistant cultivar bears its blooms above clean, glossy green foliage and dark red new growth. Growing 3 to 4 feet tall with a 3-foot spread and a rounded, bushy habit, this is not a fragrant bloomer, but some report the flowers have a very slight scent of fresh-cut apples.

Cinco de Mayo is a hybrid of Rosa 'Topsy Turvey' and 2006 AARS award-winner R. 'Julia Child', developed by Tom Carruth and introduced by Weeks Roses of Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Cinco de Mayo™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'Cinco de Mayo'™) is in the All-America Selections bed in the Rose Garden.

Evening Lady dahlia (Dahlia 'Evening Lady') is a superb double-form cultivar with deep burgundy-red flowers from 4 to 8 inches in diameter. Deadheading spent blooms will encourage production of new flowers up until frost. Introduced in 1991, Evening Lady dahlia is a recipient of the Derril W. Hart medal, which is awarded to the highest average trial garden score in a particular class in the seven accredited trial gardens across the United States and Canada.

Dahlias prefer well-drained, fertile soil and part- to full-sun locations in the garden. After frost, remove the tubers from the ground and store in a cool, dry, dark location to replant in spring.

Evening Lady dahlia (Dahlia 'Evening Lady') is in the Bulb Garden.

The delicate primrose-yellow blooms of Anthea yarrow (Achillea 'Anblo') sit as flat clusters atop upright stems held well above its dense, fernlike foliage. Easy to grow in a variety of well-drained soils ranging from clay to loam to sand, yarrow creates vibrant contrast when grown with rich purple flowers such as sage or Siberian iris. Anthea yarrow is the perfect plant for the suburban border garden — it is naturally deer and rabbit resistant and is tolerant of drought and salt. A butterfly attractant, it is lightly fragrant, and deadheading produces lovely dried flowers as well as encourages a second bloom.

Anthea™ yarrow (Achillea 'Anblo') is on Evening Island.

Justicia brandegeana is known colloquially as shrimp plant due to the resemblance of its flowers to the tiny crustaceans. The showy flowers are actually modified leaves called bracts; the true flowers are white and appear for a relatively short period of time. A member of the Acanthaceae family, this species has long been a favorite of tropical conservatories and subtropical gardens. It roots easily from vegetative cuttings dipped in a rooting hormone and held in a high-moisture environment featuring excellent soil drainage and moderate air movement. Over time, the plants tend to get leggy as they grow in height and lose their lower leaves. This issue can be overcome by periodically pruning the plant back to at least two internodes (joints where new stems can arise from).

Shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana) is in the Circle Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, June 19, 2012

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:09:00 EDT

Royal Aspirations candle delphinium (Delphinium elatum 'Royal Aspirations') offers an opportunity for Chicago-area gardeners to grow the kind of majestic 6-foot-tall delphiniums previously limited to English and Pacific Northwest gardeners. Hand-pollinated by a family of New Zealand nurserymen, this series of delphiniums — royal blue with a white bee — are more tolerant of heat and humidity, which can be an issue this time of year. After the first bloom cycle is completed, the plants can be deadheaded to 6 inches above the soil line to encourage a second set of flower spikes. Plant in loamy soils and side dress with compost or leaf mold in spring and summer to provide a low dose of nutrition over time, while keeping the soil moist and cool.

Delphinion was a Greek name used by Dioscorides referring to the resemblance of the individual flowers to the nose of a dolphin (delphis). Linnaeus Latinized the name slightly to Delphinium when he first published this genus name.

Royal Aspirations candle delphinium (Delphinium elatum 'Royal Aspirations') is in the English Walled Garden.

'Big Blue' sea holly (Eryngium 'Big Blue') dazzles the eye with iridescent blue flowers on blue stems and leaves in an inflorescence resembling a candelabra. Flowers continue to be produced over a long flowering period. Four-inch-diameter bracts surround the central cone of fertile flowers on a plant that matures about 30 inches tall by 18 inches wide. It is attractive to butterflies, but deer avoid it because of the prickly spines on the leaves. Plant in full sun, in soils that tend to stay on the dry side for best results.

In Medieval Europe, the candied roots were used in tonics.

Big Blue sea holly (Eryngium 'Big Blue') is in the Sensory Garden.

Beginning mid-June and extending until frost, Crimson Bouquet™ grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Korbeteilich') produces 4-inch-diameter bright red blooms on a 4-foot rounded bush bearing deep, glossy green, disease-resistant foliage. The flowers have only a slight fragrance. The 2000 American Rose Society selection committee that awarded this cultivar an award noted it is perhaps the deepest red of any rose on the market. Plant in full sun and keep the soil moderately moist. Feed periodically with soluble fertilizer solutions or top-dress with well-rotted manure in mid-winter and mulch with leaf mold to keep the soil from drying too quickly during the growing season. Roses will not tolerate standing water.

Rabbits have a very annoying habit of biting off the new succulent canes in early spring. (It would be one thing if they actually consumed the entire stem, but they prefer to go on to the next stem instead — arrgh!) Another favorite rose pest, Japanese beetles, are virtually impossible to kill once they reach maturity. If heavy infestations are present year after year, a treatment of the turfgrass in your yard with a product known as milky spore will introduce a natural control for the developing larvae. One treatment persists for years.

Crimson Bouquet™ grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Korbeteilich') is in the Rose Garden.

Lilium 'Aladdin's Sun' is a Longiflorum (Easter lily type) crossed with an Asiatic (garden type) hybrid, with large, up-facing, lemon-yellow flowers liberally spotted with burgundy spots. This cultivar has a light fragrance that should not cause problems when cut and brought indoors. Hybrids between these two very different types of lilies typically produce sturdy stems that don't need staking and can reach some height in the garden. Carefully plant these — lilies lack protective scales surrounding the bulb) — in fertile, well-drained soils that have not grown lilies in recent history to avoid spreading diseases to new plants.

Lilies, unfortunately, are considered delicacies by rabbits and deer, and caging may be advisable if there are heavy infestations of either of these animals in the neighborhood.

Aladdin's Sun asiatic upfacing hybrid lily (Lilium 'Aladdin's Sun') is in the Bulb Garden.

Big Daddy hosta (Hosta 'Big Daddy') produces 2-foot-high clumps up to
4 feet across of dramatic, blue-gray, puckered and cupped leaves that are deeply textured. The flowers produced in summer attract hummingbirds during the day and moths towards dusk, when the white flowers seem to glow in the dark. Hostas thrive in shade, partial shade, or full sun only if kept moist throughout the growing season. Slugs can eat holes in the leaves in early spring, but a good cleanup of dead foliage in fall usually keeps the number of slugs reduced. Purchase new hostas from reputable dealers whose stock has been tested free of the Hosta Virus X (HVX). This disease can be spread by sap from an infected plant to a uninfected plant through garden tools or through insects like aphids with sucking or piercing mouth parts.

Big Daddy hosta (Hosta 'Big Daddy') is in the Lakeside Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, June 15, 2012

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:24:00 EDT

Bunge desert candle (Eremurus stenophyllus) sends up a spike to 3½ feet, with hundreds of yellow flowers from a rosette of foliage that resembles yucca (without the sharp spines). This plant thrives in full sun but can tolerate some shade; it needs moisture during the winter, spring, and early summer. After flowering the plants go dormant fairly rapidly, leaving the tall spike to mature the seed capsules (seeds disperse in fall and sound like a rattle when hit by the wind).

The eye of the bulb is surrounded by an octopus-like array of roots and should be planted just below the soil surface. Unfortunately, stepping the eye will kill the bulb, so the placement of a couple of stones around the base (to bear the weight of the gardener's shoe) might be a good idea.

A native of central Asia where snowmelt provides moisture early in the year, Bunge desert candle bursts into growth dramatically, with foliage seeming to spring from the ground, followed by the tall spikes of flowers.

Bunge desert candle (Eremurus stenophyllus) is on Evening Island.

Etoile Violette Italian clematis (Clematis viticella 'Etoile Violette') grows to 12 inches in height and is covered in early summer with 4-inch deep purple flowers with cream centers. In fall the fluffy seed heads are attractive. Clematis like their roots in the shade and their heads in the sun; interplanting between lower-growing plants provides the shade component, and training the stems up an arbor, along a fenceline, or letting them scramble through a tree are all successful approaches to giving the top sufficient light. In the Chicago area, Clematis viticella usually die back to 18 inches above ground every winter. Once the buds start to swell in late winter/early spring, carefully prune off the dead stems above the live buds.

Etoile Violette Italian clematis (Clematis viticella 'Etoile Violette') is in the Landscape Garden.

Denver Daisy rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta 'Denver Daisy') is a selection of the native rudbeckia with slightly larger flowers in bolder gold and dark red colors. Like other rudbeckias, this plant enjoys full-sun settings and can tolerate some drought once established. This plant is a butterfly and bee magnet and will occasionally reseed in the garden. It is infrequently damaged by rabbits or deer.

Denver Daisy rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta 'Denver Daisy') is in the Sensory Garden.

Angelmist® Dark Rose angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia 'Balangdaros') produces snapdragon-like spikes of flowers throughout the growing season, on plants that rarely suffer from pests or diseases. Keep soils moist in sunny or partial sun settings for the greatest season-long flower production. This cultivar grows to 10 inches in height and 20 inches across, and does very well in containers, hanging baskets, or as an annual ground cover. A native of Central America, Angelmist Dark Rose snapdragon is heat, humidity, and— once established — drought tolerant.

Angelmist® Dark Rose snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia 'Balangdaros') is at the entry to the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden.

Easy Does It™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'HARpageant') was the only rose chosen by the All-America Rose Selections in 2010. Orangey-apricot blooms with distinctive ruffled petals have a moderate fruity fragrance. This cultivar can reach 4 feet in height, with mature plants taking on a rounded appearance. Plant in full sun and maintain adequate soil moisture. Young plants may need a protective barrier to keep rabbits from nibbling the new stems off in early spring.

Easy Does It™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'HARpageant') is in the Rose Garden's All-America Selections rose bed.

In Bloom at the Garden, June 12, 2012

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:44:00 EDT

Floribunda roses are identified by multiple hybrid-tea-rose-shaped flowers produced in sprays. Mardi Gras floribunda rose (Rosa 'Mardi Gras') features blooms up to 4 inches across that begin as apricot-orange buds. The buds open to pink flowers, softly tinted with orange and yellow near the center of the flower, and it has a moderate, peppery type of fragrance. Its dark green stems can grow up to 20 inches long before they bloom, and the overall shape of the plant is upright — almost columnar.

This cultivar was chosen by the All-America Rose Selections group based upon its outstanding performance in a number of different climates across the United States. Like other roses, it needs a sunny position with moderately fertile, moist soils, and spacing between plants to reduce the incidence and severity of the foliar diseases known as black spot, powdery mildew, and downy mildew.

Mardi Gras floribunda rose (Rosa 'Mardi Gras') is in the All-America Selection Rose Bed, across from the Rose Garden.

Devon Cottage™ Rosy Cheeks dianthus (Dianthus 'Valda Louise') produces double, clove-scented, pink flowers with ruffled edges above the silver foliage. It can grow to 14 inches in height and is best grown in very well-drained, moist soils, in sun to partial shade in cooler microclimates (the east or north side of house, for instance). Its delicate fragrance and nectar make this plant a butterfly magnet.

Devon Cottage™ Rosy Cheeks dianthus (Dianthus hybrida 'Valda Louise') is in the Landscape Garden.

Golden Showers threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata 'Golden Showers') grows to 24 inches tall and 18 inches wide, and is known for its bright, golden-yellow flowers interspersed with the fine, threadlike foliage. Full sun and well-drained soils are preferred by this plant. This coreopsis is more drought tolerant that most of the other species (all native to North America). It attracts butterflies and is deer resistant.

Golden Showers threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata 'Golden Showers') is on Evening Island.

Pee Wee oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee') is a diminutive form of the native oakleaf hydrangea. Maturing at 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide, it blooms in panicles of white flowers, which age to soft pink while the green leaves turn shades of bronze, maroon, and purple. The bark on older branches peels, and in winter, the cinnamon-colored inner layers add attractive winter color. This plant needs well-drained, consistently moist soils, and thrives in partially shaded locations.

Unfortunately, this native shrub is on the top of the dinner menu for rabbits and deer, who find the stems particularly tasty in winter.

Pee Wee oakleaf hydrangea (Hyrdangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee') is outside the Bulb Garden.

Prairie Gypsy beebalm (Monarda 'Prairie Gypsy') has raspberry-pink flowers on 2-foot stems that also feature aromatic foliage. This native plant is a butterfly and hummingbird attractant, but not so beloved by deer. Grow in full sun in moderately fertile, moist soils, with space between this plant and others to decrease the incidence of powdery mildew.

Prairie Gypsy beebalm (Monarda 'Prairie Gypsy') is in the Sensory Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, June 8, 2012

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:16:00 EDT

Parthenium integrifolium, commonly known as wild quinine, produces an abundance of white, pearl-like flowers on 2- to 3-foot-tall plants with broad, rough-textured leaves. Native to the tallgrass prairies, it thrives when grown in full sun and moist soils in garden settings. Beetles find the pollen tasty, while a number of species of bees prefer the nectar.

This genus is a member of the aster family, but lacks the colorful ray flowers that make sunflowers and asters so distinctive. The genus name is based upon the ancient Greek parthenos (virgin), referring to the production of seeds by only female florets. Based upon Native American medicinal uses of this species, it was used in WWI as a substitute for the bark of the South American Chinchona sp. (quinine) to treat malaria. Guayule (Parthenium argentatum), another member of this genus, was used in WWII to produce rubber in the American southwest. A third species produces a pollen that poisons the stigmas of surrounding species to ensure its dominance in the plant community.

Wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) is in the Native Plant Garden.

Elina® hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Dicjana') produces large, soft yellow blooms with 35 petals atop long stems with glossy, disease-resistant foliage. This cultivar thrives in the climates with cooler summers. Lightly fragrant, this rose is not likely to overpower a room when brought indoors. Full sun in moderately moist, fertile soils produces the healthiest, most floriferous plants.

Elina® hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Dicjana') is in the Rose Garden.

Madame Julia Correvon clematis (Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon') is clothed in claret-red flowers with contrasting cream stamens from ground level up to 13 feet in height. The stems die back each year to 1 to 2 feet above soil level in the Chicago area each winter. It thrives in sunny locations with moist, fertile soils, and is relatively pest-free.

Plant this (and all) clematis vines deep (cover 1 to 2 buds on the stems) to circumvent a fungal disease that causes the stems to rot at ground level. The covered buds begin growth when the existing stems get attacked.

Clematis like their roots in the shade and their heads in the sun. To accommodate this preference, interplant them between or behind small shrubs or medium-sized perennials, where they can be trained up a wall or pergola, or allowed to climb up a smal-l to medium-sized tree.

Madame Julia Correvon clematis (Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon') is in the Landscape Garden.

Fresh Look Orange cockscomb (Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Fresh Look Orange') produces apricot-orange feathery spikes up to 10 inches long on top of an annual plant to 12 inches in height. Thriving in the full sun, heat, and humidity of summer, this is a great choice for microclimates that bake in summer heat. It is insect and disease resistant, with the exception of spider mites (which are only problematic if the relative humidity is consistently below 30 percent, as in the desert Southwest).

Wild celosias are native to the tropics and are noted for having a number of duplicate, triplicate, quadruplicate — up to octuplicate — sets of chromosomes. The cristata group arose in cultivation, and are all tetraploids (having four sets of chromosomes). While many species become sterile if too many sets of chromosomes are involved, that is not the case with celosia.

In Africa, the leaves are used as a spinach substitute.

Fresh Look Orange cockscomb (Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Fresh Look Orange') is in the Heritage Garden.

Lily leek (Allium moly) produces bright, golden-yellow flowers on 4-inch to 6-inch stems, above lax, broad-leafed foliage. Thriving in sunny soils that dry in late summer, this species slowly increases by offsets, and occasionally by seed. Bruised foliage and flowers smell strongly of onions, which may explain why this plant is avoided by deer and rabbits. Butterflies are strongly attracted to the nectar.

Lily leek (Allium moly) is on Evening Island.

In Bloom at the Garden, June 5, 2012

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:27:00 EDT

Six Hills Giant catmint (Nepeta x faassenii 'Six Hills Giant') produces masses of violet-blue flowers at the ends of 3-foot-long arching stems, clothed with gray-green aromatic foliage. If grown in full sun, this cultivar is more tolerant of moist soils than other taxa in this genus. The flowers attract hummingbirds, the bruised foliage attracts cats, and both repel rabbits and deer.

The species, x faassenii, is the result of hybridization between Nepeta racemosa and N. nepetella, and the offspring are sterile. Propagation is by cuttings or division of the clumps. The first use of the genus name for this group of plants was by Pliny, probably in reference to a place name (Nepi) in Italy. Nepetas are typically plants native to hot, dry regions.

Six Hills Giant catmint (Nepeta x faassenii 'Six Hills Giant') is on Evening Island.

Baptisia leucantha is known as the white wild indigo, and as the common name suggests, it produces spikes of creamy white flowers atop the 3- to 6-foot tall mounds of trifoliate leaves (each leaf is composed of three leaflets). This native of the tallgrass prairie is adaptable to most soils in the Chicago region, but it must be grown in full sun in order to flower. The flowers are attractive to bumblebees, and the foliage is used by a number of insect larvae as a food source — none of them are prolific enough to cause disfigurement. Newly planted plants may take a year or so to settle in before they begin to flower.

The genus name is derived from the Greek bapto (to dye) in reference to the use of some species used to create blue dyes during the early years of European colonization of North America.

White wild indigo (Baptisia leucantha) is in the Native Plant Garden.

Dianthus barbatus 'Sweet Red' is a sweet William cultivar featuring bright red, fragrant, long-lasting flowers atop 3-foot-stems that don't need staking. This cultivar of sweet William represents a breakthrough in plant breeding, because it doesn't need to go through vernalization (cold treatment in winter) before initiating flower buds, allowing gardeners and cut-flower growers to enjoy their flowers without the wait. Butterflies also greatly appreciate their flowers.

The genus Dianthus is derived from the Greek dios, genitive of Zeus, and anthos, or "flower": literally, "flower of the gods," a plant name used by Theophrastus. The 300 Dianthus species are widely scattered from Eurasia to the mountains of South Africa. Widely adapted for uses in horticulture ranging from low-growing species adapted to the rock garden; tall-growing perennials for the mixed border; and cut flowers, annuals, and biennials for annual displays, a number of species are also used in the perfume industry for their scented oils.

Sweet Red sweet William (Dianthus barbatus 'Sweet Red') is in the Sensory Garden.

Charles Darwin™ shrub rose (Rosa 'Auspeet') is a yellow-flowered selection of the David Austin English shrub roses, growing to 4 feet in height and featuring rich yellow flowers opening to produce a shallow cup of lemon-scented heaven. This cultivar produces some of the largest of the roses in the David Austin series. It is best grown in full sun with room to grow to its full height, with good space around it for air circulation. Like many of the English shrub roses, this cultivar sometimes struggles with the Chicago winters, but well-mulched plants typically come back from buds near the base of the plant. It is susceptible to the usual panoply of rose "issues" — Japanese beetles, black spot, and powdery mildew.

Throughout recorded history, roses have been a component of the garden floral with the earliest records dating back to a plant-collecting expedition of Sargon, King of Sumer (2350–2300 B.C.). The Romans grew large acreage under glass to produce flower petals and fragrant oils. A hundred native species are scattered across the Northern Hemisphere with the range of a few species extended to the higher elevations of tropical mountains.

Charles Darwin English shrub rose (Rosa 'Auspeet') is in the Rose Garden.

Dichelostemna congestum, commonly known as the forktooth ookow, produces a dense cluster of bluish-purple to pink flowers at the tip of long stems that wave in the breeze. A native of the west coast of the United States, it is found growing in open, moist meadows from sea level up to 3,000-foot elevations. In Chicago-area gardens, this plant needs to be grown in full sun, in soils that dry after it is done flowering.

Forktooth ookow (Dichelostemna congestum) is in the Bulb Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, June 1, 2012

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:36:00 EDT

Tenacity Gold kangaroo paw (Anigozanthus 'Tenacity Gold') produces yellow kangaroo-pawlike flowers with velvety orange hairs surrounding soft lime-green flowers, produced on stalks covered with red, fuzzy hairs. This plant is drought tolerant and requires full sun. Its flowers, produced well above the irislike foliage, are attractive to birds. It is not hardy in the Chicago area, and is a challenge to grow even in conservatories. This species is best used as a component of annual displays.

These perennial natives of Australia are killed by fertilizers or soils high in phosphorous, which presents a challenge for gardeners in the Chicago area. Best results are obtained by planting into containers filled with a sandy/gravely soil with no more than a trace of garden soil to provide moisture retention. Most commercially available fertilizers are "complete" — meaning they contain phosphorous and should be avoided in this case. Specialty fertilizer manufacturers produce custom mixes that will provide some nitrogen, no phosphorous, and a little potassium, as evidenced by a label reading 8-0-8 (or any other combination of numbers as long as the middle number (phosphorous) is zero.

Tenacity Gold kangaroo paw (Anigozanthus 'Tenacity Gold') is in the Sensory Garden.

Tropicana™ hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Tanostar') has been a favorite of gardeners since its introduction in 1960, winning 16 international awards in addition to the All American Rose Selection in 1963. Long, pointed buds unfurl to reveal fragrant double blooms of coral and orange on long stems. It is disease resistant when grown in moderately fertile soils in full sun and provided space between it and other plants to encourage good air movement.

Tropicana™ hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Tanostar') is in the Rose Garden.

Dark Towers penstemon (Penstemon 'Dark Towers') is an upright perennial featuring glossy bronze-red foliage topped by spikes of light pink tubular flowers. This cultivar grows to 30 inches in height and is tolerant of the heat and humidity common to Chicago summers. Hummingbirds find it irresistible.

All penstemons are native to North America, with the center of diversity found west of the Rocky Mountains, where relative humidities are typically low. Most of these species feature very showy flowers, but their susceptibility to diseases in a high humidity environment make them a challenge for most Chicago gardeners.

Dark Towers penstemon (Penstemon 'Dark Towers') is in the English Walled Garden.

Salvia x sylvestris 'Blauhugel' is a cultivar developed in Germany and sold in the United States under the translated name of Blue Hill sage. Six-inch-long spikes of lavender-blue flowers cover the mounded form of the plant. Deadheading will be rewarded with a second flush of flowers later in the summer. Blue Hill sage is deer and rabbit resistant, and attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.

Blue Hill sage (Salvia x sylvestris 'Blauhugel') is on Evening Island.

Big betony (Stachys macrantha) produces spikes of hooded, two-lipped, deep pinkish-purple flowers on plants that slowly increase in width over time. This wild species from the Caucasus region attracts butterflies and many different kinds of bees while repelling deer. The roots are tolerant of the poisonous exudate (extruded sap) produced by the root system of black walnut trees, which impedes the growth of many species of plants. Plant in average soil in full sun and water the first year until the root system is established.

Big betony (Stachys macrantha) is in the Landscape Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, May 29, 2012

Tue, 29 May 2012 17:39:00 EDT

Auslese lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis 'Auslese') creates lime-green "clouds" of tiny flowers above the elegant gray-green foliage. Dew or rain droplets glitter in the sunlight as they roll around within the toothed, scalloped leaves. The plant matures at 12 inches in height and 18 inches in width, and can be grown in full sun or partially shaded conditions. This plant needs consistent watering for the first two years after planting to develop an extensive root system that can survive on its own. This seed-strain selection is more uniform in size and habit than straight Alchemilla species.

The genus Alchemilla is known for having a number of species that are apomictic and polyploids. Apomixis is the condition in plants when viable seeds are produced without the need for pollination, and gardeners who don't want these plants reseeding are well advised to deadhead (remove old flower heads) before seeds ripen. Polyploidy refers to the creation of more than two sets of chromosomes. The polyploidy condition often results in plants with different leaf textures, numbers of flower petals, and resistance (or susceptibility) to insects and diseases. The combination of apomixis and polyploidy allows these species to spread widely in favorable environments.

The name Alchemilla is derived from the Arabic word alkemelych for this genus. Auslese lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis 'Auslese') is in the Landscape Garden.

Solar Fire jewel ursinia (Ursinia anthemoides 'Solar Fire') produces sunny, golden 2½-inch daisies with a shiny maroon ring surrounding the central eye, on a mounded annual plant to 15 inches in size. Its finely bissected leaves are reminiscent of ferns in texture. This plant is pest and disease free, heat and drought tolerant once established, and prefers a sunny location in well-drained soils.

The genus Ursinia is closely related to Arctotis and Gazania, two other aster relatives native to southern Africa. Ursinia celebrates the life of Johann Ursinius of Regensberg (1608–66), who published Arboretum Biblicum.

Solar Fire jewel ursinia (Ursinia anthemoides 'Solar Fire') is in the English Walled Garden.

The large, orange-red, frilled flowers of Turkenlouis Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale 'Turkenlouis') are a favorite of perennial and mixed borders. Successful gardeners grow them in full sun in well-drained soils and ensure the carrotlike rootstock is planted deeply. Deer, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks all avoid this species because of the combination of bristly-haired leaves and toxic compounds in the milky sap. Butterflies find the nectar irresistible. Oriental poppies enter summer dormancy shortly after flowering, so care should be taken to select companions to fill in the void during midsummer.

Turkenlouis poppy (Papaver orientale 'Turkenlouis') is on Evening Island.

Bouquet Blanc mock orange (Philadelphus x cymosus 'Bouquet Blanc') is a small-statured shrub that covers itself in double white flowers redolent of the fragrance of orange blossoms. Undemanding as to culture, it is successful when planted in a sunny position and is virtually immune to insect and disease problems in the Chicago area. The leaves turn yellow in fall, and the fruit capsules are small and unornamental.

The genus name is thought to celebrate Ptolomy Philadelphus, a patron of the arts and sciences who ruled from 285–246 B.C. This species, x cymosus, is of garden origin and reflects parentage from many species from around the world that have been collected and grown together in garden settings — allowing hybridization to take place.

Bouquet Blanc mock orange (Philadelphus x cymosus 'Bouquet Blanc') is in the Sensory Garden.

Country Dancer buck shrub rose (Rosa 'Country Dancer') forms rose-red buds that open to cupped rose-red flowers that slowly age to pink on a disease-resistant shrub rose to 5 feet in height by 4 feet in width. Glossy, deep green foliage is highly disease resistant. Deadheading the flowers will encourage a repeat bloom in the fall; otherwise, the orange hips are ornamental in fall. The flowers produce a delightful clovelike fragrance.

Grow in full sun with good space around the plant to provide for air movement, which decreases the conditions favorable to diseases. Butterflies and bees find the flowers attractive.

Country Dancer buck shrub rose (Rosa 'Country Dancer') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, May 25, 2012

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:00:00 EDT

Purple Smoke false indigo (Baptisia 'Purple Smoke') is a chance hybrid seedling that produces smoky violet flowers on upright racemes up to 1 foot in length. The contrast with the gray-green foliage and charcoal-colored stems is striking. The plant can reach 4½ feet in height and up to 3 feet across when grown in moderately fertile soils in full sun. It is a deer-resistant favorite, and a butterfly and honeybee magnet.

Rob Gardener, former curator of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, discovered this hybrid while evaluating a planting of Baptisia minor var. aberrans in 1996. All baptisias are native to North America.

Purple Smoke false indigo (Baptisia 'Purple Smoke') is on Evening Island.

Linda Campbell™ hybrid rugosa rose (Rosa 'Morten') produces red flowers on a 6- by 8-foot bush rose in clusters ranging in size from five to 15 blooms. It performs best when planted in full sun and moderately fertile soil. The wrinkled leaves are moderately resistant to black spot, but are susceptible to powdery mildew. The flowers, unfortunately, are not fragrant, but the stems have fewer thorns than most rugosa roses.

Rugosa roses and their hybrids are salt tolerant — this species grows along the shoreline in Asia — and therefore perfect for use along Chicago-area roadways subject to wind-blown salt spray or runoff from deicing salts. A byproduct of salt spray is the reduction in powdery mildew infections in this rose. Like many other shrub roses, this plant will slowly produce suckers around the base, which gradually increase the breadth of the plant.

Linda Campbell™ hybrid rugosa rose (Rosa 'Morten') is in the Rose Garden.

Mother's Choice herbaceous peony (Paeonia 'Mother's Choice') produces large, double, fragrant, blush-white flowers on a plant growing up to 3 feet tall. The elegant petal formation helped this variety win a Gold Medal from the American Peony Society in 1993. Full sun in moderately fertile soils provides this plant the growing environment it needs to survive and thrive for decades — if not centuries. An abandoned family cemetery in eastern Missouri dating to the 1830s featured peonies around the headstones of some of the oldest interred family members, several of whom were veterans of the Revolutionary War.

Mother's Choice peony (Paeonia 'Mother's Choice') is in the Landscape Garden.

Throughout the growing season, summer forget-me-not (Anchusa capensis 'Blue Angel') is covered with 8-inch-diameter clusters of the most intense true-blue flowers. This native of South Africa thrives in sunny settings and dry soils, and responds to periodic deadheading (removing spent flowers) by producing additional flower sprays. Deer avoid this plant because of the prickly hairs on its stems and leaves, but butterflies and bees find the nectar produced by the flowers irresistible.

Summer forget-me-not (Anchusa capensis 'Blue Angel') is in the Sensory Garden.

The dark, almost black-red flowers of the perennial Heart Attack sweet William (Dianthus barbatus 'Heart Attack') are delightfully fragrant. Growing to 1 foot in height, this cultivar not only prolongs the normal Sweet William flowering season, it is also a true perennial — unlike all other Sweet Williams, which are biennials. Grow this dianthus in full sun and avoid placing mulch around the crown, as it leads to rot. This southern European native attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees of various species.

Beekeepers love this plant, because the honey produced from it is light amber in color with a fragrant, floral taste.

Heart Attack sweet William (Dianthus barbatus 'Heart Attack') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom at the Garden, May 22, 2012

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:08:00 EDT

Moondance� floribunda rose (Rosa 'Moondance� ') produces masses of creamy white flowers at the tips of branches clothed in glossy green leaves on a upright spreading shrub to 4 feet by 3 feet. The nicely scented flowers are much beloved by honeybees and butterflies.

All roses prefer full sun and moisture-retentive, loamy soils. Roses respond favorably to moderate fertilization through midsummer, but to avoid soft growth subject to freeze damage, no further fertilizer should be applied after August.

Black spot and powdery mildew are two of the more frequent diseases that affect roses. Both diseases become problematic when certain temperatures and relative humidities become common in summer. Planting the roses in areas with good air movement helps but can't prevent these diseases, and in a bad year pesticides must be applied to prevent the plants from defoliating.

Aphids and Japanese beetles are the two most frequent insect pests. Aphids can be reduced in numbers by spraying the infected sites with a strong spray of water (they catch cold), however, control of Japanese beetles is more problematic � they have to be hand-picked from plants. Adult Japanese beetles are virtually impervious to many insecticide sprays. Effective pesticidal treatments for the beetles involve the applications of spores to turf areas that feed upon the developing larvae.

The Moondance� cultivar is a "sport" � the product of a bud mutation � that produces more flowers than the parent plant, Rosa 'Iceberg'. Typically, sports like this are part of the natural genetic variation, and are not induced through bioengineering.

Moondance� floribunda rose (Rosa 'Moondance�') is flowering in the All- America Selections bed in the Rose Garden.

Trumpet Tangerine snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus 'Trumpet Tangerine') produces tall spikes of frosty bronze, bicolor flowers with an open face (the "snap" part of snapdragon stays open). The very sturdy, thick stems with large numbers of flowers make this a popular selection for gardeners and for the cut flower industry. Honeybees and other pollinating insects searching for a high-quality source of nectar find the openface characteristic of this cultivar very appealing.

Trumpet Tangerine snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus 'Trumpet Tangerine') is in the Bulb Garden.

Dark, silvery-purple, baseball-sized blooms on 24- to 30-inch stalks characterize Firmament onion (Allium 'Firmament'). For naturalizing, this cultivar is best grown in full sun in sandy/gravelly soils that remain dry from midsummer through fall.

Alliums attract a number of pollinating insects including butterflies, moths, and bees. Chipmunks, rabbits, and deer find the strong onion flavor of the flowers, leaves, and bulbs objectional. Gardeners often interplant ornamental onions between their crocus and tulips in an effort to deter herbivores.

Firmament onion (Allium 'Firmament') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Dolorodell peony (Paeonia 'Dolorodell') produces lightly scented, shell- pink, 8-inch flowers with deeper pink centers on 3 foot by 3 foot plants. The coarsely divided, glossy leaves are attractive throughout the growing season. This herbaceous perennial flowers best when planted in moisture-retentive soils in full sun, and dislikes transplanting. Free of most insect and disease pests, the opening flowers are sometimes damaged by drying winds or very wet, humid conditions, both of which prevent the flower from fully opening.

Glands on the outside of the flower buds secrete nectar, which ants, bees, wasps, and other pollinating insects find an irresistible prelude to the main event (when the flowers open).

Dolorodell peony (Paonia 'Dolorodell') is in the west walkway of the Regenstein Center.

Blue Bedder purple viper bugloss (Echium plantaginea 'Blue Bedder') produces pink flower buds that mature to cerulean blue, bell-shaped flowers on plants 20 inches by 20 inches in size. The hairs covering the stems and leaves are an effective deterrent to rabbits and deer, but butterflies and bees find the nectar in the flowers irresistible. This is a great plant for those hot, dry microclimates, where other plants flag during the heat of summer.

Beekeepers love this plant, because the honey produced from it is light amber in color with a fragrant, floral taste.

Blue Bedder purple viper bugloss (Echium plantagineum 'Blue Bedder') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom May 18, 2012

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:17:00 EDT

Matthiola incana 'Debora' is offered for sale through local nurseries under the trademark name of Opera™ Debora stock. The fully double, dark blue flowers are produced on plants growing up to 25 inches in height; this plant is ideal for the middle or back of the flower bed, and for cut-flower production. The Opera series of stocks were bred to thrive in cooler temperatures ranging from 40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Stocks are best grown in full sun in moderately rich soils. In very sandy soils (rarely found in the Chicago region), they are susceptible to root knot nematodes.

The genus Matthiola was named in honor of an Italian physician and botanist, Peirandrea Mathioli (1500–77). This genus is a member of the Brassicaceae plant family that includes cabbage, brussel sprouts, mustard, and kale. About 55 species, native from Central Asia through southern Europe and north Africa, compose the natural range of the genus.

Opera™ Debora stock (Matthiola incana 'Deborah') is flowering in the Sensory Garden.

Delphinium grandiflorum 'Diamonds Blue' is a dwarf delphinium (to 23 inches) producing sprays of electric-blue flowers decorated with a purple splotch on the petals. If deadheaded, the plants will continue to produce flowers up to the first frost. Unlike other delphiniums, this cultivar tolerates hot, humid summers. A short-lived perennial in the Chicago area, it is best adapted to regions with cool summers. Under these conditions, the plants will produce enough self-sown seedlings to ensure a continuation of flowering-sized plants well after the original parents have died.

Delphiniums attract butterflies and honybees, but their plant tissues and sap contain poisons that rabbits, deer, and livestock avoid.

Diamonds Blue dwarf delphinium (Delphinium grandiflorum 'Diamonds Blue') is in the English Walled Garden.

The coral-pink blooms of Beverly Sills bearded iris (Iris 'Beverly Sills') are impeccably formed on strong, vigorous plants that produce a heavy crop of flowers each spring. Hybridized in 1979, it won the prestigious Dykes Award for the outstanding tall bearded iris in 1985, and it is still one of the most sought-after pink irises of all time. Grow in full sun in moderately fertile soil and plant with the top part of the rhizome above the soil level (rhizomes planted too deep produce leaves, but no flowers).

Pink and yellow tall bearded iris were very rare until plant breeders were able to double the chromosome numbers from two sets (diploid) to four sets (tetraploid). Pinks are produced when three out of the four sets of chromosomes contain a specific recessive gene, while yellows are produced if all four sets of chromosomes contain the same recessive gene.

Beverly Sills bearded iris (Iris 'Beverly Sills') is in the Landscape Garden.

Wild blue indigo (Baptisia australis) is a native North American wildflower, producing intensely blue spikes of flowers rising above a mound of foliage to 3 feet in height. This species thrives in full sun in most soils found in the Midwest. Growing up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet across, gardeners are well-advised to site this plant carefully to ensure it has access to the space it needs as it matures.

Native Americans (and later European colonists) used this plant to produce a blue dye. The seeds are poisonous. This species rarely produces a large number of seedlings, because of a native weevil that feasts upon the developing seeds.

Wild blue indigo (Baptisia australis) is in the Lakeside Garden.

One of the most popular sites at the Chicago Botanic Garden is the English Oak Meadow when the Iceland poppies come into flower. This year Papaver nudicaule 'Champagne Bubbles Mixture Improved' is responsible for producing the spectacular display of brightly colored poppy flowers waving in the breeze. Red, bronze, yellow, apricot, pink, and white are the predominant colors for this cultivar. Sow seeds in very early spring in finely raked soil, or purchase seedlings grown in pots from the local garden center. Plant in full sun with good exposure to breezes for the best crop.

Plant breeders have improved this strain, eliminating some of the viruses that built up in the original strain and producing plants with stouter stems to hold up to breezes. This species is native to subarctic regions in the Northern Hemisphere (including the tops of mountain ranges). It blooms and reproduces itself from self-sown seedlings in climates with a cool growing season. Flower production and length of bloom will be shortened in climates with warmer springs and summers.

Champange Bubbles Mixture Improved poppy (Papaver nudicaule 'Champagne Bubbles Mixture Improved') is in the English Oak Meadow.

In Bloom May 15, 2012

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:00:02 EDT

Roseum Elegans rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Roseum Elegans') produces rosy lavender flowers with reddish brown dorsal (toward the back) spotting that ages to pink. This evergreen shrub that can grow up to 8 feet in height and 12 feet in width in favorable climates. Each of the ball-shaped trusses can contain up to 20 individual flowers. This cultivar is widely grown, because it is more heat and cold tolerant than many of the other evergreen rhododendrons.

There are approximately 800 species of rhododendrons — found in cool, moist environments with acid soils — all over the world. Roseum Elegans is a cultivar of Rhododendron catawbiense, a species native to the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia. This species provides good tolerance of heat and cold to its many cultivars and hybrid offspring.

Roseum Elegans rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Roseum Elegans') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Carefree Beauty rose (Rosa 'Bucbi') was one of the first roses released for sale that incorporated excellent disease resistance with continual flowering, fragrance, and a beautifully shaped and colored flower. Pink semidouble flowers are produced on a midsized shrub rose from June until frost. Nice-sized orange hips (fruit) continue the ornamental display from fall through midwinter.

Roses that possess good disease resistance and continuous flower production have informally become known as landscape shrub roses.

Carefree Beauty rose (Rosa 'Bucbi') is in the Lakeside Garden.

The tall bearded Victoria Falls iris (Iris 'Victoria Falls') has light blue ruffled petals with a white signal patch and beard. Like all tall bearded irises, it prefers a sunny location in the landscape. The rhizomes should be planted with the top half above soil level, and in some cases, the foliage should be staked up until the new roots from the rhizome grow into the soil.

Bearded irises in the Chicago area are plagued by the iris borer, an insect that lays its eggs on the foliage. The young larvae tunnel through the foliage/stem to the rhizome, which they consume. Symptoms include water-soaked streaks going down the leaves, and rotting foliage accompanied by an obnoxious odor, eventually leading to collapse of the plant.

Victoria Falls bearded iris (Iris 'Victoria Falls') is in the Landscape Garden.

Siebold primrose (Primula sieboldii) produces white, lavender, pink, and lilac flower colors with a wide variety of petal forms on neat clumps that slowly increase. One of the few primulas that naturalize in Chicago-area gardens, it prefers a shady, moist position, but its ability to enter summer dormancy makes it remarkably tolerant of heat and drought in summer. Siebold primrose is free of most insect and disease pests.

For years gardeners in the Midwest (most of the U.S., actually) had to be content with envy of the beautiful displays of primulas in the gardens of the Pacific Northwest. Primula sieboldii is native to swampy meadowlands in Japan, eastern Siberia, Korea, and Manchuria, where it experiences incredibly cold winters and seasonally flooded soils alternating with summertime heat and droughts — an environment similar to that of Chicago. For more than 400 years, this species has held an almost cultlike status with the gardeners of Japan, whose common name of "Sakurasoh" refers to cherry blossoms.

Siebold primrose (Primula sieboldii) is in the Sensory Garden.

