Vernonia, commonly called ironweed, brings a valuable combination of late-season color, wildlife interest, and regional toughness to Chicago-area gardens. Its…
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
Heuchera, commonly called coral bells, have become garden staples because they offer a broad range of foliage colors, compact habits, and delicate flower…
Selecting a perennial for Northern Illinois requires more than finding a plant with an attractive flower. The region includes cold winters, humid summers,…
Ornamental grasses bring movement, texture, and long-lasting structure to gardens across the Chicago region. Their foliage can soften hard edges, frame a…
A garden with flowers from the first mild days of spring through autumn’s final frost depends on succession, not a single spectacular plant. The most reliable…
Public gardens need plants that can handle public scrutiny as well as unpredictable weather. A specimen may be admired by thousands of visitors, assessed by…
Daylilies have earned their place in Midwestern gardens through dependable growth, colorful flowers, and relatively simple care. Yet a familiar cultivar that…
In Chicagoland gardens, sedums earn their place through several seasons. Their flowers support pollinators in late summer, seedheads add autumn texture, and…
Gardens in the Chicagoland region must handle a demanding combination of conditions. Winters can bring deep freezes, while summer beds face intense sun, heavy…
Echinacea, commonly called coneflower, is a reliable summer perennial across the Chicago region, yet cultivars can differ substantially in when they begin…
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.
