Download Find that Flower! Flowers, Bushes and Trees in the JRC Garden as

Find that Flower!
Flowers, Bushes and Trees in the JRC Garden as of June, 2015
How Many of Them Can you Find?
Redbud Cercis Canandensis
Native to Illinois, Eastern Redbud is a native, perennial, deciduous tree growing 15 to 30 feet tall and 15
to 25 feet wide. Older trees generally resemble a vase shape. Blooming before leaf growth in early spring,
its pink to reddish purple flowers are grown on old twigs, branches, and trunks. Native Americans boiled
the bark to make tea to treat whooping cough, treated dysentery using an astringent from the bark, and
used the roots and inner bark for fevers, congestion, and vomiting. The flowers attract bees and
butterflies, and can be fried and eaten. Eastern redbud develops a deep taproot that grows quickly the
first few years under good conditions. Pruning the tree helps develop a strong structure. We planted three
7-foot-tall multi-stemmed Redbuds.
Serviceberry Amelanchier x grandiflora
Native to Illinois. In the forest, Serviceberry trees grow in the understory, under the canopy of larger trees.
They have white flowers in spring that develop into tasty purple berries in early summer. Their leaves turn
beautiful colors in fall, and their silvery bark is pretty in winter. The berries make good jam, and attract
birds. Linda Kagan fostered one of the serviceberry trees from the first JRC garden, and we hope to add
two more to accompany it.
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Potentilla Potentilla fruticosa (bush cinquefoil) and Potentilla goldfinger.
Native to Illinois, Potentilla is a small deciduous shrub, growing to 4-5 feet high and 4-5 feet wide. It has
fine textured foliage on a mounding form, and produces large rich yellow buttercup-like flowers. The
'Goldfinger' cultivar has deep golden-yellow flowers on plants with dark green foliage, good plant form and
heavy flowering. Seven new Potentilla fruticosa plants were planted, in addition to about five Potentilla
Goldfinger plants that were fostered and re-planted.
Annabelle Hydrangea Hydrangea aborencens ‘Annabell’
Annabelle is a stunning white hydrangea, often producing flower heads over ten inches in diameter.
Unlike other hydrangeas, she blooms every year, even after severe pruning or severe winters. About six
plants, all of them fostered from the first JRC Garden.
Alpine Current Ribes alpinum ‘Green mound’
Small deciduous bushes with green foliage throughout the season, turning yellow in fall. Tolerates full
shade. Extremely winter hardy. The cultivar 'Green Mound' is 2-3 feet tall, male (no fruit), and
resistant to leaf diseases. We planted 32 at JRC.
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New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
Native to Illinois, this small, durable, shrub attracts hummingbirds, which eat the tiny insects that pollinate
the flowers. About three feet tall, with luxuriant glossy leaves and bright white flowers. Tolerant of
drought. The dried leaves make an excellent tea that was very popular during the Revolutionary War
period. We planted nine at JRC.
Canadian Explorer Rose ‘Martin Frobisher’
‘Martin Frobisher’ is a pink shrub rose, growing to 5-6 feet tall and 4-7 feet wide. The original Explorer
rose, introduced in 1968, it flowers freely all summer, June through October, and grows vigorously. It will
survive to Zone 2a without protection. Five ‘Martin Frobisher” roses were planted by Carol Goldbaum in
the first JRC garden, in memory of her mother, Natalie Seinsheimer. Carol fostered them to be re-planted
in the new JRC garden.
Pinus Mugo
Native to Wisconsin, but not Illinois, Mugo Pine needs moist, well-drained loam soil and full sun. It grows
well in sandy soils, but is also somewhat tolerant of clays, and is generally tolerant of urban conditions.t
prefers cool summer climates. Because it can grow to 20 feet, it requires annual pruning (in late winter) to
retain a compact size. We planted eleven at JRC.
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Hosta
Hostas are small perennial plants that have a variety of handsome leaf colorations and produce lily-like
flowers. In spite of their almost tropical look, they are rugged. Once established, they tolerate almost any
soil and will grow for years. Hostas flower in early summer. The hostas in our garden were all
transplanted from the first JRC garden.