Cool Yellow snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus 'Cool Yellow') is a tall-growing (to 5 feet) snapdragon developed for the cut flower industry that makes a superb addition to the flower beds when a plant with height is needed. Bright yellow flowers hold their color well and are supplemented throughout the season with secondary spikes produced from lateral (side) buds lower down the stem. For flower displays, young plants can be pinched (terminal bud removed) to encourage branching and a slightly shorter plant. Regardless of whether pinched or left to produce a single flower spike, this cultivar will probably require staking.

For the cut flower industry, greenhouse growers program their environmental controls to provide for 45-degree Fahrenheit night temperatures, followed by 60-degree daytime highs. For garden use, plant outdoors after temperatures are not forecast to fall below 27 degrees F. for an extended period of time. If the summers are really hot, flowering will taper off but will resume with vigor once the cooler weather of fall arrives.

Snapdragon flowers naturally remain closed to pollinating insects, and it is only the honeybees that are large enough to force the petals apart that obtain the nectar.

Cool Yellow snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus 'Cool Yellow') is in the Enabling Garden.

In Bloom May 11, 2012

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:18:00 EDT

Purple Sensation Persian onion (Allium aflatunense 'Purple Sensation') is one of the earliest of the large-flowered, hardy onions, producing hundreds of violet-purple flowers in a globelike inflorescence up to 4 inches across. (The bloom spikes can reach 30 inches in height.) Cut flowers can last three weeks or more in the vase, while the dried flowers retain their color well. Honeybees love the nectar produced by the flowers, and the strong onion smell of the crushed stems and leaves discourages deer and rabbits.

Successful establishment in Chicago area landscapes is dependent on planting the large bulbs among shrubs and perennials that are in active growth in mid- to late summer, to prevent excess moisture in the soil from causing the bulbs to rot.

Recent DNA analysis has found that almost all of the large, purple-flowered ornamental onions sold in the Dutch nursery trade share a common set of ancestral species, and many catalogs these days will list this variety under the name Allium x hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'.

Purple Sensation Persian onion (Allium aflatunense 'Purple Sensation') is flowering on Evening Island.

After one hundred years, Nelly Moser clematis (Clematis 'Nelly Moser') continues to be one of the most popular cultivars of the species. Pastel mauve-pink flowers are bisected by a carmine bar of color in the center of each of the six to eight petals — which can reach up to 9 inches across.

Clematis prefer their "roots in the shade and their heads in the sunlight." To achieve this situation, plant low-growing shrubs or perennials around the base of the vine. Another interesting cultural technique is to plant the plants deeper in your garden than they were grown in the pot (this is one of the very few groups of plants that will tolerate this technique). This permits buds below the soil to become active if and when a damping-off fungal disease kills the primary stem.

In nineteenth-century France, Marcel Moser of Versailles obtained plants of Clematis lanuginose, recently arrived from China, and hybridized them to create the first of the modern clematis. Being a modest sort, he (of course) named this cultivar after himself: Clematis 'Marcel Moser'. He hybridized the cultivar named after himself with Clematis 'Belisaire' and obtained Clematis 'Nelly Moser', the first clematis to feature a bar of color down the midrib of the flowers. Nelly Moser is one of the parents of all of the barred clematis that have been developed since 1897, and continues to be highly sought-after in her own right. The question is, was Nelly his wife, daughter, or cousin? The records are vague on this.

Nelly Moser clematis (Clematis 'Nelly Moser') is in the English Walled Garden.

Red Charm peony (Paeonia 'Red Charm') grows up to 3 feet in height and is covered with deep red, ruffled, double flowers from the end of May through the first part of June. Like other herbaceous peonies, it prefers a sunny position and constant moisture during the growing season, but is otherwise free of pests and diseases. The plants produce additional "eyes" or growing points, turning a single flower display to a large bouquet over time.

Lyman Glasscock hybridized this cultivar at the end of World War II (1944), and it went on to win an award from the American Peony Society in 1956. It is still described as one of the best of the deep red-flowered peonies.

Red Charm peony (Paeonia 'Red Charm') is in the Landscape Garden.

Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica 'Excelsior') produces 13 to 15 hanging, bell-shaded flowers of deep blue in late spring to early summer. This species is native to the moist woodlands of Spain, Portugal, and northwestern Africa, and it thrives under similar conditions in Chicago-area gardens. This cultivar was selected in 1906 because of its larger, more intensely blue flowers.

Plant taxonomists have tossed this species back and forth between the genera Scilla, Endymion, and Hyacinthoides. One hopes that the recent DNA analysis has settled the debate, as this has become one of those plants with an identity crisis.

Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica 'Excelsior') is on Spider Island.

Marsh spurge (Euphorbia palustris) produces masses of chartreuse-yellow bracts (the actual flowers are not showy) on top of a perennial plant growing to 3 feet in height by 4 feet in width. Green, willowlike leaves that spiral out from the stems turn bright orange and yellow in fall. This species tolerates moist soils followed by dry later in the growing season. Deer find the milky sap objectionable, and it irritates the skin and eyes of gardeners as well.

Marsh spurge (Euphorbia palustris) is in the Lakeside Garden.

In Bloom May 8, 2012

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:24:00 EDT

The dark pink buds of Mist Maiden rhododendron (Rhododendron yakusimanum 'Mist Maiden') open to apple-blossom pink, then gracefully age to white on an evergreen shrub that rarely grows over 5 feet by 5 feet in size. The large, dark green, evergreen leaves feature a tawny indumentum (feltlike hair) on their undersides, which provides interest throughout the year. New growth is covered with silvery hairs that form a striking contrast to the older leaves. Fourteen to 17 flowers are produced in each truss (inflorescence) at the tips of the branches. In 2007, this cultivar was awarded the Rhododendron of the Year Award by the Atlantic chapter of the American Rhododendron Society.

Rhododendrons and azaleas produce very small, fine feeder roots very close to the soil surface that are easily damaged during periods of heat and drought. The application of an inch of pine needle or pine bark mulch over the root zone is recommended to moderate the soil temperatures and to prevent excessive drying of the soil. This species also requires an acidic soil pH in order to thrive. This is achieved by planting on well-drained sands — old Lake Michigan ridge lines are the best example — or completely replacing the heavy, high-pH clay soils native to this region with a mix of sand and peat moss, top dressed with pine needles.

Discovered on Yakusimanum Island near the southern tip of Japan, this species was not introduced into cultivation until the latter half of the twentieth century. Botanists have reclassified it as a subspecies of Rhododendron degronianum. All species of rhododendron — including azaleas — have toxic stems, leaves, and flowers. During the colonial period of the British Empire, soldiers stationed in the Himalayas learned this the hard way. Beekeepers always make sure there is a wide variety of flowers for their bees to visit in addition to rhododendrons, to avoid any issues with toxicity in the honey they produce.

Mist Maiden rhododendron (Rhododendron yakusimanum 'Mist Maiden') is flowering in the Landscape Garden.

Bloomingdale™ White Shades Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus 'White Shades') grows to 16 inches in height and features white, fully double 3½-diameter flowers on plants that grow to 10 inches across. This species thrives in temperatures above 23 degrees and below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is a great companion for spring bulb displays. The divided leaves provide interesting spring foliage, and the entire plant goes dormant in midsummer when the species experiences heat and drought in its natural habitat.

The native habitat for Ranunculus asiaticus ranges from southeastern Europe to Crete, and then southeast to Iran. Even though widespread geographically, within some countries — Israel for instance — this species is classified as rare.

Bloomingdale™ White Shades Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus 'White Shades') is in the Bulb Garden.

Blue tajinaste (Echium gentianoides 'Tajinaste') produces intense cerulean blue flowers in an informal pyramidal inflorescence (flowering spike). Used as an annual in the Chicago area, the plants will flower from spring through fall, but never reach the 4-foot-by-4-foot size found in warmer climates (such as USDA Zones 9 or 10). In Chicago, plant in very well-drained soils that dry thoroughly between watering, and grow in full sun. The plant is very drought tolerant, and the slightly hairy leaves are resistant to rabbits and deer.

This species is native to the rims of extinct (we hope) volcanoes in the Canary Islands. The climate is classified as arid sub-Alpine, with very high levels of solar radiation and few rains/fogs. A number of Echium species are native to the Canary Islands, and are another example of a single parental species developing Darwinian adaptations to microclimates over time.

Blue tajinaste (Echium gentianoides) is in the English Walled Garden.

Soft, violet-rose, single-petal flowers on sturdy stems endear Sylphide poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria 'Sylphide') to gardeners and florists alike. The finely divided foliage is a nice contrast to the large, bold flowers. Flower buds are initiated by temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, so this is definitely an early spring-flowering plant for Chicagoans. The flowers attract butterflies, while the leaves repel deer. The sap can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

This species of anemone is hardy to USDA Zones 7 through 10. For a spring-flowering display in the Chicago region, the dormant rhizomes (which look like small dirt clods) can be soaked overnight, then planted. Care should be taken to ensure the small bulbs never dry out.

Sylphide poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria 'Sylphide') is in the Enabling Garden.

Alba white wall iris (Iris tectorum 'Alba') is one of the crested group of irises that produces short spikes of white flowers above fanlike foliage in mid-spring. This is one of the few iris species that actually can thrive in slightly shaded conditions. Well-drained soils are a must, leading gardeners in early China and Japan to grow it along the rooflines of their homes, or on top of their masonry walls.

The dried and powdered rhizomes were used to make the white powder traditionally used to create the perfectly white facial makeup of Japanese and Chinese ladies.

Alba white wall iris (Iris tectorum 'Alba') is in the Waterfall Garden.

In Bloom May 4, 2012

Fri, 04 May 2012 11:16:00 EDT

Leichtlin Camass (Camassia leichtlinii 'Caerulea') produces spikes of soft, lavender-blue flowers up to 36 inches tall in late spring to early summer. Each spike can carry between 20 and 80 flowers. One of the few North American native bulbs that thrive in moist to wet soils, it also tends to be free of disease and insect pests, and is widely available for gardeners to plant in their home gardens. This particular taxon will flower well in full sun or partially shaded conditions.

The genus Camassia is derived from a Native American name for this group of plants. All five species in this genus can be found in North America, and many of them were used as a food source by Native Americans and early European immigrants. Unless the bulbs are prepared according to a narrow set of guidelines, their flavor is at best tolerable.

Leichtlin Camass (Camassia leichtlinii 'Caerulea') is flowering on Evening Island.

The Ravers® Arc of Fire™ African daisy (Arctotis x hybrida 'Bur Neig') is easily identified this time of year by the dark red, daisylike flowers on the low, mounded plants. Grown as perennials in USDA Zones 9 through 11, in the Chicago region they are used as early spring annuals that will continue to produce flowers throughout the summer. These daisies prefer full sun and moist — but not wet — soils (avoid overwatering around the crown), and they are otherwise free of disease or pest problems.

Based upon DNA analysis, the genus Arctotis was recently split to create the genus Venidium. The "new" Arctotis now contains between 40 to 50 species from countries in southern Africa. Many of the cultivars grown as ornamentals are actually hybrids between both genera.

The Ravers© Arc of Fire™ African Daisy (Arctotis x hybrida 'Bur Neig') is in the English Walled Garden.

Chinese tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa 'Yae-Zakura') is covered in double soft-pink flowers up to 9 inches across. This cultivar can eventually reach 7 feet by 7 feet in size, but it is slow to establish. Young plants should be planted 4 to 6 inches deeper than they were previously grown — one of the few times planting "deep" is recommended. The extra depth enables the woody part of the peony to produce its own roots. Propagators bud/graft tree peony buds onto the root systems of herbaceous peonies to increase the speed of propagation. Full sun and a rich soil that never dries out are keys to success for cultivating tree peonies.

Yae-Zakura Chinese tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa 'Yae-Zakura') is along the west flower walk, near the west portico of the Regenstein Center.

Dierdre viridiflora tulip (Tulipa 'Deirdre') is part of the Viridiflora (green-flowered) group of tulips. Most tulip groups are based on similar flowering times; however, this group is focused solely on those tulips that have partially green flowers. Deirdre is a very light green with a touch of merlot on the tips and a cream-colored edge. Tall-growing and late-flowering, Deirdre is great for interplanting with spring annuals and other tulip cultivars from the Triumph, Parrot, and Late Double-Flowered tulip groups.

Deirdre viridiflora tulip (Tulipa 'Deirdre') is in the Sensory Garden.

Pink Princess weigela (Weigela florida 'Pink Princess') is a 6- to 9-foot shrub that in May and June is covered with lavender-pink flowers hummingbirds find irresistible. Flowers are produced on previous seasons' growth, so any pruning to keep the shrub within bounds needs to be done immediately after flowering is completed. Weigela is a tough, hardy plant that thrives in average soils, with moderate water and full sun. However, it has no fall color or ornamental fruit to speak of, so this shrub should be partnered with other shrubs to provide interest in late summer, fall, and winter.

Pink Princess Weigela (Weigela florida 'Pink Princess') is in the Bulb Garden.

In Bloom May 1, 2012

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:12:00 EDT

Giovanna's Selection tall cineraria (Senecio stellata 'Giovanna's Select') is a seed strain featuring purple, blue, and blue-purple flowers on 3-foot-tall plants that thrive under cool, moist, shady conditions. Free from most insect and disease problems — botrytis on the petals in areas with poor air movement is the exception — this species is an annual in the Chicago area but perennial in USDA Zones 9 and 10. In northern climates, seeds are started in February in a cool greenhouse (in the same time frame as pansies and primulas) for planting out after the last of the hard freezes.

Taxonomic research using DNA analysis techniques has reclassified this species as Pericallis x hybrida, a cross between P. cruentas and P. lanata. The species in this relatively new genus are all natives of the Canary Islands. Historically, this group of plants has been identified as members of the genus Cineraria or Senecio.

Giovanna's Selection tall cineraria (Senecio stellata 'Giovanna's Selection') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Iris 'Robin's Egg' is a light blue, dwarf bearded iris that blooms two to three weeks ahead of the more frequently seen tall bearded iris. This is a perfect plant for the front of the flower border, or to use as a border. Miniature irises require the same growing environment as their taller cousins: a sunny location in well-drained soil, with no mulch in or around the crown. The other "trick" is that the rhizomes must be planted so that they are on top of the soil with the roots anchoring the iris in place. Iris rhizomes planted too deeply will result in plants with a lot of foliage and no flowers.

The ancestry of bearded irises has never been completely resolved. Many of the European taxa once thought to be wild species have turned out to be very old hybrids. The white-flowered Iris albicans is perhaps the oldest of the iris hybrids; it was first recorded on the wall of the botanical garden of Tuthmosis III as shown in the temple of Amun in Karnak, Egypt. Since those early days, it has been associated with Muslim graveyards and is often found in old cemeteries in the southwestern United States.

Robin's Egg dwarf bearded iris (Iris 'Robin's Egg') is in the Landscape Garden.

Solomon's seal (Polygonatum commutatum) is a native woodland perennial growing to 3 feet in height, producing up to 20 clusters of pendent white flowers in spring, followed by dark blue berries in late summer and early fall. It is best grown in a shady setting in moisture- retentive soils and mulched well to prevent rhizomes from drying out in summer or freezing in winter. Solomon's seal dislikes transplanting, and individual plants over time will grow into good sized colonies. Each arching stem is clothed in 6-inch-long by 4-inch-wide green leaves in parallel rows. Unlike many other spring woodland wildflowers, Solomon's seal will not go dormant when the heat of summer sets in. Free from most insects and diseases, it is unfortunately often eaten by deer.

The genus name derives from the Greek polys (many) and gonu (joint), referring to the many-jointed rhizome. The common name, Solomon's seal, is thought to refer to the starlike scars on the rhizomes that are reminiscent of the Star of David.

Great Solomon's seal (Polygonatum communtatum) is in the Lakeside Garden.

Blushing Lady jonquil (Narcissus 'Blushing Lady') is a late-season bloomer in the Jonquil section of Narcissus, with multiple flowers per stem and a delightful fragrance. The flowers open light yellow, and over time, the cups gradually age to a light pink blush. This species will thrive in most of the soils found in the Chicago area in full sun or under the canopy of deciduous trees. In addition to possessing Chicago winterhardiness, it is also very tolerant of the hot, humid summers of the Deep South, which causes many daffodils there to rot. Free of most insect and disease problems, rabbits and deer avoid it because of chemicals within the plant sap. Other groups of chemicals within the sap can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Jonquils are great for planting near a sidewalk, door, or window, where the fragrance can be appreciated.

Blushing Lady jonquil (Narcissus 'Blushing Lady') is in the Waterfall Garden.

Aesculus pavia is known as red buckeye because of the deep-pink flowers produced on candlelike spikes in spring. Though a native of the Midwest, Chicago is close to the limit of its northern range. Buckeyes are best grown in full sun or at the edge of a woodland in fertile soils. Foliar diseases are the main issue with this cultivar, and many other taxa of Aesculus, in severe cases causing the foliage to drop before fall.

Red buckeyes are among the most ornamental of the large flowering trees, and a large specimen in full bloom is not easily forgotten. The horse chestnuts (fruit) are mahogany brown and polished in appearance, and are poisonous to humans.

Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is in the Bulb Garden.

In Bloom April 27, 2012

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:00:07 EDT

The Jade Plant white Chinese tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa 'Yu Ban Bai') produces 6.5-inch snow-white, upward-facing, moderately fragrant flowers on a medium-sized woody shrub. Tree peonies prefer to be grown in full sun to partial shade in well-drained, moisture-retentive soils that are mulched in summer to preserve soil moisture and lower soil temperatures during periods of hot weather. Not bothered by most pests and diseases, they dislike transplanting, so select a planting site that will accommodate the plant as it matures to its full size of up to 3.5 feet tall by 4 feet wide. Tree canopies that produce partial shade may help to protect the delicate flowers from late-spring frosts.

Yu Ban Bai is a very old cultivar, perhaps dating back as early as the seventh century. Chinese emperors prized plants of this species as much for their red roots as for their elegant flowers.

Jade Plant white Chinese tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa 'Yu Ban Bai') is flowering at the northwest end of the Enabling Garden.

Vintage Lavender stock (Matthiola incana 'Vintage Lavender') produces a host of both double (about 60 percent) or single (40 percent) lavender blooms, whose fragrance becomes more pronounced toward evening. Plant in full sun, with moderate fertility and moisture-retentive soils. This frost-tolerant plant grows to 20 inches high by 14 inches across, and is a great selection for suburban gardeners, as it is another one of those plants deer avoid. However, nematodes can sometimes be a problem when this species is grown on sandy, freely draining soils, resulting in a stunted root system.

Gardeners who raise stock from seed start by selecting a variety known to produce a large percentage of double flowers. Seeds are sown at 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and once they germinate, the grower can select double-flowered plants by lowering the air temperature to 50 degrees, and then retaining only the seedlings with yellow-green cotyledons (seed leaves) — discarding the seedlings with deep green cotyledons (which produce single-flowered plants).

Vintage Lavender stock (Matthiola incana 'Vintage Lavender') is in the English Walled Garden.

Perestroyka single late tulip (Tulipa 'Perestroyka') is a cultivar with apricot and peach hues, and pointed petals that occurred as a sport (genetic mutation) of the cultivar 'Temple of Beauty'. Tall, strong stems hold the flowers well above the foliage.

In the Chicago area, the single late classification of tulips naturalizes almost as well as the Darwin hybrid group. Tulips used as annuals can be planted in almost any garden setting, but they need sunlight in order to produce the intensely colored flowers on tall, upright stems. If planting for naturalizing, try to interplant these bulbs in between other plants that are actively growing from mid-summer to fall, so that the bulbs will not remain in soggy soils after a summer rainstorm, which encourages rot.

Perestroyka single late tulip (Tulipa 'Perestroyka') is in the Bulb Garden.

Grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum) are tried-and-true mainstays of the early spring garden, producing spikes of deep blue flowers often accentuated with white markings around the petticoat (base of the individual flowers). This is the plant the Dutch use in their landscape designs to create "rivers" of blue in their landscape designs. Despite the tendency for the foliage to come into growth in fall, this plant is reliably hardy in the Chicago region. The bulbs slowly create clumps by producing daughter or "side" bulbs from the original stock, and the massed effect of all of the flowers produced by one clump after three or more years is stunning.

Grape hyacinths are another of the early spring bulbs ideally adapted to use underneath deciduous trees in the Chicago area, because the bulbs complete their need to create carbohydrates for next year's bloom before the trees leaf out. Rabbits nibble the foliage, but voles avoid the bulbs.

Armenian grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) is on Evening Island.

Korean azalea (Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense) is a low- growing azalea covered with pink-mauve flowers in spring, and orange to red fall color later in the season. Like other plants native to Korea, this species is winter hardy in many parts of the Upper Midwest, including the Chicago region. The cultivar is a hybrid of the straight species (yedoense) and the naturally occurring regional variant (var. poukhanense).

Korean azalea (Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense) is in the Landscape Garden.

In Bloom April 24, 2012

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EDT

Magic™ Rose Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus 'Rose') is covered with large, deep pink, camellia-shaped flowers featuring dozens of petals on each bloom. This nonhardy bulbous plant enjoys full sun and moist soils during the growing season, followed by dry soils throughout the rest of the year in USDA Zones 7 and warmer. At the Garden, the production greenhouse staff germinate the seeds in winter to produce the 4-inch pots that horticulture staff plant in the our annual displays. Home gardeners can purchase the bulbs (resembling a tiny hand with all of the clawlike "fingers" pointing downward) from online suppliers, and plant them in their gardens for early-summer blooms once the last chance of a heavy freeze is past.

The genus name derives from Pliny, based upon the Latin rana (frog), referring to the moist habitats preferred by many species. All species are toxic and avoided by grazing livestock. About 250 different species are found in this genus, ranging from Europe — the center of diversity — throughout the other temperate regions and tropical mountains. This species is found in the wild (single flowers, multiple colors) from southeastern Europe through southwestern Asia Minor, with a disjunct population on the island of Crete.

Magic™ Rose Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus 'Rose') is flowering in the Sensory Garden.

Dordogne single late tulip (Tulipa 'Dordogne') produces large, peach-apricot colored flowers on tall stems toward the end of tulip season (historically toward the end of May in the Chicago area). Tulips for annual displays can be planted just about anywhere. For naturalizing, however, a position in full sun with well-drained soils tending to the dry side after mid-June is best. The Dutch, consummate tulip growers, leave the green flowering stalk on the plant until it goes dormant to gain every ounce of energy for the following year's flower. To dissuade gophers and voles (not moles, which eat worms, not bulbs), interplant these tulips with narcissus, snowdrops, ornamental onions, or crown imperial fritillaries.

Tulip species are almost all native to the higher elevation mountains in Central Asia, with a few outliers as far east as the mountains of North Africa. The generic name derives from the Turkish turbend (turban), which they somewhat resemble. The earliest known cultivation of tulips dates back to thirteenth century in Persia. In the sixteenth century in Turkey, more than 1,300 cultivars were described and grown in gardens.

Dordogne single late tulip (Tulipa 'Dordogne') is in the Bulb Garden.

The dark pink flower buds of Sargent crabapples (Malus sargentii 'Rosea') open to reveal white interiors, providing a wonderful two-tone aspect. The deeply serrated, three-lobed leaves turn orange in the fall, and the small red crabapples are persistent through most of the winter. This species forms a small tree or large shrub in the landscape, and is known by its characteristic horizontally spreading branches. Crabapples dislike transplanting, so care should be taken when siting a new plant in the landscape. Full sun, well-drained, moist soils, and good air movement (a distance away from other trees or buildings that impede air movement) are highly desired. Many cultivars are grafted on other rootstocks to provide resistance to soil-borne pests and diseases. Avoid planting junipers in close proximity to crabapples to reduce the incidence of cedar-apple rust.

Sargent crabapples (Malus sargentii 'Rosea') are around the Regenstein Center, many of them located between the sidewalk and the edge of the building.

Lemon Glow trumpet daffodil (Narcissus 'Lemon Glow') produces large, primrose-yellow trumpet daffodils. Like most narcissus, it prefers full sun and grows well in the heavier clay soils found throughout much of the Chicago region. Relatively free of insects or diseases, the mucilaginous sap contains compounds that deer and rabbits dislike. Over time, clumps will diminish in their production of flowers, and this usually indicates the need to divide, separate, and replant the bulbs in a different location. If the leaves are left to yellow naturally, the bulbs do not need much in the way of fertilization. In fact, excess fertilization can activate otherwise latent viruses that cause streaking of the leaves and/or decreased vigor.

Lemon Glow trumpet daffodil (Narcissus 'Lemon Glow') is in the Buehler Enabling Garden.

Commonly sold as The Ravers® Sunspot™ African daisy, Arctotis x hybrida 'Archley' produces glowing orange flowers that resemble gazanias in size and shape. This is a cool-season annual that can provide color throughout the summer if temperatures remain mild. Full sun and excellent drainage in moist soils are required. How does a gardener create "moist, well-drained soils"'? The key is the annual mulching of flower beds with compost (oak tree leaves are preferred) to create a humic (organic plant remains) component of the soil, which helps retain water when rainfall and irrigation are limited. This humus also helps separate the various soil particles, especially clays, resulting in the "well drained" component. If oak leaves are not to be had, leaves from other broadleaved trees will suffice, as well as bark mulch, or wood chips. To this purpose, bald cypress bark, which breaks down too slowly, and grass clippings, which break down too fast, are to be avoided.

The Ravers® Sunspot™ African daisy (Arctotis x hybrida 'Archley') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom April 20, 2012

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:09:00 EDT

Negrita single late tulip (Tulipa 'Negrita') is a mid-season Triumph tulip that produces deep plum-purple blooms on 14- to 16-inch stems. Triumph tulips used as annual bulbs can be planted almost anywhere — full sun to deep shade, moist to moderate soils — because the flower bud and reserves needed to produce it were stored in the bulb during the previous growing season. This class of tulips does not typically naturalize well in the Chicago area, due to heavy soils that hold too much water during the dormant season (mid- to late summer). Best results at naturalization are typically obtained in gardens with sandy soils, where the bulbs have been interplanted between herbaceous perennials and shrubs whose roots absorb excess summer rainfall and irrigation water. Most of the potted, forced tulips sold around the world are members of the Triumph tulip group.

There are approximately 80 species of tulips growing in an arc from Central Asia to North Africa. They were unknown in European gardens before the sixteenth century. Hybrids are used extensively as forced pot crops and in annual displays; several dozen tulip species are grown in rock gardens, where their need for perfect drainage can be met. During World War II, Dutch farmers consumed tulips when no other food crops were available, but the flavor is not particularly desirable.

Negrita single late tulip (Tulipa 'Negrita') is flowering in the Lakeside Garden.

Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) produces long, arching sprays of pendulous, heart-shaped, deep-pink to red blooms with white-tipped flowers. A wonderful early spring perennial for shady locations, this plant needs moist soils during its growing season. Like many of the early spring bulbs, bleeding hearts thrive under the canopy of large deciduous trees and go dormant in early summer. Free of most pests and diseases, this species rarely reseeds, but does persist around abandoned homesteads and similar areas.

Bees love the nectar hidden within the flowers and will hang upside down to send their proboscis (the equivalent of a tongue in mammals) past the white part of the flower to gather the nectar. In so doing, they have to push their way past the pollen-containing anthers, thus ensuring the pollen reaches the female flower parts held near the nectaries.

Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden pink and silver beds.

Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra Maxima', also known as crown imperial fritillary, is native to dry rocky hillsides in Persia, in higher elevations where snowmelt provides early-season moisture. 'Rubra Maxima' is the best cultivar among all of the Fritillaria imperialis offerings for naturalizing in the Chicago area.

Visually, this fritillary's inflorescence resembles a pineapple, with dark orange flowers held pendulously beneath the tuft of leaves. This plant prefers well-drained soils that are moist during late winter through early summer and then dry throughout the rest of the year. Its bulbs smell awful — like skunk spray — and are great for planting in among tulips, crocus, and other bulbs to keep rabbits and deer at bay.

Crown imperial fritillary (Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra Maxima') is in the Sensory Garden.

Madame Lemoine lilac (Syringa vulgaris 'Madame Lemoine') produces pure-white, fragrant flowers in mid-spring. Very tolerant of Chicago's climate, it is best planted in locations away from buildings or dense landscape plantings to reduce the incidence of foliar diseases.

'Madame Lemoine' is named in honor of the wife of the foremost lilac breeder of the nineteenth century. While other nineteenth-century cultivars have dropped from cultivation over time, the lilacs, as a group, continue to be popular landscape plants.

Madame Lemoine lilac (Syringa vulgaris 'Madame Lemoine') is in the English Walled Garden.

Dalmation Purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmatian Purple') has spikes of purple flowers with throats intensely spotted with maroon. This cultivar is unique in that it blooms the first year from seed (all other species and cultivars are biennials and will only bloom the second year), and that the flowers face all directions (typically the flowers all tend to one side or the other of the stem).

Foxgloves are one of the few traditional herbal medicine plants to have transitioned into modern pharmacology. Extracts of various plant parts are still prescribed to treat various heart ailments. As with all medicines, the difference between beneficial effects and poisoning is a matter of dosage. Because of the cardiac glycosides and other chemicals within the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds, this group of plants is rarely eaten by rabbits and deer.

Dalmation Purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea 'Dalmation Purple') is in the Circle Garden.

In Bloom April 17, 2012

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:11:00 EDT

Prairifire crabapple (Malus 'Prairifire') is covered with fragrant pinkish-red flowers that attract bees and butterflies in addition to people. This cultivar grows 20 feet tall by 20 feet wide and is very disease and pest resistant, unlike many of the older cultivars. Yellow to peach fall color is followed by shiny purplish-red fruits of approximately 3/8 inches, which persist throughout much of the winter. Fruits that do not ripen until late winter are a valuable food source for birds and small mammals. Crabapples are a good source of pectin, used to thicken preserves and jellies, and some cultivars are greatly prized for their exceptional cider and jelly.

The genus Malus contains between 30 and 55 species that include edible apples, crabapples for cider production, ornamental crabapples, and wild apple species. The wild species are found in Asia, Europe, and North American climates that experience all four seasons.

Malus is derived from Latin and is loosely translated as "bad, ugly, or wicked," though it is uncertain whether this reflects the reputed consumption of an apple in the Garden of Eden by Eve, or whether it is derived from the use of this plant in one of the Celtic charms (curses) from the Dark Ages. Apple consumption in the Middle Ages was associated with good health — as in "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" — a desirable outcome during a period of time when doctors' first line of treatment was to bleed their patients.

Prairifire crabapple (Malus 'Prairifire') is flowering on Evening Island and the landscape gardens around the Great Basin.

Landmark rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Landmark') produces large trusses of dark pink flowers that appear to be dark red from a distance. Another selection from the Mezitt family of Weston Nursery, this small-leaved, large shrub eventually grows to 10 feet, and retains most of its leaves — which color up burgundy — in winter.

All rhododendrons require acidic soils, and because their roots are very fine and located near the surface of the soil, they are particularly susceptible to droughts or floods. With few exceptions (sandy soils near the lake), gardeners should amend their soils with peat moss, apply granulated sulfur once a year, fertilize with azalea and camellia plant food, and maintain a mulch over the roots to keep temperatures cool during the summer and to conserve moisture.

Landmark rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Landmark') is in the Landscape Garden.

Judd viburnum (Viburnum x juddii) fills the garden with an intense clovelike fragrance produced by pink buds that mature to white flowers. This is a relatively disease-free shrub that can be pruned to maintain a mounded form, or left to grow naturally into a medium-sized shrub. Flowers are produced in clusters that are about 3¼ inches across. The dark green, leathery leaves turn burgundy and red in the fall. Deer eat other plants in the landscape before they will munch on this viburnum (a very hungry deer will eat any plant).

This hybrid was created by William H. Judd at the Arnold Arboretum in 1920 by crossing Viburnum carlesii (a fragrant Korean native prone to leaf diseases) with Viburnum bitchiuense (a native to Japan and Korea, with resistance to leaf diseases).

Judd viburnum (Viburnum x juddii) is in the Waterfall Garden.

Rem's Favorite triumph tulip (Tulipa 'Rem's Favorite') is a deep purple, flamed with white, "Triumph" (mid-season) tulip that closely resembles the Rembrandt tulips of the 1600s. While the color patterns in the 1600s were the result of viruses (the discovery of which caused the crash in the highly speculative tulip market, leading to a global financial crisis), the color pattern on this cultivar is the result of a genetic mutation.

Tulips are classified into 15 divisions based upon the flower, foliage, and bloom time. The Triumph group was created when hybridizers crossed the early, single-flowering tulips with the tall, single-flowering late tulips. The Triumph division contains the cultivars most frequently forced in pots. Of all of the tulips grown each year, roughly 90 percent are destined to be forced in pots for sale through the florist market, and only 10 percent of all tulips are planted outdoors. Not surprisingly, plant breeders continue to focus on this division of tulips in order to meet the market demand for new and different cultivars.

Tulips made their way to Europe through the efforts of the ambassador from the Austro-Hungarian empire to the court of the Ottoman empire in Istanbul. This tulip was delivered in a diplomatic pouch to a botanist in Vienna, where it became part of a plant exchange (index seminum) with a colleague in Belgium. Unfortunately, the Belgium port was under blockade, and the cargo vessel docked in the Netherlands instead. The rest, as they say, is history.

Rem's Favorite triumph tulip (Tulipa 'Rem's Favorite') is in the Circle Garden.

Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is the wild species from which all modern lilac cultivars are derived. It is native to rocky hillsides in the Balkan Peninsula of southeastern Europe. The common name of lilac is a derivative of the Persian word for blue (nilak). The genus name is descended from Greek work for reed (syrinx), a reference to the Arcadian reed pipe. The depithed stems of lilacs have been historically used for pipes.

The common lilac in the English Walled Garden is covered with fragrant lilac-colored blooms produced from the tips of stems produced last year. Lilacs are best grown in full sun with good air circulation to decrease the incidence of foliar diseases. Tolerant of Chicago's heavy soils, lilacs perform better in this region than further south. A few different moth species produce larvae that can bore into the stems, causing the stems to wilt and eventually die. The plant produces "suckers" from its base that permit renewal pruning as the older stems become less vigorous/floriferous. Lilacs are very sensitive to broad-leaf weed killers used in many turfgrass fertilizer formulations, and care should be taken to avoid applying them near this species.

Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is in the English Walled Garden.

Blushing Lady jonquil (Narcissus 'Blushing Lady') produces fragrant, soft yellow flowers with a white halo surrounding the base of the cup. At maturity, the edges of the cup attain a pinkish blush (like the cheeks of the hybridizer's bride, Becky Heath, of Brent and Becky's Bulbs). This cultivar produces between one and five flowers per stem, as do other cultivars within the division Jonquilla.

In general, cultivars of Jonquilla are one of the few narcissus that thrive in the hot, humid summers of the deep South; yet Blushing Bride is also hardy in Chicago. Adapted to the heavy clay soils of the Chicago area, this plant thrives in full sun and under the canopy of deciduous trees. The sap contains a number of substances to dissuade deer and rabbits, including calcium oxylate crystals. Under a microscope, these crystals resemble glass shards, which imbed themselves into the soft tissues of the tongue, mouth, and throat when eaten. To promote heavy flower production in following years, until it turns yellow do not remove, braid, or otherwise manipulate the foliage (all of the nutrients have been translocated into the bulb). Jonquilla narcissus are used in the perfume industry.

The genus name Narcissus is derived from the Greek narco, meaning numbness, a reference to the narcotic properties of the sap (which also can cause allergic dermatitis). In Greek mythology, the handsome youth Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool, then gazed at himself until he pined away and perished, at which point the flower that bears his name sprang up where he died.

Blushing Lady jonquil (Narcissus 'Blushing Lady') is in the Waterfall Garden.

In Bloom, April 10, 2012

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:02:00 EDT

Velvet primula (Primula kisoana 'Velvet') is covered in dark pink flowers held a couple of inches above its dainty, white-haired green foliage. This species prefers woodland soils beneath deciduous trees, where it will slowly spread by underground rhizomes to create a carpet of foliage. Insect and disease free, this is one of the few primulas that thrive in the hot, humid Chicago summers. Despite its stellar performance, it is relatively rare in most Chicago area nurseries, although relatively easy to propagate by division of the clumps.

In Japan, this species is limited to ten populations in different mountain valleys. Scientists there are attempting to discern why no viable seed has been set in recent years. DNA analysis indicates the different populations were cross pollinating with each other up to very recent times.

Velvet primula (Primula kisoana) are flowering in the Sensory Garden.

Narcissus 'Actaea' is one of the most well known of the cultivars derived from Narcissus poeticus. Pure white glistening petals, slightly overlapped, are centered by a small yellow cup with a red rim. This cultivar is reliably hardy in the Chicago area if planted in well-drained, moist soils in full sun or light shade. This cultivar usually flowers in mid- to late spring (mid-May to the beginning of June in the Chicago region), but due to the relative warmth of March in our region this year, it is flowering at the Garden approximately six weeks early.

Narcissus, like almost all bulbs, produce the energy needed to create next year's flowers before they go dormant. If the leaves are plaited, tied in knots, twisted into a ponytail, or cut off before they yellow, they will most probably not flower the following year. Plaits, knots, and ponytails all interfere with the translocation of nutrients from the leaves to the developing flower in the bulb. To hide untidy-looking yellowing foliage, interplant daffodils and narcissus with perennials like daylilies or hostas that start to come into growth about the same time as the narcissus are going dormant.

Pheasant Eye narcissus (Narcissus 'Actaea') are on the east side of Evening Island.

Judd viburnum (Viburnum x juddii) is in the Waterfall Garden.

Vallya rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Vallya') produces a profusion of light pink flowers on an upright, semideciduous plant. Bred for hardiness and disease resistance, it nevertheless needs soils amended with peat moss and/or treatment of the soil with powdered sulfur to survive long-term in our heavy, alkaline, clay soils. It is best grown in light shade, and despite the need to keep the root constantly moist, the plant does not tolerate planting in low-lying sites where water stands for any length of time.

This cultivar was developed by the Mezitt family, who have owned the Weston nursery for three generations. Each of those generations have continued efforts to create rhododendrons hardy to USDA Zone 5 that are disease resistant and very floriferous.

Vallya rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Vallya') is in the Landscape Garden.

Alexandrina magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana 'Alexandrina') produces large, velvety flowers featuring a carmine base streaked with dark purple on the outside, and white on the inside. Young plants are strongly upright, but as they mature (to 25 feet tall), they broaden — don't we all? — to 25 feet wide. Plant in full sun in well-drained soil, and give supplemental watering during droughts. This cultivar is free of most insect and diseases; treat magnolia scale with dormant oil sprays in late winter/early spring. The bloom display on this earlier-flowering cultivar is sometimes cut short by late-spring freezes.

Alexandrina magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana 'Alexandrina') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom, April 3, 2012

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:23:00 EDT

Fire Hill Russian almond (Prunus tenella 'Fire Hill') is a dwarf shrub with long, thin leaves and a breathtaking display of dark pink flowers in spring. This is a low- growing, suckering shrub that is not fussy about soil pH, texture, or moisture, but does best in full sun. Because of its suckering nature, it is best planted where it can slowly increase in size without disturbing neighboring trees or shrubs. Relatively pest free and completely hardy, this plant should be pruned only to shape soon after the flowers have passed, so the new growth will have plenty of time to form flower buds before the plant goes dormant in the fall.

The species range extends from western Siberia across Russia and Central Asia into eastern Europe. The cultivar 'Fire Hill' was selected from plants found growing in the Balkans. Its shrubby habit provides a good hiding place for wildlife.

Fire Hill Russian almonds (Prunus tenella 'Fire Hill') are flowering in the Japanese Garden.

Grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum) are on Evening Island.

Showy crabapples (Malus floribunda) produce red buds that open to pale pink, fragrant flowers that slowly age to white in midspring. The three-tone color effect is striking, and the fragrance is phenomenal. Crabapples were chosen to encircle the Great Basin because they are longer lived than most cherry trees in the Chicago area, yet provide the same mass display impact. The pink-fleshed, yellow fruit in fall are highly prized by songbirds, and are usually eaten by early winter. Fall color, in a good year, will be yellow with tints of peach and apricot.

Plant in full sun in moderately fertile soils and spray as needed to control pests or diseases. Water young trees until they are well established and thereafter only during periods of extreme drought.

Showy crabapples (Malus floribunda) are in the Lakeside Gardens around the Great Basin.

Rhododendron 'Weston's Pink Diamond' is in full bloom underneath the pines on the second Malott Japanese Garden island, Seifuto (Island of Clear, Pure Breezes). A stunning sight, this is the best bloom staff can recall in years. At the tip of each branch, a truss of flower buds open to display double pink flowers with a silvery center a week or so before the 'PJM' cultivar. In the fall, most leaves color up orange to red and drop, but those closest to the tips of the branches remain on the branch until flowering.

