Double echinaceas are valued for their layered blooms, strong colours and ability to bring a full, almost pompon-like effect to a perennial border. Yet a…
Evaluating Perennials for Chicagoland Gardens
Perennials in Focus is a plant evaluation program that examines new and underused plants for Chicagoland, the third largest metropolitan area in the country. A group of horticultural experts trials and evaluates plants at numerous locations across the region. Results help consumers, public gardens, growers, landscape designers, breeders, and other industry professionals make informed plant choices.
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Dark mulch can make a garden bed look tidy and can alter the temperature around perennial crowns, roots and emerging shoots. Its black or deep brown surface…
Vernonia, commonly called ironweed, earns a place in perennial borders for its late-season colour, tall architectural stems and strong value to pollinators. In…
Aconitum carmichaelii brings a rare combination to the perennial border: tall, architectural stems and intensely coloured flowers when many summer plants are…
Penstemon digitalis is a North American perennial with upright flower stems, glossy basal foliage and a tidy clumping habit. Its pale tubular flowers usually…
A small front garden can have the visual confidence of a much larger landscape when one plant group, feature pot or sculptural arrangement takes the lead.…
The rusty patched bumble bee, Bombus affinis, is an endangered North American pollinator once widespread across the upper Midwest. Its decline is linked to…
Gardeners often choose Heuchera for its foliage before they consider its flowers. Leaves may be lime green, amber, silver, burgundy, near-black or patterned…
Container-grown perennials are asked to perform under tighter conditions than plants in open ground. Their roots share a limited volume of potting mix,…
Chelone, commonly called turtlehead, is a useful perennial for a moist border where many sun-loving garden plants become stressed. Its upright stems, deep…
In the Garden
Evaluator gardens are located across the Chicagoland area, representing a range of growing conditions. Visit our retail and wholesale partners to find trialled perennials for your own garden.
Retail & Wholesale: Hinsdale Nurseries (Willowbrook, IL), Mariani Nurseries (Kenosha, WI & Garden Prairie, IL), Northwind Perennials (Burlington, WI), The Growing Place (Aurora, IL).
Wholesale Only: Hinsdale Nurseries (Plano, IL), Intrinsic Perennial Gardens (Hebron, IL).
Our Evaluation Program
The 2017–2020 evaluation cycle included Agastache 'Blue Boa', Allium senescens 'Blue Eddy', Amsonia ciliata var. filifolia 'Georgia Pancake', Astilbe 'Chocolate Shogun', Boltonia astroides 'James Crocket', Brunnera 'Alexander's Great', and Geranium cinereum 'Jolly Jewel Purple'. Completed evaluations include Amsonia 'Blue Ice' (2004–07).
On April 10, 2020, the program published snapshot profiles for Vernonia lettermanii 'Iron Butterfly', Stokesia laevis 'Elf', Stachys officinalis 'Pink Cotton Candy', Lobelia 'Monet Moment', Helleborus 'Winter Thrillers', Geum 'Mai Tai', Geranium soboliferum 'Butterfly Kisses', Gentiana x intermedia 'True Blue', Eurybia divaricata, Asparagus 'Purple Passion', and Agastache 'Bolero'.
Browse the full collection of snapshots organized alphabetically — from A–D, E–H, I–Q, and R–Z — to find detailed performance data on perennials trialled across Chicagoland.
