Perennials in Focus set out its inquiry about whether salvia cultivars often grown as annuals in colder zones might actually persist as perennials in the upper…
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 driveway or patio bordered purely by concrete, brick, or aggregate can feel stark, particularly in suburban streetscapes where homes sit close together. The…
When the sun retreats behind fences, gum trees, or the wide eaves of an Australian home, flowers often take a back seat. The real drama in a shaded bed comes…
Rhus aromatica, commonly known as fragrant sumac, earns its place in temperate landscapes for aromatic foliage, vivid autumn colour, and tolerance of poor…
Leaf mould is often treated as a nuisance, yet in a woodland-style garden it can be a useful mulch and a source of organic matter. The real issue is whether a…
For home gardeners, "cut-and-come-again" describes a plant that, once picked, sends out fresh stems and flowers for another round of harvest. Unlike annuals…
Iris versicolor, commonly called blue flag iris, is a North American perennial suited to damp ground, shallow water margins and rain-garden conditions. Its…
Selecting perennials for a shade border with continuous bloom from spring to fall starts with understanding the site rather than choosing plants from a…
A garden with layered, close-growing foliage can offer small birds shelter from cats, magpies, currawongs and sudden weather. For song sparrows and other…
Salvia yangii, formerly known as Perovskia atriplicifolia and commonly sold as Russian sage, is valued for its silvery foliage, airy blue flowers and tolerance…
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.
