A garden with continuous color does not depend on one spectacular month of flowering. It depends on a sequence: bulbs and early perennials begin the display,…
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 sloping garden in Illinois has to manage more than beauty. Rainwater can wash away topsoil, winter freeze-thaw cycles can loosen shallow-rooted plants, and…
A lily can transform a garden after sunset. As daylight fades, pale flowers become more visible, warm air carries perfume farther, and a planting that seems…
Butterfly weed, or Asclepias tuberosa, earns its place in Midwestern gardens with vivid orange flower clusters, strong drought tolerance, and exceptional value…
Winter sidewalk maintenance is essential in Chicago, but deicing salts can create difficult growing conditions long after the snow has disappeared. Salt…
A successful perennial bed is planned as a sequence of seasonal moments rather than a single summer display. In Chicagoland, the garden must move through a…
Hostas are often treated as dependable shade plants, yet their performance can vary widely across the Chicagoland region. Dense tree cover, dry root…
Agastache has become a favorite in pollinator gardens because its upright flower spikes offer vivid color, long bloom, and abundant nectar. Hummingbirds are…
A well-chosen perennial should earn its space through more than a brief display of flowers. It should offer dependable structure, support seasonal interest,…
A front yard has a demanding job. It should look welcoming from the street, support the architecture of the house, and remain attractive through changing…
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.
