Butterfly Bush. But these trees are resilient, with resistances even against the insects and diseases which normally curb tree growth, and so the efforts to help native species compete continue today. They have native wildflowers, shrubs, and pretty much everything else you might want - they are also probably the best people to talk to about native plants. With a name like chokeberry, people aren’t exactly chomping at the bit to plant this native shrub. If your soil is fairly alkaline, you may wish to avoid sweetfern, though they will tolerate a degree of alkalinity. Attractive native shrubs are often overlooked—and occasionally hard to come by in local nurseries and garden centers—but they are well worth the effort to find. Dense Blazing Star. quick search. Plants and trees whose flowers bear nectar are sure to feed dozens and dozens of hummingbirds over their lifetimes. Visit our Chicago lawn care page for more information. All rights reserved. It grows to be around 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide with a nice upright rounded habit, but sweet fern can produce large colonies if left to grow wild. It all started at our 2017 seminar about how to plant a rain garden with native plants to prevent stormwater damage to your home. The plants have an attractive mounded, candelabra-like habit, becoming 4 to 5 feet tall in the landscape. With growing awareness of the impact of climate change, many gardeners are reconsidering the important roles that native plants can play in home landscapes. Not to be confused with the chokecherry tree (Prunus virginiana), chokeberry (Aronia sp.) Chicago has the oldest urban Indian center, and the third largest urban population of Native Americans. This native flower is a favorite of honey bees and monarch butterflies. Advanced Search Design Palette Botanical Name Common Name 2021 New Intros Reset Filters. Our Plant Inventory-On Line Ordering. Select your location, site conditions, and preferences to get a side-by-side comparison for choosing the best tree for your circumstances. Wouldn’t you want something called buttonbush in your yard? Need help with your garden or lawn care? Many of these species face multiple threats to their long-term survival. Chicago Native Plants Sunday, August 28, 2011. It can grow up to three feet tall in the wild and needs little water or care. A rain garden is a planted depression that is designed to take all, or as much as possible, of the excess rainwater run-off from a house/building and its associated landscape, where native plants soak up some of the water allowing the rest to percolate slowly (within one to five days) into the ground. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) flowers are attractive, unique, and somewhat unworldly. Aronia is an all-season plant. Green Ash The green ash is a tree that grows in an upright, somewhat oval shape, and provides ample shade. A Selection of Native Shrubs and Noteworthy Non-Native Shrubs W Shrubs of the Chicago Region Volunteer Stewardship Network – Chicago Wilderness The Boxwood… Native or indigenous plants naturally occur in the region in which they evolved. In fact, from 1907 to 1973, this was reflected by of the state tree simply being 'native oak'. It thrives in shady areas, and since it’s native to Illinois, you’ll find it in wooded areas in just about every county in the state. This tall, slender perennial produces purple flowers from July until September. Native plants provide food and shelter for pollinators and are important to more than one part of the pollinator’s life cycle. I use Boxwoods to replace the overgrown Yews that are covering up the front window or blocking the doorway. Dutchman’s Breeches prefer moist areas, but they’re a hardy plant and can resist a moderate frost. The purple fruit appears in August, ready for harvesting a few weeks later. Find trees that thrive in northern Illinois. The honey locust and the black locust are the most common types of locust trees and they are the two species that are native to the Chicago area. Birds eat the seed formed in reddish drooping fruit clusters in fall. Dogwood Trees. You’ll often see bees and beetles feeding on the pollen in the wild. They can grow fast—a 6-inch shrub can easily grow to 5 feet within a few years, and can reach up to 15 feet when fully mature! But that's just one style of garden. This purple-pink flowering plant also returns every year without much work. These are only 10 of the native plants and flowers that will thrive in your Chicago garden. It thrives in full sunlight and needs just enough water to keep the soil moist. Native plants that work well as groundcover range in height from a soil-hugging six inches to ferns that exceed three feet. Invasive species alter the local ecology and out-compete native species for resources, causing irreparable harm and millions of dollars in damage. This hardy plant tolerates our frigid winters and blooms in late June with a cluster of white flowers. If you want to make a short but attractive native hedge, start with small plants spaced two to three feet apart. After attendees asked us where they could buy native plants around Chicago (especially near the South Side where plant sources besides big-box stores are hard to find), we compiled a list of community plant sales, nurseries, and other places in or near Chicago … You might also consider Ceanothus ovatus for a hedge that will grow to only 3 feet high. Lobelia cardinalis: Lobelia cardinalis: Rudbeckia triloba: Things have really filled in especially the Bromus pubescens and first year seedlings. Already adapted to our particular climate and ecosystems, natives simply do well here—and look spectacular. They also attract birds, bees and other pollinators to your yard. The white, butterfly-attracting flowers are arranged in little celestial spheres that are 1 to 2 inches in diameter, emerging between late May and late July (depending on the region). We'll see what happens this month. Rebates are only available to City of Chicago residents and native plants must be planted at a Chicago residence. Just sprinkle some seeds in a sunny area and let nature do the rest. © 2020 Chicago Botanic Garden. I am still awaiting another round of blooming to take place from my asters and savannah blazing stars. This bushy perennial produces bright orange flower clusters overtop stiff, oblong green leaves. After the flowers have finished blooming, spherical seedheads remain on the plant, providing winter interest. Iroquois Beauty™ chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa ‘Morton’) is starting to ripen. learn more Some of these sales may contain non-native species or cultivars. The beautiful black fruit stays on the plant longer than some other varieties. Sassafras Trees. Always ask if the plant is native to your region. New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) thrives in the Green Roof Garden of the Plant Science Center. Though sweetgale is native to North America, the species is also native to northern and western Europe, so it appears in European folklore and carries a history of use as a dye, insecticide, tea, and more! New Jersey tea is a small deciduous shrub that grows to about 4 or 5 feet in height. Showy male flowers (catkins) add early spring interest, dark green leaves turn a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors in the fall. Plant it in an area that gets some shade. It’s unfortunate, because the chokeberry is one of the best shrubs you can grow in Illinois. Sometime around midsummer, we all look at our yards, filled in and blooming, and think about designing something new, dividing plants, or perhaps creating a new hedge. You’ll often see them in open wooded areas and thickets since they prefer moist soil and sunlight. Urban Programs Resource Network. The 12 priority animal species are shown above. It needs full sun and moist soil but can survive in dry conditions. The leaves, which are a glossy dark green to gray-green, are fragrant when crushed. On-site shopping currently not available due to Covid19. This white flowering plant produces blooms that look like upside-down breeches, hence its name. Get easy-to-understand, actionable yard tips that will give you the greenest grass on the block. Sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina) leaves turn russet in the fall. The branches, leaves and cones can be used like hops in brewing beer, and were used extensively before hops were widely available. The glossy green foliage holds up against extreme heat and drought, and in fall, these great landscape shrubs produce red, purple, or black fruit in combination with orange to red-scarlet fall color. The bark provides winter interest as it peels away in strips to reveal layers of reddish to light brown inner bark on mature stems. It’s native to most of North America, except for a few Southern states. You don’t need a green thumb to have a beautiful garden in Chicago, but it helps if you think “green” and choose plants that are environmentally friendly. The interest in native plants is growing, but just because it’s considered native to our state does not mean it’s a perfect match for your garden. Oak Trees. Ash Trees. Examples of Native Plants Illinois Native Plant Species Points to Consider. Nonnative plants and those plants that have been bred for traits important to humans (flower color, length of blooming period, size of flower, etc. By going native, you’ll save yourself a lot of work and help the biodiversity of your home town. Winter or early spring interest, dark green to gray-green, are fragrant when.! 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