Rhododendrons, regardless of species or cultivar, need special attention in the Chicago area because the soil pH values are too high. When this happens certain nutrients, like iron, become unavailable for the production of metabolites necessary for healthy growth. This typically shows up as interveinal (between the veins) chlorosis (yellowing) resulting in stunted growth. Planting beds should be amended with peat moss, and annual applications of powdered sulfur are sometimes also needed. Fertilization should be limited to liquid fertilizers that produce an acid reaction and are usually labeled for use on rhododendrons and camellias. The roots should never completely dry out.

Weston's Pink Diamond rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Weston's Pink Diamond') is on the second of the Japanese Garden islands.

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are perennial favorites of the midspring garden. Dusky, purplish buds mature to pendulous, clear-blue flowers on arching stems. This is a great companion plant for perennials that begin growth in early summer (lilies, hostas, and others), because the bluebells go completely dormant once the heat of summer arrives.

Grow in shaded conditions beneath deciduous trees or on the north side of the house in moist, well-drained soils. This plant does not take foot traffic well, but it is otherwise very well-adapted to the Chicago area.

Plants dug from natural populations rarely survive the trauma of transplanting to a garden setting. Relatively inexpensive plants can be obtained from local nurseries—so please, leave the wild plants in their natural habitats.

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are in the Sensory Garden underneath the white-barked birches.

In Bloom, March 27, 2012

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:33:00 EDT

Native to northeastern Greece, northern and northeastern Turkey, and Caucasian Russia, Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) is quite at home in Chicago's chilly spring — blooming for six to eight weeks, beginning in mid-February, when snow is often still on the ground. Lenten roses grow to 18 inches tall, bearing cup-shaped, 2-inch, rose-like flowers ranging in color from white to rose-purple. Hellebores in general tolerate a variety of soils, and they are an excellent choice for shady locations under trees and near shrubs in the home garden.

The genus Helleborus was a name used by Theophrastus for all medicinal herbs (including this genus). Later botanists honored this famous physician by officially adopting his name for this genus of plants. In the ancient world, extracts from Helleborus were used as a dangerous cathartic and in veterinary medicine. The poisonous alkaloids cause a burning sensation in the mouth, and so are rarely accidentally ingested.

Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) is flowering in the Landscape Garden.

Joel bush cherry resembles flowering almond in form, with similar but lighter pink-to-white flowers. Growing to 4 feet when mature, these shrubs require well-drained soil and full sun for best fruiting. Ordinarily, two varieties are needed for pollination, but 'Joel' is a self-fertile cultivar. In fall, be prepared for a fiery display of foliage lasting late into the season.

Developed by the late Elwyn Meader of Durham, New Hampshire, all nurserymen agree that bush cherries are not as attractive to birds as spring-bearing trees. According to Hartmann's Plant Company, this is because "birds do not normally consume red fruits in the late summer." In any case, the small, red cherries borne are edible and perfect for pie.

Joel bush cherry (Prunus jacquemontii x japonica 'Joel') is in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden.

One of the most stunning flowering trees of spring, 'Appalachian Red' was discovered growing beside a road in Maryland. The brilliant fuchsia flowers are much brighter than the typical redbud, making it a highly desirable landscape 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 trunks. After their early springtime show, glossy, heart-shaped leaves up to 5 inches give redbud its summertime 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 shade, but it performs well in full sun as long as soil is consistently moist.

Appalachian Red redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Appalachian Red') is on the Viburnum Walk, just west/northwest of the Model Railroad Garden.

The purple-blue buds of Virginia bluebells open to sky-blue, trumpet-shaped flowers in March and April, and last about three weeks before other plants grow in. This midwestern native naturalizes easily when grown in organically rich soil that is moist and fertile. Because bluebells wither and become dormant by summer, they are best planted between other plants, where their absence won’t be missed.

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are in McDonald Woods.

Autumn flowering cherry is noted for producing a heavy bloom of semi-double pink flowers in spring with an additional but sparse bloom occurring in fall (hence the cultivar name). The canopy on older trees often grows wider than the tree is tall. Growing roughly 25 feet tall with a rounded, symmetrical crown, it has a higher tolerance for temperature extremes of summer heat and winter cold than most flowering cherries. As an added attraction, autumn flowering cherry has spectacular golden fall color. It has moderate drought tolerance and is best suited for USDA Zones 5a through 8b.

Autumn flowering cherry or Higan cherry (Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis') is in the Japanese dry garden on Seifuto, the smallest island of the three composing the Malott Japanese Garden.

In Bloom, March 20, 2012

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:16:00 EDT

In very early spring, pink Korean abelialeaf (Abeliophyllum distichum 'Roseum') provides a pale- pink alternative to the bright yellows and golds of the more commonly seen forsythia shrubs blooming at the same time. Not fussy about soils (as long as they are not bone dry) or aspect (full sun to partial shade), and completely hardy in the Chicago area, this 4-to-6-foot- sized fragrant deciduous shrub wonderfully complements the early spring bulbs in bloom around it.

Pink Korean abelialeaf is best grown as an open, arching shrub in the landscape, because annual pruning to maintain a symmetrical shape will remove too many flower buds (produced on stems from the previous year). Planting this shrub in the forefront of an evergreen hedge or a dark-colored wall will provide the contrast needed to appreciate the delicate-colored flowers. Mature plants will benefit from renewal pruning — the removal of no more than one-third of the stems annually — to encourage the type of growth that produces the most flowers.

This Korean native is represented by a single species, a condition referred to as "monotypic" in the scientific jargon. The species is critically endangered in its native range but has not been officially added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Within cultivation, pink Korean abelialeaf can be found in many northern temperate gardens, but it is relatively uncommon because the shrub lacks ornamental summer, fall, and winter characteristics.

Pink Korean abelialeaf (Abeliophyllum distichum 'Roseum') is flowering on the middle level of the Waterfall Garden, on the south end.

Northern Sun forsythia (Forsythia 'Northern Sun') produces large, golden-yellow flowers in very early spring, and it was selected for the Garden because its flower buds can survive very cold temperatures (-30 degrees Fahrenheit). The arching branches will grow to 10 feet in height and 8 feet across. Tolerant of a variety of soils, this shrub should be grown in full sun for the best flower production. Like Abeliophyllum, renewal pruning is recommended to maintain high-quality flower displays over the years.

Northern Sun is a hybrid between the very hardy Korean Forsythia ovata and the less hardy Forsythia europaea. The seeds from this cross were planted at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in 1957. Unlike other cultivars of forsythia, the flowers on this taxon were never killed by the harsh Minnesota winter weather.

Northern Sun forsythia (Forsythia 'Northern Sun') is in the Japanese Garden, at the south end.

In early spring, Joanne d'Arc Dutch crocus (Crocus vernus 'Joanne d'Arc') draws the eye with its immense, pure-white chalices accented with orange stigmas and yellow anthers. Best grown in full sun or in light shade underneath the canopy of deciduous trees, these adaptable early spring flowers have difficulty naturalizing in the Chicago area because of predation by voles, chipmunks, rabbits, and deer. Nevertheless, they are a hallmark of spring, and their price makes augmenting the plantings every three to four years affordable.

Crocus vernus is one of the largest of the crocus species, and it is native to southern and eastern Europe. Long a favorite of Dutch hybridizers, this bloodline is found in many of the modern larger-flowered cultivars. This cultivar was hybridized in the mid-1920s by W.J. Eldering, an early Dutch pioneer in the creation of garden-adapted cutivars.

Joanne d'Arc Dutch crocus (Crocus vernus 'Joanne d'Arc') is on the east side of Evening Island.

Fragrant honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) perfumes the early spring air. Ultimately growing to 8 feet in height in the Chicago region, it grows in full sun or partially shaded areas, is not fussy bout soils, and is relatively insect- and disease-free. The red-colored, fleshy berries are bird favorites, leading to its recommendation for wildlife habitat restoration earlier in the twentieth century, when scientists were unaware of the issues surrounding the use of nonnative plants in restorations. It is now listed as invasive in USDA Climate Zones 7 and warmer. Unlike other species of deciduous honeysuckles, this species has not been found to invade natural areas in the Chicago region.

Fragrant honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) is on the upper level of the Sensory Garden.

Tubergin's milk squill (Scilla mischtschenkoana 'Tuberginiana') produces masses of milky-white flowers with the faintest of blue midribs on the flower petals. The flowers frequently start to open at soil level, but as the flowering season progresses, the flower stalks elongate to approximately 4 inches. This is a sterile cultivar, and increase in the garden is achieved slowly through production of bulb offsets, commonly referred to as "daughter bulbs."

The species range extends from the Caucasus Mountains south to the mountains of Iran, and it was introduced to cultivation in 1931. Like many other early spring-flowering bulbs, it can be grown in full sun or underneath the canopy of deciduous trees, where it completes its growth cycle before the trees start to leaf out.

Tubergin's milk squill (Scilla mischtschenkoana 'Tuberginiana') is in the Bulb Garden underneath the crabapples.

In Bloom March 13, 2012

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:38:00 EDT

For a limited time only, the spring ephemerals are here!

Dwarf irises abound in the Garden in the early days of March, and none are as spectacular as the Katherine Hodgkin reticulata iris. The ethereal powder blue of this 4- to 8-inch-tall hybrid of Iris winogradowii and Iris histroides is beautifully etched with darker blue markings and shows a splash of lemon yellow on the "falls" — the three lower petals of the iris flower that may either hang down or flare out.

Katharine Hodgkin iris is a wonderful specimen for rock gardens, borders, pathside plantings, and places where deer like to nibble (it's deer resistant). Plant during the fall in full sun to partial shade. This dwarf iris thrives in neutral to alkaline soil, but like most bulbs, it requires good drainage.

Katharine Hodgkin reticulata iris (Iris histroides 'Katharine Hodgkin') is flowering in the lower level of the Rock Garden.

George iris is a hybrid of Iris reticulata and Iris histrioides and combines the early flowering of histrioides with the robust vigor of the reticulata parent. The dark purple falls contain a blotch of white edged in yellow, known as a "nectar guide."

Close observation on a sunny day will provide an opportunity to see bees and other nectar-gathering insects landing on the blotch and following the yellow strips inside the flower to the nectar. Very close observation will reveal pollen stuck to the backs of the insects, which provides for pollination of the flowers as the bees move from one flower to another.

George reticulata iris (Iris histroides 'George') is in the Sensory Garden.

Find Iris reticulata 'Harmony' planted en masse beneath the whitespire birches in the Sensory Garden. The contrast of the blue carpet created by thousands of these bulbs with the white/charcoal bark of the birches is a hallmark of the Garden in early spring. This cultivar is another hybrid of reticulata and histrioides. Iris reticulata is native to a widespread region stretching from Asia Minor through the Caucasus Mountains, whereas I. histrioides is more restricted in its natural range (central Northern Turkey).

Harmony iris (Iris reticulata 'Harmony') is in the Sensory Garden.

Cornelian cherry dogwood offers some of the earliest spring flowers, vibrantly colored summer fruits, and exfoliating bark that adds rich visual interest to winter gardens. Naturally a multi-stemmed shrub, many gardeners aggressively prune suckers and remove lower limbs to turn cornelian cherry into a small tree that grows 15 to 25 feet tall and wide. Clusters of tiny star-shaped flowers bloom in late March or April and last up to three weeks when temperatures are seasonably cool. A remarkably pest-free plant, its edible fruits are easy to grow organically. Cornelian cherry dogwood prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.

Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas) can be found in the Heritage, Rose, and Buehler Enabling Gardens.

A member of the Ranunculaceae family, winter aconite (Eranthus hyemalis) is one of the earliest spring-flowering bulbs to bloom — and also among the smallest. Because these bulbs grow closer to the soil's surface, it takes only a few sunny days or thawing rains to warm the soil and signal to dormant bulbs that it's time to start growing. Cold winters typical of the plant's native European woodland origin, and cooler, humus-rich soil often elicit the best show of flowers.

There is, however, a dark side to these showstopping beauties — the entire plant is quite poisonous and may cause nausea, vomiting, colic attacks, and visual disturbances. Don't let this information compel you to remove them from your yard, though — the aconite's bitter taste makes it unlikely that a pet will fall victim to the plant through curious nibbling.

Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is on the north side of the Enabling Garden.

In Bloom March 6, 2012

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:00:03 EDT

Turquoise puya (Puya alpestris) produces brilliant turquoise flowers accentuated by intensely orange anthers. Best grown in full sun with a very well-drained potting soil in low humidity, it takes years for a plant from seed to reach flowering size. To grow your own, foliar feed no more than one time per month at the lowest solution recommended. This particular accession was received as a small plant from the Huntington Botanical Garden in San Marino, California, in 1993, and has come into flower for the first time.

You may be wondering how a bromeliad (air plant) can survive in a desert. In this case, the species is native to the high desert mountains of southern Chile, and obtains almost all of its water from the morning dews that briefly precipitate water before sunrise. The long, thin, arching leaves are protected by spines along the margin that discourage herbivores from taking a bite.

Turquoise puya (Puya alpestris) is flowering in the Arid Greenhouse near the armadillo topiary.

Nun orchid (Phaius tankervillae) is a terrestrial orchid producing multiple flower spikes of white flowers accentuated by rosy pink cups. Like many terrestrial (ground-living) orchids, the nun orchid can tolerate partial shade but requires well-drained soils that remain moist — a challenging combination to maintain for most home gardeners.

Nun orchid is native to high, cool — but not cold — environments from the Himalayas down through Indonesia. In its native range, a number of variations of flower color can be found. The common name of the nun orchid comes from the bowed habit of the long-lasting flowers.

Nun orchid (Phaius tankervillae) is in the Tropical Greenhouse, Palm Allee.

Tome Yokohama pansy-faced orchid (Miltoniopsis 'Tome Yokohama') has the most amazingly large (over 6 inches across), vividly patterned flowers in burgundy, white, yellow, and harvest gold. An epiphyte from the cool high elevation mountains of Central America, the flowers are "flat" or pansy faced, particularly when compared to the more classically shaped Phaius.

Pansy-faced orchid is grown in bright sunlight in cool conditions (lower temperatures in the upper 50s Fahrenheit at night with daytime highs no more than the mid-70s) in typical orchid bark soils. This is a challenging orchid to grow in the Chicago area, because the plants typically die if they get too hot during the summertime.

Tome Yokohama pansy-faced orchid (Miltoniopsis 'Tome Yokohama') is in the Tropical Greenhouse on the orchid tree.

Panama queen (Aphelandra sinclairiana) is a showstopper every winter when it comes into flower. A relatively tall tropical perennial — up to 4 feet in the Garden's greenhouses and up to 10 feet outdoors in the tropics — the large green leaves are surmounted by terminal flower spikes containing dozens of fuzzy apricot-colored buds that open to reveal pink flowers. The color combination is stunning!

A native of the lowland tropics of Central America, this plant needs room to grow. It is best grown in full sun with reliable moisture, moderate fertilization, and temperatures no lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Panama queen (Aphelandra sinclairiana) is in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Shrub vinca (Kopsia fruticosa) flowers are the palest pink with a red throat, and strongly resemble Catharanthus roseus flowers in their size and shape. Kopsia plants are very slow growing (4 inches per year) and require at least a half-day of direct sunlight plus soggy soils to bloom well. Shrub vinca is native to the Malay peninsula of southeastern Asia and is not well known in tropical gardens because of the difficulty propagating it.

A member of the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family, Kopsia fruticosacontains a number of biologically active compounds — one of which led to its use as an arrow poison by Malay natives. Keeping in mind the adage that the only difference between a poison and medicine is the dosage, modern scientists are evaluating a number of the compounds for medicinal uses. Related genera in this family like Catharanthus (annual vinca) and Nerium (oleander) are used medicinally to treat certain types of childhood cancers and heart failure, respectively.

Shrub vinca (Kopsia fruticosa) is in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

In Bloom February 28, 2012

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:42:00 EDT

Callistemon citrinus, or crimson bottlebrush, is a native of Australia that produces massive displays of red stamens at the tips of the branches from mid-winter through early spring. Full sun in average to moist soils are the preferred growing conditions. The new growth is produced just after flowering, and the silky white leaves are attractive in and of themselves.

A member of the myrtle (Myrtaceae) family, crimson bottlebrush has pungent sap and leaves that deter most insect pests. Like other native Australian plants, it is susceptible to several genera of fungi that cause damping-off symptoms in plants of all ages. Other Australian genera in this family have no resistance to these diseases, and trekkers walking through native habitats are strongly encouraged to disinfect their hiking shoes if they have been in agricultural areas or gardens.

Crimson bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) is flowering in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

Giant pinwheel flower (Tabernaemontana holtstii) produces immense ivory-to-white pinwheel-shaped fragrant flowers, primarily during the winter months in the Chicago area. A native of tropical east Africa, it desires filtered sunlight with average water and fertilizer. Amazingly hardy for a plant native to the tropics, it can tolerate temperatures at or slightly below freezing for a short period of time without damage to the flowers or foliage.

Giant pinwheel flower (Tabernaemontana holstii) is in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Bush lily (Clivia miniata) produces sprays of orange flowers in late winter surrounded by tough evergreen strap-shaped leaves. Bush lily makes a spectacular indoor plant, due to its tolerance of low light levels and need for little to no water during the winter. Although it is one of those rare plants that actually blooms best if slightly potbound, its roots are perennial, and the plant resents root disturbance (which usually displays as a skipped flowering cycle).

This species is native to southern Africa, where it inhabits the shady, dry environments created by groves of small trees and shrubs. Large sums of money are paid for plants with unusual leaf variegations and yellow(ish) flowers by a devotees of this genus in Japan, Europe, and North America.

Bush lily (Clivia miniata) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

This time of year the orchid displays reach their peak. The dragon mouth orchid is native from Guatemala to Panama, where the subspecies rosea is found. The flower spikes can produce flowers for up to three months, and each of the flowers smells like chocolate. This species requires very bright light whether grown in greenhouses, on a windowsill, or under artificial lights. During the summer growing season it prefers a moist, humid growing environment, but in the winter the watering should be reduced and diurnal — the difference between night and day low temperatures —with temperature fluctuations of 10 degrees to initiate flower production.

Dragon mouth orchid (Encyclia cordigera var. rosea) is in the Tropical Greenhouse, lower level, east epiphyte tree.

Kalihi butterfly orchid (Psychopsis 'Kalihi') is another of the unusual orchids in flower this week. Known as the butterfly orchid, the exotically patterned yellow-and-brown petals were thought to have been the "spark" that set off the orchidmania of nineteenth-century Victorians. This genus ranges from the West Indies to Costa Rica and south to Peru.

Kalihi butterfly orchid (Psychopsis 'Kalihi') is in the Tropical Greenhouse, lower level, west epiphyte tree.

In Bloom February 21, 2012

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:49:00 EDT

The Chicago Botanic Garden's Subtropical and Tropical Greenhouses in winter feature massed displays of begonias with different growth habits, leaf shapes, and flower colors.

In general, many of the 1,500 species are found in forest understory settings and are adapted to lower light levels. Species and cultivars with waxy coatings on their leaves often make fine additions to the indoor landscape due to their tolerance for lower humidity levels. Begonias prefer a well-drained soil mix that is never allowed to completely dry out. Spider mites are the most common pest of indoor plants, including begonias, but a brief trip to the shower for the plants (sprayed with warm but not hot water) is often the only treatment required to keep the pests under control.

The American Begonia Society classifies species and cultivars from a horticultural standpoint based upon those taxa possessing canelike stems, those producing tubers and requiring a distinct dormancy period, those that are semi-tuberous, those that spread by rhizomes, those of the fibrous-rooted Semperflorens group (wax begonias), those that are Rex (wildly variegated leaves), those with a trailing-scandent (great in hanging baskets) growth habit, those that are thick stemmed (rarely branching), and those that are shrublike (thick stemmed with many lateral branches).

The Begonia genus has its center of diversity in the Americas, but species are also native to tropical Africa and Southeast Asia. All begonias are monecious, meaning that they produce separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Careful inspection of begonia flowers will reveal that the large, showy flowers are sterile, while the smaller, less showy flowers often carried on the same flower spike are fertile, producing millions of miniscule seeds.

Lana angelwing begonia (Begonia 'Lana') is in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Orange Rubra angelwing begonia (Begonia 'Orange Rubra') is in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

Vivian scarlet Rieger begonia (Begonia x hiemalis 'Vivian') is in the North Gallery.

Star begonia (Begonia heracleifolia) is in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Hope white Rieger begonia (Begonia x hiemalis 'Hope') is in the North Gallery.

Netja Dark pink Rieger begonia (Begonia x hiemalis 'Netja Dark') is in the North Gallery.

White Wings angelwing begonia (Begonia 'White Wings') is in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

In Bloom February 14, 2012

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:48:00 EDT

Hippeastrum 'Red Pearl' is one of the most intense, deep red cultivars of amaryllis currently on the market. A "new" variety, individual bulbs are selling for a little over $10 each from the Dutch originator.

Hippeastrums used to be included in the genus Amaryllis until the 1930s. It seems Linnaeus gave the name to a bulbous plant, but later taxonomists could not figure out if the specimen he named originated in South Africa or South America. Because the argument could not be resolved scientifically, the taxonomists adopted a resolution assigning the name Amaryllis to plants from South Africa and used the name Hippeastrum for the species originating in South America.

Whether called hippeastrum or amaryllis (now used only as a common name), these plants provide an easy-to-grow option for Chicago-area gardeners craving a bit of color during the winter doldrums. Offered in the fall as bare-root bulbs or already potted up, they typically come into flower approximately six weeks after they are watered and begin growth. If the bulbs are purchased bare-root, plant them with the neck exposed just above soil level in a container at least 1 inch wider than that of the bulb in any commercially available prepared soil containing primarily peat moss. Water once, well, to settle the soil and moisturize the roots (important — do not remove the dried roots from the base of the bulb before planting) and hold in a dark, cool location until six weeks before flowers are desired. Then bring the plant into a warm, well-lit environment and water well. The bloom spike will shoot up from the bulb quickly and arch toward the direction of the greatest light, so be sure the rotate the pot daily to ensure the flower stalk is more or less upright (staking is often needed). Once flowering is complete, continue to grow the bulb in a warm, bright location until the danger of the last frost is past. Place pot outdoors and fertilize with a dilute solution of a well-balanced fertilizer throughout the summer. As the days begin to shorten and temperatures drop in the fall, gradually reduce water to send the plant into dormancy.

Red Pearl amaryllis (Hippeastrum 'Red Pearl') is flowering in the North Gallery.

Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) is a rare find in U.S. botanical gardens. Aside from the Chicago Botanic Garden, only the Fairchild Botanical Gardens, south of Miami, Florida, and the Waimea Botanic Gardens in Hawaii have this interesting plant. The unusual color of the jade vine's blooms is the result of pigments in two different color classes being modified by high pH in the sap of the stems.

Native to the Philippines, only old, mature plants produce flowers. Jade vine is a member of the pea family (Fabaceae) and is bat-pollinated in the wild. The brilliantly colored, oddly shaped flowers are adapted for bats to hang upside down and sip the nectar within.

Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) is at the entrance to the Tropical Greenhouse.

Banana shrub (Michelia figo) is a subtropical relative of magnolias native to western China that features creamy flowers edged in maroon with the delightful fragrance of ripe bananas. This large shrub can grow to 10 inches in height and features glossy evergreen leaves throughout the year. Grow in full sun planted in neutral to slightly alkaline soils and prune only when needed to control the size/shape of the plant. Water plants well the first year after planting/transplanting until the root system is well developed.

Banana shrub (Michelia figo) is in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

Velvet groundsel (Roldana petasitis) produces masses of golden yellow, asterlike flowers from January through March. This large perennial (8 to 10 inches) has leaves to 8" across that are coarsely lobed and "furry." The golden pollen literally covers the leaves. Grow in full sun with temperatures that reliably remain above 25 degrees Farenheit, and protect from strong winds. Velvet groundsel is not fussy about soil, but the large leaves will wilt during periods of drought.

A native to the cloud forests of Oaxaca, this plant made its way from Mexico to the San Francisco Botanic Garden. Through seed exchange Longwood Garden obtained plants, and discovered that they made an outstanding display during the winter doldrums; from there commercial nurserymen have begun to offer it for sale.

Roldana petasitis was named by a Mexican priest/naturalist, Dr. Pablo de La Llave, in honor of Eugenio Mantana y Roldan Otumbensi, who fought bravely in a battle on the plains of Apam near Mexico City.

As with other members of the aster family, the advent of DNA analysis has led to numerous name changes, with placement at one time or another in three different genera as well as two species. The most current "correct" name for this plant is Roldana cordovensis.

Velvet groundsel (Roldana petasites) is in the Subtropical Greehouse.

Silvery cassia (Senna phyllodinea) is a native of Australia that has thrived in the Arid Greenhouse for many years. The silvery leaves are a great backdrop for the deep-golden flowers held at the tips of the branches. The twisted seedpods forcibly expel the seeds when they reach maturity. Despite membership in the pea family (Fabaceae), the seeds are not edible — in fact, the seeds of some members of this family contain an alkaloid that creates Alzheimer's-like symptoms when consumed.

Silvery cassia (Senna phyllodinea) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

In Bloom February 7, 2012

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:00:03 EDT

Giant snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii) is among the first of the very early spring-blooming plants in the Chicago region. As Old Man Winter eases his grip, these diminutive, porcelain-white jewels spring up in turf, flower beds, and deciduous woodlands to herald the advent of spring. When the sun comes out, the three outer petals flare to reveal the inner fused petals and their intricate green colorations. Simultaneously, the flowers release a honey-sweet fragrance to attract pollinating insects. At maturation, the seeds are released from the ripened capsule with an attached elaiosome — a fleshy membrane filled with lipids and proteins that ants find irresistible. The ants haul seed and membrane off to their underground homes, effectively spreading the species far from the mother plant and insuring the seeds are snuggled down for the winter. This type of coevolution between plants and ants is referred to as myrmecochory (ant dispersal).

This species is native to the high mountain meadows of the Balkans and western Turkey, where the snows fall early and last late into spring. To survive in this harsh environment, the plant springs into growth as soon as the snow starts to melt — earning them the designation "snowmelt species."

Giant snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii) is flowering in the Lakeside Garden, west side.

Wisley Supreme witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis 'Wisley Supreme') was selected from a number of seedlings grown at the Royal Horticulture Society Garden at Wisley for its larger-than-normal flowers and reddish coloration at the base of the light yellow petals, and for its sweet fragrance.

This species is native to China and is known for having the most fragrant of all of the witch hazel flowers. This cultivar is only one of dozens of Hamamelis cultivars that have just begun their evaluation in the Bernice E. Lavin Plant Evaluation Garden. Look for this and the other cultivars at the north end (closest to the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden shoreline) of the Evaluation Garden, planted in a semicircle around the seating area.

Wisley Supreme witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis 'Wisley Supreme') is in the north end of the Lavin Evaluation Garden.

Royal Highness gastworthia (X Gastworthia 'Royal Highness') is another rare hybrid between two genera — in this case, Gasteria and Haworthia. The gasteria side of the family tree provides the stomach-shaped flowers that transition from rosy-pink through apricot to green. The haworthia side of the family provides the deep green leaves covered in white lenticels. Both Gasteria and Haworthia are native to southern Africa. Tolerant of very dry conditions and varying light levels in winter, they prefer very well drained soils in full sun.

Royal Highness Gastworthia (X Gastworthia 'Royal Highness') is in the Arid Greenhouse.

Cherry Blossom orchid (X Ascofinetia 'Cherry Blossom') has been in bloom on one of the lower-level orchid trees in the Tropical Greenhouse for weeks. The lax inflorescences display their quarter-sized purple flowers horizontally along the branch of the tree. The"x" in front of the genus identifies this as a hybrid between two different genera (a rarity in the plant world). The female seed parent, Ascocentrum ampullaceum, is a native of Thailand and surrounding countries, whereas the male pollen parent, Neofinetia falcate (known as the "rich and noble orchid"), is native to southern Japan. This cross has been repeated a number of times, producing offspring with flowers ranging from pink through purple.

Cherry Blossom orchid (X Ascofinetia 'Cherry Blossom') is in the Tropical Greenhouse on the lower-level orchid trees.

Tarnak white-hooded pitcher plant (Sarracenia leucophylla 'Tarnok') produces flowers with multiple petals that age from green to red/maroon as the season progresses. In most plants with multiple petals, the male and female reproductive parts remain intact — but not so with Tarnok. They are all covered to tepals (petal-like structures).

This plant was discovered by Coleman Tarnok in the Perdido ("Lost") region of Baldwin County in southeastern Alabama approximately 20 years ago. Like the straight species, this plant features elegant white-hooded pitchers with pink striations. Tissue culture techniques have enabled gardeners and carnivorous plant aficionados around the world to grow this unique and beautiful plant.

The dramatic foliage of Tarnak white-hooded pitcher plant (Sarracenia leucophylla 'Tarnak') can be found in the Semitropical Greenhouse, in the carniverous plant bog.

In Bloom January 31, 2012

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:39:00 EDT

Erin Rachel tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Erin Rachel') features hot neon-orange flowers that blend into a vibrant magenta center on an evergreen shrub that can reach up to 12 feet in height. For best flower production, grow in full sun and provide moderate fertilization and irrigation during periods of drought. Large containers can be overwintered indoors successfully in low-light conditions in the Chicago region, but the plants benefit from a hard pruning before they are moved outdoors (after danger of last frost). This hibiscus is prone to whiteflies and aphids, but these pests can often be controlled by a strong spray of water. When outdoors, natural predators like lace wings and lady bug beetles usually keep whitefly and aphid infestations under control.

A native of central China, this hibiscus is one of the most widely used ornamental shrubs in subtropical and tropical gardens around the world. In China, a number of pharmacological uses of the plant are practiced. In some cultures the flowers are eaten, and in others the flowers are used to shine shoes!

Erin Rachel tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Erin Rachel') is flowering in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Queen's tears (Billbergia nutans) is one of the easier of the epiphytic bromeliads for homeowners to grow and flower. The pink and violet-blue flowers are surrounded by rose-pink bracts on long arching racemes. Like other bromeliads, the leaves form a watertight rosette that allows the species to survive periodic droughts. This species produces copious quantities of buds at the base of the cup that grow to about 18 inches in length, and then produce another cup. Billbergia nutans is native to a wide swath of South America, from southern Brazil to northern Argentina.

In the home landscape, provide as much light as possible and add water to the cup once a week. For best results, use rainwater to avoid the leaf scorch associated with fluorinated and/or chlorinated water. In the wild the cups host a biological microcosm of single-celled organisms, algae, and small amphibians. If mosquitos or fungus gnats take up residence, treat with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis — a bacterial disease of mosquito larvae, fungus gnat, and blackfly larvae that is available in most nurseries or garden departments.

Queen's tears (Billbergia nutans) is in the Tropical Greenhouse.

The red spike ice plant (Cephalophyllum alstonii) produces vibrant red flowers held just above the thick, fleshy, triangular leaves. A native of the Ceres Karoo in South Africa, this plant does not tolerate frost or excessive moisture. The seeds (nutlets) are held in the fruiting capsule until the next rainfall event, during which they are forcibly ejected.

Red spike ice plant (Cephalophyllum alstonii) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

Pachypodium of Madagascar (Pachypodium decaryi) is currently covered with 4-inch, heavily textured white flowers held in clusters at the ends of long, fleshy stems. Not particularly fragrant, the color suggests a moth or bat may be the pollinator. Unlike other pachypodiums, the stems of Pachypodium decaryi are not armed with spines. It is among the rarest of its species, due to difficulties with propagation.

"Pachypodium" translates into "elephant foot," in reference to the thickened lower trunks used to store up water for the prolonged droughts of its homeland. It is native to the island of Madagascar — one of the world's most threatened biological hotspots, due to conversion of the natural ecosystems into agricultural land to support a growing population.

Pachypodium of Madagascar (Pachypodium decaryi) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

The dwarf pomegranate (Punica granatum 'Nana') produces masses of bright orange flowers on a glossy-leaved deciduous shrub that rarely exceeds 2.5 feet in height. Best grown in full sun with moderate fertilization, this dwarf cultivar is grown almost exclusively as a landscape plant, and can produce an attractive fall color. Fruit is rarely produced, and never matches the flavor of the larger cultivars.

Pliny was well acquainted with this plant; pomegranates are native to an area stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to the Himalayan Mountains. Many cultivars have been selected for their fruit characteristics, and these are reproduced through vegetative propagation, because the cultivars do not come true from seed. Pomegranates prefer moist, well-drained soils in regions featuring long, hot, dry summers. The area around Kandahar, Afghanistan, is famous for its groves of pomegranates.

Dwarf pomegranate (Punica granatum 'Nana') is in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

In Bloom January 24, 2012

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:07:00 EDT

The Seminole tropical rose hydrangea produces masses of pink "snowballs" in midwinter on a medium-sized shrub with large, cordate (heart-shaped) leaves. This tropical beauty is not fussy about soil texture and will grow well in sand, clay, or loam, but it does need supplemental irrigation during droughts, and appreciates periodic fertilization. Like other members of the Malvaceae (cotton or hibiscus plant) family, it is a great bee plant. Dombeyas often replace rhododendrons in warm subtropical and tropical landscapes.

This cultivar was released for commercial use by the USDA Plant Introduction Station in Miami, Florida, in 1973. In 1965, plant breeders at the research station crossed Dombeya burgessiae with D. burgessiae 'Rosemound'. They evaluated the seedlings for seven years before selecting this plant for release. It is noted for its purplish tinted new foliage, and displays a large number of pink blooms from late fall through early spring.

Seminole tropical rose hydrangea (Dombeya 'Seminole') is flowering in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

Come midwinter, you will find Chinese paper bush covered in clusters of white and yellow lightly fragrant flowers. This deciduous woody shrub is very closely related to Daphne, and appreciates moist, yet well-drained soils. A native of forest and streamside plant communities from Nepal to Southwest China, Chinese paper bush requires a frost-free growing environment, or can be grown in a large container outdoors — as these plants have been — and moved indoors when frosts threaten.

Chinese paper bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) is flowering in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

New Gold lantana is a sterile lantana hybrid producing a continuous display of brilliant golden yellow flowers in profuse clusters on a trailing/mounding plant to 15" tall and 24" wide. Outdoors, it attracts butterflies and bees, but the scents produced by the crushed leaves repel deer and rabbits. In climates that do not get colder than 25 degrees Farenheit, this plant is a deciduous perennial that flowers from spring to fall, but in warmer climates, it is evergreen and flowers continuously.

New Gold lantana (Lantana camara 'New Gold') is flowering in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic' is grown for its large, intensely dark-colored "elephant ears." The flowers produced about this time of year are a typical aroid shape, and are frequented by several species of tropical bees and flies drawn to the citrusy fragrance. This plant can take very wet soils, and has become a favorite of water gardeners looking for a plant with a tropical flare. It prefers full sun, but can be grown in partial shade with a reduction in the depth of color of the leaves.

The specific epithet (species name) esculenta refers to the edible nature of the roots — taro, or dasheen — which are an important source of starch in the humid lowland tropics, where plants are grown along streams where the temperatures remain between 70 and 80 degrees Farenheit, and rainfall exceeds 100 inches per year. The roots are eaten boiled, baked, or roasted. Wear gloves when cleaning and removing the skins of the tuber prior to cooking, as an irritant in the skins can cause allergic dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Black leaf elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic') is flowering in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Acacia cultriformis produces brilliant golden clusters of flowers from the terminal (tip) and axillary (side) buds in late winter/early spring. The leaves are solid, not divided (unlike most acacias), and have an attractive "glaucus", or bluish cast. This acacia requires full sun and well-drained soils in a frost-free climate, and dislikes transplanting, so young seedlings should be moved to their final location (in the garden or in containers) early.

Like other members of the Pea family, this species plays host to micro-organisms that return the favor by making atmospheric nitrogen available to the acacia. Acacia honey is a bit darker than clover honey, but with a fragrance that is highly desirable.

Knife edge acacia (Acacia cultriformis) is flowering in the West Greenhouse.

In Bloom January 17, 2012

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:01:00 EDT

Scuttelaria 'Scooter Flame' is a skullcap that produces bright orange tubular flowers on 1-foot plants, covered in deep green leaves from midsummer through frost (and indoors in the Greenhouses almost all year long). The mouth and inside of the flower tubes are a brilliant yellow.

A favorite of hummingbirds, this tropical 2010 Proven Winners release is a favorite of gardeners in the deep south (USDA Zones 9–11), but it can be planted as an annual in northern gardens and mixed containers for an astonishing punch of color. Scuttelaria prefers evenly moist soil and partial to full sun.

Scooter Flame skullcap (Scuttelaria 'Scooter Flame') is flowering in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Senna corymbosa produces massive sprays of brilliant gold flowers surrounded by light green leaves. This small tree requires full sun and above-freezing temperatures to look its best. It is not fussy as to its soil, and can survive periodic droughts. Like all members of the Fabaceae (Pea) family, the roots form a symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationship with bacteria. These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the plant can use. Not only does this benefit the plant when it is alive, it also results in increased soil fertility after the plant dies.

Flowery senna (Senna corymbosa) is in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

In January and February, Hardenbergia violacea 'Happy Wanderer' produces purple pea-shaped flowers with a primrose-yellow spot on the falls. A vigorous climber/sprawler, it needs a trellis or large tree to clamber over for best effect. This native of Western Australia does not tolerate alkaline soils. This plant is also a member of the Fabaceae family; compare and contrast the shapes of the flowers of the Senna and Hardenbergia as an example of the diversity in this widespread plant family.

Happy Wanderer Australian lilac (Hardenbergia violacea 'Happy Wanderer') is in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

Eremophila maculata 'Lemon' produces soft lemon flowers on a small shrub with grayish leaves. The flowers are unusual, and upon close inspection reveal hairs on the inside of the flower tube — an upper lip composed of four erect lobes and a lower lip that is reflexed and deeply divided. The species is widely distributed from northeastern through southwestern Australia. It's a member of the myoporum plant family (Myoporaceae) endemic, or regionally restricted, to Australia. Their closest living relatives are found in Texas — Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens).

Lemon-spotted emu bush (Eremophila maculata 'Lemon') is in the West Greenhouse.

Native to Ecuador and Peru, Sanchezia speciosa combines large glossy leaves, with veins prominently outlined in white, with spikes of brilliant red flowers (in winter) on a sparsely branched shrub. This plant requires full sun to partial shade, and an evenly moist, moderately fertile soil is required to produce the best flower production.

It is interesting to note that some hummingbirds native to the Chicago area migrate each year to northern South America for the winter — and it should be no surprise to bird watchers that a number of flowering plants with red tubular flowers can be found along their migration route.

Shrubby whitevein (Sanchezia speciosa) is in the Tropical Greenhouse.

In Bloom January 10, 2012

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:37:00 EDT

Trumpet jade plant (Crassula ovata 'Convoluta') is one of the easiest house plants to grow and propagate. Well adapted to full-sun conditions, it can be grown in partial shade, but tends to sprawl instead of grow upright. In midwinter the plant is covered with small balls of star-shaped white flowers. This is a great plant for gardeners who forget to water their pot plants occasionally.

The species is native to South Africa, and like other succulents from desert regions, it utilizes a Crassulean Acid Metabolism (CAM) pathway to maximize the capture of carbon from the atmosphere, while minimizing the loss of water vapor. If you are ever faced with the need to harvest moisture from plants in desert regions to stay alive, in almost all cases choose to take the time to knock the spines off a cactus, because succulents utilize a suite of chemicals to discourage predators from consuming their vulnerable-appearing foliage.

Trumpet jade plant (Crassula ovata 'Convoluta') is flowering in the Arid Greenhouse.

Silver Cloud Chinese magnolia (Michelia doltsopa 'Silver Cloud') is a great substitute for magnolias in subtropical and tropical climates. This small, semi-evergreen tree prolifically produces creamy-colored flowers with a spicy fragrance in the Semitropical Greenhouse in midwinter. Green, leathery leaves set off the flowers produced on axillary (side) buds. This cultivar is noted for producing more flowers than the straight species.

Michelia was named by Linnaeus in honor of Florentine botanist P.A. Michel. This genus differs from magnolias in that the flowers are produced on side buds instead of terminal (tip) buds. This species' native range extends from the Eastern Himalayas through southwest China and into eastern Tibet.

Silver Cloud Chinese magnolia (Michelia doltsopa 'Silver Cloud') is in the Subtropical Greenhouse.

Variegated starburst (Clerodendron quadriloculare 'Brandonii') is a large, variegated evergreen shrub featuring masses of starburst-like pink and white flowers beginning in January, and continuing throughout the winter. This native of the Philippines is not fussy about its soil preferences, and will grow and flower equally well in full sun or partial shade. Its broad variegated leaves provide interest throughout the rest of the year.

