Chicago-area gardens ask a great deal of perennial plants. They must tolerate humid summers, winter freezes, rapid temperature changes, and soils that can…
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 mature perennial can become the strongest feature in a garden, yet even a vigorous plant eventually outgrows its space. Crowded crowns produce fewer flowers,…
Ground cover for a tree-shaded garden must handle a demanding combination of conditions. Canopy roots compete for water and nutrients, rainfall may be…
Growing perennials in containers adds flexibility to patios, balconies, entryways, and small gardens, but winter changes the rules. A plant that survives…
Russian sage brings a valuable combination of height, airy texture, silver foliage, and late-summer color to a sunny perennial border. Its lavender-blue…
When summer flowers fade, many perennials reveal a second season of interest. The dried cones of Echinacea and the dark seed heads of Rudbeckia can stand above…
A productive pollinator garden in Chicagoland must do more than produce a few attractive flowers in midsummer. Plants need to handle cold winters, humid…
When late spring bulbs are fading and many summer perennials are still gathering momentum, baptisia steps into the garden with tall, clean-lined flower spikes.…
Northern Illinois gardens can support a remarkable range of summer plants, from dahlias and cannas to tropical hibiscus and elephant ears. Many of these tender…
Helenium, commonly called sneezeweed, brings late-season color to perennial borders when many early and midsummer plants are fading. Its daisy-like flowers in…
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.