Astilbe Astilbe
Astilbe is a rugged shade lover. The perennial plant produces an attractive mound of glossy, fernlike
foliage topped with delicate plumes of colorful flowers in late Spring. Our astilbe were fostered from the
first JRC garden and replanted.
Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)
JRC’s purplish-blue irises were originally transplanted from a member’s home garden in 1985. During the
transition from to the new building and garden, the irises were fostered. Even though they are not native,
the irises are LEED-compliant, because they were “recycled.” When irises are established, they multiply
and reward you with a mass of flowers in late Spring. They love sun, and don’t like their “corms” to be
covered up with a lot of mulch or competing plants. We fostered and replanted 161 irises at JRC.
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Prairie Trillium Trillium recurvatum recurvatum
Trillium is a low woodland plant, flowering for three to four weeks in early spring. The native Prairie
Trillium is common in every county of Illinois, primarily in rich woodlands, open woodlands, and savannas,
where deciduous trees are dominant. We planted 24 at JRC.
Virginia bluebells Mertensiz verginica
Native wildflower with bell shaped sky-blue flowers. After blooming, the entire plant disappears until next
Spring (it is “ephemeral”). We planted 95 at JRC.
Dutchman’s Breeches Dicentra cucullaria
Native, spring flowering, woodland flower, about a foot tall. Likes shade and rich, moist, humusy soil.
Blooms in March to April, then disappears. Related to bleeding heart. We planted 116 at JRC.
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Wild geranium Geranium maculatum.
A native woodland plant, also called spotted geranium or wood geranium, Wild Geranium blooms April to
May with pink to lilac flowers along foot-long stems. It attracts butterflies. We planted 167 plants at JRC.
Virginia spiderwort, Spider lily Tradescantia virginiana
Blooming from March to June, Spiderwort got its name from the angular leaf arrangement suggesting a
squatting spider, and grows to three feet with long, bright-green, narrow leaves in a thick clump of
slender, branched stalks, topped by groups of blue or purplish, three-petaled flowers up to two inches
across. The blue-violet Spiderwort flowers close by mid-day and last only one day. Spiderwort is native
from Connecticut to Wisconsin, and found in meadows, open woods and limestone outcrops. Very
adaptable, it prefers humus-rich soil but will grow in a wide range of soils, and from sun to shade.
Prairie Alumroot or Coral Bells Heuchera richardsonii affinis
Native to northern Illinois, Prairie Alumroot favors areas with poor rocky soil where there is reduced
competition from taller plants. It flowers in June and July. From the center of a rosette of basal leaves
emerge several 2-4 foot tall flowering stems, each stem with a group of small flowers. The flowers turn
into capsules that contain tiny seeds that are dispersed by the wind. We planted 133 at JRC.
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Wild Blue Phlox, Woodland Phlox, Wild Sweet William Phlox divaricata
Native to Illinois and common in midwestern woods and fields, Woodland Phlox sends up erect branches
from 8 to 18 inches tall. From April to June, with loose, flat clusters of fragrant, lavender or pink flowers
with notched petals occur at the top of these stems. The flowers are pollinated by long-tongued bees
(especially bumblebees), bee flies, butterflies (especially swallowtails), skippers, and moths (including
Hummingbird Clearwing & Sphinx moths). It can form large colonies over time as leafy shoots spread
along the ground rooting at the nodes. Likes rich, moist but well-drained soil in part shade to full shade,
and a light summer mulch to help retain moisture and keep roots cool. We planted 86 at JRC.
Prairie coreopsis Coreopsis palmate
A native plant with yellow flowers that attract butterflies, Prairie Coreopsis blooms from May to July. It is
about two feet tall, very tough, and needs well-drained soil in full sun. We planted 200 in the JRC garden.
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Wild Columbine Aquilegia Canadensis
Columbine is native spring wildflower that occurs in rocky woods, slopes, ledges and open areas
throughout Illinois. About a foot tall, columbine flowers for many weeks in spring, and is a mound of
graceful leaves when it is not flowering. Columbine grows in full sun to part shade, and tolerates about
any soil except poorly-drained soil. If the foliage deteriorates, cut the plants to the ground, and fresh new
foliage will emerge and look good all season. Hummingbirds depend on Wild Columbine as an important
source of early season nectar. We planted 200 in the JRC garden.