The genus name is derived from the Greek kleros ("lot" or "chance"), and dendron ("tree"), referring to the variable medical properties of some of the species. Like other members of the Verbena family, most of the alkaloids in the sap of leaves, stems, fruits, and seeds do not react well when ingested by humans.

Variegated starburst (Clerodendron quadriloculare 'Brandonii') is in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Mother of millions aloe (Aloe bulbifera) gets its name from the bulbils it produces freely near the bracts at the base of the flowers. This species is stemless — the leaves form a dense rosette from which the flowering spikes emerge in midwinter (midsummer in its native Madagascar). The brilliant red flowers are attractive to the Madagascarian equivalent of hummingbirds.

The origin of the Aloe genus name is unclear; the Greek and Hebrew allal ("bitter") and Arabic alloch ("bitter") are both contenders.

Mother of millions aloe (Aloe bulbifera) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

Dawe's aloe (Aloe dawei) grows to 4 feet in height and produces massive flowering displays each winter that run from January through February. Their appears to be two color forms in cultivation — orange-red or yellow. Both colors are very adept at attracting hummingbirds in the American Southwest. Aloe dawei is well adapted to arid environments with low fertility. Once established, plants can survive up to two months between waterings.

Dawe's aloe (Aloe dawei) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

In Bloom, January 3, 2012

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:00:03 EDT

Sarracenia 'Scarlet Belle' produces foot-high hooded pitchers that somewhat resemble a red-and-pink cobra with white markings. A carnivorous plant adapted to acidic bogs where nitrogen is severely limited, it produces a combination of water and sugar with digestive enzymes at the bottom of the pitcher. Insects looking for a drink of water or some sugar soon discover the hairs lining the inside of the hood prevent them from escaping the trap. The nitrogen and other nutrients released by the enzymes are absorbed through the lining of the pitcher. Old pitchers that are no longer functional are frequently filled with an interesting collection of insect exoskeletons (the acids don't dissolve chitin). Experiments on a Venus fly trap (also a carnivorous plant) determined that Spam or other forms of meat spirited away from the dinner table provide a diet that is too rich, resulting in plant death.

All sarracenias are natives of the United States, with the center of speciation located in the Southeast. Most of them require a dormancy period coinciding with a period of freezing temperatures or drought. They all require acidic sphagnum moss "soil" and are frequently a component of quaking bogs. Water only with rainwater as the chemicals found within treated drinking water are toxic to this group of plants. Grow in full sun only.

Insect-catching Scarlet Belle pitcher plant (Sarracenia 'Scarlet Belle') is in the Semitropical Greenhouse.

Pink ball dombeya produces basketball-sized inflorescences (groups of flowers) hanging from the tips of branches sporting velvety green cordate (heart-shaped) leaves for a month or more. In subtropical climates, it is best grown in full sun with moderate soil moisture and monthly feedings of a balanced fertilizer. Gardeners have discovered that pruning, if carried out after flowering is completed, is needed to keep this plant small enough for the average garden; otherwise it quickly grows to 30 feet in height with equal spread.

Pink ball dombeya (Dombeya wallichiana) is in the Semitropical Greenhouse.

The giant yellow shrimp plant (Barleria oenotheroides) has strikingly brilliant yellow flowers throughout much of the year. Adaptable to full or partial sun, this species of woody shrub matures at 4 feet. Barleria oenotheroides is native from southern Mexico down to northern South America.

Giant yellow shrimp plant (Barleria oenotheroides) is in the Tropical Greenhouse.

Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides was much easier to remember under its old name of Senecio confusus. In retrospect, the species name of confusus should have been a strong hint that not all was well in taxonomy land. Regardless, this arid-zone-adapted vine grows to 10 feet or more, producing very smelly (scientists use the term "foetid"), bright orange, sunflower-shaped flowers. Handsome, dark green, arrow-shaped leaves provide a great backdrop for the flowers. Full sun, moderate water and fertilization, and a trellis or shrub to clamber over is all it needs.

Mexican flame vine (Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides — labeled under old name of Senecio confusus) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

Calathea dressleri was first described by botanist Helen Kennedy from collections made in Panama. The bright contrasting patterns and colors of the leaves are reminiscent of the spectacular plumage of male peacocks. Distantly related to bananas and gingers, this species is well adapted to humid tropical environments. Tolerant of full sun to partial shade, it requires the challenging combination of well-drained soils that remain constantly moist. Peacock plant is at "'home" in the higher elevation cloud forests of Central America, where rain showers begin at 1 p.m. every day. Within the homes of Chicagoans, this plant and its relatives are prone to infestations of spider mites (because our relative humidity is too low).

Peacock plant (Calathea dressleri) can be found in the Tropical Greenhouse.

In Bloom, December 27, 2011

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:00:02 EDT

The Hong Kong orchid tree features fragrant rose-purple flowers with pink stamens on an umbrella-shaped semi-deciduous tree maturing at 20 feet tall. The leaves are distinctively shaped, resembling the outline of a cow's hoof. The Hong Kong orchid tree is not fussy about soils, and additional irrigation during droughts will reduce the deciduous tendency. Hummingbirds find the flowers attractive, as do gardeners who can admire the flowers on the tree as well as the carpets of flowers frequently found under them.

The "x" between Bauhinia and the species blakeana denotes this plant as a hybrid. This hybrid species was found occurring in a single location in China near the seashore, and was transplanted to the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens. Propagation by cuttings from this single plant has provided gardeners in subtropical and tropical climates around the world with this spectacular small tree. Scientists believe this natural hybrid is the result of cross pollination between Bauhinia purpurea (native from India to the Malay Peninsula) and Bauhinia variegate (native to eastern Asia).

Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) is flowering in the Semitropical Greenhouse.

This dendrobium cultivar features bluish-tinted flowers atop a swollen canelike stem. Like many of the dendrobium species, this cultivar flowers after the leaves have fallen off at the end of the dry season.

Imagine, if you will, the excitement of the first plant explorers, as they came across mature oak forests festooned with many different species of dendrobium orchids in the high elevations of southeastern and southern Asia.

Several species inhabit environments rife with leeches that effectively eliminated mammals from the ecosystem, and were a great hindrance to the plant explorers who discovered them.

Cane orchid (Dendrobium 'Fuchs Blue Twist' x compactum x lasianthera) is in the South Greenhouse, on the western orchid tree.

Aloe cryptopoda produces brilliant red-and-yellow flower buds that open to reveal yellow flowers from short-stemmed plants with narrow, succulent leaves. This species is widespread across much of southern Africa, but this particular color form is sometimes named Aloe wickensii, after the South African farmer who discovered it in 1914. Tough and durable, this plant requires full sun and arid conditions to produce the best flowering displays.

Geelaalyn — the common name for this plant in Afrikaans (Aloe cryptopoda) — is in the Arid Greenhouse.

Picea omorika 'de Ruyter' is a slow-growing cultivar of Serbian spruce with an irregular growth habit and the interesting characteristic of producing only blue needles on one branch versus green needles on a branch next to it. The species is endemic (native-range restricted) to higher elevations of the Drina River valley in eastern Bosnia-Herzegovina and western Serbia. Although native to Europe, it was not discovered and described by scientists until 1875. This spruce is widely grown in gardens in temperate zones because of its classic "Christmas tree" shape and its tolerance of a wide variety of soils.

De Ruyter dwarf Serbian spruce (Picea omorika 'de Ruyter') can be found in Nichols Hall.

The brilliant red flowers atop the dark green foliage of Pachystachys spicata make this an appropriate plant for the holiday season. A native of South America, this perennial tropical plant needs shady conditions with evenly moist soils to produce these spectacular flowering displays. Like other tubular red flowers native to Central and South America, this plant is a favorite of hummingbirds.

Cardinal's Guard (Pachystachys spicata) is in the Tropical Greenhouse, just east of the Palm Allée.

In Bloom, December 20, 2011

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:00:02 EDT

Red Glitter poinsettia is a member of the Jingle Bell group that has deep red bracts randomly punctuated by white spots and splotches. Jingle Bell poinsettias all possess either a red or pink background color with contrasting spots or splotches of white or pink. Growers using more than one cutting per pot closely examine the leaf petioles of this cultivar at the time of planting (when leaves are still green). Leaf petioles — the part of the stem connecting the leaf to the trunk — that possess the same amount of striping will produce a uniform finished plant.

Interested in keeping your poinsettia plant and attempting to force it to rebloom next season? Contact the Plant Information Service at (847) 835-0972 or check our January Gardening Checklist for tips on keeping poinsettias all year.

Red Glitter poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Red Glitter') is flowering in containers near the Semitropical Greenhouse.

Salvia guaranitica produces long sprays of deep blue-purple flowers from midsummer throughout the winter when grown indoors under bright light conditions. Outdoor gardeners utilize this species in their annual bedding schemes for their intensely colored flowers, drought and disease resistance, and because they attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Mexican Sage (Salvia guaranitica) is inside the Semitropical Greenhouse.

Sester's Dwarf Colorado blue spruce retains the symmetrical growth habit and deep blue color of the species in a much-reduced size. The pyramidally shaped tree at maturity will be 6 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. Hardy outdoors in the Chicago area, specimens used indoors for holiday displays should be kept in a cool, sunny location after the exhibit is closed until the outdoor temperatures are reliably above 25 degrees F. Plant in a sunny, well-drained location that does not have standing water after a rain storm. This is a great tree for under powerlines or for gardeners with small yards.

Enjoy the foliage of Sester's Dwarf Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens 'Sester's Dwarf') in Nichols Hall.

Dwarf Pagoda box-leaved holly is a very slow-growing cultivar of Ilex crenata with a "bonsai-like" growth habit featuring small leaves and a horizontal branches on a plant maturing at 30 inches in height. In the Chicago area, this cultivar is best grown in a container (hardy to USDA Zone 7) that can be moved into a sheltered location in winter. This use of azalea or camellia plant fertilizer will meet this species' need for acidic soils and avoid leaf chlorosis. A female cultivar, this plant will only produce berries (black) if a male cultivar is planted nearby.

Find Dwarf Pagoda box-leaved holly (Ilex crenata 'Dwarf Pagoda') in the North Gallery.

Pachypodium lealii is a small-growing bottle tree from southern Angola and Namibia that produces creamy white flowers on a branch well-armed with spines. With time, the small specimen in the Garden's Greenhouses will produce a swollen trunk — the basis for the common name. As with other members of the Apocynaceae (oleander) family, the milky sap of the leaves and stems is highly toxic and, in fact, Namibian hunters often used the sap to poison their arrow tips. The sap can also cause blindness if it gets into the eye.

Leal's bottle tree (Pachypodium lealii) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

In Bloom, December 13, 2011

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:48:00 EDT

Vanda Lumpini Red 'Kultana' produces striking reddish-purple flowers of heavy texture on a strongly upright flower spike. Vanda orchids are native to hot, humid, tropical areas of Southeast Asia, and they do not tolerate cool temperatures.

Orchid taxonomy became complicated when, in the early twentieth century, scientists discovered that crosses between different genera were successful if the embryos were rescued and grown in tissue-culture conditions. Some of today's cultivars represent hybrids including five or more genera. To keep track of this complexity, scientists created the term "grex." Grex names either take the place of the genus or, in some cases, follow the genus and are never included within single quotation marks (which distinguish it from the cultivar). Orchid cultivars represent one manifestation of the possible genetic diversity (typically different/unique/larger) of flowers or flower color patterns. In this example, Lumpini Red is the grex name, referring to two parents with a complex heritage, and 'Kultana' represents a selection with improved form and color.

Kultana vanda orchid (Vanda Lumpini Red 'Kultana') is flowering in the Tropical Greenhouse, in the Western Orchid Tree.

Forever Maxi Pink kalanchoe flowers open salmon, but quickly mature to a medium-pink color on 6-inch-tall plants. Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is native to the island of Madagascar. Most cultivars of this species are actually complex hybrids, incorporating germplasm from multiple species.

Forever Maxi Pink kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana 'Forever Maxi Pink') is in the North Gallery.

Tapestry poinsettia features variegated green-and-white leaves and red flowers. Among the variegated poinsettia cultivars, this is one of the most floriferous. The white variegation lacks chlorophyll, resulting in plants with more nutrients to put toward flower production.

Tapestry poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Tapestry') is in Nichols Hall.

The Agave filifera in bloom in the Arid Greenhouse is one of the few known to flower in cultivation. The threadlike appendages to the leaves are the reason the specific epithet — or species name — of filifera was chosen. A native of northern Mexico, the foliage is dense, resulting in a compact ball of thorn-tipped leaves up to 2 feet across.

Notice how the white style/stigma is exerted (much longer) than the golden anthers/pollen? This is an evolutionary adaptation to increase cross-pollination when the plant is visited by bats and other pollinators. At the first flower the bat visits it receives nectar, plus a dose of pollen when it moves in close to the nectaries (at the base of the flower). After that, it brushes against the stigma/styles, leaving some pollen behind (they are sticky) on the way to the nectar, picking up a second dose of pollen in the process.

Thread agave (Agave filifera) is in the Arid Greenhouse.

Cestrum elegans var. smithii is a native of Mexico featuring pink tubular flowers at the ends of long, arching, flowering stems to 8 feet in length. Grow in full sun with moderate water and fertilization for best results. Like other members of the Solanaceae (potato) family, the leaves, stems, flowers, and fruit contain poisonous chemicals to fend off predators. Whiteflies are one of the few pests to have developed mechanisms to avoid these toxins. Fortunately, like spider mites, they are prone to diseases in wet and humid environments, so a periodic syringing of the foliage with water is often all that is needed to keep pest levels low.

Smith's flowering tobacco (Cestrum elegans var. smithii) is in the Semitropical Greenhouse near the tyranosaurus topiary.

In Bloom, December 6, 2011

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:26:00 EDT

Purple cattleya orchid flowers were once a significant part of corsages sold in the United States, though these days teenage girls tend toward "custom" corsages ranging far afield from the traditional orchid. However, the cattleya's combination of heady fragrance, elegant flower shape, and delicate shading of lavender and purple colors on the flower petals remains unparalleled.

This group of orchids is not tolerant of temperatures lower than 60 degrees F., low humidity, or shady growing conditions. In the Brazilian tropics, the plants grow into large spheres several feet across, making for a magnificent sight when they come into flower. An epiphyte — plants whose roots anchor them to the side of branches at the top of the forest canopy — this orchid has swollen pseudobulbs to store water during the dry season.

Purple cattleya orchid (Cattleya hybrid) is flowering in the Tropical Greenhouse near the top of the westernmost orchid tree.

Prestige Red poinsettia has among the largest bracts of any of the poinsettia cultivars available this holiday season. It was rated among the best of the traditional red poinsettias in consumer preference tests conducted at Purdue University, North Carolina State University, and the University of Florida.

Prestige Red poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Prestige Red') is in the checkerboard area of the Semitropical Greenhouse.

The white form of the doubtful ornithogalum is quite rare in nature. This cultivar, 'Snowflake', contrasts brilliant white petals with very dark-colored anthers and stigma. A native of South Africa, this plant is not reliably hardy outdoors in the Chicago area.

Snowflake doubtful ornithogalum (Ornithogalum dubium 'Snowflake') is in the North Gallery.

Kleinia aster is a member of the Asteraceae (sunflower) plant family that produces lavender paintbrushlike flowers and silvery, rounded leaves. The silver color of the leaves (created by a waxy covering), and their shape (reduced surface area), are adaptations seen in many plants native to very dry regions. Unlike most of the other plant species native to Saudi Arabia and Somalia, kleinia aster tolerates the relatively higher humidity found in the Garden's Arid Greenhouse.

Kleinia aster (Kleinia leptophylla) is in the far west end of the Arid Greenhouse.

Variegated English holly (Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata') is the classic variegated holly with red berries used for holiday decorations. New foliage is pinkish colored, maturing to spiny evergreen leaves edged in silver. Forming a broadly pyramidal tree to 30 feet at maturity, unfortunately it is not hardy outdoors in the Chicago area. Hollies have male and female flowers on different plants. Despite the frequent common name of English holly, this species is native to Western Asia.

See the foliage of variegated English holly (Ilex aquifolium 'Argentea Marginata') in the checkerboard area of the Semitropical Greenhouse.

In Bloom, November 29, 2011

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:17:00 EDT

Schneeball (German) or snowball (English) hydrangea produces pure-white masses of sterile flowers — sometimes referred to as "mophead" in catalogs — when forced in midwinter. "Forcing" is a term used when nursery growers manipulate a plant's environment to encourage a plant to produce flowers outside its normal flowering cycle. Schneeball's icy-white flowers age to chartreuse and pink.

Snowball hydrangea gift plants that are kept indoors in bright light will live until spring, if the soil is kept from getting soggy. After the last frost date has passed, they can be planted outside in a container. It is difficult, however, to bring them back into flower for the following late fall/early winter season — this species of hydrangea produces flower buds on the previous summer's growth. Unfortunately, it lacks frost tolerance, and therefore is difficult to keep growing in full sun until it resumes flowering in late fall/early winter.

Snowball hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Schneeball') is flowering in the Krehbiel Gallery.

Ice Punch poinsettia features a patterned bract in cranberry with a frosty-white center. Developed by the famous Paul Ecke Poinsettia Ranch in California, it also retains its leaves (both green and colored) longer than older cultivars. This cultivar has been commercially available since 2006, but it is just becoming available to most consumers.

Ice Punch poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Ice Punch') is in the Krehbiel Gallery and Nichols Hall.

Marble Star™ poinsettia begins with beautiful salmon-pink "blooms" (set of colored bracts) that are then edged in creamy white. Marble Star is another of the more recent cultivars selected for their ability to retain their leaves — as well as their distinctively colored bracts — indoors.

Marble Star™ poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima '9,685') is in Nichols Hall and the Joutras Gallery.

Boulevard false cypress sports beautiful silver-and-blue-striped, awl-shaped juvenile foliage on a slow-growing plant. Boulevard is perfectly placed in the Model Railroad Garden, Dwarf Conifer Garden, and other areas where its graceful growth habit and distinctive coloration complement miniature landscapes. (While slow growing, it can reach more than 20 feet in height — something to keep in mind if planting Boulevard outdoors.) This false cypress can tolerate some shade when it is young, but it typically grows best in full sun with moderately fertile, well-drained soil.

This species comes to us from Japan and is noted for producing a number of cultivars distinguished by differently colored needles and a varying percentage of juvenile (awl-shaped) and mature (flattened, scalelike) leaves.

Find Boulevard false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Boulevard') among the foliage in the Krehbiel Gallery and Nichols Hall.

Charity Oregon grape produces sprays of soft yellow flowers — with a faint fragrance of honey — in winter, from the tips of its evergreen branches. Dark green, handsome, frondlike leaves form a rosette around the central flower spike. While not hardy in the Chicago region, when grown outdoors (in USDA zones 7 to 9) the leaves turn a brilliant red as temperatures cool. The evergreen foliage can get burned by winter winds if not planted in a sheltered location.

In 1957 this cultivar arose as a spontaneous seedling hybrid between Mahonia japonica (native to Japan and China) and Mahonia lomariifolia (native from Yunnan, China, south to Burma) at the famous Donard Nursery in Northern Ireland. While popular in Europe for decades, it has only recently been available to gardeners in North America.

Charity Oregon grape (Mahonia x media 'Charity') is in the East Greenhouse.

In Bloom, November 22, 2011

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:20:00 EDT

Calla lilies perfume the air around their sculptural, funnel-shaped, white chalices with a pleasing, faint citrus fragrance. Native to South African aquatic environments, this plant can be grown "dry," like a normal potted plant in soil, or as a "marginal" — a plant which grows at the edges of ponds. The large, fleshy, arrow-shaped leaves provide a dramatic statement in the landscape even before the plant begins to flower.

Grow calla lilies in moist, rich soils in full sun for best flower production. The calla lily is a signature feature of the cut flower market, and a favorite of artists around the world. Wild populations are frequently home to a small frog, Hyperiolus horstockii, that posesses the uncanny ability to change colors to match its location on the plant.

Calla lily (Zantedeschia aetiopica) is flowering in the North Gallery.

Poinsettias were frequent decorations of Catholic religious shrines in Mexico long before their introduction by American ambassador to Mexico, Joel Robert Poinsett, in 1825. Prior to the Spanish Conquest, Aztecs valued the plant as a source of red dye. Poinsettias require at least 12 hours of darkness to induce the formation of flower buds and the creation of the colorful bracts (modified leaves) that surround the small yellow flowers. The sap can cause allergic dermatitis in sensitive individuals, a burning sensation if ingested, and temporary blindness if it gets into the eyes. Documented cases of deaths of humans and pets are rare, because the milky, latex sap is so caustic that an automatic gag reflex is activated when the flowers, leaves, or stems are chewed.

Red Elf poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Red Elf') is flowering in the East Greenhouse, in the hanging topiary balls.

x Neoguzmania 'Patricia' is a hybrid between two different bromeliad genera that produces brilliant spikes of red flowering bracts accentuated by handsome green foliage.

All bromeliads are epiphytes, which means that they have root-like structures that permit them to hang onto tree branches near the top of the tree canopy, where they receive almost full sun. Because bromeliads don't have access to soil moisture, they have adapted two approaches to water conservation:

the creation of a water-tight rosette of leaves to capture and hold rainwater;
the production of waxy scales on the leaves to trap rainwater and humidity while deflecting the suns' rays.

x Neoguzmania is representative of the bromeliad type that captures rainwater in their "cups." In the wild, these "cups" are microcosms of biological diversity containing a wide range of water-bourne algae and bacteria, as well as higher organisms like mosquito larvae, and the miniature frogs that feed upon them.

Patricia bromeliad (x Neoguzmania 'Patricia') is flowering in the Greenhouse Galleries, in the topiary trees.

The Canary tree mallow produces canary yellow terminal (at the tip of the branch) and axillary (formed in the leaf axils) corymbose inflorescense (flat topped clusters of flowers) in winter in the Chicago area. With a native range from Mexico south to Colombia and Venezuela, the flowers can vary from pale yellow through gold, sometimes with a red blotch near the center of the flowers.

Grow canary tree mallows like abutilons — in full sun, in well drained soil, and cut back the 12 foot tall plants to a more manageble size during the dormant, non-flowering season from late winter to early spring.

Like other members of the Malvaceae family (which includes hibiscus and cotton), this plant is particularly susceptible to whiteflies and mealy bugs — both of which can be controlled using a variety of integrated pest management techniques. The exception relates to a strain of whitefly created when Pakistani farmers sprayed their cotton crops with a combination of every insecticide on the market. In so doing, they eventually created a strain of whiteflies that are not only resistant to chemical sprays, but that are so filled with toxins that they kill their natural biological predators. The USDA Animal and Plant Quarantine inspectors at the major points of entry to the United States are ever vigilant to prevent the inadvertent introduction of this serious agricultural pest to our country. This, as well as many other pests and diseases, is why the American government has rules requiring that all importations of plants into the United States be inspected for pests and diseases before they arrive.

Canary tree mallow (Bakeridesia integerrima) is flowering in the South Greenhouse.

Moth orchids are among the easiest orchids to adapt to growing conditions found within Chicago area homes. The large, white flowers are a remarkably accurate mimic of a large white female moth native to southeastern Asia. Almost all orchid flowers depend upon insects to pollinate their flowers, and that is the reason this plant family has so many unusual and distinctive flower petal shapes, sizes, and coloration patterns.

Grow moth orchids in a well lit room with the pot resting on a bed of gravel to hold water, increasing the humidity immediately around the plant. Repot the plant immediately after flowering is completed (in late winter to early spring) using a very well-drained soil mix comprised primarily of bark, volcanic pumice, and charcoal.

On some cultivars, "kikis" (Hawaiian for babies) form along the flowering stalk. In the wild, as the stalks age and the baby plants grow larger, they eventually lean over to permit the young plant to root into the leaf litter. In cultivation, the young plants are removed when the flowering stalk begins to die back, and are potted up as new orchid plants.

White moth orchid (Phalaenopsis hybrids) are flowering the South Greenhouse, in the Palm Alleé.

In Bloom, November 15, 2011

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:18:00 EDT

Whitethorn acacia produces fragrant flowers that resemble small golden balls hanging beneath the stem. Native to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts of the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico, it is hardy down to the single digits, but requires full sun and well-drained soils. The long white thorns are most prominent on relatively young branches. This is one of several species that early agriculturalists used to create living fences.

Acacias are members of the very large and diverse pea family (Fabaceae), which contains more than 730 genera. The pea family is divided by botanists into three main groups based upon flower morphology, with acacia and mimosa representing the Mimosiodeae group, Hong Kong orchid tree and caesalpinia in the Ceasalpinoideae group, and astragalus, lupines, peas, and clovers representative of the Faboideae group. This family is immensely important in agriculture as human and livestock forage.

Whitethorn acacia (Acacia constricta) is flowering in the West Greenhouse.

The Shaving Brush flower is native to southern Africa, where it can be found in a range of habitats from temperate mountain slopes to rocky seacoasts. The evergreen, leathery leaves are resistant to salt spray, and the plant can grow and flower in full sun or shady environments. The petals are absent in this flower, and the showy parts of the flower are composed of the white stamens and the light colored bracts. In the Chicago area it requires a frost-free environment. Few pests attact this species; spider mites might be a concern, but they are easily washed away with a stream of lukewarm water. (Actually, most spider mites are killed because the water makes them susceptible to diseases.)

Shaving Brush flower (Haemanthus albifloss) is in the West Greenhouse.

Bolivian Sunset gloxinia features brilliant orange-red tubular flowers in racemes in late fall and early winter. This subtropical perennial is hardy in south Florida; in our greenhouses it grows in a rounded shape to 24 inches in height and up to 36 inches in width with deep green leaves. Grow in partial shade, high humidity, and moist, well-drained soils.

Seemannia as a genus was created when DNA analysis of gloxinia strongly suggested major differences between the species. Regardless of generic name, this species can be found growing in the wild from Ecuador through Peru to Bolivia, northern Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil.

Bolivian Sunset gloxinia (Seemannia sylvatica) is in the South Greenhouse.

Amid the large-flowered orchids gracing the "orchid trees" in the South Greenhouse is the diminutive Doritis orchid (Doritis pulcherrima var. chumpornensis). In all respects it resembles a miniature moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) and indeed has been used to create the Phalaenopsis orchids with intermediate flowers and multiple flowering spikes. This variety is a unique form found in the southern Thailand province of Chumphon (current spelling). The species can be found across much of southern Asia, from India and China, south and east as far as Malaysia.

Trade in all species of orchids is restricted by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has identified this species as "of concern." Relatively easy to grow in cultivation, the movement/transportation of cultivated plants within countries is not restricted, and indeed this species is not particularly rare in cultivation.

Doritis orchid (Doritis pulcherrima var. chumpornensis) is in the South Greenhouse.

Large-leaf Princess Flower produces exquisite royal-purple blooms from fall throughout most of the winter in conservatories providing full sun and moderate soil fertility — use acid fertilizers, similar to what is used for rhododendrons — and moisture. The very large, silvery, felted leaves on a rounded shrub up to 7 feet make this an ornamental with all-year interest.

A native to Brazil, Princess Flower is one of the plants recommended by famed twentieth-century landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx (and yes, one of his ancestors was "that" Marx). Roberto transformed mid-century landscape architecture concepts with his dramatic broad sweeps of tropical plants with colorful foliage and flowers, and his free-form water features.

Large-leaf Princess Flower (Tibouchina grandiflora) is in the East Greenhouse.

In Bloom, November 8, 2011

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:55:00 EDT

Ginkgo biloba 'Tubilifolia' is a unique cultivar of ginkgo whose small leaves are curled — some tightly enough to resemble small trumpets or tubes. Their fall color is the traditional golden yellow on a broadly spreading small tree or large shrub that "drops" all at once in fall. Resistant to most insects, diseases, air pollution, and restricted root runs, it is an ideal tree for urban landscapes. It prefers climates with hot summers and cool to cold winters. Ginkgo is not tolerant of late-spring frosts, because there are no reserve vegetative buds — they leaf out all at once. When such a frost destroys these buds and leaves, it can take until midsummer before the tree has had enough time to produce new ones.

A "living fossil," the Ginkgo biloba fossil record contains imprints of ginkgo leaves dating back to the early Jurassic Period — well before flowering plants evolved. Today, the closest living relatives are cycads, which share the rare plant characteristic of producing motile sperm. Once widespread around the world, ginkgo populations died out as climates changed in the southern hemisphere, and the northern hemisphere populations shrank to a very small area of China. Gingkos have since adapted to grow well in disturbed environments along streams on moderately fertile soils in the wild. Scientists believe they have finally found two wild populations, but at least one of them has very low genetic diversity, which suggests these trees are naturalized decendents from trees planted a couple of thousand years ago.

For the last 1,500 years or so, ginkgo has been grown in Asian temple gardens. It continues to be cultivated in Chinese fruit orchards for the "silver apricot" fruit that is highly prized once the very smelly, soft outer covering is removed. European and American gardens prefer the seedless male cultivars.

Tube-leaved ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba 'Tubilifolia') are in fall color and fruit in the Dwarf Conifer Garden.

Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara' is a nonhardy perennial discovered in a garden in Santa Barbara, California, that features a more compact growth habit with increased branching. The hairy silver stems produce velvety purple flower spikes (verticillasters is the technical term) with light lavender flowers from late summer through frost. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths all visit the flowers to gather nectar. This plant is deer- and rabbit-resistant and prefers full sun and slightly dry soils.

This species is a native of the Mexico and Central America. The genus Salvia includes more than 900 species of plants around the world with perennial, annual, shrub, or subshrub growth habits. Many of these species are ornamental because of their showy flowers, while others are grown for culinary and medicinal uses.

Santa Barbara sage (Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara') is along the middle path in the Sensory Garden.

Clara Curtis is a very late-flowering cultivar of Korean mum with large, light pink to lavender "daisies" covering the foliage. An heirloom cultivar originally from Russia, this plant is sometimes sold under the name of 'Country Girl'. Reliably hardy in the Chicago area, this is a mum that gardeners can plant and forget about, thriving in full sun and average soils with moderate fertility. While not considered tasty by rabbits and deer, the foliage is sometimes troubled with leaf miner insects when grown near a night light that is consistantly left on. (This applies to other plants as well.) Mail-order firms now ship biological control — in the form of wasps — to homeowners as well as commercial greenhouses. The parasitic wasps are very tiny and eat only leaf miners, so other beneficial insects are not harmed. In contrast, chemical sprays to control leaf miners often kill off their natural predators as well, resulting in a troubling cycle of increased resistance to pesticides.

Clara Curtis Korean mum (Chrysanthemum 'Clara Curtis') is in the English Walled Garden.

Aconitum 'Barker's Variety' is a tall (up to 5 feet) perennial for the back of the flower or mixed shrub border, featuring long spikes of amethyst- blue flowers from August through October. All parts of Aconitum are poisonous, and in addition, they should not be grown near bee hives.

Barker's Variety monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii 'Barker's Variety') is in the Waterfall Garden.

Brugmansia versicolor in the South Greenhouse is covered with pendulous white "angels' trumpets" that fade to a peach color. A member of the Solanaceae (think tomato or potato) family, it is indigenous to Ecuador, where it grows as a very large shrub or small tree.

All parts of the plant contain various toxins that can kill a person if ingested in large quantities — the Solanaceae family is more commonly known as "deadly nightshade." Like the closely related Datura, the flowers of many Brugmansia species are intensely fragrant.

Angels' trumpet (Brugmansia versicolor) is in the South Greenhouse.

In Bloom, November 1, 2011

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:19:00 EDT

Cucurbita maxima 'Prizewinner' is one of the pumpkin cultivars favored by gardeners attempting to grow the world's largest pumpkin. Glossy skin in dark orange with a classic shape and ribbing makes these 100- to 300-pound pumpkins a favorite of gardeners attempting to win pumpkin-growing contests. This cultivar is a hybrid developed by the Burpee Seed Company, and it continues the long and distinguished legacy begun when 18-year-old W. Atlee Burpee started the business in 1876 in Philadelphia.

The competition for growing the largest pumpkin — there are dozens of contests around the country — relies on seeds of genetic superiority, excellent soils, frequent irrigation, weekly fertilization, and constant attention. Some of the most recent winners have perfected techniques to graft two vines together so that double the nourishment is supplied to the single fruit allowed to grow. "Secret" fertilizer recipes range from "teas" brewed from a number of different plant and animal parts (fragrant is too polite a term for the odor) to those favoring the recipes developed by NASA to grow plants in space habitats. Not for the small garden, these plants get enormous. Seeds from previous winners are sold for thousands of dollars.

Prizewinner pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima 'Prizewinner') is on display in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden.

Japanese beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica) produces clumps of purple, shiny, porcelainlike berries at every node along the arching stem. Pale yellow leaves on either side of the stem complete the fall display of this root-hardy shrub (stems will die back to the ground most winters in Chicago) from Japan. Grow in full sun to light shade with no special soil preferences. Japanese beautyberry can survive some drought, except from midsummer through fall, when the flowers and resulting fruits are developing. The winter dieback and resulting removal of deadwood keeps the plants well shaped and compact, but does not impact the flowering and fruiting that is produced on new wood.

The fruiting Japanese beautyberry (Callicarpa japonica) is in the Landscape Garden, across from Bulb Garden.

At this time of year, Densehead mountain ash (Sorbus alnifolia) features leaves in shades of peach and apricot with berries in a complementary red-orange color. A relatively rare tree in the Chicago area, these small- growing trees produce attractive flat panicles of white flowers in spring and tolerate our alkaline clay soils, periodic floods, and frequent hot, humid summers — unlike almost all of the other species of Sorbus. A native of central China, Korea, and Japan, this tree can be infected with fire blight and a number of other diseases if it is stressed. When grown well, this tree is an outstanding addition to the fall foliage selection in the Chicago area.

See the colorful foliage and fruit of Densehead mountain ash (Sorbus alnifolia) on Evening Island, near the Arch Bridge.

Autumn Fantasy Freeman maple (Acer x freemannii 'DTR103') is a hybrid between a silver maple and red maple that has combined the best characteristics of both parents. Relatively fast growing, tolerant of a wide range of soils, and not demanding as to irrigation or fertilization, Autumn Fantasy maple's red leaves with a slight purplish cast reveal their silver undersides when the wind blows, creating a really remarkable spectacle.

A number of Autumn Fantasy maples are planted in the west collections area (which flanks the West Road from Dixon Prairie in the south to the bridge/weir at the north end of the Garden). Fall is the perfect time to use the pedestrian paths near the West Road to enjoy these and many other species of trees with beautiful fall color. These Garden perimeter paths also provide striking views of native plantings on either side of the Skokie River.

The fall color of Autumn Fantasy Freeman maple (Acer x freemannii 'DTR102') can be seen in the west collections area, across the lake from the Bulb Garden.

Olulu (Brighamia insignis) is a rare shrublike member of the Campanula family, Campanulaceae, and is restricted to a few cliffs in Hawaii that are inaccessible to goats. Conservation scientists rappel down these cliffs to fertilize the flowers (the pollinating hawkmoth has gone extinct), collect seeds, and grow them in nurseries for reintroduction. It has proven to be relatively easy to grow in cultivation, given a sunny location in a greenhouse or other frost-free environment, and well-drained soils. Spider mites can be problematic when the plant is grown indoors with low relative humidity. The thickened lower trunk is an adaptation to an environment featuring cliff edges with very thin, dry soils, and seasonal rainfall patterns.

Olulu (Brighamia insignis) is on the west side of the South Greenhouse.

In Bloom, October 25, 2011

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:04:00 EDT

Feverfew produces white, daisy-like flowers late in the fall on perennial plants to two feet in height with nicely dissected green leaves. It grows best in full sun with moderate moisture and moderate fertilization. It is avoided by most herbivores because of the chemical constitutents in the leaves.

The native range for feverfew extends from the Balkans to the Caucasus region. Because of its folk-medicine reputation, it was carried by emigrants from Europe with them on their voyages and can now be found naturalized in parts of North America and Chile.

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Happy Single� Wink dahlia produces deep-purple foliage with lilac flowers that have purple centers. When grown in full sun with moderate moisture and fertilization, it will bloom up to frost. After frost, harvest the tubers and store over winter in sawdust in a cool dry location.

Dahlias were cultivated by precolonial Aztecs for food and ornament. A French physician/botanist spy sent to Mexico to collect cochineal insects to break the Spanish monopoly on red dye noted two different types of dahlias in cultivation in 1715. For about 200 years, dahlias were botanic garden curiosities; then the Dutch received a shipment and began to hybridize them. Today, Dahlia cultivars are grown around the world and are numbered in the thousands. They are classified according to the size and shape of the flower and petals, and almost every region hosts a society dedicated to their growth and exhibition.

Happy Single� Wink dahlia (Dahlia 'Happy Single� Wink') is in the Bulb Garden.

Vyron mum occurred as a sport on a different chrysanthemum cultivar in a Dutch nursery. It features medium-sized yellow blooms with a brownish center and has a full-bloom shelf life of approximately two weeks. It is described as a nine-week cultivar, which refers to the number of weeks of shortened day lengths needed to initiate flowering.

Vyron mum (Chrysanthemum 'Vryon') is in the Sensory Garden.

Ozawa onion produces delightfully miniature pompons of intense purple flowers (tinted red) throughout fall on a plant that rarely exceeds 16 inches in height. Like the other alliums that are reliably perennial in the Chicago area, this plant produces rhizomes (in contrast with most other alliums, which produce bulbs).

Ozawa onion (Allium thunbergii 'Ozawa') is in the Landscape Garden.

Gnome Pink globe amaranth grows to a maximum of 8 inches in height and features pink flowers from late spring until the first frost. A great annual for the front of the border, it is disease and insect free and in addition tolerates heat, drought, and poor soils. The flowers are beloved by butterflies, and the seeds are considered a delicacy by mice, birds, and other wee beasties storing up food for the long Chicago winter.

Gnome Pink globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa 'Gnome Pink') is in the Enabling Garden.

In Bloom, October 18, 2011

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:20:00 EDT

Kaleidoscope Mix nasturtium is a sprawling, climbing annual featuring a range of colors augmented by uniquely bicolored flowers. This is a superb annual for bedding or hanging baskets that thrives in moderately fertile, well- drained soil in sunny sites, and performs best in cool weather. Leaves, flowers, and immature fruits all contain mustard oils, and can be used in salads or as a substitute for capers (immature fruits).

This species may be a hybrid created by Incans prior to Spanish conquest. It is identified as growing from Bolivia north to Colombia in high elevations, but botanists have not been able to find it growing in natural habitats. It was exported by the Spanish to Europe in 1684, and Carl von Linnaeus described it as a naturally occuring species in Species Plantarum in 1753.

Linnaeus named the genus after the Greek tropaion and Latin tropaeum (trophy), because it reminded him of the Roman practice of placing a tree trunk upon the field of battle, and hanging from it the captured helmets and shields of the vanquished enemy. Linnaeus felt the rounded leaves were reminiscent of shields, and the flowers — with their elongated nectar spurs — resembled the spear-pierced, bloodstained, golden helmets on these monuments.

Kaleidoscope Mix nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus 'Kaleidoscope Mix') is flowering in the Landscape Garden.

Royal Aspirations candle delphinium is the result of painstaking hand- pollination by renowned New Zealand delphinium breeder Terry Dowdeswell. The results are incredible — 6-feet-tall by 4-feet-wide, reliably perennial, disease-resistant plants (superior to Pacific Giants) feature royal blue flowers augmented by a white "bee" at their center.

To grow these in your garden will take a bit of extra effort. The soils must be deeply mulched with well-rotted compost (leaf mold) to keep the roots moist and cool during the growing season. This cultivar is also a heavy feeder, requiring frequent applications of balanced fertilizer throughout the growing season. The 6-feet spikes have to be staked. If deadheaded (cut back to within 4 inches of the top of the crown), a second flush of flowers is obtainable.

Dioscorides used the name delphinion (dolphin-like) to describe Delphinium elatum. All parts of the plant are poisonous to people and livestock.

Royal Aspirations candle delphinium (Delphinium elatum 'Royal Aspirations') is in the English Walled Garden.

Evan's Dream is a huge, light-pink spider mum with a white center, and it can get quite tall. It was developed by noted chrysanthemum nurseryman Ted King using a Japanese seedling as one of the parents. Like other show mums, it is best disbudded (side flowers removed, leaving only one flower per stem). Many of the unusual chrysanthemums featured in the Garden's displays this year originated from Kings Mums, LLC.

Evan's Dream spider mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'Evan's Dream') is in the Sensory Garden.

Sabra Spike sage (Salvia confertifolia) is a tropical perennial (annual in Chicago) native to Brazil that features stems up to 5 feet in height with long straight spikes of red flowers. The leaves are large — 7 inches long by 3 inches wide — and deep green with rough texture. The flower stalks and calyxes of the flower are covered with velvety dark-brown hairs. This sage is beloved by hummingbirds and butterflies.

