Tiarella cordifolia is valued for more than its frothy spring flowers. Its heart-shaped leaves can develop bronze, burgundy, or reddish markings as…
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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Bergenia cordifolia, commonly called elephant ears, is a tough clump-forming perennial valued for broad, leathery foliage and clusters of pink flowers in early…
Aphids are a familiar sight on milkweeds, especially during warm weather when soft new growth is expanding quickly. On Asclepias tuberosa, commonly called…
Parkways beside footpaths, often called nature strips in Australia, can do much more than separate traffic from homes. With careful grading and planting, they…
Few garden perennials stir up as much debate about water needs as Filipendula rubra. The traditional advice is to keep queen of the prairie planted beside a…
A meadow-style planting brings movement, texture, and a relaxed sense of wildness to a small yard. When designed carefully, a mix of perennial grasses and…
Australia harbours more than 1,700 native bee species, and a sizeable share of them are cavity nesters. Rather than excavating burrows in the ground, these…
Dense city gardens demand perennial plants that can cope with competition, compacted ground, irregular watering and limited sunlight. Pycnanthemum virginianum,…
Tall moisture-loving perennials occupy a distinctive niche in garden design, often placed where tree roots create demanding conditions. Sanguisorba canadensis,…
A night garden transforms how you experience your backyard once the sun goes down. Pale flowers seem to float in the moonlight, and heavy perfume drifts…
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.