Prairie smoke Geum triflorum (also called Old Man's Whiskers or Purple avens)
Native to Northeastern Illinois, Prairie Smoke is a soft, hairy plant growing typically to 16" tall with fern-like
leaves, producing reddish pink to purplish, nodding, globular flowers that bloom in late spring, followed by
conspicuous fruiting heads. It remains attractive for two or more months, from the bud period through the
“smoky” period. Native Americans once boiled the roots to produce a root tea that was used medicinally
for a variety of purposes such as wound applications and sore throat treatments. Prairie smoke spreads
slowly by rhizome to form a low groundcover, and likes dry, well-drained soil in full sun. We planted 129 in
the JRC Garden.
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Nodding onion or Lady’s leek Allium cernuum
Native from Canada to Mexico, Nodding Onion has showy pink flowers from June to August. It is low
maintenance, likes shade, and attracts butterflies. We planted 78 at JRC.
Evening Primrose Oenothera macrocarpa
Native to Illinois, our Evening Primrose plants were fostered and replanted in the new JRC garden.
Evening Primrose has large, cup-shaped, canary yellow flowers with a mild fragrance that are produced
in great numbers from early to mid summer. They then become four-winged seed pots. It loves sun and
tolerates both drought and high humidity. We fostered and replanted 45 at JRC.
Wild bergamot (also called Beebalm) Monarda fistula
Beebalm is a native prairie plant, producing pink to lavender flowers from June to September. It attracts
hummingbirds and butterflies, likes dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade,
and needs good air circulation. We planted 49 at JRC, ten of which were fostered.
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Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa
With a showy yellow flower blooming from June to August, Butterfly Weed is a native perennial that
occurs in dry or rocky open woods, glades, prairies, fields and roadsides. It is low maintenance and does
attract butterflies. Butterfly Weed typically grows in a clump from 1 to 3 feet tall. We planted 33 at JRC.
Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
Native to Illinois, Coneflowers bloom from spring to late summer, with the cone-shaped flowers their name
suggests. It attracts bees and butterflies. Unable to grow in the shade, Coneflower thrives in either dry or
moist soil and can tolerate drought once established. We planted 100 at JRC.
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta ‘Goldsturm’
A native prairie biennial, Black-eyed Susan is over three feet tall with leaves up to six inches long and
flowers 2-3 inches across. It blooms from June to October. A biennial, it forms a rosette of leaves the first
year, followed by flowers the second year. Pollinated by bees, butterflies and other insects, its seeds
germinate nearby, and it can push other plants out of an area. We planted 72 at JRC.
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Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya
Native to Illinois and growing to four feet tall, blooming in July, August, and September, Blazing Star
attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Like other liatris, it begins to bloom at the top and works its
way down. After blooming, “achenes” form with light brown tufts of hair, which are distributed by the wind.
The root system consists of corms, which occasionally form offsets near the mother plant. It likes full sun,
rich soil and moisture. We planted six at JRC.
Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccansis
Native to Illinois tallgrass prairies, the common name derives from its use by some Native Americans as
an antidote for rattlesnake venom. Growing two to five feet tall, with a stout stem, from July to September
it produces balls of tiny flowers that attract many kinds of insects. It prefers sun and becomes spindly in
shade. We planted 34 at JRC.
New England Aster Aster novae-angliae.
Look for the end of summer when the Asters bloom, from August to October. Aster is a tall, majestic
flower native to Illinois, occurring in moist prairies, meadows, thickets, low valleys and stream banks. It is
a nectar source for Monarch butterflies. We planted 59 at JRC.
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Heartleaf Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
Native to woodlands in Wisconsin and Michigan but not Illinois, Foamflower is one the best native plants
for use as a shade groundcover. Blooming from March to May, its flowers are white, small and feathery
and form a long terminal cluster on a leafless stalk. It prefers moist, rich organic soils in full to part shade,
is undemanding, and spreads quickly without being invasive. Foamflower is tolerant of a wide range of
growing conditions from dry to moist but well-drained soils. We planted 78 at JRC.