Pliny named this group of plants after the word salver (to heal) for their medicinal uses in the ancient world. The species name, confertifolia, refers to the densely packed flowers on the flowering spikes.

Sabra Spike sage (Salvia confertifolia) is in the Circle Garden.

Butterfly yellow marguerite (Argyranthemum frutescens 'Butterfly') features lemon-yellow daisies all season long and is noted to be particularly heat tolerant (most other marguerites stop flowering during the heat of summer). Hardy to USDA Zones 10 and 11, it is widely used in annual displays and containers for the elegant daisy flowers on 18- to 36-inch-tall plants growing up to 14 inches wide.

Before the advent of DNA analysis, marguerite daisies used to belong to the genus Chrysanthemum. Native to the Canary Islands, these plants are deer resistant and attractive to butterflies and bees.

Butterfly yellow marguerite (Argyranthemum frutescens 'Butterfly') is in the Enabling Garden.

In Bloom, October 11, 2011

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:35:00 EDT

Belleza Dark Pink gaura is a dwarf, heavily flowered, dark- pink cultivar selected by nurserymen in Europe for continuous bloom throughout the growing season. This species is native to Texas and Louisiana, and typically has white or pale pink flowers on much taller plants. Well adapted to gardens with full sun and not much water, this shorter-growing selection is perfect for the front of the flower bed, which may be hotter and drier because of proximity to asphalt or concrete.

The genus name is derived from the Greek gauros (superb) in reference to the flowers. The genus contains about 21 species of annuals and perennials native to North America, and is a member of the evening primrose family (Onagraceae). This family contains between 640 to 650 species, and is widespread on every continent (except Antarctica) from boreal to tropical climates. The genus Fuchsia is the most frequent member of this family grown in gardens.

Belleza Dark Pink gaura (Gaura lindheimeri 'Belleza Dark Pink') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Colchicum 'Waterlily' is a sterile hybrid (produces no viable seed) autumn crocus sporting numerous lavender tepals (petal-like segments). The flowers spring from the bare soil from September through mid-October. Waterlily, like all Colchicum, has foliage that appears in early spring as broad, deep-green leaves, and it goes dormant by early summer. This provides gardeners an opportunity to interplant perennials and annuals that are late in appearing (like Hosta) with crocuses, so that their foliage can provide a background to the flowers.

The most commonly grown Colchicum are fall-flowering, but recent DNA analysis has added a group of spring-flowering bulbs to the genus. The genus Colchicum was used by early physicians to treat gout (congestive heart failure). Other characteristics of plant derivatives have been used by plant breeders to enable them to double the number of chromosomes in an effort to produce new hybrids. All parts of the plants (bulbs, seeds, flowers, leaves) are extremely toxic to people and wildlife (and thus are deer and rabbit resistant).

Waterlily autumn crocuses (Colchicum 'Waterlily') are along the path outside the Landscape Garden.

Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime' features double chartreuse 2- to 3-inch flowers on 2½- to 3-foot plants. The strong, long stems make this an ideal cultivar for cut flowers as well as home garden use. The Queen series is known for being resistant to many of the foliar diseases that diminish the the usefulness of other cultivars.

This species of zinnia is native to Mexico and was named in honor of Gottingen Professor of Botany Johann Gottfried Zinn (1727–59). Other species of zinnia are native from the south-central United States all the way south to Argentina.

Queen Lime zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime') is in the Bulb Garden.

Red Spice snapdragon is part of a series of snapdragons (Aroma) in a range of colors selected for their early flowering and bushy, well- branched, upright growth habit to 30 inches tall. Red Spice is deep red, fragrant, and attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. The long stems make this another annual with dual duties as an ornamental garden annual and cut flower.

Genetists have studied the genetics of Antirrhinum extensively because this genus provides an excellent example of incomplete dominance (as Gregor Mendel discovered with peas). Crosses between red-flowered and white-flowered snapdragons produce pink-flowered offspring, combining one set of genes from each parent.

Red Spice snapdragon (Anthirrhinum majus 'Red Spice') is in the Enabling Garden entry.

Icicles spider garden mum is purest white, with slender tube flowers notched and flared open at the tips. It is a nonhardy exhibition mum of the type selected and grown by a large number of afficiandos around the world for its unique flower form.

The garden-hardy exhibition chrysanthemums are native to Asia and were the subject of much debate within the taxonomic community. A proposal was published to "move" all of the garden and exhibition mums to a new genus (Dendranthema) based upon a previously unknown description of the genus. By rules adopted by the scientific community, this should have resulted in a name change...unless it could be shown to cause undue hardship. Mum lovers from around the world protested voiciferously, and the name change was reversed. To paraphrase a famous quote concerning roses, "A chrysanthemum by any other name" is not acceptable.

Icicles spider garden mum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'Icicles') is in the Sensory Garden.

In Bloom October 4, 2011

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:49:00 EDT

Chrysanthemum 'Symphony' produces large bronze "spider" flowers with fine, lacey florets in late fall. Reliably hardy to USDA Zone 6, mums used in the Garden's mum displays are replanted each year. The United States National Chrysanthemum Society recognizes 13 classes of mums, based upon the characteristics of their flowers. Symphony is described as a "spider" mum, featuring completely concealed disk (fertile) flowers, and ray florets that are tubelike, with hooked or barbed ends hanging loosely around the stem.

Cultivation of chrysanthemums dates back to the fifteenth century B.C.E. (Before Current Era) in China. By the eighth century C.E. (Current Era or A.D.), mums had made their way to Japan, where the emperor chose them to use on the imperial seal.

The mum's keeping power as a cut flower has lead to its association with funerals and use as grave flowers in many European countries; white chrysanthemums in many Asian countries are associated with mourning.

Extracts of chrysanthemum flowers and leaves have shown some efficacy in treating bacterial and fungal infections.

Symphony mum (Chrysanthemum 'Symphony') is flowering in the Sensory Garden.

Peter's Gold Carpet fernleaf bidens is a cultivar of a southern United States native featuring yellow flowers on a plant 10 inches tall and spreading up to 48 inches across, which blooms from spring through frost. It is heat and drought tolerant, and has been selected for inclusion in the Proven Winners program that recognizes (and markets) plants with superior garden performance. Gold Carpet fernleaf bidens is best grown in full sun with well-drained soils.

The genus Bidens is included in the aster plant family. The genus name derives from the Latin bis (twice) and dens (tooth), referring to the two burrs on the mature seeds that stick to clothing and animal fur as a means of dispersal. Others species in this genus are the source of dyes and valued nectar plants.

Peter's Gold Carpet fernleaf bidens (Bidens ferulifolia 'Goldteppich') is in the Circle Garden.

The Samurai toad lily features elegantly arching stems to 18 inches, clothed in creamy-edged, light-green leaves, with flowers at the tip sporting purple tepals intricately marked with dark purple spots and yellow throats. Blooming in late fall, this native of Asia is also valued for its ability to grow in shady, moist conditions.

Toad lilies are frequently found growing on the sides of mountains just above the high-water flood mark of local streams. The arching growth habit presents the flowers "out in the air" away from the steep side of the mountain for pollinators. Like other members of the lily plant family, Liliaceae, toad lilies are beloved by deer and rabbits; otherwise they are pest-free.

The common name is derived from one of two attributes. Most obviously, the speckled flowers resemble amphibian markings. Not so obvious — at least to Chicago-area gardeners — is the plant's use by some indigenous tribes in the Phillipines as a frog attractant (hunters rub the flowers on their hands before they begin the frog hunt).

Samurai toad lily (Tricytris formosana 'Samarai') is in the English Walled Garden.

Another favorite of gardeners and florists is azure monkshood. Native to China, this 5-foot perennial is topped by dense spikes of royal purple flowers with inner markings in a lighter shade. Full sun and moist soils are the plant's prefered growing conditions. In their native range, aconitums are disliked by herders because of their toxicity to livestock (who avoid it assiduously).

Medicinal (and poisonous) uses of this plant date back to the fifteenth century C.E. All parts are considered poisonous. What is the difference between a medicine and poison? Dosage.

Azure monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii) is in the Landscape Garden.

Monte Cassino aster grows to 3 feet in height and is covered in white daisylike flowers on mounded plants with wispy leaves in late fall. A native of North America, Monte Cassino — like all other species formerly included in the genus aster — has been moved to other genera, based upon the results of DNA analysis. Plant Monte Cassino in full sun in average soil, and avoid excessive fertilization to prevent plants from flopping over. This aster is beloved by bees and other pollinators stocking up on pollen and nectar before the onset of winter.

Monte Cassino aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pringlei 'Monte Cassino') is along the McGinley Pavilion walk.

In Bloom September 27, 2011

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:13:00 EDT

Landmark™ Peach Sunrise lantana features two-tone pink and yellow flowers beginning mid-summer and extending up to frost. It flowers best when grown in full sun and dryish soils with low fertilization. The flowers are beloved by butterflies and hummingbirds, and songbirds cherish the ripe fruit, but the foliage can cause photo-induced dermatitis in herbivores — consequently, it is avoided by deer and rabbits.

The species Lantana camara was described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1753, and has a native range that extends from south Texas through Mexico, and the Caribbean to Brazil. A member of the Verbenaceae, it, like other members of this family, contains a host of chemicals with various toxic and medicinal uses. In tropical climates outside of its native range, it has become invasive. Only hardy to freezing, it reliably dies out each year in the Chicago region.

Landmark™ Peach Sunrise lantana (Lantana camara 'Balanclimpea') is flowering in the Circle Garden.

Sweet autumn clematis features pure white, lightly fragrant flowers in late summer when grown in full sun or partial shade. The flowers are followed by billowing masses of silvery, silk-like seeds in late fall. This perennial is excellent for use as an informal vine, or trained formally on arbors, and it flowers on the current season's growth, so plants that get too large can be reduced in size in spring without decreasing flower production.

Sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) is in the Lakeside Garden.

Salvia splendens 'Van Houttei' is a Dutch antique cultivar of the species, developed before ankle-biter annuals became all the rage. Growing up to 4 feet in height, this a great annual (perennial in USDA Zones 8 and warmer) with burgundy-reddish flowers to use toward the back of borders, where earlier-flowering perennials and shrubs have faded away. The flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds, and the foliage is deer and rabbit resistant.

Van Houttei Brazilian sage (Salvia splendens 'Van Houttei') is in the English Walled Garden.

Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette' has recently been reclassified as Actaea simplex 'Brunette', based upon results of DNA studies. A stunning perennial plant for the shade garden, the handsome, dark-colored leaves are the perfect background for the tall spikes of white (fading to pink) flowers. All of the plants in this genus need moderately moist soils to grow at their best.

Brunette branched bugbane (Cimicifuga ramosa 'Brunette') is in the Sensory Garden.

Solstice Orange snapdragon grows to 16 to 20 inches in height, and features orange-yellow flowers with a white tube and a spicy fragrance. It blooms earlier than other snapdragon varieties, and performs well in cool weather, in full sun, with adequate moisture.

Solstice Orange tricolor snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus 'Solstice Orange') is in the Landscape Garden entry beds.

In Bloom September 20, 2011

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EDT

This colorful, smaller-statured hybrid goldenrod is named not for the shower of golden fireworks extending up the end of the plant, but for the sprinkling of gold variegation mottling the lance-shaped leaves. Growing 2 to 3 feet tall, with 5-inch-long leaves, this sun-loving perennial blooms in fragrant, plumelike panicles from late summer through autumn, adding a golden fall glow to the native plant garden.

Goldenrods are butterfly magnets, and contrary to common belief, do not aggravate pollen allergies. The heavy pollen borne by these members of the Asteraceae family generally does not become airborne — blame the inconspicuous ragweed, which blooms at the same time.

Gold Spangles goldenrod (Solidago 'Gold Spangles') is flowering in the Sensory Garden.

Kirengeshoma palmata, commonly called yellow waxbells, is an essential plant for the light shade garden, sporting not only interesting maplelike foliage, but come late summer, a dramatic bloom of clusters of buds, dripping like yellow pearls from the ends of the flower stalks. The dangling yellow flowers remain in bud for several weeks before finally opening — just a little. Leaving this plant unpruned after blooming will reward you with a second show — of architectural, three-pronged seed capsules.

Like most members of the Hydrangeaceae family, this bushy Japanese and Korean native prefers humus-rich, moist, well-drained, acidic soil. Be sure to plant this one at the back of a border planting. Kirengeshoma palmata slowly develops a colony of flowering stems that can grow 4 to 5 feet tall.

Yellow waxbells (Kirengeshoma palmata) is in the Enabling Garden.

The name of Symphyotrichum novae-angliae was changed from the more familiar Aster novae-angliae after genetic research indicated that our American asters are not related to the European asters. Since the European asters were named first, the American asters were given a new genus name.

New England asters are fall goldmines to butterflies and bees, the latter of which turn up en masse to visit the plants through late October. They can be recognized by flowers that are larger than most other asters, and by leaves which are lobed at the base. If plants are toppling over in the garden, a smaller growth habit can be encouraged by pruning the asters back a few inches in June or July.

Honeysong Pink New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Honeysong Pink') is in the Landscape Garden.

A black and blue plant? The distinctive black color on this South American cultivar is found on the calyx — the floral part surrounding the outstanding violet-blue flowers, which attract hummingbirds, moths, and butterflies looking for nectar. The leaves, when crushed, smell like licorice.

Salvia guaranitica can grow up to 5 feet tall in full sun, in humus-rich, well-drained soil. A better plant for warmer climes, this sage can be grown in the Midwest if well established by midsummer. The plant spreads by rhizomes, which overwinter and can spread to 3 feet underground. A good cover of leaf mulch will help keep them warm in winter and offer soil amendment in spring.

Brazilian Sage, or Black and Blue anise-scented sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue') is in the English Oak Meadow.

Another member of the Asteraceae family this week is Happy Single® Wink dahlia. The "Single" refers to the bloom form, not the number of winks! Dahlias are classified into ten divisions based on their bloom forms: single (flowered), double (flowered), waterlily, collarette, anemone, pompon, semi-cactus, cactus, orchid or peony-shaped, and decorative.

This dahlia stands out in a green garden with its burgundy leaves topped with bright fuchsia single flowers sporting a striking, deep pink "eye." Flowering continuously until frost, it is a wonderful, lowmaintenance addition to any garden. Happy Single® Wink is part of the Happy Single® dahlia series introduced in 2005.

Happy Single® Wink dahlia (Dahlia 'Happy Single® Wink') is in the Bulb Garden.

In Bloom, September 13, 2011

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:42:00 EDT

Eupatorium coelestinum 'Wayside Variety' is a perennial native to the eastern half of the United States that closely resembles Ageratum. Wayside Variety mistflower grows up to 15 inches in height and features sky-blue flowers that attract butterflies but repel deer. A great perennial for Chicago area gardeners, this plant is tolerant of wet clay soils and blooms from mid-summer through fall.

The genus name refers to Eupator, King of Pontus, who used one species as an antidote for poison. Eupatorium coelestinum is another member of the Asteraceae, or sunflower family, that lacks the typical showy ray flowers (what we refer to as "petals"), but it more than makes up for the loss with very colorful disk flowers.

Wayside Variety mistflower (Eupatorium coelestinum 'Wayside Variety) is flowering in the Waterfall Garden.

Green flowers are fairly rare in the plant kingdom, where the emphasis is on standing out from the crowd (of green vegetation) to attract pollinators. Rosa 'Green Ice', however, will produce soft-green flowers when grown in light shade. In direct sun, the plants produce pastel-pink flower buds that mature to white flowers. A miniature rose, this plant reliably grows to 12 inches in height, and is winter hardy to USDA zone 4 (well into Wisconsin).

Green Ice miniature rose (Rosa 'Green Ice') is n the Rose Garden.

Tangelo canna lily features tangerine flowers to 3 feet in height from early summer through frost. The broad, ribbed green leaves resemble bananas, and lend a tropical air to the landscape. The tangerine color is visually created through an interesting combination of saffron-yellow open flowers surrounded by red petals with farina (fuzz). Grown as an annual in the Chicago region, this tropical thrives in moist soils, and while it will grow in shady conditions, the flower production is almost continuous in full sun.

Canna are members of the Cannaceae plant family, closely related in gingers (Zingiberaceae), bananas (Musaceae), prayer plants (Marantiaceae), and costus (Costaceae). Native to the marshy and forest-edge habitats in Central America, the wild species are primarily giants (8 feet tall) with very small, brightly colored, hummingbird-pollinated red flowers.

Tangelo canna lily (Canna x generalis 'Tangelo') is in the Circle Garden.

Carmen showy sedum is the cultivar of the large-flowered, herbaceous, perennial sedums that comes closest to a true red flower color. Growing 18 x 18 inches, this fall-blooming perennial thrives in average soils with average water. The blooms are a butterfly magnet.

Hylotelephium used to be called sedum until the DNA was analyzed. Both genera remain members of the Crassulaceae, which were the first group of plants discovered with the Crassulean Acid Metabolism (CAM) approach to photosynthesis. For those not familiar with the process, water (H₂O) plus carbon dioxide (CO²) in the presence of light within a chloroplast (containing enzymes) produces sugars (multiples of CH₂O) used to supply energy for plant cells. In CAM plants, some of the chemical processes are delayed until the sun goes down and the danger of transpiring (equivalent to perspiring and breathing combined in people) is less likely to result in the loss of large quantities of water.

Carmen showy sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile 'Carmen') is in the Landscape Garden.

Italian White cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus debilis 'Italian White') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom, September 6, 2011

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:04:00 EDT

Heleniums are perennials native to North and Central America, found growing in damp soils in full sun. They bloom in fall, and a range of cultivars have been selected and named primarily by European gardeners. The cultivar 'Sonnenwunder' produces masses of yellow daisy flowers. The nectar is prized by bees and butterflies. Flowering begins in very late summer, and can continue until frost.

Heleniums, despite the common name of sneezeweed, are not responsible for allergies this time of year. Blame instead ragweeds (genus = Ambrosia) for itchy, watery eyes, runny noses, headaches, and sore throats. Heleniums have evolved in conjunction with pollinating insects that visit plants with lots of nectar. As a result, their pollen grains are fairly large, and are adapted to sticking to the backs and legs of bees and butterflies. Ragweeds, on the other hand, are wind pollinated, and their pollen spores feature hooks and claws to help them hang on to whatever moist, receptive female flowers they land on. Unfortunately, these hooks and claws do not play well with moist, sensitive sinus tissues and eyes.

Sonnenwunder sneezeweed (Helenium 'Sonnenwunder') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Ageratums are members of the Asteraceae, or sunflower, family, known for their flowers lacking petals, which typically thrive under cool, moist conditions. The cultivar 'Blue Horizon' is an exciting development, featuring 30-inch-tall plants with clusters of blue "feather-duster" flowers up to 4 inches across. This cultivar is beloved by butterflies, and the taller stems lend themselves to use as cut flowers.

Blue Horizon floss flower is another selection in a growing list of annuals with flowering heights that make them useable in more than simple mass bedding displays. Use in mixed borders to cover up "holes" left by bulb foliage as it dies back. A particularly striking combination is Blue Horizon with Lycoris squamigera (with turquoise tips), or any of the fall-blooming Colchicum (typically lavender, pink, or white-flowered). All of the colors work well with blue.

Blue Horizon floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum 'Blue Horizon') is in the Landscape Garden.

Moondance™ floribunda rose features creamy, white, high-centered flowers on 14- to 18-inch canes all season long, perfuming the garden with a spicy fragrance reminiscent of raspberries. Dark-green foliage is resistant to black spot, powdery mildew, and rust, making this an ideal selection for gardeners who want to minimize their pesticide applications. This offspring of the famous Iceberg rose produces more fragrant flowers throughout the summer than its parent.

Moondance™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'Jactanic') is in the Rose Garden.

Fire Tail mountain fleeceflower grows to 4 inches in height, and features thin red flower stalks in late summer and fall. This species is not invasive — unlike many other taxa in this genus — but it will need a large space assigned to it. Use mountain fleeceflower at the back of a large border or mixed bed. This fleeceflower earned a 2010 Plant of Merit award from the Royal Horticultural Society, and it is used frequently in landscape designs by James Van Sweden and Piet Oudolf.

Fire Tail mountain fleeceflower (Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Fire Tail') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Late in the twentieth century, a new species of fuchsia was discovered growing on one of the Caribbean Islands in a relatively hot environment. As fuchsiaphiles (lovers of fuchsia) are all painfully aware, almost all fuchsia species — and their hundreds of hybrids — prefer moist, cool, frost-free growing environments. Prior to this new-species discovery, fuchsias were limited in their use in outdoor garden settings for everyone outside of coastal California and the Pacific Northwest. Billy Green, however, is an offspring of that heat-tolerant fuchsia, and it has expanded the range of garden fuchsias to much of the Central and Eastern United States.

When grown outdoors, natural predators (particularly lacewings) keep white fly populations on fuchsias down to manageable levels.

Billy Green fuchsia (Fuchsia 'Billy Green') is in the Sensory Garden.

In Bloom, August 30, 2011

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EDT

Clematis heracleifolia features nodding, deep blue-flowered "bells" on a low-growing, spreading perennial plant with trifoliate leaves. Root hardy in the Chicago area (where it gets frozen to the ground each winter), in warmer climes it grows as a deciduous creeping vine. It grows well in full sun and partially shaded gardens. Native to China, the flower shape, size, and its sprawling habit are shared with many of the clematis native to North America — a characteristic described as an "analog" in the scientific literature.

The genus Clematis is derived from the Greek clema (tendril) used by Dioscorides to describe several plants that climbed by use of tendrils at the tips of the leaves. There are more than 200 species in this genus, which is found in northern and southern hemisphere temperate regions, and the mountains of Africa. Clematis culture in Europe began in the sixteenth century with the arrival of cultivars grown in Japanese gardens passing through the Dutch and Portuguese trading depots in Japan.

Tube clematis (Clematis heracleifolia) is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Fiesta del Sol Mexican sunflower is the first true dwarf cultivar (maturing at 2 to 3 feet). Like the species, it features bright orange sunflower-like blooms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The hairy leaves deter pests, even deer. Plant this annual in full sun, in fertile soil, after all danger of frost has passed. The native range of this cultivar extends from Mexico down to Panama.

The genus Tithonia celebrates Thithonus, companion of Aurora, goddess of the dawn, and contains ten species native to Mexico and Central America.

Fiesta del Sol Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia 'Fiesta del Sol') is in the Circle Garden.

Rudbeckia lacinata 'Herbstonne' is a very tall perennial (4 to 7 feet) featuring 3- to 4-inch-wide golden-yellow flowers from midsummer until frost. A plant with several aliases, it is sometimes identified as R. lacinata 'Herbstonne', R. nitida 'Herbstonne', R. lacinata x nitida 'Herbstonne', or R. 'Autumn Sun'.

Regardless, this is a wonderful selection for the "back of the border" position in full sun and moderately fertile soil. Like other late-summer members of the Asteraceae (sunflower) family, it attracts a number of pollinating insects.

Herbstonne cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia lacinata 'Herbstonne') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Bishop of York dahlia, like other dahlias in the Bishop series, features dark, almost black, foliage. The Bishop of York cultivar features 3.5-inch golden flowers brushed with orange, which grow to 3 feet tall. Blooming from June until frost, the single to semidouble flowers are hummingbird magnets. Not hardy in the Chicago area, tubers must be dug up after frost and stored indoors in a cool, dry, dark location, or new plants can be purchased and planted out after danger from the last frost has passed.

Dahlias were grown by the Aztecs prior to the arrival of the conquistadors. The first botanical garden (or zoo) in the Americas was located in the ancient Aztec capital. Other plants grown by the Aztecs gracing the gardens of Chicago include the chocolate-perfumed cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) and the double-flowered (and very fragrant) tuberose (Polyanthus tuberosa).

Bishop of York dahlia (Dahlia 'Bishop of York') is n the Enabling Garden.

Polyantha roses, as a class, were developed in France back when the well-dressed gentleman did not leave the house without a boutonniere in his lapel. The Fairy, however, was not introduced until 1932 by Ann Bentall. It features light-pink, nonfragrant roses in profuse sprays from June until frost, on short (1- to 2-foot-tall) plants. The foliage is in scale with the flower size, is bright glossy green, and is disease resistant. This is a perennial favorite of bridal bouquets.

The Fairy polyantha rose (Rosa 'The Fairy') is in the Landscape Garden.

In Bloom, August 23, 2011

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:29:00 EDT

Muskogee crepe myrtle is a cross between the common crepe myrtle (L. indica) and a Japanese species (L. fauriei) hybridized and released by the United States National Arboretum (USNA) with superior cold hardiness and resistance to powdery mildew. The light lavender-pink flowers are produced at the tips of the branches from mid-summer through frost, when the dark green glossy leaves turn red-orange. In winter the bark becomes the main feature, with older, cinnamon-brown bark exfoliating in patches to reveal shiny, light gray, new bark.

The USNA created a series of hybrids with different combinations of flower color, size, and bark coloration, and named the different selections after North American Indian tribes. In the deep South, crepe myrtles grow into small trees, but in USDA zones 6 (St. Louis) and colder (zone 5 in Chicago), they usually freeze back to the ground and regrow as multi-branched shrubs.

Muskogee crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x faurieri 'Muskogee') is flowering in the Circle Garden.

Gold Medal grandiflora rose is one of the largest-flowered (5–6 inches) and most reliable yellow-flowered grandiflora roses. Yellow flowers with 30-40 petals contain hints of pink and white as they mature. A spicy fragrance and resistance to foliar diseases makes this a welcome addition to any garden.

Gold Medal® grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Aroyaueli) is flowering in the Rose Garden.

Scarlet Magic tassel flower is a native of tropical East Africa, but has spread throughout the tropics. Growing 18 – 24 inches high, the bright red, button-like blooms wave in the breezes atop wiry stems. This species was grown by Thomas Jefferson in his garden at Monticello, possibly as a prospective treatment for diarrheal and intestinal microbial infections. This annual is ideally adapted to hot, humid conditions.

Scarlet Magic tassel flower (Emilia coccinea 'Scarlet Magic') is flowering in the Bulb Garden.

Blue Princess verbena is among the most floriferous verbenas available to gardeners searching for an annual that will produce hundreds of blooms during the heat of summer. This plant also has an interesting past.

It was originally developed in South Africa, where a British gardener spotted it and took it back to the UK, where it was noticed by staff from the Texas A&M Extension Service, who were searching for hardy plants for Texas landscapes. It performed so well under the full sun, heat, and drought conditions of Texas, it was included in their "Texas Superstar Program." Growing to 1 foot tall and up to 3 feet across, the powdery, mildew-resistant plants are covered with lavender-blue flowers that butterflies find irresistable.

Blue Princess verbena (Verbena 'Blue Princess') is flowering on the hilltop overlooking Sensory Garden.

Magic lily is a 'pass along' plant with a long history of cultivation in the USA. Originally a native of China, this sterile triploid produces no viable seeds, saving all of its energy for the production of flowers and additional bulbs. This is one of the indicator species that help archeologists identify old farmsteads. Depending on how spicy your grandmothers or great aunts were, you may know it by the common names of "surprise lilies" or "naked ladies" — the latter common name referring to the habit of the plant to flower in fall well after the leaves have died down (in spring), bursting as a leafless flower stalk from the soil, apparently overnight.

Magic lily (Lycoris squamigera) is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom, August 16, 2011

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:39:00 EDT

The genus Anemone contains a wide diversity of plant sizes and flowering times; from dwarf, ephemeral, very early spring wildflowers, to tall, statuesque, fall blooming perennials. September Charm is among the latter, growing to 2.5 feet in height, and — when growing conditions are perfect — spreading (by rhizomes) up to 4 feet across. Silver-pink flowers are held well above the grape-like foliage, from late summer through fall. This cultivar was awarded the Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

The key to growing the fall-flowering anemones successfully is continually moist soils. If the soils dry out, the the foliage becomes crispy, and the plants are stunted; sometimes not flowering at all. Anemones are also not fond of high summer temperatures for prolonged periods of time, and are usually "right at home" in Chicago area landscapes. A native of China, the common name reflects the first plants to reach Western gardens coming through Japan, because China was closed to Europeans except for a few trading posts.

September Charm Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida 'September Charm') is flowering in the Lakeside Gardens.

Bonica rose was one of the first roses bred specifically for its ability to survive without frequent pesticide applications, or large amounts of fertilizers. As more roses with these attributes were released, they became known informally as "landscape roses." The 3-foot-tall plants are covered with candy-pink, fully double flowers, from June through September. In late fall, and through winter, the plants are adorned with lots of orange-red hips. The glossy leaves are resistant to powdery mildew and black spot — two of the most frequent diseases of roses.

Awarded the All American Rose Society top award in 1987, in 1997 it earned the prestigous designation of World's Favorite Rose from rose societies from around the globe.

Bonica® shrub rose (Rosa 'Meidomonac') is flowering in the Rose Garden.

The Jaguar Mix of gerbera daisies is unique in that all of the colors come into flower at the same time, and on plants of the same height. The other distinctive trait of this selection is its heavy flowering — it is not uncommon for an individual plant to have up to 5 blooms open simultaneously. The plants mature at 10 to 12 inches in height. The mix includes plants with yellow, pink, red, blue, green, and white flowers.

Gerbera daisies are native to warm, temperate regions of the southern hemisphere. Among the Asteraceae or aster family, they contain one of the largest, showiest flowers, with a wide range of flower colors: yellow, pink, red, blue, green, and white. Gerbera jamesonii was discovered by Scotsman Robert Jameson in 1884, near Barberton, South Africa. He sent dried herbarium specimens to Carolus Linnaeus, who commemorated the German naturalist Traugott Gerber with the genus name, and the discoverer, Jameson, with the species name.

Gerbera jamesonii has been hybridized with other South African species since 1890 for use in flower shows and landscape bedding schemes. The continuous improvements in ease of culture, flower size, form, and color have led this species to become the fifth most popular cut flower in the world (behind roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, and tulips).

Jaguar Mix gerbera daisies (Gerbera jamesonii 'Jaguar Mix') are flowering in the triangle planter just before the Fruit and Vegetable Garden bridge.

Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Blue' provides dense spikes of widely flared, bird-like flowers, from July through fall on 2.5-foot-tall plants. The flowers are an intense blue in the center, shading to purple on the edges. This series of lobelias were bred to come into flower earlier than the straight species, and to continue flowering up to frost.

Fan Blue lobelia (Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Blue') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Cleome hassleriana Senorita Rosalita® is the first sterile, thornless, odorless spider flower for landscape use. Why are these characteristics so important? Up to this point, the straight species and cultivars have all been notorious for reseeding in the garden, and sometimes in natural areas. Their stems were also covered in thorns, which made removing those unwanted seedlings painful, and the foliage had an odor that some found to be disagreeable. Another selling point for this cultivar is the heavy branching habit that provides continuous leaf cover for the lower stems. The lilac-pink flowers that bloom in profusion all over the plant during the severe heat and droughts of summer complete the "I have to have this plant" requirements.

The genus Cleome has been moved from one plant family to another as DNA results were published, and is now in its own plant family: the Cleomaceae. Like the cabbage family, different species in the family exhibit a range of photosynthetic pathways from C3 (typical of many dicots) to C4 (grasses). Scientists have used this genetic variability to study the evolution of the C4 photosynthetic pathway. C3 pathways are typically found amoung temperate zone dicots (not grasses), while the C4 pathway more efficient in tropical climates and found in grasses and other plant groups is a relatively recent advent in the plant world. Arid zone plants have their own adaptation to their environment to maximize photosynthetic activity, known as Crassulean Acid Metabolism (CAM).

In Bloom, August 9, 2011

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:40:00 EDT

Prairie Harvest rose is another Buck shrub rose from the breeding program at Iowa State University. Four-inch-diameter blooms of light yellow age to buttery yellow with a pink blush during cooler weather. Root hardy to zone 4, it is a reliable selection for the Chicago area. It is not a grafted rose, but grown on its own roots, evading a common rose problem of suckering rootstocks that outcompete the graft. This approach also bypasses another possible pitfall of grafted roses — transmission of rose viruses from the rootstock to the grafted plant.

Why are rootstocks used on most roses sold today? The rose species and cultivars selected for use as rootstocks all posses a tolerance for many different soil types and water qualities, root easily, and accept a bud-wood graft from multiple cultivars.

How are roses grafted? Typically two-year-old plants with well developed root systems are chosen for the rootstock in late winter. A plant propagator makes a T-shaped incision in the bark of the rose stem, about an inch above the soil line, gently pries it open, and into the cut inserts a bud of the desired rose cultivar, surrounded by a little bit of tissue. A rubber band is wrapped around the stem to hold the bud in place until it 'takes,' or begins to grow — which may take a couple of months. Once the bud begins to grow, the stem of the rootstock above the graft is removed, leaving the grafted bud the highest bud on the stem. Dominant plant growth hormones migrate to the highest bud, encouraging rapid growth of the single bud, supported by a root system large enough to support a plant fully two years old.

Prairie Harvest Buck shrub rose (Rosa 'Prairie Harvest') is flowering in the Rose Garden.

Cramers Rose cockscomb is a dark rose-flowered annual with a flower spike that resembles the shape of a rooster comb. Technically referred to as 'crested', the genetic breakdown responsible for this flower shape is genetically inherited by the offspring.

Celosia is derived from the Greek keleos (burning), referring to the yellow, orange, and red flame-shaped flowers.

Cramer's Rose cockscomb (Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Cramer's Rose') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Russian sage isn't really a sage; in fact it isn't even Russian. It is native to south central Asia — from Iran eastwards through Afghanistan, and from Pakistan to Tibet. A tough perennial for tough places, the plant grows up to 4 inches in height, and the tall stems with grayish leaves are topped with spikes of lavender and blue flowers in late summer.

Tolerant of soils with high pH, salts, and drought, Russian sage is perfectly adapted to that part of the landscape near the curb that receives de-icing salts every year (and in which nothing else will really thrive).

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is flowering on Evening Island.

Dahlia 'Papageno' was released in 1972 and features 10-inch light peach to pink flowers shading towards yellow in the center on 3½-foot plants. Described as a late season bloomer, the blooms are frequently entered in flower shows due to their size and color.

Papageno dahlia (Dahlia 'Papageno') is flowering in the Bulb Garden.

Lilium 'Montreal' is a large-flowered oriental lily with wide, creamy flowers featuring light gold bands along the midrib. Initially sold to the Garden as the cultivar 'Casa Blanca' — a pure white cultivar, with no gold banding along the midrib — this cultivar is no less Garden worthy. The 'switch' was spotted by the sharp-eyed members of the Garden's Plant Information staff.

Have an unhappy plant or a plant question? Drop by the Plant Information desk. Bring a sample of your plant if it looks sick to identify the problem, and to receive recommendations on treatment options.

Montreal oriental lily (Lilium 'Montreal') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom, August 2, 2011

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:36:00 EDT

Black-eyed Susans are favorites of gardens and natural habitats from coast to coast in late summer and fall. The cultivar Tiger Eye Gold was created by Goldsmith Seeds, and it is the first hybrid Rudbeckia hirta to become commercially available. Four-inch-wide semidouble flowers featuring petals shading from orange to gold surround the black "eye" on a bushy, well-branched plant to 24 inches high. It is resistant to powdery mildew, a bane of many natives when they are planted in garden settings. Plant breeders create hybrids in order to select for beneficial characteristics — in this case, disease resistance, increased flower production, and a relatively compact growth habit.

The genus consists of 15 species native to North America and was named to commemorate Swedish physician/botanist Olaus Olai Rudbeck (1660–1740).

Tiger Eye Gold black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta 'Tiger Eye Gold') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Prestige Scarlet cockscomb features 3-inch-wide "combs" or crested flowers on annual plants 18 inches tall. A delight in the garden or cut and dried for winter arrangements, Celosia are one of the mainstays of annual flower displays around the world. The combs are technically referred to as "crested," a result of the breakdown in the ring of vascular (water- and nutrient-carrying) cells when they are produced at the growing tip, producing stems that are not round.

Celosia is derived from the Greek keleos (burning), referring to the yellow, orange, and red flame-shaped flowers.

Prestige Scarlet cockscomb (Celosia argentea var. cristata 'Prestige Scarlet') is in the Enabling Garden.

Nicholas dahlia features stunning 4-inch peach-orange petals with rust red down in the center of the blooms. Dahlias are not hardy in the Chicago region but gardeners can, with a little effort, overwinter them in a cool, dry place and replant the tubers the following spring, after the last date of frost.

Nicholas dahlia (Dahlia 'Nicholas') is in the Circle Garden.

Dwarf Chinese astilbe is a slightly shorter (2- to 3-foot-tall) version of the straight species (4 to 5 feet). Lavender pink flowers on open fluffy flower spikes tower over finely bisected, deep green leaves. Like all astilbes — which do not tolerate dry soils and require moist roots — this is an ideal plant for shady conditions with moist soils.

Dwarf Chinese astilbe (Astilbe chinensis var. pumila) is in the Landscape Garden.

Gold Medal grandiflora rose flower buds open deep gold brushed with orange and gracefully age to a strong yellow with touches of pink at the tips of the petals. The blooms measure 5 to 6 feet across and emit a fragrance reminiscent of mild fruit and spices. Its resistance to pests and diseases is another selling point of this cultivar.

Yellow roses that are resistant to black spot are highly unusual. Within the wild rose population, the yellow color can be found in only one species, and because it is a native of the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains in the Republic of Georgia — a dry climate — it never had to develop any resistance.

Gold Medal™ grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Aroyqueli') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom, July 26, 2011

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:06:00 EDT

Hayes Starburst hydrangea was discovered by Jackson Hayes on his property in Alabama and brought to the attention of the commercial nursery industry in 2005. Like the straight species, the flowers are composed of showy sterile bracts on the outside with not-so-showy, smaller fertile flowers in the middle of the inflorescence (collection of flowers). This cultivar looks like the straight species upon opening of the flowers, but within a few days the sterile showy bracts and the fertile flowers all double. Blooming a bit later than the typical hydrangea, this cultivar will continue flowering right up to frost and is reliably hardy to zone 4 (well north of the Chicago area).

The genus name comes from the Greek hydor (water) and aggeion (vessel), referring to the cup-shaped structure of the ripened fruit. The genus contains about 100 species originating in North and South America, Japan, China, Indonesia, and the Himalayas. Species within the genus range from deciduous and evergreen shrubs to trees or vines.

Hayes Starburst smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Hayes Starburst') is flowering in the Lakeside Garden.

Dahlia 'Ginger Snap' grows to 3 feet in height and is covered from mid-summer to the first frost with 3-inch rich, gold blooms that fade to caramel at the edges of the petals. This cultivar produces a large number of lateral flower buds, so cut flowers judiciously to avoid removing too many flower buds. Rich, moisture-retentive garden soil and full sun with moderate irrigation and fertilization will produce the greatest number of flowers.

Ginger Snap waterlily dahlia (Dahlia 'Ginger Snap') is in the Circle Garden.

Rosa 'Country Dancer' is another of the very hardy, repeat-flowering roses hybridized in Iowa by Griffith Buck. Rose-red buds open to reveal rose-pink double flowers on a plant that will repeat bloom from late May until the first frost. This cultivar tops out at 3 to 4 feet in height; sports dark green, leathery leaves; and is covered with large rose hips from late fall through winter. A relatively new selection from the Buck breeding program, this cultivar became commercially available in 1973.

The genus name was taken directly from the Roman name for this group of plants. No plant has a longer history of cultivation than the rose, with the first written record found in the ruins of ancient Ur dating to 2350–00 B.C. In ancient times the rose was grown in large plantations to enable the petals to be harvested and processed to create "attar of roses." Theophrastus (382–287 B.C.) wrote extensively about the roses in cultivation during his life, and his notes indicate the ancient Greeks pruned roses in much the same way as we do today. Pliny the Elder wrote of massive rose plantations grown under glass in Paestum, and later Roman writers documented huge amounts of roses imported from Egypt for use in rose oil production and triumphal marches. Romans were the first to create "rosaria" — gardens dedicated solely to the production of roses. Roses in China also were coveted in ancient times, and many of the "species" brought back to Europe by Western merchants and missionaries are actually cultivars that have existed in China for thousands of years.

The Lenhardt Library will soon be opening a rose-themed exhibition, Genus Rosa, featuring wood block prints and watercolor paintings from the Rare Book collection, while just a few steps outside the Library, many of those same roses can be seen in flower. Gardening is a wonderful pastime: what other hobby allows enthusiasts to grow the same roses of ancient lineage as graced the gardens, farms, and monasteries of the ancient world?

Country Dancer Buck shrub rose (Rosa 'Country Dancer') is in the Rose Garden.

