Torch lily, or Kniphofia uvaria, brings a strong vertical accent to perennial borders with its grasslike foliage and tall spikes of tubular flowers. The…
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.
Blog
A well-chosen perennial should earn its place in the garden for more than one impressive season. In Zone 5, where freeze-thaw cycles, heavy spring moisture,…
Heuchera villosa brings a useful combination of durability, texture, and late-season interest to Midwestern gardens. Unlike many coral bells that prefer evenly…
Gardeners often rely on bold foliage and large flowers to create structure, yet a planting can feel heavy when every perennial has the same visual weight.…
Pycnanthemum muticum, commonly called blunt mountain mint, has earned attention as a long-blooming native perennial with exceptional value for pollinators. Its…
Rooftop gardens create a demanding version of the Chicagoland growing environment. Plants receive intense sunlight, dry rapidly in shallow soil, and experience…
A well-chosen perennial can cover bare soil quickly, shade emerging weed seedlings, and reduce the amount of mulch or hand weeding a garden needs. The best…
Spring bulbs create one of the garden’s most welcome bursts of color, yet their display often fades within a few weeks. As tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and…
Coneflowers are familiar summer perennials in Chicagoland gardens, yet they are far from interchangeable when the goal is to support pollinators. Species and…
Echinacea is a dependable perennial in Chicagoland gardens, valued for its long summer bloom, sturdy stems, and seedheads that remain attractive well after…
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.