Lady Fern Athyrium filix-femina
Athyrium filix-femina is a large, feathery species of fern native throughout most of the temperate Northern
Hemisphere, where it is often abundant in damp, shady woodland environments. Delicate and lacy,
strong-growing and dependable, tough and easy to grow. Likes shade and moisture. We planted 40 at
JRC.
Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides
Native to Illinois, and one of the most common ferns in eastern North America, its common name refers to
its evergreen nature. The fronds are semi-erect until the first hard frost, after which they recline to be flat
on the ground, holding in place fallen leaves that then become soil. We planted 30 at JRC.
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Wintercreeper Euonymus fortunei
An evergreen perennial vine, Wintercreeper is not native, but is LEED-compliant because it is vigorous
and tough and will grow over and around the gabion walls with little maintenance. Leaves are opposite,
glossy, dark green, oval, slightly toothed, with light-colored veins, from one to two inches. Flowers are
small and greenish with five petals on long branched stalks. Fruits are small round pink-red capsules that
split open to expose seeds with red-orange arils. We planted 135 at JRC.
English Ivy Hedera helix
A rampant, clinging evergreen vine, it is not native, but like Wintercreeper, it is LEED-compliant because it
is vigorous and tough and will grow over and around the gabion walls with little maintenance. We planted
31 plants at JRC.
Virginia Creeper Partheocissus quinquefolia
Native to Illinois, Virginia Creeper, also known as Woodbine, is a prolific and attractive vine. It climbs
smooth surfaces using small forked tendrils tipped with small strongly adhesive pads 5 mm in size. Its
leaves turn bright red in the fall, and its berries provide an important winter food source for birds. We
planted 40 at JRC.
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Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
A vigorous, long-lived native bunch grass, widely distributed over the United States, but most prevalent in
the Central and Southern Great Plains. Because it is short, it mixes well with wildflowers. Little Bluestem
is turns a striking bright red in fall, topped by fluffy silvery-white seed stalks. It can grow to two to four feet
tall. We planted 203 at JRC.
Carex
Commonly known as sedges, Carex is a vast genus of almost 2000 species of grassy plants. We planted
302 carex plants at JRC. Carex bromoides is native to north-eastern Illinois. Growing about two feet tall, it
likes partial sun to light shade, and wet to consistently moist conditions.
Purple Lovegrass Eragrostis
Native to Illinois, Purple Love Grass is a perennial, warm season grass that grows actively during the
summer when soil temperatures are warm. It reaches heights of 1-2 feet, and thrives in full sun.The seed
heads (or florets) bloom mid-summer in shades of light to bright purple, giving an overall purple haze to
the landscape. We planted thirteen plants at JRC.
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Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis
Native to Illinois, Prairie Dropseed typically grows from 2 to 3 feet in height and does well in moist to dry
conditions. It is a fine-textured grass with long, narrow leaves that arch outward, forming attractive round
tufts. The leaves range in color from a rich green hue in summer to a golden rust complexion in the fall.
Foliage is resilient enough to resist flattening by snow, so it provides year-round interest. From late July to
mid-September, the grass blooms with rusty-tan flowers that rise 30 to 36 inches in height. We planted
185 plants at JRC.
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Invasive Plants that Need Control or Eradication
Beebalm
For a picture and information, see above. Beebalm is extremely aggressive, and needs to be
removed from many parts of the JRC Garden. With control, however, it is a welcome native Illinois flower
for other parts of the garden. It just should be watched.
Crown Vetch Securigera varia
Crown Vetch is a low-growing non-native vine that has become an invasive species in many states of the
US. It grows one to two feet tall and bears small clusters of half-inch pink and white flowers from early
summer to late fall. It is a tough, aggressive spreading plant with a tenacious and complex root system
that wraps its tentacles around native plants and is extremely difficult to eradicate. In 2015, the Garden
Team weeded it out of the JRC Garden, but we must vigilantly keep on top of it or it will come right back.
Morning Glory
Morning glory vines are pretty along a fence but along the ground, as at JRC in the bed at the corner of
Mulford and Dodge, they grow along the ground, and are choking out native plants. Because Morning
Glory vines can grow to fifteen feet, it is very difficult to follow a vine to the roots and weed it out. It grows
aggressively during warm weather.
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