Galtonia candicans goes by the name of giant summer hyacinth, but is not reliably hardy outdoors in the Chicago area. A native of eastern South Africa, this bulb produces statuesque spikes of white nodding bells from mid-summer through early fall. As with other nonhardy bulbs, plant outdoors after danger from a late frost is past in well-drained yet moisture retentive soil (something every gardener lusts after, but few of us have).

The genus is named after Francis Galton, who traveled and botanized extensively in southern Africa. He is perhaps best known as an outstanding advocate for the use of fingerprints in solving crimes during the nineteenth century.

Giant summer hyacinth (Galtonia candicans) is in the Bulb Garden.

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Summer Nights' is a mouthful. This delightful descendant of prairie natives features sturdy, wine-purple stems supporting bronze-tinted foliage and golden-orange flowers with a red center. This cultivar was selected and named by a native plant specialist at North Creek Nursery and is perfectly hardy in the Chicago region. Growing up to 6 feet in height, lower displays can be obtained by cutting the plants back to half their height in June. Plant in full sun with plenty of air movement — this variety is prone to powdery mildew and rust when air movement is restricted by nearby buildings or plants. In very fertile soils, the plants have a tendency to lodge (fall over). To avoid this, do not apply fertilizer.

Heliopsis are members of the Asteraceae or sunflower family. This particular cultivar is a selection from native wild-collected seed and is attractive to butterflies, while not particularly browsed by deer.

Summer Nights false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Summer Nights') is in the Waterfall Garden.

In Bloom, July 19, 2011

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:48:00 EDT

Becky shasta daisy was awarded the Perennial Plant of the Year award from the Perennial Plant Association in recognition of its prolonged season of flower (July to September when deadheaded); strong, sturdy stems that don't lodge (fall over) during rain or storms; and the ability to survive the hot, humid conditions of the southern United States in addition to the more favorable conditions found in the northern states.

Shasta daisies are a group of hybrids all resulting from the successful efforts in 1890 of renowned plant breeder Luther Burbank. Two closely related species were hybridized, and the resulting offspring were designated shasta daisies, because their intense white flowers reminded Mr. Burbank of the pure white snows on Mount Shasta.

Plant shasta daisies in full sun in well drained, moisture-retentive, fertile soils for best flower production. Honeybees and other pollinating insects are frequent visitors, and the flowers make long-lasting additions to floral bouquets.

Becky shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky') is flowering in the Landscape Garden.

The flowers of Winter Sunset shrub rose start as yellow buds similar in shape to those of a hybrid tea rose. The buds open to amber blooms with orange at the base, and then age to cream with an apricot base. Winter Sunset is hardy in zone 5 with no winter protection and resistant to insects and diseases.

Winter Sunset shrub rose was developed by one of the early American rose breeders, Griffin Buck, of Iowa, after World War II. Hybridizing two hardy parents — one from Russia and the other from famous Kordes Rose Nursery in Germany — he was able to obtain only a single seedling. All of the time and effort that went into obtaining this cross was worthwhile, because it provided hardiness, disease resistance, and size. Mr. Buck hybridized this plant with a series of hybrid tea, grandiflora, and multiflora roses to develop hardy roses with different colors and sizes. Collectively, the roses resulting from his work are referred to as Buck roses.

Winter Sunset shrub rose (Rosa 'Winter Sunset') is in the Rose Garden.

Maggie Daley astilbe was selected for the Lakeside Garden because it is better able to withstand summer heat and dry soils than other astilbes. Dark green foliage growing up to 20 inches tall with dense lavender-purple flower spikes to 28 inches make this cultivar a wise choice for the shady garden with soils that remain moist for most of the year. (During droughts, supplemental water is necessary.) This cultivar is a favorite of butterflies, and blooms from mid- to late summer.

Maggie Daley false goatsbeard (Astilbe chinensis 'Maggie Daley') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is a member of the Apiaceae (carrot) family, and derives its common name from the Native American use of the roots of this plant to treat rattlesnake bites.

For a member of the carrot family, the leaves are just plain odd — as the species name suggests, they look more like yuccas, with their serrated leaf edges and single leaves (versus the finely divided leaves of most carrot relatives). The flowers are described as greenish or bluish white, and can range from a couple of feet to almost 5 feet in height. A native of prairies, it prefers to grow in sandy loam, although it is tolerant of a range of soil types and the drought and floods that characterize midwestern summers.

Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is in the Native Plant Garden.

Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Orange' is a selection of 3- to 4-inch-wide, fully double, dahlia-shaped, orange-flowered zinnias chosen for their disease resistance, strong, sturdy stems, and longevity of cut- flower vase life (six to ten days).

Like most seed strains, a few "odd" plants with slightly different flowers may show up. Plant in any well drained, fertile soil in full sun, after the danger of late frost has passed. Maintain moderate fertilization and moisture to avoid burning the edges of the leaves. Even though this selection was chosen for its disease resistance, avoid getting the foliage wet during irrigations if possible.

Beyond use as a cut flower, use this tall flowered annual to add a touch of color at the back of flower beds and borders during the dog days of late summer and early fall. Benary's Giant Orange zinnia flowers from July through September on plants up to 4 feet high.

Benary's Giant Orange zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Benary's Giant Orange') is in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom, July 12, 2011

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EDT

Hummelo Alpine betony is a densely blooming perennial that naturalizes easily and attracts a wealth of bees and hummingbirds.

A cousin to the thick, silvery "lamb's ears" of other Stachys cultivars, Stachys monieri 'Hummelo' displays quite different form and foliage. This Alpine betony forms a low-growing mound of deep green (nonwoolly) foliage, sending up 20" upright spikes of lush, purple flowers from late June through August, with the main floral show occuring in July.

Stachys have been evaluated by our plant evaluation program. Download A Comparative Study of Cultivated Stachys for information on cultivating this beautiful deer- and rabbit-resistant Alpine betony in your own garden.

Hummelo Alpine betony (Stachys monieri 'Hummelo') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Nothing surpasses the "wow" factor of the old-fashioned "dinner plate" dahlias of years gone by. Fortunately, they are enjoying a resurgence in popularity, due to their relative freedom from pests and diseases, and their large and showy flowers.

Dahlia 'September Morn' is a delightful combination of rose color in the center shading to orange, pink, and yellow on the longer petals. Flower size ranges from 4 to 6 inches across, and the shape is classified by the American Dahlia Society as formal decorative. Plant in well-drained fertile soil in spring after the danger of frost has passed to obtain plants up to 5 feet tall by first frost. Most dahlias respond to day length in initial flowering: flower buds don't start to open until after the longest day of summer has passed. September Morn is among the earliest to begin flowering every year.

Dahlias are not hardy in the Chicago area, but with a little care homeowners can overwinter tubers in their basements. After the foliage has been cut down by the first hard frost, but before the ground is frozen solid, remove the dead foliage, dig up the tubers, shake as much soil off as possible, and set them aside in the garage to "cure" for two to three weeks. The curing process allows the tubers to develop callus tissues to cover the cuts made when the dead foliage was removed. Place the tubers in an open-topped container, and surround them with dry sand, cedar chips (pet bedding litter), or very slightly moistened peat moss. Check mid-winter to ensure the tubers are still firm, and discard any that have begun to rot. In early spring, pot the tubers up and water lightly until growth begins. Grow in a sunny window until the danger of frost is past, and then plant out in the Garden.

September Morn dahlia (Dahlia 'September Morn') is in the Circle Garden.

Hosta 'Sun Power' features yellow/chartreuse foliage and light lavender flowers in mid-summer. In full sun, the foliage is golden yellow; in shade the foliage appears more chartreuse. A breakthrough in hosta breeding, it is one of the first of the yellow-foliaged hostas whose foliage doesn't burn or scorch in full sun.

Hostas prefer cool, moist soils and will go into summer dormancy if the weather is too hot or dry. Native to Japan, China, and Korea, they are most valued in the landscape for their bold foliage and ability to grow and thrive in shady conditions.

Sun Power hosta (Hosta 'Sun Power') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Coreopsis palmata is one of the earliest of the prairie composites — members of the aster family that have composite inflorescences composed of multiple flowers — to come into flower. The eight bright- yellow sterile ray flowers (petals) surround many fertile yellow disc flowers (small and typically not showy) to create what we refer to as a flower. A perennial native to Illinois and much of the central United States, it typically reaches 1 foot to 3 feet tall and blooms for two to three weeks in early summer. A number of native insects and mammals feed upon the nectar, pollen, and leaves of coreopsis. It is not fussy about soil, but excess water and fertilization can lead to floppy growth and poor flowering.

The genus Coreopsis is derived from the Greek term koris (bug) and opsis (like), referring to the seeds that are buglike in appearance. One of its common names is tickseed. The genus can be found in both North and South America, but the center of speciation appears to be southwestern U.S. and Mexico.

Prairie coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata) is in the Native Plant Garden.

Opening Night™ hybrid tea rose is the first red hybrid tea rose to win the prestigious All American Rose Society selection in the last 14 years. A classic fire-engine red on long, well-formed stems, this rose carries foliage to the ground, making it a welcome addition in manicured and informal landscapes. Disease and insect resistant, like other roses in the hybrid rose group, it needs the protection of a layer of leaf mulch mounded around the base to survive Chicago winters.

Opening Night™ hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Jacolber') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom, July 5, 2011

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:23:00 EDT

Papaver rhoeas 'Falling in Love' provides a range of bi-colored flowers with white or pastel centers and brightly colored petal edges, including red, scarlet-orange, rose, peach, and pink. These flowers are a descendant of corn poppies selected in 1880 by the Reverend Wilkes for their bi-colored flowers. As the decades passed and the Reverend continued to select for the bi-colored effect, the small white edge to the petals slowly increased in size.

Immortalized in the famous poem celebrating the fallen soldiers of World War I, In Flanders Field, this species reseeds in disturbed soils. Much of the agricultural land of eastern Belgium and France was "disturbed" by massive bombardments and the ubiquitous trenches, resulting in extraordinarily large crops of Flanders poppies.

Falling in Love Flanders poppy (Papaver rhoeas 'Falling in Love') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime' features double pompom shaped flowers that shade from chartreuse to grass-green on tall (40 – 50") plants ideal for the sunny border and hot dry summer weather. Zinnias are a favorite of American gardens where they thrive in the hot summer weather. A native of deserts of Mexico, this popular annual produces flowers up to frost. Grow in any well drained soil in full sun with good air movement (to decrease the incidence of foliar diseases).

There are about 20 species of zinnias found in natural environments from the southern United States to South America.

Queen Lime zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Queen Lime') is flowering in the Bulb Garden.

Candelabra™ grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Jaccingo') features large trusses of 4" orange and orange-blend flowers containing 25 petals per flower. Moderately fragrant, the dark green glossy foliage makes an elegant foil for the masses of flowers. It won the All American Rose Selection award in 1999.

Candelabra™ grandiflora rose (Rosa 'Jaccingo') is flowering in the Rose Garden.

Big Blue sea holly (Eryngium 'Big Blue') is a recent introduction from Blooms of Bressingham featuring iridescent blue flowers held above silver foliage. Blooming from June through August, the plant matures at 30" of height and represents the result of hybridization between two European species (E. alpinum and E. bourgatii) that chanced to occur in a garden setting. A member of the carrot family — famous for candelabra-like umbels of flowers — this striking plant needs well drained soils and full sun to reach maximum coloration. The flowers of this genus have long been treasured by dry flower arrangers.

Big Blue sea holly (Eryngium 'Big Blue') is flowering in the Sensory Garden.

Anthea™ yarrow (Achillea millefolium Anthea™) features masses of light yellow flowers held atop 30" stems with silvery fern-like foliage. This cultivar was selected for an increased tolerance for rainy humid weather in mid-summer that can create disease issues for other cultivars. Another selection brought to gardeners by Blooms of Bressingham, this cultivar was named after the owner's daughter.

Anthea™ yarrow (Achillea millefolium Anthea™) is flowering on Evening Island.

In Bloom, June 28, 2011

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:10:00 EDT

Northern catalpa or catawba tree (Catalpa speciosa) is known for the long, thin fruit pods that resemble cigars, giving it its other common name, "cigar tree." Before those pods can appear, however, the tree must bloom, and bloom it does! Northern catalpa sends forth an amazing show of trumpet-shaped blossoms — white with purple stripes and red to yellow spots inside — in long panicles of ten to 30 blooms. The pollinated blooms then begin the process of transformation into those characteristic long, thin, beanlike pods, which hang in great clusters from the tree long into fall (and sometimes winter).

A rapidly growing deciduous tree, northern catalpa may grow up to 70 feet tall in optimal conditions and prefers moist, deep, rich soils but adapts well to dry or wet soils, and soils that are poor or primarily clay.

Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) is flowering along the West Flower Walk.

Magellan Coral is a dwarf hybrid zinnia known as a "double-flowered" zinnia — multiple layers of coral-hued petals unfold as the flower matures, ending with a frilly yellow center. Named an All-America Selections Winner in 2005 for its brilliant, long-lasting flowers on strong stems, this zinnia blooms nonstop until frost.

When growing zinnias for the home garden, many people choose to direct-sow seed, as double-flowered zinnia varieties may temporarily revert to single flowers when transplanted to the garden. They will recover, however, and continue their show through fall.

Magellan Coral zinnia (Zinnia elegans 'Magellan Coral') is in the Circle Garden.

Scalloped and serrated leaves resembling eighteenth-century ladies' outerwear lend this plant its common name, but its Latin name has more mysterious origins. While mollis signifies the leaves' soft, velvety hairs, alchemilla designates a plant valued in the study of alchemy, giving clues that it may have once been used by alchemists in their attempts to convert baser metals into gold.

A hardy perennial displaying loose, spreading clusters of bright chartreuse blooms, the real show of Alchemilla mollis comes after a light rain or early morning dew, when the tiny hairs covering the surface of the leaf catch and collect water droplets, turning the plant into a glistening beauty. Deadheading spent flower stems can encourage lady's mantle to rebloom in late summer.

Nearly 30 species of Alchemilla can be found, many of them native to the mountains of Europe, Asia, and North America.

Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is in the Lakeside Garden.

This Italian clematis cultivar was hybridized by Betty Corning in 1932 and carries many of the characteristics of the viticella parent, including a vigorous growth habit and fragrant, bell-shaped, lavender-blue blooms loved by hummingbirds.

A sun-loving vine growing 8' to 10' tall, clematis prefer to be planted slightly deep in cool, well-drained soil, with mulch or a ground cover to shade their feet, and a solid support to climb.

Italian clematis (Clematis viticella 'Betty Corning') is in the English Walled Garden.

Elina™ rose (Rosa 'DICjana') is a hybrid tea introduced in 1984 featuring pale yellow to white flowers that lighten in color as the season (and summer heat) progresses.

This hybrid prefers zones 7b and warmer, so plants must be protected in the Chicago region over winter with a layer of leaves or mulch about 18" high over the crown. The vigorous plants are almost as broad as tall, and covered with glossy green foliage that's quite resistant to disease — Elina™ rose is much less prone to black spot than similar yellow-colored teas.

On a light note, this particular cultivar was originally known as 'Peau douce', or "soft skin" in French, and was renamed so as not be associated with a popular French diaper brand.

Elina™ hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'DICjana') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom, June 21, 2011

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:55:00 EDT

Love and Peace™ rose (Rosa 'Baipeace') is a hybrid tea featuring long, pointed buds with flowers that open golden-yellow, edged in pink. The fragrance is described as fruity, and is not overpoweringly strong. Unlike many other hybrid teas, the foliage remains on the stem all the way to the ground throughout the growing season, eliminating the need to plant annuals in front of the rose to hide the "ugly ankles." It is hardy to zone 6, so plants must be protected in the Chicago region over winter with a layer of leaves or mulch about 18" high over the crown. Love and Peace rose is also prone to black spot and powdery mildew — two banes of rose growers everywhere. This particular cultivar is an offspring of the famous Peace rose introduced shortly after World War II.

Love and Peace™ hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Baipeace') is flowering in the Rose Garden.

Firmament ornamental onion (Allium 'Firmament') blooms a couple of weeks after the Allium aflatuenense/Allium hollandicum cultivars, with beautiful heads of dark, silvery-purple flowers ranging from 2' to 3' in height. This cultivar is a hybrid of Allium christophii, which gives it the nice metallic sheen to the petals, and Allium atropurpureum, which provides for the dark flower color and later flowering.

Like all of the bulbous ornamental onions, persistence in the garden is contingent upon keeping the bulbs as dry as possible in summer and providing conditions that encourage reseeding. To encourage reseeding, mulch the beds after the foliage has come up, but before the seeds ripen and are dispersed. Avoid additional mulching until the foliage once again comes up the following year. Seedlings produce vegetative growth the first year and begin to produce flowers the second year. Most onion bulbs are not long-lived in our climate, and only under the best conditions will "bulk up" by producing offsets to eventually create a nice-sized clump of flowers.

Firmament ornamental onion (Allium 'Firmament') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Philadelphus x cymosus 'Bouquet Blanc' is a small-sized, delightfully fragrant mock orange, with arching branches blooming in midsummer. The branches are literally covered with the double flowers, producing a veritable white bouquet (bouquet blanc).

The species name represents the fact the cultivar is one of a number of selections resulting from hybridization. In this case, the hybridization occurred in garden settings where a number of Philadelphus species were being grown — only the bees know who the parents were. Cultivars assigned this hybrid species name range in size from dwarfs to very large shrubs, with either white or white and pink flowers. There are a number of Philadelphus species native to the mountains of northern Mexico, some of whom have pink flowers.

Bouquet Blanc mock orange (Philadelphus x cymosus 'Bouquet Blanc') is in the Sensory Garden.

Angelface™ blue angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia 'AN2WEI') represents a breeding success story relatively more recent than sweet peas. Until the last decade of the twentieth century, Angelonia consisted of 20 to 40 poorly known species native to Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Commercial seed companies, always on the lookout for the next popular annual bedding plant, evaluated this species and found that diversity within the evaluation plants suggested hybridization could hold promising results. Fewer than one in a hundred new species evaluated for use as an ornamental garden plant pass the preliminary tests; fewer than one in ten thousand new species rival the financial success of petunias or pansies.

Angelface™ blue angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia 'AN2WEI') is in the English Walled Garden.

Royal Red sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus 'Royal Red') produces intensely red, fragrant flowers on plants that scramble upward, using tendrils at the tip of each compound leaf in their climb. The fragrance has been described as a combination of orange blossoms and honey.

Sweet peas are enjoying a return to popularity after their decline with the close of the Edwardian era. During the early part of the twentieth century, special flower shows and exhibitions were held across the land to celebrate the remarkable diversity of colors and flower sizes. Easily germinated and grown in average garden soil, they allowed rich and poor to compete for prizes and awards on an almost equal footing.

Sweet peas in cultivation are thought to date back to a monk living in Sicily who sent an English schoolmaster seeds of the wild Lathyrus odoratus in 1699. Enjoyed for their bicolor purple flowers and intense fragrance, they did not become intensely popular until Henry Eckford, a Scottish gardener, began hybridizing them in the later part of the nineteenth century. Fast forward a decade or so, and the Earl of Spencer (one of Lady Diana's ancestors) created a strain of sweet peas with larger upper ruffled petals and longer lower petals in a wide range of colors. Easy to grow in the British climate, sweet peas took off in popularity, rivaling the popularity of tulips during Tulip Mania (Tulpenwindhandel) in the Netherlands. Sweet peas are still grown for the florist trade and in early summer the area around Lompoc, California, is awash with sweet peas that thrive in the cool climate amid ocean breezes that prevent bees from cross-pollinating the different varieties.

Royal Red sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus 'Royal Red') is in the Landscape Garden.

In Bloom, June 14, 2011

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:09:00 EDT

Paeonia 'Sarah Bernhardt' is a lovely, dark-rose to pink peony that blooms toward the end of the peony season. It was named after a prominent French actress and is a time-proven standby in the perennial garden. The buds and open flowers contain a sugary nectar beloved by ants, bees, wasps, and some species of birds. The seeds contain eliosomes — tissues ants find irresistible — that serve the plant well as a means of dispersing its seeds, as the ants do the work.

The genus name derives from Paeon, a student of Asclepias, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Apparently there was some jealously among the gods of ancient Greece, and Paeon was turned into a beautiful flowering plant in order to avoid persecution. Roots of the parental species of this cultivar, lactiflora, are highly regarded in Chinese herbal medicine. Western scientists have extracted a number of components with biological activity.

Sarah Bernhardt peony (Paeonia 'Sarah Bernhardt') is flowering along the West Flower Walk, starting at the entrance to the Enabling Garden and proceeding north toward the West Portico along both sides of the sidewalk.

Rosa 'Jacmcady' Walking on Sunshine™ is a bright-yellow floribunda rose with anise- scented flowers surrounded by glossy, disease-resistant foliage on a rounded plant. The blooms fade with time to a light-yellow color that provides a nice two-toned effect.

This is one of two roses selected by the American Rose Society for endorsement in 2011. To win this honor, roses are planted and evaluated in 26 different gardens across the country for two years. Only cultivars that perform well in all American climates earn this prestigious honor.

Walking on Sunshine™ floribunda rose (Rosa 'Jacmcady') is in the All American Rose Bed.

Baptisia x varicolor 'Twilite' can be found in the local garden centers under the name Twilite Prairieblues™ false indigo. It is a Chicagoland Grows® introduction and features deep-purple flowers with a bright-yellow keel on bloom spikes up to 32" long. Once well established in the garden (typically in the third year), individual plants can produce hundreds of flower spikes. This plant is special to Chicago Botanic Garden because the Garden's plant breeder, Dr. Jim Ault, created it by hybridizing a blue- flowered and a yellow-flowered species to obtain a unique color combination. A great plant for full sun gardens with average soils, the flower colors and leaf textures make a fine addition to perennial and mixed- flower borders.

Twilite Prairieblues™ false indigo (Baptisia x varicolor ‘Twilite') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Rhododendron 'Roseum Elegans' is one of the classic evergreen rhododendron cultivars. The ancestry of this cultivar is muddled by history and has, at various times, been placed in a number of species. Regardless, this is a time-tested performer in even the harsh climates of the upper Midwest. Trusses of dark-pink buds open to medium-pink flowers in late spring and early summer. The evergreen leaves will curl during extremely cold dry weather but unroll once warmer and moister conditions arrive. In the Chicago region a height of 6 feet is average; in more moderate climates, that height can easily double.

Toxins in the bark and wood of azaleas and rhododendrons have poisoned unwary travelers in parts of China and the Himalayas.

Roseum Elegans rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Roseum Elegans') is in the English Walled Garden.

Penstemon digitalis is a native of the tall grass prairies stretching from the upper Midwest down to north central Texas. It is one of the few native beardtongues that are adaptable to garden conditions — in fact, it thrives under cultivation. It also has a relatively long blooming season and brightens the garden in early and mid-summer. Various bees are the principal pollinators.

The United States is the center of distribution for the genus Penstemon. Most species are found in the arid and intermountain West, and favor perfectly drained soils and very low humidity.

Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) is in the Native Plant Garden.

In Bloom, June 7, 2011

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:11:00 EDT

Allium christophii features star-shaped purple-violet flowers with a metallic sheen on loose umbels from 4 to 8 inches across — among the largest in the genus. Found in nature from Iran and Turkey through Central Asia, this is another of the large-flowered onions that persist best in Chicago landscapes if interplanted with low-growing perennials and shrubs that will keep the soil moisture levels lower during mid- to late summer (otherwise the bulbs have a tendency to rot).

Ornamental onions and edible onions are closely related. The edible onions sold in the supermarket are all a year old; if held in the garden for a second year, they produce large white flowers, but this comes at the expense of the bulb.

The genus name traces its roots to the Latin allium, a name given to garlic and the Celtic adjective for all things hot.

Stars of Persia (Allium christophii) is flowering on Evening Island.

Calendula officinalis 'Chrysantha' was recently rediscovered by employees of the company of seed suppliers that originally introduced it in 1933, as they were conducting a worldwide search for new and improved flowers. A bushy and free-flowering cultivar, it features double citron-yellow flowers with long wide petals that resemble a chrysanthemum. If summer temperatures are not too extreme in the Chicago area (and the plants are deadheaded), this cultivar can bloom up to frost.

The genus Calendula comes from the Latin calendae, referring to the interest payments on loans that were typically due on the first day of the month — a nod to the prolonged flowering of this species. The native origin of this species is not known, but it has been grown for centuries in European gardens and often colonizes disturbed soils. Beyond the beautiful flowers, the Romans used the juice as a cure for warts; in the Middle Ages, the Doctrine of Signatures identified this plant as a cure for jaundice (yellow flower color);it was used as a substitute for saffron in the treatment of measles and smallpox; and, after the arrival of conquistadores in Mexico, it became known as the "flower of death" because of its ability to thrive on soils disturbed by warfare. In the Civil War and World War I it was used as a haemostatic (to stop bleeding). Culinary uses focus on the sweet and saline flavors of the petals, and the yellow-orange colors it imparts to cheese, butter, rice dishes, and cakes.

Chrysantha pot marigold (Calendula officinalis 'Chrysantha') is in the Sensory Garden.

Paeonia 'Bowl of Cream' is aptly named, with flowers up to 8 inches across that enclose a boss of yellow-colored stamens. Very fragrant, this mid-season flowering cultivar (like all peonies) thrives in fertile, moist soils with good drainage, and resents division and replanting. Peonies have been grown in China for more than two thousand years, and they were remarkably tolerant of the covered-wagon trips to the West during the nineteenth century. Because they are so long-lived, older cultivars still grace the sites of original homesteads and cemeteries.

Bowl of Cream peony (Paeonia 'Bowl of Cream') is along the West Flower Walk, starting at the entrance to the Enabling Garden and proceeding north toward the West Portico along both sides of the sidewalk.

Clematis 'Nelly Moser' is a tried-and-true stalwart of the early summer garden, providing a profusion of lavender flowers with broad purple central stripes on a perennial vine that grows to 10 feet. Plant clematis deep, so that the dormant buds underground can replace the original stem, should it be killed by a soil-level fungus that sometimes attacks clematis in the Chicago region. Clematis can be trained on a trellis, but are also frequently allowed to climb through an existing shrub to great effect.

More than two hundred species are found in this genus, and they range from the temperate regions (Northern and Southern Hemispheres) to the mountains of tropical Africa.

Nelly Moser clematis (Clematis 'Nelly Moser') is in the English Walled Garden.

Rosa 'Medallion' is a member of the group of roses known as hybrid teas. It features lightly fragrant, apricot-colored flowers throughout the growing season, and like other members of this class is susceptible to powdery mildew, black spot, and winter kill in the Chicago area. Select a planting site in full sun with good air movement (not up against a house or group of shrubs) and interplant with a combination of perennials and groundcovers to lessen these diseases. Japanese beetles can be handpicked and plopped into a bucket containing a small amount of gasoline, and aphids can be controlled by strong blasts from a water hose whenever their populations begin to rise.

Despite their pests and diseases, hybrid tea roses remain the most popular class of roses, due to their long, pointed buds and continuous flowering habit. The elegant flower buds and flowering characteristics are descended from an ancestral rose species that, unfortunately, was not resistant to black spot or powdery mildew. Despite efforts of rose breeder which span centuries, only modest improvements in pest resistance have been achieved.

Did you know that Joseph Stalin was a rose breeder? When the Iron Curtain imposed by the Soviet Union fell, rumors circulated of a red rose bred by Stalin in the Republic of Georgia. Alas, if it existed, it has not made its way to Western gardens.

Medallion hybrid tea rose (Rosa 'Medallion') is in the Rose Garden.

In Bloom the first (meteorological) day of Summer

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:57:00 EDT

Check it out summer online; come see it in person this weekend! http://youtu.be/KbLYbPUt68M?hd=1

In Bloom, May 31, 2011

Tue, 31 May 2011 17:47:00 EDT

Native to the southeastern United States, Amsonia tabernaemontana is a herbaceous perennial member of the Apocynaceae, or dogbane family, that is hardy in the Chicago region. Often found growing streamside in sandy or gravelly soils, the pale blue flowers in summer are followed by golden yellow fall color.

How can a native of the Southeast be hardy in Chicago? The answer lies with the distribution of temperate zone plants at the height of the last Ice Age. With Chicago covered in ice, the temperate zone plants native to North America were restricted to a small band just north of the Gulf of Mexico. Stretching from northern hills of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas, the range arced southwest through the Edwards Plateau of Texas, and ended in the mountainous regions of northern Mexico. At their coldest, these areas experience winter temperatures similar to those of Minnesota. When the glaciers retreated, some of the plant species were not able to migrate north as quickly as the ice melted. Why not? Many of the animals responsible for pollinating and transporting seeds or plant parts had gone extinct.

Willow amsonia (Amsonia tabernaemontana) is flowering on Evening Island.

Rhododendron 'Rosy Lights' was developed in Minnesota to provide reliably hardy azaleas that can tolerate the often less than ideal soils found in the Midwest. Delightfully fragrant flowers in late spring are followed by intense orange and red fall color. Part of the key to success in the Midwest is the deciduous growth habit allowing the plant to survive very low temperatures with little or snow cover to protect the foliage on evergreen species.

Rosy Lights azalea (Rhododendron 'Rosy Lights') is flowering in the Landscape Garden.

Lupinus 'Gallery Blue' is one of a number of color selections of intermediate height (18" – 24") lupines for sunny gardens and moist rich soils. The shorter stature translates to few plants lodging (falling over) as the weight of the flower spike increases. The intense blue flowers of this cultivar are highlighted by the pure white nectar guide on each flower. A member of the pea family (Fabaceae), those young at heart with a touch of the mischievous spend hours watching the bumble bees get smacked off the flower as they attempt to reach the nectar. The mechanical trigger brushes by the stamens containing pollen, ensuring the next flower visited by the bees will be cross-pollinated. Only the first bees to visit the flower get smacked, later visitors have easy access to the nectaries.

Gallery Blue lupin (Lupinus 'Gallery Blue') is flowering in the Circle Garden.

Rosa hugonis was named after Father Hugo (Hugh Scanlan), who sent seeds of this species back to Kew Gardens in 1899 from China. Lemon yellow flowers in late spring and early summer are followed by intense red fall foliage. This species earned an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1914 and an Award of Garden Merit in 1925. Rosa hugonis is a tough, reliably hardy shrub rose to 6' in the Chicago region, and is among the first of the shrub roses to bloom each year.

Father Hugo rose (Rosa hugonis) is flowering in the Lakeside Garden.

Echium pinninana 'Blue Steeple' is one of the 'wows' of the Chicago Botanic Garden. This biennial species spends the first year producing a palm-like, almost woody trunk to 3' – 4' high. The second year it sends up a dramatic flower spike with thousands of flowers. A native of the Canary Islands, this is a favorite of bees. At the Garden, seeds are sown two winters before the display, and are grown on the first year in 5 gallon containers in the nursery. Carefully overwintered, the plants are transplanted to their permanent site in the Garden after the last hard frost, where they produce the immense flowering spike.

Blue Steeple tower of jewels (Echium pinninana 'Blue Steeple') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

In Bloom, May 24, 2011

Tue, 24 May 2011 14:51:00 EDT

Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) is a very rare plant, and this is the first time it has bloomed at the Garden!

Jade vine is a rare find in U.S. botanical gardens. Aside from the Chicago Botanic Garden, Fairchild Botanical Gardens, south of Miami, Florida, and the Waimea Botanic Gardens in Hawaii have this interesting plant. The unusual color of the jade vine's blooms is the result of pigments in two different color classes being modified by high pH in the sap of the stems.

Find jade vine in bloom at the entrance to the Tropical Greenhouse.

Dicentra spectabilis is one of the treasures of the spring flower garden from mid-spring through early summer in the Chicago region. Commonly called bleeding heart, the plant features pendulous pink heart-shaped flowers accented by white at the tips, which open in sequence along gracefully arching stems. Soft green leaves resemble those of maiden hair ferns, but are much larger. This species is a woodland native and appreciates some shade during the heat of the day.

The genus Dicentra was formed from the Greek dis (two) and kentron (spurred) in reference to the two-spurred flowers. It is a member of the fumitory family (Fumariaceae), consisting of 20 genera and 575 species. This family is closely related to the poppy family, and similar to poppies its sap also contains a number of toxic compounds.

Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is in the Sensory Garden.

Lupinus texensis, or Texas bluebonnet, carpets parts of the Southwest in early spring if rains have been sufficient to keep the seedlings alive over the winter. Bluebonnets germinate in the fall and overwinter as a pair of cotyledons (seed leaves). The seeds are very long lived in the soil seed bank. The very thick seed coats are diminished by fire, resulting in a large number of bluebonnets appearing after wildfires.

The genus name is derived from the Latin lupus (wolf), referring to the mistaken belief that as plants spread into an area, they depleted the soil nutrients. In actual fact, this plant and many other members of the pea family (Fabaceae) have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and they leave the soil richer when they die. The leaves and flowers of bluebonnets are a favorite food for wildlife and livestock.

Texas bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is in the Enabling Garden.

Syringa vulgaris 'Mme. Lemoine' is a white, fragrant, double-flowered lilac with an upright growth habit that rarely suckers. It is an old cultivar first released in 1897, and the fact that is still offered for sale speaks highly of its quality. Like other French lilacs, good air movement around the plant is key to controlling powdery mildew on the foliage.

The Mme. Lemoine lilac was named by noted French plant breeder Victor Lemoine in honor of his wife. Mr. Lemoine founded his firm in the south of France after completing an internship with the famous Belgian firm of Louis Van Houtte. Beyond lilacs, he is responsible for hybridizing 26 other genera of plants to create new and improved cultivars for ornamental horticulture. His accomplishments were so valued that Lemoine was the first foreigner to be awarded an honor by the Royal Horticultural Society (U.K.). His work was also recognized by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society with a Medal of Honor.

The genus Syringa is native to southeastern Europe and has featured prominently in ancient gardens in the Middle East and southern Europe. The stems are hollow, which led the Greeks to name them after a nymph that was turned into a reed (syrinx). The common name, lilac, is derived from the Persian word for blue (nilak). Syringa is one of 24 genera in the olive family (Oleaceae). Other garden plants that are members of this family include forsythia and ash trees.

Mme. Lemoine lilac (Syringa vulgaris 'Mme. Lemoine') is in the English Walled Garden.

A native of southeastern Europe and northeastern Asia Minor, Euphorbia polychroma, commonly called spurge, is a hardy perennial member of the same genus as poinsettia. Like its holiday cousin, its "flowers" are actually modified leaves, called bracts, that surround the inconspicuous flowers. Depending on temperature, sunlight, and rainfall, the golden-yellow bracts are sometimes purple- or red-tipped.

There are more than 600 species in the genus Euphorbia, and they can be found around the world. In desert regions, they tend to be succulent long-lived perennials, or very short-lived annuals. In tropical regions, they range to small trees, vines, and shrubs, while in temperate zones they are most often herbaceous perennials.

Spurge (Euphorbia polychroma) is in the Bulb Garden.

Symphytum caucasicum 'Azureum' is often sold through the nursery trade under the name Symphytum azureum or Symphytum 'Azureum'. Regardless, it is a wonderful perennial for shady landscapes in the Chicago region. The blue flowers are held well about the broad foliage and are free of the purple blush sometimes found in the straight species.

The common name, comfrey, was associated with medicinal properties associated with this plant during the Middle Ages and was once called "knit bone" to reflect its perceived effects. While topical applications may or may not be effective, infusions of the leaves contain large amounts of a compound known to cause liver toxicity, and the purified extract has caused cancer in mice.

The leaves of comfrey are recommended as a "green manure" crop to improve soil fertility in organic gardens. The leaves are very high in potassium, a nutrient that is quickly leached out of the soil, and the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of the leaf tissues results in a net gain for nitrogen fertility.

Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum 'Azureum') is in the Lakeside Garden.

In Bloom, May 17, 2011

Tue, 17 May 2011 22:03:00 EDT

Tulipa 'Blushing Lady' has flowers that are a beautiful blend of yellow, peach, and pink blooming at the end of the tulip season (mid- to late May in the Chicago region) on a tall, strong stem. This cultivar is a "sport" of Tulipa 'Temple of Beauty', which features salmon-rose flowers.

A sport is a random genetic mutation that is stable under vegetative propagation techniques, and most frequently represents changes in flower color. In this case, 'Temple of Beauty' has mutated a number of times and is the parent of the following cultivars:

'Blushing Beauty' — outer tepals flamed rhodonite red on aureolin; inner tepals rosy white-feathered flame with aureolin edge; inside flamed aureolin with yellowish-white vein; base canary yellow with a vague pink edge; anthers lemon yellow
'Blushing Lady' — outer tepals with a large delft-rose flame fading into empire rose; inner tepals with a vague neyron-rose glow on the basal half; base chartreuse green; inside canary yellow with claret rose on the basal half; base Dresden yellow on the outer tepals bordered with a vague grayish-green rim; anthers Naples yellow
'Hocus Pocus' — outer tepals sulphur yellow with yellow pinkish-tipped flame; inner tepals flamed jasper red with greenish-yellow vein on a sulphur-yellow ground; outer base greenish white; inside canary yellow with small scarlet flame; anthers chrome yellow
'Perestroyka' — feathered scarlet, orange, current red, primrose yellow, and Dresden yellow
'Temple's Favorite' — flamed carmine rose with broad nasturtium-red edge; outer base greenish white; inside Indian orange with scarlet vein; base canary yellow with primrose-yellow blotches; anthers pale yellow

If interplanted with plants that absorb a lot of water during the growing season, the bulbs of 'Blushing Lady' will not rot, and the plants will slowly increase over time to form clumps of bulbs, each bulb producing one flower.

Blushing Lady single late tulip (Tulipa 'Blushing Lady') is flowering in the English Walled Garden.

Cercis canadensis 'Covey' is offered through retail nurseries under the trademarked name of Lavender Twist™ weeping redbud. This beautiful bloomer offers a lesson in how plants are bred for consumers.

Trademarked names do not expire, which allows plant breeders to continue to obtain a portion of the sales revenue as compensation for their efforts, unlike plant patents. Plant patents (all patents for that matter) expire after 18 years, allowing competitors to discontinue payments to the originator after that date.

This particular cultivar was found as a chance seedling in 1960 along a road in upstate New York by a gentleman who transplanted it to the home of his sister, Mrs. Connie Covey. Many years later, Mrs. Covey's neighbor decided not to remove the twisty branch under an overgrown lilac that she asked him to remove. Instead, a local nurseryman contacted an Ohio nursery known for its skill in propagating woody plants to get one plant as a gift. The Ohio nurseryman became entranced with the plant, and purchased it from Mrs. Covey, transplanting it in Ohio to perfect his nursery's propagation techniques. Once the propagation problems were overcome, they patented and trademarked the plant, using the cultivar name 'Covey' in honor of the source of the parent plant.

Lavender Twist™ weeping redbud (Cercis canadensis 'Covey') is in the Circle Garden.

Camassia leichtlinii goes by the common name of leichtlin camass or great camass. Two subspecies are found in North America: subspecies leichtinii is pale yellow and has the most restricted range, while subspecies suksdorfii is known for blue to violet flowers, and can be found from British Columbia on south to California.

Camass were a favorite of Native Americans, who roasted them in pits to create a dish that looked and tasted very similar to sweet potatoes, but which contained a granular inulin component. Before traveling out West to harvest some bulbs for roasting, please ensure you can tell the difference between Camassia and the very similar-appearing bulbs of the aptly named "death camass" (Veratrum species).

Leichtlin camass (Camassia leichtlinii) is alongside the service road bordering the Landscape Garden.

Rhododendron 'Milestone' features red-pink flowers in large trusses in mid-May. It was developed by the Weston Nursery of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to meet the need for rhododendrons hardy in the harsh New England climate. Slow growing, over ten years it will reach 3 feet in height and typically produces a rounded mound.

Milestone rhododendron (Rhododendron 'Milestone') is in the Enabling Garden.

Allium caeruleum is a native of Central Asia and is known as a blue globe onion. People seem to be attracted to the color blue — at least as it is displayed by flowers. Name the rarest, most sought-after cultivars and species, and there will be a disproportionate number of blue- flowered plants on the list — yet they are relatively rare in nature.

The flowers on Allium caeruleum (the latter means 'blue' in Latin) are about the size of a silver dollar and are held well above the foliage. It is slow to naturalize in the Chicago region — perhaps due to the preponderance of heavy clay soils and the frequency with which gardeners water their flower beds in summer. If at all possible, purchase this plant when in flower to obtain the best color forms. Several in commerce produce inferior lilac-blue or washed-out, faded-blue flowers.

Blue globe onion (Allium caeruleum) is in the Lakeside Garden.

