Hollies are common landscape plants and even more common holiday decorations that belong to the incredibly diverse genus Ilex which contains over 400 species, both evergreen and deciduous, that hail from all corners of the globe.
A locally adapted holly species or cultivar is relatively easy to grow and they are fairly disease and insect free. They are incredibly prunable, with dormant buds at the ready to fill in and many do quite well with rejuvenation near ground level if their canopy...
As fall progresses and most plants lose their leaves or retreat to their winter dormancy, portions of the landscape can appear bare and boring for winter. Evergreens and woody plants are commonly considered the best specimens for winter interested, providing structure throughout the seasons to stand out in winter as other plants fade. However, there are quite a few native herbaceous plants that hold their own in winter but are often overlooked.
Full Sun Plants
Native grasses are some of the...
Most gardeners who have planted a summer squash in their vegetable garden can attest to the prolific growth of healthy squash vines. And in good years, many can also recount the bountiful harvest, with fruits ripening faster than you can pick them at times. I think we’ve all found those enormous zucchinis that seemed to grow overnight like something out of jack and the beanstalk.
Squash are members of the cucurbit family (Cucurbitaceae), which includes so many of our garden...
One of my favorite plants of the late summer is the tall and tasseled titan, Joe-Pye Weed. This common name refers to several native species which often require an additional descriptive word to identify individuals, although many of us drop the descriptor and simply say “Joe-Pye Weed”.
To clarify, my favorite among this group of plants is “sweet” Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum) due to its preference for dry and shady sites, which is unique. Its large white to purple-colored,...
Nearly every deciduous plant in the Illinois landscape has lost it leaves for the year, except for one standout.
The non-native, invasive shrubs collectively referred to as bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) have not quite lost them yet, which makes it noticeable this time of year. Its just about the only thing green that’s left in forests.
Now is a great time to remove this plant from your property because it is so noticeable, occurring in woodlands and landscape settings alike. ...
There are many oddities of the plant world that are hard to pass up without some questions. Based on the perspective of the beholder, some of these strange phenomena may lead to either wonder or concern.
One plant that has fueled both questions of marvel and worry is the popular evergreen, the Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’). This plant has seen widespread use in the landscape due to its compact size and unique, fine-textured needles. With annual grown sometimes...
When you consider the common field crops in Illinois, it is no doubt that corn (Zea mays) has heavily influenced on agriculture. However, broomcorn (Sorghum bicolor) is a lesser-known member of the grass family (Poaceae) with an agricultural history of its own in our state. Its more closely related to other sorghums than it is to the most popular Poaceae member, Zea mays.
“In Illinois, broomcorn production was established in the early 1800’s and central Illinois...
This time of year, many folks have questions while searching for the perfect Christmas tree. In recent years, I have written several blog posts on this topic, covering various aspects of Christmas tree care, identification, selection, and sustainability. Take a look at our collection of past blogs posts below to learn more information about one of the most common holiday plants.
Selecting...
The beauty of fall is upon us with splashes of exorbitant color all around the landscape. In the past week, red maples (Acer rubrum) have nearly reached their peak color for the season, displaying fire-red leaves that scream for attention. The brilliant yellows of shagbark (Carya ovata) and pignut hickory (Carya glabra) have been turned on like a switch to produce golden clouds of canopy and an equally stunning understory color in area woodlands.
But don’t be...
Earlier this summer the monarch butterfly was in the news as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) designated the migratory species as “Endangered” on its Red List of Threatened Species. This announcement sparked some misunderstanding as many confused the IUCN Red List with the US Federal Endangered Species List. Both systems include a designation of “endangered”, but each means something different for the monarch and for all of us.
IUCN vs USFWS Endangered Status
IUCN...
Throughout the fall season, garden centers are filled with a beautiful selection of mums (short for chrysanthemums). In the garden, mums provide a both a spectacular fall display and a late season nectar source for pollinating insects.
It is a wonderful time to plant these attractive, fall-blooming plants, but some consideration should be given when planting in fall. Many folks plant mums and don’t actually do much to encourage flowering, but there are also some measures you can take...
This past week was the fall equinox which marks the beginning of the fall season. With the cooler weather in recent days, it has really started to feel like the time of changing leaves and brilliant autumn colors. While most of us are thinking of tree color this time of year, there are some spectacular late blooming plants that provide a characteristic fall flare of color late in the growing season.
Goldenrods and asters are two taxa of late blooming species that are hard to miss this time of...
Spotted Lanternfly (SLF)
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive pest that impacts a wide range of plants as it feeds throughout the growing season. This non-native leafhopper was first identified in Pennsylvania back in 2014 and has since spread to 10 other states. Recent discoveries in Indiana and Iowa seem to be a sign of what is to come for Illinois, so we all need to be on the lookout for this new threat.
Lifecycle and Hosts
Over 100 plant species have...
In recent visits to local prairies, I was reminded of a spectacular native plant that is often overshadowed by its more common hybrid cousins. Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is native plant with a home range that spans our continent. It frequents a wide range of locations on the landscape, such as prairies and woodland edges or abandoned pastures and road rights-of-way. This tough plant thrives in bone dry, full sun or even more mesic and part shade locations, occupying all but...
Noteworthy plants in natural areas can be the superstars of landscaping when gardeners learn to harness their natural tendencies and display their most virtuous attributes. One group of plants that I have often underestimated are sedges (Carex spp.).
These tough native perennials have a grass-like appearance and interesting flower structures from tiny tufts to spikey balls. While they appear similar to grasses, there are several differences between each group of plants, with the...
Our sun has special significance in the gardening world. It offers sunlight, which plants use to generate energy and directly influences plant lifecycles in a variety of ways.
Have you ever considered the role of the moon in plant growth? Historically, many agricultural and gardening practices were planned based on the lunar cycle. Before the invention of the various time tracking technology we are indulged with today, the phases of the moon were an important aspect of time keeping. ...
Greening spring lawns are a welcome sign to many of us, but they are also a sign of yardwork to come for the rest of the growing season. The desire to get a jump start on mowing for season, or perhaps to get outside and be active after winter dormancy, spurs a lot of early season grass cutting. However, there may be good reason to slack off a bit this spring.
One of those reasons relates to a common turfgrass inhabitant, the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). While this plant is...
Native plants are ever gaining popularity as gardeners seek specimens with high ecological value in support of declining insect pollinator populations. Among the almost 2,300 plant species known to be native in Illinois, our native shrubs are often overlooked and underappreciated in the landscape. However, many offer a wide variety of ornamental attributes along with high pollinator value.
Indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa), also known as false indigo, is a native shrub that typically...
Like clockwork, the Champaign County Master Gardeners (CCMG) moved hundreds of plants from the greenhouse out to the Idea Garden on University of Illinois Campus in early May. This annual tradition has been ongoing for over two decades now as part of a plant trial program the gardeners participate in with Proven Winners®.
Its no small feat for these plants to arrive in the Idea Garden each May. They have been shipped to central Illinois from production facilities afar. Master Gardeners have...
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) has received a lot of attention lately, with reports of expanding populations statewide and subsequent increased human contact with this toxic plant. However, there is some confusion about the risk this plant poses to humans and animals, along with what measures should be taken for protection.
The wild carrot family (Apiaceae) has long been known to include plants with potentially harmful effects to humans. Many plants in...
