Posts by admin
Poke Milkweed
Herbaceous perennial reaching 1-1.5 m tall. Features large, opposite leaves and loose clusters of white to pale pink flowers blooming in early to midsummer. Prefers moist, well-drained soils and partial shade to full sun. Less aggressive than other milkweed species. Important larval host for monarch butterflies. Suitable for woodland edges, meadows, and naturalized areas. Produces pods with silky-tufted seeds. All parts contain cardiac glycosides toxic if ingested.
Read MoreBlack Chokeberry
Deciduous shrub growing 1-3 m tall. Produces clusters of white flowers in late spring, followed by edible purple-black berries. Features glossy, dark green leaves turning brilliant red in fall. Prefers moist, well-drained acidic soils but adaptable to various conditions. Tolerates full sun to partial shade. Berries are high in antioxidants and attractive to birds. Suitable for hedges, mass plantings, and rain gardens. Native to eastern North America.
Read MoreJack-in-the-Pulpit
Distinctive perennial reaching 30-90 cm tall. Features compound three-part leaves and unique hooded flower (spathe) in spring, followed by bright red berries on female plants. Grows from deep corm in rich, moist woodland soils and shade. Forms small colonies slowly through offsets. Architecturally striking specimen for woodland gardens. Native to eastern North America.
Read MoreSilverweed
Low-growing perennial herb spreading by stolons, forming mats up to 10 cm tall. Features compound leaves with silvery undersides and solitary yellow flowers blooming late spring to mid-summer. Prefers moist to wet soils and full sun to partial shade. Often found in coastal areas, tolerating salt spray. Useful for erosion control in wet areas and as a groundcover in rain gardens. Provides food for various waterfowl. Also known as Silverweed for its distinctive leaf coloration.
Read MoreBearberry
Evergreen groundcover growing 15-30 cm tall and spreading up to 1.8 m wide. Features small, leathery leaves and clusters of small, pink to white urn-shaped flowers in spring, followed by red berries. Prefers well-drained, acidic soils and full sun to partial shade. Extremely cold-hardy and drought-tolerant once established. Provides year-round interest and food for wildlife. Useful for erosion control on slopes and as a native alternative to non-native groundcovers.
Read MoreCanadian Columbine
Herbaceous perennial reaching 30-60 cm tall. Features delicate, compound leaves and distinctive red and yellow flowers with backward-projecting spurs, blooming spring to early summer. Prefers moist, well-drained soils and partial shade, but tolerates full sun in cooler climates. Attracts hummingbirds and long-tongued insects. Self-seeds readily in favorable conditions. Suitable for woodland gardens, rock gardens, and cottage gardens. Hybridizes easily with other columbine species.
Read MoreSpreading Dogbane
Herbaceous perennial growing 60-150 cm tall with opposite, oval leaves. Produces small, pink to white bell-shaped flowers from early to mid-summer. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Drought-tolerant once established. Attracts butterflies and other pollinators. All parts contain toxic cardiac glycosides. Used historically for fiber and medicine. Suitable for meadows, woodland edges, and naturalized areas. Spreads by both seeds and rhizomes, can be aggressive in ideal conditions.
Read MorePlantain-leaved Pussytoes
Mat-forming perennial reaching 8-15 cm tall. Features basal rosettes of woolly, gray-green leaves and upright stems bearing clusters of white to gray flower heads. Prefers well-drained, poor soils and full sun. Drought-tolerant once established. Important early season nectar source. Excellent for rock gardens and green roofs.
Read MoreCanada Anemone
Rhizomatous perennial reaching 30-60 cm tall. Features palmately-lobed basal leaves and solitary white flowers with yellow centers, blooming late spring to early summer. Prefers moist, rich soils and partial shade to full sun. Spreads aggressively by rhizomes, forming dense groundcover. Suitable for woodland gardens, naturalized areas, and along streams or ponds. Provides early season nectar for pollinators. Can be invasive in ideal conditions, best used in contained areas or where spreading is desired.
Read MoreBig Bluestem
Tall, warm-season perennial bunchgrass and state grass of Illinois. Grows 4-8 feet tall forming blue-green clumps through short rhizomes. Deep root system extends 8-15 feet, making it extremely drought tolerant. Distinctive blue-green foliage turns bronze-orange in fall. Produces reddish-purple flowering heads in late summer. Slow to establish but very long-lived once mature. Essential component of tallgrass prairie ecosystems.
Read More