In Bloom, May 10, 2011

Tue, 10 May 2011 12:19:00 EDT

Tulipa 'Best Purple' is described as blooming in mid-season with satiny deep-purple flowers that combine well with lighter colors. It is a member of the Darwin Hybrid class of tulips that all share Tulipa fosteriana (short, early flowering) and Darwin tulips (tall, late flowering) as parents.

The offspring come in an incredible assortment of colors, but all bloom in midseason (halfway between both parents) with stout stems (from T. fosteriana) that are tall (Darwin parents). They are remarkably hardy and include the cultivars that are most likely to perennialize in the Chicago region.

Two factors affect their longevity: remaining too wet during the summer rots the bulbs, and chipmunks and squirrels find the bulbs very tasty, and love to cache them around the garden — sometimes forgetting where they hid them — resulting in those wonderful flower displays with tulip bulbs in the wrong place in the landscape.

Best Purple Darwin hybrid tulip (Tulipa 'Best Purple') is flowering in the Circle Garden.

Brunnera macrophylla is known as Siberian bugloss and features forget-me-not blue flowers on a low, slowly spreading perennial adapted to shady conditions in mid-spring. A native of Eastern Europe, it makes a nice groundcover under deciduous trees or combines well with other spring flowers in annual or mixed borders.

The genus name honors the contributions to botany of Swiss botanist Samuel Brunner in the early nineteenth century. It is a member of the Boraginaceae or borage family and shares the characteristic crozier- shaped inflorescence and nutlet seeds that defines this family. Taxonomists have disagreed on whether this species was a member of the genus Brunnera or Anchusa; recent DNA work suggests that Brunnera is the correct genus.

Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) is in the Lakeside Garden.

Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra Maxima' was introduced into cultivation in 1665 and features very large, darker orange/red flowers with faint purple veining. The specis is native to dry rocky hillsides in Iran and western Central Asia and features a cavity in the top of the bulb that helps capture water in those low-precipitation climates. The cavity is created by last year's blooming stalk.

The bulbs have a distinctive "foxy" odor that repels most herbivores (and can distress spouses when left in automobile trunks over the weekend) that makes it one of the most deer-resistant bulbs. The bulbs themselves are not covered by a protective wrapping and are susceptible to bruising during handling. Best practice is to obtain and plant the bulbs as soon as they are harvested in late August, in soils that are very well drained. To avoid rot in the Chicago region, many gardeners plant the bulb on its side.

Red crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra Maxima') is in the Bulb Garden.

Papaver nudicaule 'Champagne Bubbles Mix' is a dwarf selection of Iceland poppies whose thin crepelike flowers come in white, yellow, apricot, scarlet, and pink. A very hardy (zone 2 — Arctic) perennial, it is relatively short-lived in warmer climates. To encourage reseeding in the garden avoid using mulches, as the seeds require bare soil and sunlight in order to germinate.

The genus name is derived from the Latin pappa (milk), referring to the milky-colored sap. The sap contains alkaloids that deer and rabbits find objectionable. Avoid contact with the skin, as the sap can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Champagne Bubbles Mix Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule 'Champagne Bubbles Mix') is in the English Oak Meadow.

Narcissus 'Mondragon' is described as a collar narcissus, because the central trumpet splits into six segments that lie almost flat against the petals. Released in 1973, it features yellow petals and orange inner segments. Narcissus are particularly prone to viruses spread from one plant to another by cutting implements. To harvest flowers for enjoyment indoors, gently grab the flowering stem near the base and pull up; this avoids the use of knives or scissors that would need to be sterilized between every cut. Also note that the mucilaginous sap causes allergic dermatitis in many people, and should be avoided (it also stains clothes).

Narcissus 'Mondragon' is the bulb that would not die. This cultivar is definitely tough; in the fall of 1997 I took my 10-year-old son to a bulb sale sponsored by a local daffodil society and he selected this cultivar as the 'must have' that I dutifully purchased. Fast forward six years and the now almost completely desiccated bulbs were discovered in a paper bag that got misplaced in the process of moving to Chicago. I am pleased to report the bulbs not only survived, but have increased, becoming one of the most eagerly anticipated features in the spring landscape.
— Boyce Tankersley, Director, Living Plant Documentation,
Chicago Botanic Garden

Mondragon collar narcissus (Narcissus 'Mondragon') is in the Sensory Garden.

In Bloom, May 3, 2011

Tue, 03 May 2011 15:18:00 EDT

Narcissus 'Manly' is what is known as a double narcissus. In naturally occurring Narcissus species, the flowers contain six "tepals" (three in each of two whorls) that look like petals, with the actual petals fused into a cuplike structure called the corona or perianth tube. Double narcissus have multiple whorls of petals, and the cup is divided into sections. The cultivar 'Manly' contains many whorls of cup segments that get progressively smaller towards the center of the flower.

In Greek mythology, the youth Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water, and was turned into a lily by the gods. The genus name is derived from the Greek narke (numbness) because of its narcotic properties. It's unclear whether the numbness occurs as a byproduct of the excruciating pain caused by the calcium oxylate crystals in the plant's sap when it is taken into the mouth, or whether some other chemical property takes effect later. Deer, rabbits, and other herbivores avoid Narcissus, making this one of the more reliable ornamental plants for the Chicago region.

Manly double narcissus (Narcissus 'Manly') is blooming just outside the English Walled Garden.

Linaria 'Enchantment' is one of many charming cultivars of toadflax. The miniature snapdragon flowers of the toadflaxes combine elegantly with spring bulbs and other early spring annuals. If summer temperatures are not too hot, they can flower up to the first frost.

There are 100 species of perennials and annuals in the genus Linaria native to the northern temperate zones, with a center of diversity in Europe and the Mediterranean region. Two species have become naturalized in the U.S. — one in New England and the second in northern New Mexico (where it is toxic to livestock).

Enchantment toadflax (Linaria 'Enchantment') is in the Enabling Garden.

Fritillaria raddeana is a close relative of crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis), but features flowers in a range of pastels from light green through yellow and soft pink (colors change as they age). Native to rocky hillsides in Iran and Turkmenistan, the plants are adapted to begin growth early in spring — when moisture from winter rains or snow is still available — and complete their life cycle before the heat of summer parches the landscape.

The name Fritillaria was given to the genus because the dried seedpods are shaped like a dice box (frittilus) of yesteryear (Roman era).

Fritillaries (Fritillaria raddeana) are in the Bulb Garden.

Muscari armeniacum 'Blue Spike' is an improved selection of this species featuring branched inflorescences (usually there is a single spike) of large double flowers in soft blue. Rabbits sometimes nibble the foliage in very early spring, but have typically found something tastier to eat by the time the flowers are produced in late April to early May.

Blue Spike grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum 'Blue Spike') carpet the Lakeside Garden.

Prunus tomentosa is commonly known as Nanking cherry and is native from northern and western China down to Tibet and Kashmir, and features white to pale-pink flowers in early spring on a shrubby bush. The very small red fruit, when ripe, are too astringent for people to eat, but birds love them.

When Carl Thunberg first described this species, most Western citizens were not allowed to travel beyond a few trade entrepots — Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai — and relied upon Chinese entrepreneurs to bring them Chinese garden plants for purchase; ergo the common name that celebrates the city of origin of the trader, but not necessarily the species. The species name, tomentosa, refers to the downy (tomentose) young shoots.

Nanking cherry (Prunus tomentosa) is in the Malott Japanese Garden.

In Bloom, April 26, 2011

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:01:00 EDT

Anemone coronaria 'Admiral' features pink semidouble flowers above lacelike dissected leaves. Native to the Mediterranean region, it is not hardy in areas where soil temperatures fall below 28 degrees F. The plants featured at the Chicago Botanic Garden are grown from seed started in the production greenhouses in mid- to late winter. Home gardeners can plant tubers purchased in the fall once the danger of frost is past, or purchase plants in bloom from local nurseries.

The genus name is derived from the Greek anemos (wind) and was first used in Western literature to describe these plants by Theophrastus. Due to its beauty and widespread distribution throughout southern Europe and the Middle East, the plant also has common names based on a long history of appreciation in Turkish, Arabic, Phoenician, Byzantine, and Hebrew languages. A member of the Ranunculaceae family, its leaves, seeds, and flowers are poisonous to livestock.

Admiral windflower (Anemone coronaria 'Admiral') is blooming in the Bulb Garden.

Hyacinthus orientalis 'Crystal Palace' features double star-shaped fragrant florets of dark navy blue. Double-flowered hyacinths were all the rage during the Victorian Era; hundreds of cultivars were offered for sale. After this period they fell out of favor and almost became extinct. This variety and other double-flowered hyacinth cultivars owe their survival to a small but dedicated group of English gardeners who searched little-known and abandoned gardens so that these plants could be propagated and once again offered for sale. A native of Asia Minor, this bulb was once used by the perfume industry in France.

Seeds have an external structure known as elaiosome, which ants find irresistible. The ants haul the seeds back to their nests and consume the elaiosome (containing a germination inhibitor), which permits the seeds to germinate. Co-evolutionary relationships like this between plants and ants are called myrmecochory.

Crystal Palace Dutch hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis 'Crystal Palace') is in the Enabling Garden.

Narcissus 'Pistachio' features soft yellow petals with a greenish cast and a white halo around the trumpet. The trumpet is white at the base, changing to yellow at the edge of the cup. The original cross creating this new cultivar was made in 1978, and like other new Narcissus cultivars was not patented until 2004. Hybridizing flower bulbs is a long-term process, because many bulbs grown from seed do not flower until they are 5 to 7 years old; then they begin the process of evaluation for insect and disease resistance, and ease of propagation.

Pistachio trumpet daffodil (Narcissus 'Pistachio') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Helleborus x hybridus 'Blue Metallic Lady' is one of a series (Lady Series) developed by Gisela Schmiemann of Cologne, Germany, and currently one of the most lusted-after plants on the garden scene. This description from Digging Dog Nursery sums up the appeal: "Blue Metallic Lady's darkly enticing, cupped, and up-facing flowers boast lavish midnight purplish blue hues, with merlot and pewter overtones, and a bright cluster of champaign-colored stamens."

Like hyacinths, the seeds of some hellebores contain elaiosomes (see the hyacinth description) and are dependent on ants. Like anemones – including Anemone coronaria 'Admiral', featured above – hellebores are a member of the Ranunculaceae family, and all parts of the plant are poisonous. In Medieval folklore, hellebores were said to be an effective weapon against witches, madness, and evil spirits.

Blue Metallic Lady lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus 'Blue Metallic Lady') is in the English Walled Garden.

Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense 'Compacta' forms a low- growing carpet covered with pink-mauve flowers in spring, and orange to red fall color later in the season. Like other plants native to Korea, this species is winter hardy in many parts of the Upper Midwest, including the Chicago region. The cultivar is a hybrid of the straight species (yedoense) and the naturally occurring regional variant (var. poukhanense).

Compact Korean azalea (Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense 'Compacta') is in the Japanese Garden.

In Bloom, April 19, 2011

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:18:00 EDT

Ranunculus asiaticus 'Mache™ Pastel Mix' is a seed-grown strain of Persian buttercup that features fully double orange, scarlet, and yellow blooms above dark green foliage that grows to 16 inches in height during cool weather. When temperatures warm, the plants stop growing and store their nutrients in bulbs. For this reason, the seeds are sown in a cool greenhouse in winter, six weeks before bloom time. The bulbs, which resemble a hand with fingers, are hardy to 10 degrees Farenheit, and can be harvested and kept in a cool dark place until next winter, for replanting in a cool, sunny environment.

The genus Ranunculus was derived by Pliny from the Latin rana, meaning frog — a reference to the wet places in which many species thrive (not this one). There are more than 400 species within this genus, ranging from annuals and biennials through perennials. Ranunculus are native to damp mountain meadows, woodlands, stream sides, and the scree of temperate and tropical mountain regions.

Persian buttercups (Ranunculus asiaticus 'Mache™ Pastel Mix') are blooming in the English Walled Garden.

Viburnum farreri 'Album' is a naturally occurring white form of this fragrant species native to the northern provinces of China. It is one of the treasures made available to gardeners through the efforts of Reginal Farrer, British plant explorer extraordinaire, but it wasn't described as a new species until the middle of the twentieth century.

The genus Viburnum has been shifted about from one plant family to another, but recent DNA analysis has placed it in the Adoxaceae plant family, along with Sambucus (elder berry) and two tropical genera.

White fragrant viburnum (Viburnum farreri 'Album') is along the Viburnum Walk, just west/northwest of the Model Railroad Garden.

Erysium 'Winter Joy' is in the Brassicaceae (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage) plant family, with intensely purple flowers produced in profusion during cool weather. Erysium are biennial plants — those that require two growing seasons to complete their life cycle. The first year is spent building up and storing nutrients to support the flowering and seed production of the second year. The parental species (Erysium cheri) can still be found growing in the cracks and crevices of the Greek walls, cliffs, and rocky outcroppings from which it gets its common name of wallflower.

The genus name was first used by Hippocrates as a derivative of the Greek eryo, to draw out, because the sap of some species can cause blisters. Removing the old flowers will encourage additional flowering shoots as long as the weather remains moist and cool.

Winter Joy wallflower (Erysium 'Winter Joy') is in the Sensory Garden.

Narcissus 'Las Vegas' is a trumpet daffodil featuring creamy white petals and a buttercup-yellow cup. Within the genus Narcissus, plants are divided into divisions based upon the characteristics of the cup in relation to the petals; trumpet daffodils all possess a cup that is longer than the width of the petals. This cultivar was patented in 1981, while other cultivars of trumpets date back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Among the most long-lasting of garden plants, trumpet daffodils are sterile hybrids and increase slowly due to multiplication of the bulbs. Clumps should be divided every five years or so to prevent overcrowding, which results in fewer flowers.

Las Vegas trumpet daffodil (Narcissus 'Las Vegas') is in the Lakeside Garden.

Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Mix' is the first hybrid foxglove to bloom heavily in the first year and has the additional advantage of producing a heavy crop of secondary flower spikes. This cultivar is also unique in that the flowers are held almost horizontally, allowing a better view of the spots on the tube. The common name has an ancient history, originally known as "folksglove" for the flowers resembling the finger of a glove, and going back at least to the reign of Edward III in England.

The genus name Digitalis is derived from the Latin digitus, and similar to the common name refers to the shape of the flower. There are approximately 20 Digitalis species native to European woodlands. They are annuals, biennials, or short-lived perennials that, when well sited, will lightly reseed themselves about in the garden.

Folklorists and herbalists have long recognized the ability of Digitalis extracts to treat heart ailments, but these were not scientifically quantified until 1785. The active ingredient, digitoxin, falls within a class of compounds known as cardiac glycosides. They are used to treat atrial fibrillation and other illnesses caused by irregularities related to cardiac contractility.

Camelot Mix foxglove (Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Mix') is in the Circle Garden.

In Bloom, April 12, 2011

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:33:00 EDT

Camelot Mix foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea 'Camelot Mix') are blooming through the center of the Circle Garden.

Tulipa x kaufmanniana 'Early Harvest' is one of the earliest tulips to flower in the Chicago region. Unlike other cultivars of kaufmanniana, this selection has rounded tips to the petals instead of pointed ones. A mix of orange and yellow shades, the flowers are held on short, stout stems above green leaves marked with maroon. Tulipa kaufmanniana is native to the western slopes of the Tien Shan mountains in Kazakstan, where they display a wide range of colors in the shrub belt, in stony soils interspersed with grasses.

The admiration the Turkish and Persian potentates had for tulips was eclipsed by "tulip mania" in the Netherlands and Europe early in the seventeenth century, when speculators drove the prices astronomically high. As with all speculative ventures, major fortunes were lost when the source of the highly prized color breaks was discovered to be a virus, and not some unique characteristic of the soil or growing conditions.

Early Harvest waterlily tulips (Tulipa x kaufmanniana 'Early Harvest') are in the Bulb Garden, on the south side.

Iris reticulata 'Harmony' is planted en masse beneath the whitespire birches in the Sensory Garden. The contrast of the blue carpet created by thousands of these bulbs with the white/charcoal bark of the birches is a hallmark of the Garden in early spring. This cultivar is actually a hybrid of reticulata and histrioides. Iris reticulata is native to a widespread region stretching from Asia Minor through the Caucasus Mountains, whereas I. histrioides is more restricted in its natural range (central Northern Turkey).

The genus Iris is a large one, encompassing approximately 300 species. Iris reticulata is one of several species in the reticulata division that form true bulbs (unlike bearded iris that form rhizomes) and have leaves that are triangular in cross section. The genus name is derived from the Greek Iris, a messenger who traveled between heaven and earth via a rainbow.

Harmony reticulated iris (Iris reticulata 'Harmony') is in the Sensory Garden, at the south end, under whitespire birches.

Abeliophyllum distichum, commonly known as Korean abelialeaf, is a rare and endangered shrub native to Korea that features white to pink fragrant flowers in very early spring. Growth requirements and landscape uses are similar to forsythia, and indeed, other than the color of the flowers, the two genera share a number of characteristics. First described in Korean scientific literature in 1919, by the 1930s it was being grown in North America and Europe (where it won an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society).

Abeliophyllum is used medicinally in Korea, and overharvesting has led to it becoming almost extinct in the wild.

Korean abelialeaf (Abeliophyllum distichum) is in front of the Education Building, opposite the Heritage Garden.

Echium fastuosum, or echium, is a member of the Boraginaceae family, featuring spikes of blue flowers in spring. A native of the island of Madeira in the Canary Island chain, this species has escaped cultivation in New Zealand and is on a watch list in Victoria, Australia. The leaves carry bristly hairs that can cause allergic dermatitis in susceptible individuals; the hairs on the dead leaves are especially annoying to gardeners trying to pick up leaf litter in their gardens. Hardy to temperatures in the mid-20s, this species is also well adapted to salty coastal conditions.

Pride of Madiera echium (Echium fastuosum 'Pride of Madiera') can be found in the Heritage Garden, in the Boraginaceae plant family bed.

In Bloom, April 5

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EDT

Now is the time for crocus lovers everywhere to walk in the Garden. Over 2,000 yellow mammoth crocuses (Crocus xluteus) and 4,000 white and purple Dutch crocuses (C. vernus 'Remembrance' and 'Jeanne d' Arc') are in spectacular bloom in the Evening Island meadow.

The meadows won't be mowed until all crocus leaves have fully withered. The leaves need plenty of time — usually about six weeks after flowering — to turn sunlight into energy that each bulb will store until it's needed to power next spring's show.

Crocus naturalizes easily, especially in well-drained soil that's kept on the dry side when bulbs are dormant.

Red tower or spiral ginger is a large member of the Costus family that grows in a spiral habit to a height of 4 to 8 feet. Beginning in early April and lasting through autumn, Costus barbatus 'Red Velvet' sends forth blooms in long inflorescences ending in bright red, waxy bracts. Lemon yellow (and edible) tubular flowers emerge one at a time from between the bracts. Each flower lasts only a day, but the bracts continue to grow throughout the season, reaching a length of 6" to 10". Old bracts die off quickly and new ones replace them throughout the bloom season, giving this plant the illusion of being perpetually in bloom.

When not in bloom, this Costa Rican native is still a very attractive ginger, bearing dark green shiny leaves with a soft, downy, sage-green underside, making it a staple attraction in any tropical environment.

Costus barbatus 'Red Velvet' is in bloom in the South Greenhouse.

Red passionflower, or red grandilla (Passiflora coccinea) is a tendril-climbing, evergreen vine from South America with brilliantly showy flowers, which when pollinated, produce the aromatic and delicious passionfruit. The flower is a source of food for a variety of species including bees, and moths — who use the plant as a source of food in both larva and adult form. Hummingbirds also find the passionflower attractive, and are especially agile at reaching the flowers' nectar.

The common name of the passionflower family dates back to the 1700s, when Spanish conquistadors and missionaries associated its complicated and intricate blossoms with Christian religious symbols, including many symbols of the crucifixation of Christ.

Passiflora coccinea is just beginning to bloom in the South Greenhouse.

The pendulous flower clusters of the South African native scarlet clivia (Clivia nobilis) glow bright orange. Each stalk bears an umbel of 20 to 60 flowers which fade to pale green tips. When grown from seed, C. nobilis takes at least 6 years or more to flower, but each plant can outlive many generations.

Clivia nobilis was named in 1928 in the honour of the Duchess of Northumberland, whose family name was Clive, and whose garden at Syon House just across the river from Kew was famous at that time.

Find Clivia nobilis in bloom in the West Greenhouse, mixed in with the Clivia miniata.

Neon Valley reed stem epidendrum (Epidendrum 'Neon Valley') is a small, bright orange-flowered orchid of the Epidendrum genus. Tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions, Epidendrum orchids can be found in seasonally dry tropical forests as well as steamy jungles or cloud forests. All reed stem epidendrums need bright light, however, for strong, sturdy growths, and maximum flower production.

Epidendrum 'Neon Valley' can be found on the orchid tree in the South Greenhouse.

In Bloom, March 29, 2011

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:33:00 EDT

With a royal wedding in the offing, it is no surprise to find Miltoniopsis Princess Diana 'Princess of Wales', a hybrid of Miltoniopsis Pearl Ono 'Red' crossed with Miltoniopsis endressii 'Dancing Lady', coming into full flower. Princess Diana is the "grex," or hybrid, name given to all of the offspring of these parents. Princess of Wales is a particular cultivar selected from a group of seedlings that features lavender and white flowers with a red "mask" in the center of the flower.

Miltoniopsis are known as pansy orchids due to their large, flat flowers in vibrant, contrasting colors. Native to mid- and high elevations in Central and South America, these plants thrive under cool temperatures, bright lights, and high humidity throughout the year. Grasslike leaves surround flattened pseudobulbs and can produce up to three flower spikes per pseudobulb with up to 12 flowers per spike.

Miltoniopsis Princess Diana 'Princess of Wales' is in flower in the South Greenhouse, on the lower level orchid tree on the west side.

Next to the royalty on the orchid tree is a close relative, Miltassia 'Charles M. Fitch'. This plant is the result of crossing two different genera, Brassia and Miltonia. Orchid enthusiasts, beginning in the early twentieth century, pioneered the hybridization of different genera and the embryo rescue and tissue culture techniques often necessary to obtain living offspring.

The orchid family, Orchidaceae, is the second largest plant family in the world, with 880 genera and more than 26,000 species. Members of this family have adapted to not only the warm, moist tropics but also arid, temperate, and alpine environments as well. Orchid breeders have created more than 100,000 hybrids, some of them combining the characteristics of over five different genera, producing a range of flower sizes, shapes, colors, and fragrances. Vanilla is the most economically important genus.

Miltassia 'Charles M. Fitch' is in the South Greenhouse, on the lower-level orchid tree next to the Princess of Wales orchids.

Gardenia angusta, native to southeast Asia, is a large shrub or small tree in the Rubiaceae family with large, white, very fragrant flowers produced at the ends of branches containing glossy deep-green leaves. Commonly called gardenia or cape jasmine, it was a favorite of the corsage industry — back when young couples (and those young at heart) — wore boutonnières and corsages when going out on dates.

The Rubiaceae is the third largest plant family, with 611 genera and more than 13,000 species. It contains a large number of commercially important species, including coffee, chinchona (quinine), woodruff (coumarin), psychotria (emetic ipecac — and a hallucinogen), and species used to produce red and yellow dyes.

In the East Greenhouse, Gardenia angusta is beginning a period of heavy bloom.

Almost everyone is familiar with aloe vera, the pass-along plant known widely for its ability to ease the suffering associated with burns, minor wounds, and insect bites. Few, however, get to enjoy its beautiful, light lemon-colored flowers. In most home settings, it does not receive the growing conditions needed to produce flowers (bright light, warm temperatures, and wide root run).

Aloe vera has been used medicinally ever since the pharaohs ruled Egypt. It has been so widely traded that the original nativity of the plant has been lost. Regardless, this species is widely grown in arid environments and has naturalized in Sudan, the southern Arabian peninsula, North America, Australia, and China.

In the West Greenhouse, the large planting of Aloe vera is just inside the South Entrance on the left.

Plectranthus thyrsioides is commonly known as flowering bush coleus, and for a long time it was considered a member of the coleus genus. A native of Central Africa, this plant can reach 3' to 5' in height and produces spikes of azure blue flowers to 15". This is a great plant for the winter greenhouse, and will bloom continuously through the end of April, as long as it is grown under cool temperatures and bright light.

Plectranthus thyrsioides in bloom in the East Greenhouse checkerboards are worth noting.

This first week of spring in video.

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:52:00 EDT

A video tour of the first week of spring at the Garden on Monday, March 21, from Boyce Tankersley, Director, Living Plant Documentation.

In Bloom, March 22, 2011

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:07:00 EDT

Iris histrioides 'George' is among the first of the very early spring flowers to come into bloom in the Chicago area.

'George' is actually a hybrid between Iris reticulata and Iris histrioides and combines the early flowering of histrioides with the robust vigor of the reticulata parent. The flowers are composed of three upright petals known as "flags" and three petals that hang down, known as "falls." The dark purple falls contain a blotch of white edged in yellow known as a nectar guide.

Close observation on a sunny day will provide an opportunity to see bees and other nectar- gathering insects landing on the blotch and following the yellow strips inside the flower to the nectar. Very close observation will reveal pollen stuck to the backs of the insects that provides for pollination of the flowers as the bees move from one flower to another.

The genus name is derived from the Greek iris, a messenger from the gods that traveled to earth on a rainbow. About 300 species of iris can be found in a wide range of habitats in the northern hemisphere, varying in size from diminutive very-early-spring alpines to tall bearded and juno iris, up to 3 feet in height, blooming near mid-summer.

George iris (Iris histrioides 'George') is in bloom in the woods of the Sensory Garden.

Helleborus niger goes by the common name of Christmas rose, marking its tendency to bloom mid-winter in its native habitat (central Europe to northern Italy and Slovenia). The white flowers will be followed by dark, evergreen, leathery leaves, and as they mature, they transition to a pink color.

Christmas roses are marginally hardy in the Chicago region, where they almost always lose their leaves in winter due to our very low temperatures.

A beautiful clump of Christmas roses (Helleborus niger) are in the English Walled Garden's cottage garden, with H. orientalis hybrids, and H. caucasicus are coming on strong in the Landscape Garden.

Crocuses are just beginning to bloom, with some nice stands of Crocus chrysanthus 'Blue Pearl' — the two millionth plant added to the Garden — flowering south of the Bulb Garden.

Crocus tommasinianus is putting on a nice display in the Bulb Garden and other locations, while the crocus hybrids are just beginning to flower in the meadow on Evening Island.

Crocuses close in cooler temperatures, reopening as sunlight and warmth coax them to bloom.

Find crocuses throughout the Garden, including 'Blue Pearl', located in the turf just south of the Bulb Garden.

Anigozanthos flavidus, tall kangaroo paws, is one of eleven species native to nutrient-poor sandy soils of southwestern Australia. The fleshy bulbs and roots store water to carry the plant through the long droughts.

The beautifully green flowering stems and flower buds of Angiozanthus are covered with hairs of a reddish-maroon color — but stay tuned for the real oddity when the flowers open. Words fail to describe it!

In the West Greenhouse, the kangaroo paws (Angiozanthus) are coming into flower in a large container near the exit.

The East Greenhouse, with its Mediterranean climate, features Brunfelsia pauciflora — accurately named the yesterday, today and tomorrow plant for the transformation of deep purple flowers to lavender and then finally white as they age. The East Greenhouse also has a beautiful swath of Pink Reiger begonias (Begonia x hiemalis) in bloom.

The yesterday, today and tomorrow plant (Brunfelsia pauciflora) is in the East Greenhouse.

In Bloom, March 15, 2011

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:07:00 EDT

A herald of early spring, winter aconite's beautiful yellow blooms are borne over a mound of rich green foliage.

A member of the Ranunculaceae family, Eranthus hyemalis is one of the earliest spring-flowering bulbs to bloom — and also among the smallest. Because these bulbs grow closer to the soil's surface, it takes only a few sunny days or thawing rains to warm the soil and signal to dormant bulbs that it's time to start growing. Cold winters typical of the plant's native European woodland origin, and cooler, humus-rich soil often bring the best show of flowers for the aconite.

Check back next week to see what other glorious miniatures are appearing on the spring scene!

Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is in bloom on the north side of the Enabling Garden.

Snowdrops are in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), and there are only a dozen cultivated species, mostly native to the deciduous woodlands of Europe and western Asia.

Often confused with snowflakes (Leucojum spp.), to which they are closely related, both plants have white, bell-like flowers with green-tipped segments. However, the snowdrop has green tips only on the inner flower segments; the three larger outer segments are unmarked.

This snowdrop species (Galanthus elwesii) is on the west side of the Lakeside Gardens.

Blooming from late February through March, the petals of the vernal witch hazels (Hamamelis x intermedia) unfurl on warm days but curl up tightly during chilly nights.

Witch hazels can be seen growing in the wild in colonies along streams, in lowlands, and along riverbanks from Wisconsin to Quebec and south to northern Georgia and Missouri.

Jelena witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena') is in the south side of the Dwarf Conifer Garden.

In Bloom, March 8, 2011

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:12:00 EDT

Clivia miniata, commonly known as Natal lily, is one of the few bulbous plants that can tolerate low light and humidity levels found in the home. Unlike most bulbs, this species native to shaded woodlands likes to be pot-bound, has glossy green evergreen leaves, requires no water or sunlight during the winter, and rewards this "abuse" with massive sprays of yellow, orange, or orangish-red flowers in late winter through early summer.

Natal lily (Clivia miniata) is on the south side of the West Greenhouse.

Genista canariensis, commonly known as Canary Island broom, is a shrubby member of the pea family (Fabaceae) endemic to the Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa. For two to three weeks in early spring, it is covered with masses of fragrant gold flowers. For years it was taxonomically placed in the genus Cytissus. Despite its limited natural distribution, it has become widespread in natural communities in southestern Europe, California, and Washington state.

Canary Island broom (Genista canariensis) is in the East Greenhouse checkerboard.

Nepenthes are carnivorous epiphytic pitcher plants, native to the nutrient-poor rainforests of southeast Asia, from sea level up to the high-elevation sub-Alpine plant communities. There are documented instances of small-mammal consumption among larger species, but insects are a more typical source of protein. An entire biological community has adapted to living in the digestive enzymes suffusing the water-filled large pitchers.

Giant pitcher plant (Nepenthes sp.) is in the South Greenhouse hanging basket.

Dendrobium spectabile, or Dendrobium orchid, is the parent of a number of cultivars grown as potted plants, for stems of flowers, and individual flowers frequently used in Hawaiian leis. The widespread commercial tissue culture propagation of Dendrobium orchids and their relative ease of culture has made this the most popular orchid for homeowners.

Dendrobium orchid (Dendrobium spectabile) is in the South Greenhouse orchid trees.

Callistemon citrinus is one of the most ornamental of the members of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). The bright-red flowers arranged cylindrically around the tips of branches earn it the common name of bottlebrush tree. A native of Australia, it makes a stunning addition to the landscape in USDA Zone 9 and warmer regions, or in a large full-sun conservatory.

Crimson bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) is along the north wall in the East Greenhouse.

In Bloom, March 1, 2011

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:36:00 EDT

Hamamelis species, commonly known as witch hazel, are in bloom in the Garden! Many cultivars of this shrub are popular garden choices, with brilliant color displays in fall giving way to delicate unfurling blooms mid-winter to early spring (with the exception of the fall-blooming Hamamelis virginiana). The horticultural name of witch hazel means "together with fruit"; its fruit, flowers, and next year's leaf buds all appear on the branch simultaneously.

The bark and leaves of witch hazels have astringent qualities, helping to shrink or contract blood vessels, and they are commonly used as a medicinal extract to relieve discomfort from insect bites and bruises.

Find many different Hamamelis on the West Road, between the west and north electric gates.

'Arnold Promise' witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise') is blooming throughout the Garden this week.

Warming March temperatures means Hamamelis x intermedia 'Sunburst' is in bloom in the Sensory Garden.

Despite the snow, Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena' is in bloom in the Dwarf Conifer Garden.

Lombart's Weeping witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis 'Lombart's Weeping') can be found blooming along the West Road.

In Bloom February 22, 2011

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:38:00 EDT

Adenia (Adenia keramanthus) is a good plant to know should you be bitten by a snake in South Africa. South Africans use the sap from the bark and the leaves as a snakebite treatment. However, it pays be able to correctly identify plants, because the closely related Adenia digitata is known as the most poisonous plant in the world. Delivering two glycoside-based poisons, the first is a fast-acting cyanide, the second a slower, but also quite lethal, cyanogenic poison.

The genus Adenia is a member of the passionflower family, commonly found in arid regions in the Old World (the Eastern Hemisphere; Europe, Asia, and Africa). Unlike the exotic flowers of the passionflower, adenia flowers are not showy, and open only wide enough to allow pollinating insects to enter.

Adenia is flowering in the west section of the West Greenhouse, under the pachypodium trees.

Forest lily (Veltheimia bracteata) is one of the showiest of the South African geophytes, plants that have some sort of storage organ to survive extended periods of drought. The showy pink flowers are followed by large, flat, papery (when mature) seedpods that are adapted to wind dispersal. This genus is a tropical member of the hyacinth (Hyacinthaceae) plant family.

Forest lily (Veltheimia bracteata) is in the West Greenhouse.

Eranthemum pulchellum, also known as blue sage, is a member of the acanthus plant family (Acanthaceae) native to India and Nepal, and produces true-blue flowers from late winter until frost. Tall, leggy plants can easily be cut back hard to continue growth (and produce another flush of flowers). Plants with blue flowers are extremely rare in the tropics.

Blue sage (Eranthemum pulchellum) is in the East Greenhouse in front of the Tyrannosaurus Rex topiary.

Saraca indica, or Ashoka tree, has just come into flower for the first time! A tropical member of the pea family (Fabaceae), this native of the Indian subcontinent is revered in Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain religions, appearing in poems, historical texts, and temple sculptures. The evergreen leaves and large bunches of orange to red flowers are increasingly rare in the wild, but common near temples and palaces.

Ashoka tree (Saraca indica) is at the east end of the South Greenhouse.

Heliconia rostrata, or hanging lobster claw, is native to Central America, where migrating hummingbirds from North America pollinate the flowers while hovering to sip nectar. Their foreheads get dusted with pollen in the process — which apparently annoys some of them, because they have learned to poke a hole in the side of the flower to access the nectar and avoid the messy pollen! Let us hope not too many adopt this approach, because this is a spectacularly ornamental species.

Distant cousins of cannas, they share the same growth habit, producing rhizomes every year that are topped with an inflorescence (group of flowers); unlike cannas, they require temperatures well above 50 degrees throughout the year in order to thrive and flower.

Hanging lobster claw (Heliconia rostrata) is in the South Greenhouse, at the far western corner behind the queen sago.

In Bloom February 15, 2011

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:29:00 EDT

Pachypodium decaryi is the only member of this genus lacking spiny stems. Covered in large 4"-wide fragrant white flowers, this small shrub blooms more heavily than the other species; unfortunately it is very difficult to propagate, which is why it is rare in cultivation. First described in 1922 by the French botanist Henri Louis Poisson, after the plant was found growing on rocks in full sun with little water in central Madagascar, Pachypodium decaryi was not introduced to cultivation until the mid-1980s.

The genus name is derived from the Greek pachys (thick) and pous (foot), which describes the very thickened trunks and stems typical of this genus adapted to tropical regions featuring extended dry periods. Like other members of the Apocynaceae family (oleanders, for instance) the latex sap contains poisonous alkaloids.

Known as Pachypodium of Madagascar, this plant's common name is a misnomer as there are nine native pachypodiums to this large island off the southeastern coast of Africa. Eight of the nine native species — including this one — are threatened with extinction due to anthropogenic (caused by humans) activities.

Pachypodium decaryi is in bloom in the West Greenhouse.

Crinum amabile, or Queen Emma's lily, is a tropical member of the amaryllis family originally from the island of Sumatra, now widely grown as an ornamental throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Large strap-shaped leaves are crowned with a substantial inflorescence of fragrant flowers featuring white to pale- pink petals marked with a dark maroon midrib. Dr. Roxburgh from the East India company introduced it into England and Australia in 1810 as a straight species.

Recent evaluation of this plant's characteristics suggests it may be a hybrid between Crinum zeylanicum and C. procera — both parents also being found on Sumatra. A large specimen planted on the grounds of the summer palace of the last Hawaiian monarch earned it the common name of Queen Emma's lily.

Queen Emma's lily (Crinum amabile) is blooming in the South Greenhouse.

Clerodendron quadriloculare, or shooting star, is a stunning subtropical shrub featuring pink-and-white balls of flowers from 6 to 10 inches across in winter. The foliage, to 6 inches in length, is greenish purple on the top of the leaf, and deep purple underneath. A member of Verbenaceae family, molecular data now suggests this genus is really more closely allied with the Lamiaceae, or mint, family. In subtropical climates this plant can reach 10 feet in height and be trained as a large shrub or a single-trunked small tree. If pruned back too hard, the plant responds by sending out root suckers that can be controlled by hand pulling (or by running over them with a lawnmower, as one gardener recommended).

The distribution of this plant is odd, being found in the wilds in Africa and some of the islands in the Pacific — which raises the question of how it got to those two widely dispersed locations without any populations in the intervening countries.

Shooting Star (Clerodendron quadriloculare) can be found in the East Greenhouse.

Aeschynanthus radicans is well-known as lipstick plant for the bright red flowers protruding from the dark maroon calyx — the whole flower looks like lipstick protruding from the lipstick tube.

A member of the African violet plant family native to the forested foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in Myanmar, it has adapted to living as an epiphyte on oak and other deciduous hardwoods. Fertilized flowers produce a long pod reminiscent of a string bean on steroids. When the pod is ripe, it splits open and the seeds attached to the pufflike parachutes are dispersed by air movement. It produces the largest number of flowers in late winter, but can produce smaller numbers of flowers throughout the year. The flowers are produced at the tips of long pendulous stems, so care must be taken when pruning to avoid cutting back all of the stems at the same time.

Lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) can be found in the containers flanking the stairway to the lower level of the South Greenhouse.

Buddleja x lewisiana, or butterfly bush, is a hybrid between B. madagascariensis and B. asiatica first described in 1947, but not available through commercial sources until 1955. It features silvery felted new leaves and panicles of yellow to orange flowers up to 8 inches in length. Unlike Buddleja davidii, this species is not hardy in the Chicago region, but features the same sweetly scented flowers, so is attractive to butterflies and other nectar-feeding insects.

Butterfly bush (Buddleja x lewisiana) can be found underneath the palms in the checkerboard in the East Greenhouse.

In Bloom February 8, 2011

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:12:00 EDT

Cedrus libani ssp. atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' is a statuesque blue-leaved (glauca), weeping (pendula) relative of the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) native to the Atlas Mountains (ssp. atlantica) of northwestern Africa. Hardy to USDA Zone 7, this is an ideal tree for garden areas under power lines, etc., because it has to be staked to reach the desired height. Once the stakes training the central leader upward are removed, all of the growth is weeping.

The genus name of Cedrus is from the Greek word for cedar, kedros.

Historically, the wood of Cedrus libani was used by the Phoenicians for shipbuilding, and by just about every civilization in or around the Mediterranean region for the construction of building and temples. Overuse and overgrazing (the latter by goats) led to deforestation throughout the tree's natural range. Protection through conservation and the replanting of seedlings in deforested areas has been documented since the Roman emperor Hadrian issued a decree in 118 A.D. limiting the number of trees harvested. His efforts have been carried on by Mamluk caliphs, Maronite patriarchs, Queen Victoria, and the modern-day governments of Lebanon, Israel, and Turkey.

Cedrus libani ssp. atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' can be found in the Joutras Gallery; the specimen was initially brought in for Wonderland Express, the Garden's winter holiday celebration.

Justicia brandegeana 'Variegata' is known as the variegated shrimp plant. The showy flowers are actually modified leaves called bracts; the true flowers are white and appear for a relatively short period of time. A member of the Acanthaceae family, this species has long been a favorite of tropical conservatories and subtropical gardens. It roots easily from vegetative cuttings dipped in a rooting hormone and held in a high-moisture environment featuring excellent soil drainage and moderate air movement. Over time, the plants tend to get leggy as they grow in height and lose their lower leaves. This issue can be overcome by periodically pruning the plant back to at least two internodes (joints where new stems can arise from).

Variegated shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana 'Variegata') is near the gardenia in the East Greenhouse.

Piper nigrum, or black pepper, is rarely seen in flower, and the specimens on the Tyrannosaurus Rex topiary in the East Greenhouse nicely show off the pendulous, catkinlike flowers. In the tropics, stingless bees specialize in fertilizing members of this plant family (peperomias are close cousins) by tracing the spiral path of the flowers to gather nectar — fertilizing the flowers in the process. If we are lucky, some insect will pollinate some flowers and produce some of the round seeds that turn colors as they age.

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is on the Tyrannosaurus Rex topiary in the East Greenhouse.

Japtropha integerrima 'Compacta', commonly known as compact spicy jatropha, produces showy, bright-pink flowers throughout most of the year. This "compact" selection features shortened internodes (the length of stem between the buds) resulting in a large shrub (versus a medium-sized tree for the straight species). Compare and contrast the very succulent-appearing Jatropha podagricea in the Arid Greenhouse with this species from the relatively moist island of Cuba. Like almost all members of the Euphorbiaceae family, this plant's sap contains a white latex substance that is a skin irritant and can be poisonous if swallowed.

Compact spicy jatropha (Jatropha integerrima 'Compacta') is just west of the washingtonia palm allée in the South Greenhouse.

Theobroma cacao, known as cacao (and as chocolate in the refined form) has two pods beginning to ripen at the Garden. The small, insignificant white flowers are produced all along the trunk and larger stems. Another plant with historic roots, its seeds were used as currency by the Aztecs and other nations from Mexico extending south to the ends of the Mayan empire until the arrival of the Spanish. The Aztecs and the other ancient nations were very fond of a drink featuring whipped cacao (sometimes augmented with hot chili peppers, vanilla, or achiote). The Spanish found the drink too astringent, but exported some of the seeds to Europe, where the chili was replaced with milk and sugar.

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is near the west steps to the lower level in the South Greenhouse.

Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri is a native of rocky areas on the northwest coast of Madagascar and goes by the common name of Palm Beach bells. Plantlets form on the leaf edge and drop off as they mature to reproduce the plant vegetatively — an effective survival technique utilized by many species in this genus.

Palm Beach bells (Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri) is near the north entrance, on the north side of the path in the West Greenhouse.

Euphorbia abyssinica 'Variegata', or variegated Ethiopian euphorbia, is large — really large — with massive, twisting stems armed with significant thorns. By contrast, the flowers are small, relatively inconspicuous, and located along the edge of the stems. A native of Ethiopia and eastern Africa, the thorns and acrid latex sap all are adaptations to persuade herbivores to go eat something else. Unfortunately, in low rainfall areas there is not a lot to chose from.

Variegated Ethiopian euphorbia (Euphorbia abyssinica 'Variegata') is in the west section against the north wall in the West Greenhouse.

In Bloom February 1, 2011

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:01:00 EDT

Crassula 'Blue Bird' is very similar to one of its parents, Crassula ovata (jade plant), in growth habit and leaf shape. In the Blue Bird jade plant, however, the leaves have a distinctive bluish cast that forms a nice background for the pink-and-white flowers that cover the plant in mid-winter.

A member of the Crassulaceae plant family from South Africa, the plant has leaves that are succulent and feature an adaptation to arid environments known as Crassulean-Acid Metabolism (CAM). Most plants open their pores (stomata) during the day to take in carbon dioxide, and in the process they lose water vapor to the atmosphere. Succulent plants with CAM open their stomata during the night to take in carbon dioxide and store it for use during the daylight hours.

Blue Bird jade plant can be found flowering in the northeastern corner of the West Greenhouse.

Duranta erecta, or sky flower, is a large shrub native to tropical regions of the Americas, with arching racemes of light purple-and-white flowers at the tips of the branches. A member of the Verbenaceae family, all parts of the plant are poisonous. The genus name honors Castor Durantes, an early eighteenth-century botanist/physician in Rome.

Sky flower (Duranta erecta) is in the southeast corner of the East Greenhouse.

Pinguicula primuliflora,or primrose butterwort, is a member of the Lentibulariaceae plant family, native to nutrient-poor, swampy regions of the Gulf Coast. The leaves and flower stalks are covered in glandular hairs that give the appearance of moisture. When insects land, they discover the hairs are actually covered in a sticky liquid that is followed by digestive enzymes. The digested parts of the insects are absorbed through the leaf membranes; the roots provide mechanical support and take up water, but not nutrients.

Primrose butterwort (Pinguicula primuliflora) is in the East Greenhouse sphagnum bog.

Dichorisandra pendula is known as weeping blue ginger, but is actually in the same plant family as dayflowers (Tradescantia), not ginger. The vivid blue flowers gracefully arch out and then down from the terminal flower spikes, lending an elegant aspect to the plant. This is a great perennial plant for the warmer parts of the United States (Zones 8 or warmer) or in a conservatory, where its winter flowers add a dramatic flare.

Weeping blue ginger (Dichorisandra pendula) is in the South Greenhouse, west of the palm allée.

Senna phyllodenia, or silvery cassia, is a native of Australia that has thrived in the Arid Greenhouse for many years. The silvery leaves are a great backdrop for the deep-golden flowers held at the tips of the branches. The twisted seedpods forcibly expel the seeds when they reach maturity. Despite membership in the pea family (Fabaceae), the seeds are not edible — in fact, the seeds of some members of this family contain an alkaloid that creates Alzheimer's-like symptoms when consumed.

Silvery cassia (Senna phyllodenia) is in the West Greenhouse.

In Bloom, January 25, 2011

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:40:00 EDT

Edgeworthia chrysantha, known as paper bush, is a small-statured shrub in the Thymelaeaceae (daphne) plant family, native to the Himalayas, with intensely fragrant white-and-gold flowers produced at the tips of handsome stout branches. The genus name commemorates M.P. Edgeworth, an English botanist employed by the East India Company in the nineteenth century. On today's market, dried leaves are priced at $1,500 to $3,700 per ton and are highly valued by papermakers, because the fibers do not "bleed" when written or painted upon.

Paper bush can be found flowering in the East Greenhouse checkerboards.

Michelia doltsopa 'Silver Cloud', commonly called banana shrub, is a member of the Magnoliaceae (magnolia) plant family, native to warm, temperate regions of Asia. The waxy, fragrant white flowers are produced from the side shoots of the stems (in contrast to magnolias, whose flowers are produced at the tips of the branches). This cultivar blooms at an earlier age (2 to 3 years old) than the straight species, and the flowers also have more tepals (petals).

Silver Cloud banana shrub (Michelia doltsopa 'Silver Cloud') is in the south section of the East Greenhouses.

Freycinetia multiflora, or climbing pandanus, is one of the rarities of the South Greenhouse. A native of the Philippines, this member of the Pandanaceae (screwpine) family is one of the few ornamental members of this genus. The flowers are produced at the tips of the stems. This ancient family is most closely related to palms and cycads.

Climbing pandanus (Freycinetia multiflora) is in the east section of the South Greenhouse.

Hibiscus schizopetalus, commonly called Japanese hibiscus, is actually a native of Kenya, Tanzania, and northern Mozambique. The intricately shaped flowers are held pendulously near the tips of long branches. The genus name, Hibiscus, comes from the Greek word for mallow. This large genus (about 220 species) includes some of the most iconic of tropical flowering shrubs.

Japanese hibiscus (Hibiscus schizopetalus) is in the west section of the South Greenhouse.

Kalanchoe pumila, or flower dust plant, features attractive silvery-gray foliage topped by small bouquets of lavender flowers in the winter. Like many other native Southern Hemisphere plants, it continues to bloom in the summer of the Southern Hemisphere (our winters) even though it was introduced to northern gardeners as early as 1883 from central Madagascar.

Flower dust plant (Kalanchoe pumila) is in the south section of the West Greenhouse.

Euphorbia 'Welcome Home' is one of a new series of hybrid euphorbias created by horticulturists in Thailand when they hybridized Euphorbia lophogona with Euphorbia millii and selected for seedlings with larger flowers (actually, the colorful parts are botanically described as bracts). The parental species are also displayed in the West Greenhouse and offer a rare opportunity for visitors to compare the improved hybrid with both parents.

Welcome Home euphorbia (Euphorbia x lomi 'Welcome Home') is in the south section of the West Greenhouse.

In Bloom, January 18, 2011

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:02:00 EDT

Cestrum elegans var. smithii, or Smith's shrub jessamine, is a member of the tomato and potato plant family, with beautiful, bright, showy reddish flowers in clusters at the end of the branches.

All of the species within this genus are large, robust growers — up to 12' or more — and require large containers and bright to full sun in the winter to bloom well. As with other members of the Solanaceae family, the sap and other parts of the plant are filled with toxins to discourage herbivores.

Smith's shrub jessamine (Cestrum elegans var. smithii) is flowering on the north side of the East Greenhouse, near the Stegosaurus topiary.

Jatropa podagrica is native to Central America, but goes by the common names of Australian bottle plant, Buddha belly plant, gout plant, purging nut, Guatemalan rhubarb, and gouty stalk nettlespurge! Beautiful, bright, reddish-orange flowers are held well above the foliage of this showy member of the Euphorbiaceae family. The plant features a swollen stem possessing the poison curcin.

Australian bottle plant (Jatropha podagrica) is flowering throughout the West Greenhouse.

Alpinia zerumbet, or shell ginger, is one of the showy members of the Zingiberaceae, or ginger, family, with beautifully pink-and-yellow flower spikes produced at the tips of the stalks. The nonvariegated species can grow to 12' — double the height of the more commonly seen variegated cultivar. The ground leaves of this species are used in some regions of the tropics for their antihypertensive and antistress properties.

Shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) is flowering along the east wall in the South Greenhouse.

Rhyncostylis gigantean, or foxtail orchid, is a beautiful member of the Orchidaceae family — the largest plant family in the world. Native to the warm, moist tropics of southeast Asia, it is monopodial (rarely producing more than one stem), with up to 50 flowers per inflorescence. The specimen in flower at the Garden features dark maroon-purple flowers, densely packed on the flowering stem. This is an orchid that really requires a greenhouse for proper growth in the Chicago area, and it is known for disliking root disturbance, so growth in a slatted wooden box is recommended.

Foxtail orchid (Rhynchostylis gigantean) is flowering on the west side, lower level, of the orchid tree in the South Greenhouse.

Simmondsia chinensis, or jojoba, is native to the desert southwest and is best known for jojoba oil, a very long, straight chain wax that has more in common with whale oil than with more traditional vegetable oils. This wax is used in cosmetics and has the potential for use as biodiesel fuel for automobiles as well as in a biodegradable lubricant. To reduce the harvest of sperm whales, large plantations of jojoba have been planted in arid and semiarid regions in North and South America, the Middle East, and Australia.

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is flowering along the north wall near the entrance in the West Greenhouse.

In Bloom, January 11, 2011

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:47:00 EDT

Hippeastrum 'Garden Supreme' is a reddish-orange- flowered amaryllis with moderate-sized flowers that do not need staking. This cultivar features multiple bloom spikes per bulb, providing more color during the dreary dog days of winter.

After it flowers, continue to grow the amaryllis near a bright window and water your plant with dilute fertilizer. After the last frost date, place the container outdoors and water along with the other flowering plants. Begin to withhold water in late July to early August so that the bulb will enter dormancy (needed for good flowering). Before the first hard frost, bring the pot containing the bulb indoors and place it in a cool, dry location (the basement is ideal).

Allow the foliage to completely yellow before removing it from the bulb. If the soil in the pot has shrunk, the bulb can be repotted at this time; be sure and avoid damaging the dormant roots on the amaryllis, as this will set back the growth of the bulb and affect flowering in future years. Around the new year bring the plant out of the basement, place in a brightly lit location, and begin to water (lightly until growth starts).

Garden Supreme amaryllis (Hippeastrum 'Garden Supreme'), in flower in the North Gallery

Rosa rubiginosa, commonly known as the sweet briar or eglantine rose, grows wild in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, with sweetly perfumed single white or pink flowers followed by orange fruit. The specimen near the All-America Rose Selection winners' bed just east of the Regenstein Center has a very showy crop of hips that catch the eye from a distance in the dead of winter.

No one knows for sure which species of rose that Sargon, King of Sumer, brought to his capital of Ur in Chaldea in 2350 B.C., but roses are among the oldest plants grown in gardens.

Sweet briar or eglantine rose (Rosa rubiginosa), in the shrub rose collection near the All-America Rose Selection winners

Thunbergia grandiflora, commonly known as the blue trumpet vine, is native to northern India. Like other climbing vines, it needs space to attain mature size and habit. Hard pruning to control the size significantly reduces flower production.

This genus was named in honor of Dr. Karl Peter Thunberg, who traveled and collected extensively in Java and Japan at a time when both of those countries were not friendly to outsiders.

Blue trumpet vine (Thunbergia grandiflora), in the East Greenhouse near the citrus bush

Aloe ferox is called bitter aloe in its native South Africa. A large plant with broad, bold foliage, the candelabra spikes feature flowers that are tightly held against the flowering stem, unlike many of its cousins. The bitter yellow sap is a laxative, and the clear gel-like sap is used to treat skin aliments, similar to Aloe vera.

Bitter aloe (Aloe ferox), on the south side of the West Greenhouse near the entrance

Rondeletia leucophylla goes by the common name of Panama rose, but is actually a native of Chiapas, Mexico. Clusters of showy reddish-pink flowers tip the branches of this large shrub; it is one of many ornamental plants in the coffee family.

Panama rose (Rondeletia leucophylla), on the west side of the South Greenhouse

In Bloom, January 4, 2011

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:24:00 EDT

Dombeya wallichii is known as the pinkball dombeya. A large shrub or small tree, the rounded clusters of flowers are 4 to 6 inches across. Native to East Africa and Madagascar, the genus is a highly sought-after ornamental in USDA zones 9 and warmer.

The genus name celebrates the French physician, botanist, and explorer Joseph Dombey. Under the auspices of the French crown, he undertook plant explorations in South America. The British seized Dombey's first shipment of specimens, including valuable notes on Cinchona, the source of quinine. The Peruvian government admired the color prints he commissioned, seized them, and turned them over to two Spanish botanists who were working on the flora of Panama. On Dombey's return trip to France, his ship was diverted to Spain, where remaining specimens were seized and he was thrown into jail until he agreed not to publish his notes until after the Spanish botanists published their Panamanian flora. Dombey's acquiescence to the Spanish demands led him back to France, where he was commissioned to collect plants in the United States. Enroute, his ship was captured by privateers, and the intrepid Dombey died in captivity in Monserrat. Regardless of these trials and tribulations, his name has been used by his fellow botanists to commemorate this beautiful genus of flowering shrubs and several species of South American trees and perennials. Dombey's collections are highly valued parts of British, Spanish, and French herbaria.

Pinkball dombeya (Dombeya wallichii) is growing in the East Greenhouse against the north wall.

Aloe dawei is one of the African aloes featuring impressive flowering displays in January and February. Native to mountainous regions of Uganda, Congo, and Rwanda, this species is slightly hardier than some of its South African cousins. The light-orange flowers on this species contrast with other taxa with more saturated flower colors to create a softer look in the landscape, and they are recommended to attract hummingbirds where it is reliably hardy outdoors (USDA zones 8 and warmer).

Dawe's aloe (Aloe dawei) is growing in the West Greenhouse, north side, central section.

The genus Phalaenopsis is represented by 40 species native from the Himalayas to Australia. Among the easiest orchids for homeowners to grow, a number of the species have been hybridized to create a range of flower colors and sizes. Featured at the Garden is a cultivar with pure-white flowers and yellow to orange markings around the lip. Unlike many other genera of orchids, these plants have no fragrance. The orchid plant family is the largest plant family in the world.

Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are flowering in the South Greenhouse, underneath the palms.

Bougainvillea x buttiana 'Barbara Karst' is among the most popular of bougainvillea cultivars, featuring red bracts that age to dark pink on a vigorous vine. The 'x' in front of buttiana denotes a hybrid species. The practice of providing hybrid species names has recently fallen out of favor, and modern hybrids are simply denoted by single quotes around the cultivar name. This genus of approximately 14 species is native to South America. The French and British national botanic gardens propagated these species and sent them out to all their colonial tropical botanic gardens.

Barbara Karst bougainvillea (Bougainvillea x buttiana 'Barbara Karst') is growing in the East Greenhouse, south section, against the wall.

Chondodendron tomentosum is commonly known as curare and features light yellowish-green flowers on a rampant vine. It has been used by natives in South America during their hunts to immobilize prey. The active ingredient interferes with the reception of acetylcholine between nerve receptors; this results in a lethal relaxation of the muscles leading to asphyxia. Curare is used in modern medicine for delicate surgeries during which patients must remain immobile and a heart-lung machine is available to keep them alive until the poison wears off.

Curare (Chondodendron tomentosum) is in the South Greenhouse, blooming on the wall dividing the greenhouse from the building.

In Bloom December 28, 2010

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:00:03 EDT

Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Marblestar' is a large bracted poinsettia, featuring pink-and-white bracts (flowers).

Like variegation in leaves, variegation in the bracts is due to the absence of one or more layers of pigmented tissues in the plant. These variants arise spontaneously from time to time. Plant breeders carefully propagate only the bud exhibiting the mutation until they have enough stock to trial in tissue culture. Not all variegated plants reproduce faithfully using tissue-culture techniques.

Marblestar poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Marblestar'), is flowering in the Joutras Gallery

Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica), in the North Gallery

Barbara Karst bougainvillea (Bouganvillea x buttiana 'Barbara Karst'), in the East Greehouse

Ground orchid (Spathiglottis plicata), in the South Greenhouse

Aloe (Aloe bulbifera), in the West Greenhouse

In Bloom December 21, 2010

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:00:02 EDT

Neoregelia 'Purple Star' is a hybrid of unknown parentage, featuring purple leaves surrounding the light amethyst and dark purple flowers in the center cup. This genus is native to tropical South America, with the center of diversity located in southeastern Brazil.

Neoregelia, like many other bromeliads, has a water-holding "cup" formed of tightly overlapping leaves in the center of the plant that stores water to assist the plant in surviving between rains. Adapted to the tops of rainforests, the cups provide water to a wide range of organisms that could not easily descend (descending isn't really the issue — predators that inhabit the upper, middle, and lower levels of the rainforest are) the 300-foot-plus trees to reach pools or streams of water below. Water collected from the cups and viewed under a microscope reveals a dizzying array of organisms, ranging from relatively large mosquito larvae to minute unicellular organisms.

White heart anthurium (Anthurium andeanum 'White Heart'), in the South Greenhouse

Red Elf poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Red Elf'), throughout Wonderland Express

White candles (Whitfieldia elongata), in the East Greenhouse

Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana), throughout the West Greenhouse

In Bloom, December 14, 2010

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:51:00 EDT

Wonderland Express brings a wide selection of global flora to its wintery Chicagoland theme. View plants in bloom below:

Bauhinia blakeana is known as the Hong Kong orchid tree. It was discovered on the shores of Hong Kong Island in 1880. The evergreen leaves are topped with large reddish pink flowers during winter. The species name celebrates Sir Henry Blake, who was the governor of Hong Kong at the time and had a keen interest in botany. Thought to be a naturally occurring hybrid between two other native species, it rarely sets seed.

Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia blakeana), in the East Greenhouse just west of the checkerboard

Aloe cryptopoda is a native of South Africa. The species name cryptopoda means hidden foot, referring to the flower stalks, which are hidden by the leafy bracts. Like many other aloes, this species is pollinated by sunbirds. In Africa, sunbirds fill an ecological niche equivalent to that filled by the hummingbirds in North and South America. This plant was discovered on the banks of the Zambezi River in Mozambique.

Aloe (Aloe cryptopoda), in the West Greenhouse

Ornithogalum thyrsoides 'Alaska' has glowing white flowers and gets its common name, chinkerinchee, from the sound created when the wind blows through the dried plant in its native South Africa. It is in the same plant family as hyacinths.

Alaska chinkerinchee (Ornithogalum thyrsoides 'Alaska'), in the windowboxes of the North Gallery

Cattleya hybrids have long been an interest of orchid hobbyists and florists. This group of orchid has been traditionally used in corsages due to their large flowers of classic orchid shape in either white or a range of lavender/purple. Almost all of them retain the original fragrance of their parental species, resulting in a delightful experience for the wearer and her date.

Cattleya orchid (Cattleya hybrid), on the epiphyte tree in the South Greenhouse

Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Tapestry' features variegated white and green leaves with dark red flowers. Varigations in leaf color like this arise in plants when one or more layers of chlorophyll are absent. Typically, three layers of chlorophyll make up the green color of leaves. If one layer is missing, the colors appear as light green; two layers missing results in a grayish green, and if all three layers are absent, the color is white or ivory.

Tapestry poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Tapestry'), in the main Wonderland Express exhibition space

In Bloom, December 7, 2010

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:50:00 EDT

Helleborus niger goes by the common name of Christmas rose, marking its tendency to bloom mid-winter in its native habitat (central Europe to northern Italy and Slovenia). The white flowers are borne amid dark, evergreen, leathery leaves, and as they mature, they transition to a pink color.

Christmas roses are marginally hardy in the Chicago region, where they almost always lose their leaves in winter due to our very low temperatures. On the other hand, they make handsome decorative plants for the holidays when grown in a cool — but not freezing — greenhouse environment.

Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) is flowering in the North Gallery.

In Bloom Around Wonderland Express:

Calla lily (Zantedeschia aetiopica), in the North Gallery

Strawberry snowball tree (Dombeya accuminum), in the East Greenhouse just west of the checkerboard

Patricia bromeliad (Guzmania 'Patricia'), in the South Greenhouse under the Washingtonia palm allée

Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana), in the West Greenhouse

In Bloom, November 30, 2010

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:50:00 EDT

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Schneeball' often goes by the English translation of the cultivar name — 'Snowball'. The very large white flowers are actually sterile bracts and obscure the true flowers in many cultivars, leading to the common name of "mophead" used by many gardeners. This species typically blooms in mid-summer, but by changing the number of daylight hours in a climate-controlled greenhouse, it can be brought into flower for the holidays.

The name for the genus Hydrangea was created from the Greek hydor (water) and aggeion (vessel), referring to the cup-shaped fruit. Some 23 species of hydrangea are native to the Himalayan region — China, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and North and South America. Grown primarily for their showy flowers, most species are poisonous to humans and livestock. In Japan, the steamed leaves of a single species are used in traditional medicinal practice to make the drink known as amacha. Dried roots are used to extract hydrangin, an alkaloid, with diaphoretic and diuretic properties.

Hydrangeas, like many members of the Hydrangeaceae family, accumulate aluminum in their plant tissues. Many blue-flowered cultivars turn pink in alkaline soils unless a supplemental application of aluminum is applied.

Snowball hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Snowball'), is featured in the North Gallery.

In Bloom Around Wonderland Express:

Red Elf poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Red Elf'), featured throughout Wonderland Express

Java glory bean (Clerodendron x speciosum) featured in the East Greenhouse

Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis cultivars), featured in the South Greenhouse (ball of white orchids)

Crown of thorns (Euphorbia millii var. sonora), featured in the West Greenhouse

In Bloom November 23, 2010

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:21:00 EDT

Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Ice Punch' is a unique poinsettia grown for the holiday season that features cranberry-red bracts with a frosty white center. Like all poinsettias, it initiates flowering when the day length starts to shorten in fall.

Interestingly, men describe the bracts as red, while women observing the same plant describe the bracts as pink.

The genus name Euphorbia is derived from the Latin name for Ephorbius, a Greek physician to King Juba II of Mauretania. He used the latex from the plant's sap for medicinal purposes.

The common name poinsettia honors Joel Roberts Poinsett, first American Minister to Mexico, who introduced this plant to the United States in 1828. He went on to introduce this species to Egypt in 1860 during the Egyptian Campaign, where it became known by the common name "bent el consul," or "the consul’s daughter." In Mexico the plant became known by the common name "noche bueno," celebrating Christmas Eve; in Spain as "flor de Pascua" (Easter Flower); and in Chile and Peru as the "crown of the Andes."

Legend has this plant associated with the Christmas holiday tradition, after a young sixteenth-century Mexican girl from a poor family placed an offering of "weeds from the roadside" at a shrine, whereupon the weeds began to turn red.

The genus Euphorbia is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. Key characteristics of the plant include milky sap containing latex and the unique flower arrangement. The showy petals are actually bracts; the true flowers are much smaller, sometimes yellow colored, and appear in the center of the "flower."

Ice Punch poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Ice Punch'), flowering in the North Gallery and East Greenhouse among the white flowers of the banana shrub (Michelia doltsopa).

In Bloom Around the Garden:

Salmon with Eye cyclamen (Cyclamen 'Salmon with Eye'), flowering in the Main Exhibit

Prestige Early Red poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima 'Prestige Early Red'), featured as huge hanging balls in the East Greenhouse

Deb bromeliad (Neoregelia 'Deb'), featured in the South Greenhouse as huge hanging balls

Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana), featured in the West Greenhouse as huge hanging balls

In Bloom, November 16,2010

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 23:23:00 EDT

Burbidgea schizocheila, commonly known as Golden Brush Ginger, is a member of the Zingiberaceae, or Ginger family, native to the island of Borneo. The showy golden flowers are held well above the dwarf foliage and are heavily produced in winter and summer. Despite the name having been published in The Gardeners' Chronicle in 1904, this beautiful plant did not make its way into widespread cultivation until the twenty-first century.

The genus name celebrates Frederick William Thomas Burbridge, a botanist/taxonomist who collected many rare and unusual tropical plants. The most famous of his introductions is the huge pitcher plant, Nepenthes rajah. He worked for the famous nursery firm of Veitch, as well as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and was curator of the Botanic Gardens, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. He passed away shortly after this genus was named in his honor.

Golden brush ginger (Burbidgea schizocheila) is in flower in the South Greenhouse, on the west side.

In Bloom Around the Garden:

Little Gem creeping cotoneaster (Cotoneaster adpressus ‘Little Gem’), is in red fall color in the Heritage Garden, Rose Family Bed.

Weeping Willow (Salix alba 'Tristis') is in fall color in the Crescent Garden (and throughout the Garden)

Kleinia leptophylla with purple flowers can be found in the West Greenhouse, west end.

White Candles (Whitefieldia elongata) can be found in flower in the East Greenhouse, near the checkerboard.

In Bloom November 9, 2010

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:10:00 EDT

Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Ogon' is a smaller-statured dawn redwood with gold tints to the foliage. It is suitable for small to mid-sized home landscapes, where a full-size tree would be overwhelming.

The genus Metasequoia is derived from the Greek meta (with) and Sequoia. It shares the same plant family as the bald cypress � as well as its deciduous foliage (unusual in conifers). This tree was first placed in the genus Taxites, based upon the fossil record (ergo the common name dawn redwood � as in "the dawn of time").

Living plants were not found until 1941 in western China. Seeds and herbarium specimens were not collected until 1947, after the cessation of World War II, and did not make their way outside China until 1948, when one seed lot was received by the Arnold Arboretum. Seeds and seedlings from this lot were distributed by the Arnold to botanic gardens and arboreta around the world and formed the extent of plants in cultivation up to the 1990s.

It was late in the twentieth century when plant propagators and horticulturists began to notice the very low rate of seed fertility, and hypothesized that inbreeding depression might be responsible. To test this hypothesis, a plant collecting trip returned to China and collected germplasm from several plant populations. Using this new germplasm, the survival of the species in cultivation appears to be ensured.

Ogon dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Ogon'), with orange-bronze fall foliage, is found in the Dwarf Conifer Garden.

In Bloom Around the Garden:

Fluffy seed heads of fall anemone (Anemone tomentosum 'Robustissima') can be seen along the pool in the Landscape Garden.

Lion's tail (Leonotis leonurus) is still flowering in the Heritage Garden's Physic Bed.

Fall foliage and fruit on Washington hawthorn (Crateagus phaeonpyrum) colors the Native Plant Garden's lower level.

Venus Korean chrysanthemum (Dendranthema 'Venus') shows off its light pink flowers along the stream in the Landscape Garden.

In Bloom November 2, 2010

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:29:00 EDT

Cordyline fruticosa 'Silver Star' is a plant widely used in tropical landscapes for its showy variegated leaves and ease of care. While the leaves are showy year-round, what moves this plant to the top of the "wow" factor this week are the stunning (and rarely seen) flowers. The common name of ti plant for this species and all of its cultivars is derived from the Hawaiian name for this plant. Because the stem can be chopped up into lengths, and then each length rooted after a period of time out of soil, it was one of the few plants that was able to survive the long ocean voyages from Polynesia.

The genus name Cordyline derives from the Greek kordyle (club), referring to the club-shaped roots. This genus has been moved between the Liliaceae and Agavaceae families by taxonomists over time. Currently it is identified as a member of the Agavaceae family, based upon analysis of its DNA.

Full to partial sun (with more intense colors in brighter light), moderate watering, fertilization, and temperatures about 50 degrees F. are desirable for good growth. As a house plant, the ti plant is frequently attacked by spider mites due to the drier air in homes during the winter.

In Bloom Around the Garden:

California Gold winter cassia (Cassia bicapsularis 'California Gold'), in the East Greenhouse (west side toward the north end)

Red bleeding heart vine (Clerodendron x speciosum), in the East Greenhouse (north wall toward the back)

Desert rose (Adenium obesum), in the West Greenhouse (east and north beds)

Purple glory tree (Tibouchina granulose), in the East Greenhouse (north and west beds)

In Bloom October 26, 2010

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:13:00 EDT

Nerine sarniensis, or Guernsey lily, has beautiful deep pink blooms that appear to have flecks of gold in the petals. These flecks are caused by the refraction of light from the epidermal cells of different sizes. Like many other Southern Hemisphere bulbs, Guernsey lily still blooms when it is spring in its native habitat, making this species is one of the last to bloom every fall in our North American climate.

The foliage of Guernsey lilies begins growth during flowering and will continue to grow throughout the winter. When in growth, the plant needs full sun and cool but not freezing temperatures (around 45 degrees F.). Water the well-draining potting mix a couple of times during the dormant summer period. Avoid heavy fertilization throughout the year as this tends to decrease the number of flowers.

Nerine is named for the Greek sea nymph Nereis, and these plants can be found near the shoreline in their native South Africa. Different color forms have been selected and named in addition to the pure white form found in some native populations.

The first painting of this species was created by Jacob Cornut from a plant growing in the garden of Jean Morin in Paris in 1634 under the pre-Linnaean name of Narcissus japonicus rutilo flore. The purported origin of Japan, it is hypothesized, was an effort to conceal its true origin. The first reported flowering of this plant in England was by Oliver Cromwell’s Major-General John Lambert in 1650 at his garden in Wimbledon. Lambert may have taken some bulbs with him when he was sent into exile on the Isle of Guernsey. The royalist Morison, who grew this beautiful bulb in his garden after the Restoration, may have created the Japanese origin to keep his association with Lambert a secret. Among the legends is that it washed ashore on Guernsey Isle after the shipwreck of a vessel returning to England by way of the Cape of Good Hope; others believe the bulbs were used as ballast in an East Indian merchantman returning from Japan that laid over in South Africa to restock with food and water.

In Bloom Around the Garden:
Clara Curtis Korean chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum 'Clara Curtis'), in the English Walled Garden
Dakota Gold bitterweed (Helenium amarum 'Dakota Gold'), in the Enabling Garden
Luscious Lemonade lantana (Lantana camara 'Robpweam' Luscious® Lemonade), in the Circle Garden
Gizmo miniature rose (Rosa 'Wekcatlart' Gizmo™), in the Rose Garden

In Bloom October 19, 2010

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:55:00 EDT

The genus Callicarpa is derived from the Greek kallos (beauty) and karpos (berry). There are 140 species of subtropical and temperate zone trees and shrubs in this genus. Many of them have ornamental fruit and some are known to have medicinal properties or are used as a fish poison. Birds are attracted to the berries in fall and winter.

In Bloom Around the Garden:
Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum), in flower in the English Walled Garden
Autumn Fire mum (Chrysanthemum 'Autumn Fire'), in flower in the Bulb Garden
White wood aster (Symphyotrichum divaricatus), in flower in the Landscape Garden
Pesche's Gold French marigold (Tagetes patula 'Pesche's Gold'), in flower in the Sensory Garden

In Bloom October 12, 2010

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:09:00 EDT

Tagetes erecta 'Lemon Mum' is a double chrysanthemum-flowered African marigold that grows in full sun, approximately 24 to 30 inches tall, and blooms throughout the growing season. The common name is a misnomer — this species is actually from Mexico, and was in cultivation there prior to the arrival of the Spanish.

The genus Tagetes is named in honor of the Etruscan deity Tages, grandson of Jupiter, who was said to have taught the Etruscans the art of soothsaying. Despite common names referencing Africa and France, all of the cultivated marigolds are from Central and South America.

Species within Tagetes are known for their insecticidal and/or allelopathic herbicidal chemicals. The root system of Tagetes minuta exudes chemicals that prevent the spread of garden weeds like celandine, ground elder, ground ivy, couch grass, and bindweed. Parents of most of the commonly cultivated marigolds inhibit soil nematodes and slugs. Effectiveness of the root exudates does not become apparent until after the third or fourth month after planting. The flowers are used as a source of yellow dye, and one species from Guatemala is said to be hallucinogenic. A midwestern supplier of chicken products advertises the use of marigold flowers in the fodder to generate the golden color of the meat.

Lemon Mum African marigold (Tagetes erecta 'Lemon Mum') is flowering in the English Oak Meadow.

In Bloom Around the Garden:
Monte Cassino aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pringlei 'Monte Cassino'), flowering in the Landscape Garden
Juul's Allstar orchid dahlia (Dahlia 'Juul's Allstar'), flowering in the English Walled Garden
Fusion Heat impatiens (Impatiens 'Balfusheat' Fusion Heat™), flowering in the Sensory Garden
Resomee Mum (Chrysanthemum 'Resomee'), flowering in the Circle Garden

In Bloom October 5, 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:35:00 EDT

Colchicum 'Waterlily' is a robust mauve autumn crocus with multiple petals (normal Colchicum have six petals) that can increase over time to produce a bouquet of dozens of flowers in each location it is planted. It was released by the Dutch firm of Zocher and Company early in the twentieth century and has won awards in Britain and the Netherlands. Interestingly, the parents of
this cultivar are both white-flowered (C. autumnale 'Album' x C. speciosum 'Album'). This cultivar is sterile and not capable of producing seeds or fertile pollen.

Autumn crocuses are particularly well adapted to the Chicago region, tolerating our heavy clay soils and climatic extremes. They are deer- and rabbit-resistant. The flowers can be harvested and used indoors with a typical vase life of about 10 days.

The genus Colchicum is derived from the Latin word Colchis, which refers to an ancient region encompassing the current Republic of Georgia on the Black Sea, and indeed many of the species are found in the higher elevations surrounding this region. This genus is known for several medicinally important drugs including tincture of colchicum, a painkiller for people afflicted with gout; and the alkaloid colchicine, used in plant breeding to cause a doubling of chromosomes by disrupting mitosis (the process by which a cell divides into two daughter cells).

In Bloom Around the Garden:
Blue Knoll chrysanthemum (Heteropappus meyendorfii 'Blue Knoll'), flowering in the English Walled Garden
Goldflame honeysuckle (Lonicera x heckrotii 'Goldflame'), flowering in the Enabling Garden
Treasure New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Treasure'), flowering in the Sensory Garden
Bonica floribunda rose (Rosa 'Meidomonac' Bonica®), flowering in the Rose Garden

In Bloom September 28, 2010

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:31:00 EDT

Eupatorium perfoliatum is a member of the Asteraceae (Aster) plant family, native to the central and eastern regions of North America. It features masses of white flowers in September and October. The 2' to 3' plants are frequently swarmed by a number of species of butterflies, who feast upon the nectar.

Eupatorium perfoliatum is known as common boneset, thoroughwort, agueweed, Indian sage, and feverwort, and it has a documented history in Native American and European medicinal practice prior to the creation of antibiotics during World War II. It was used in a range of folk remedies, from treating snakebite and epilepsy to regulating mentrual cycles, from easing fever and sore throats to inducing vomiting. Nineteenth-century medical practitioners believed that the leaves wrapped around the stem indicated that this plant was good for healing broken bones; assigning medicinal properties based upon the physical characteristics of plants is referred to as the Doctrine of Signatures, and was the basis for many medicinal treatments.

The genus Eupatorium is named after King Eupator of Pontus, who used one of the species in this genus as an antidote for poison. Historically, the Pontic kingdom occupied the northern coast of Turkey on the Black Sea. There are 38 species in this genus native to the temperate zones of North America, Asia, and Europe.

In Bloom Around the Garden:
Mini Marine heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens 'Mini Marine'), flowering in the Enabling Garden
Magic Carousel miniature rose (Rosa 'Moorcar' Magic Carousel�), flowering in the Rose Garden
Vivid obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana 'Vivid'), flowering in the Landscape Garden
October Skies aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolius 'October Skies'), flowering in the Lakeside Garden

In Bloom September 21, 2010

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EDT

The genus Salvia comes from the Latin salveo � "I heal," and salvarae � "to heal," first used to describe species in this genus by the physician Pliny. More than 900 species can be found in a variety of environments from tropical through temperate in the Old and New Worlds. Species in this genus are distinguished by the presence of a single fertile anther cell positioned to deposit pollen on the backs of visiting bees.

The species within this genus are immensely valuable as bee food plants, and to human society through these uses:

Culinary � including chia (drink), seasoning, cakes, soups, vermouth, and liquors
Oils � in paints, soaps, scents, and eau de cologne
Ornamental � dozens of species and hundreds of cultivars
Hallucinogenic � plant notes state that the species (not the one featured on the Bloom Cart) is only used when no others are available � makes one wonder!
Medical � in China, as treatment for heart disease

In Bloom Around the Garden:
Blue Autumn aster (Symphyotrichum 'Blue Autumn') , flowering in the English Walled Garden
Country Dancer buck shrub rose (Rosa 'Country Dancer'), flowering in the Rose Garden
Sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora), flowering in the Lakeside Gardens
Sunshine bluebeard (Caryopterus incana 'Jason'), flowering in the Sensory Garden

In Bloom September 14, 2010

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EDT

Browallia speciosa 'Blue Bells' is a blue flowered perennial member of the Solanaceae (tomato and potato) family, native to cooler mountainous regions of western South America, from Costa Rica south to Peru. It is tolerant of dry soils and poor soil fertility, but flowers best when fertilized and watered regularly. A native of regions close to the equator with consistent day lengths, it will flower all year long if grown in a cool greenhouse (60 degree maximum day and 55 degree minimum night temperatures).

The genus Browallia is named in honor of the Abbott of Abo, Sweden, J. Browall, who defended Linnaeus's system of classification based upon similarities in reproductive parts of flowers.

This species was first collected in the mountains of Tolima and Quindiu, Colombia, in 1846 by the noted Scottish plant collector, William Purdie. Purdie trained as a gardener at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh before being hired by W. J. Hooker (director of Royal Botanic Garden Kew) to collect plants in the Caribbean and tropical South America. After completing his plant collecting activities for Kew he was appointed as the government botanist and superintendent of the botanical garden on the Island of Trinidad.

While working at the Missouri Botanical Garden, I met Dr. Bill D'Arcy, whose work on Solanaceae provided an introduction into a plant family with a lot of ornamental potential. He discovered a cousin, Browallia americana in Florida that had been thought to be extinct. While Dr. D'Arcy has passed on, his discovery is now well preserved as a popular annual bedding plant.

� Boyce Tankersley, Director of Living Plant Documentation

In Bloom Around the Garden:
Euryops chrysanthemoides 'Sonnenschein' (Sonnenschein bush daisy), flowering in the Enabling Garden
Allium tuberosum (Garlic Chives), flowering in the Landscape Garden
Helianthus annuus 'Ikarus' (Ikarus sunflower), flowering in the Circle Garden
Rosa 'Fashion' (Fashion floribunda rose), flowering in the Rose Garden

In Bloom, September 8, 2010

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:29:00 EDT

Anemone x hybrida 'Queen Charlotte' is a flower that answers to many names, including 'Konigin Charlotte' and 'Reine Charlotte'. It is a wonderful medium-height perennial for the mixed border or edge of a wooded area with damp soils. The flowers are semidouble with 10 to 15 petals per flower, and the plant will continue to produce flowers up to frost. Regardless of name, the petals are pale purple with ragged tips. This cultivar was discovered in a garden and is part of a group that potentially includes species from China, Japan, and North America in their parentage.

The origin of the genus name is said to have originated from the Greek anemos (wind), but some scientists believe it is derived from a Greek translation of the old Semitic Naaman (Adonis), whose blood was said to have given the color to the red-flowered Anemone coronaria (the double-flowered forms were domesticated more than 400 years ago). There are about 120 species found worldwide, with some possessing ornamental characteristics.

In Bloom Around the Garden:

Artist® Blue Violet floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum 'Agbic'), flowering in the Circle Garden

Europeana floribunda rose (Rosa 'Europeana'), flowering in the Rose Garden

Brussels Lace panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Brussels Lace'), flowering on Evening Island

Autumn Sun coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata 'Herbstonne'), flowering in the Landscape Garden