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Choosing Cold-Resistant Plants for Your Chicago Garden

As a homeowner in the beautiful Chicago suburbs, you are no stranger to the harsh winters that can make gardening a bit challenging. The cold temperatures, strong winds, and heavy snowfall can take a toll on your plants if you are not careful. However, with the right selection of cold-resistant plants, you can still enjoy a vibrant and colorful garden throughout the year. In this blog, we will discuss some of the best cold-resistant plants for your Chicago garden, ensuring that your outdoor space remains a source of beauty and relaxation even during the harshest winters.

Top Hardy Plants for Chicago

Here are some of the top hardy plants you should consider for your Chicago garden.

  1. Coneflower

Coneflowers are a perennial favorite among Chicago gardeners, and for good reason. Their vibrant and long-lasting blooms make them a lovely addition to any garden. These hardy plants come in a variety of colors, including shades of pink, purple, and white. Coneflowers are also known for attracting pollinators, which can benefit your entire garden ecosystem. With their sturdy stems and deep root systems, they can endure the cold winters with ease.

  1. Switchgrass

A native plant you should consider. It is wind resistant vegetation, standing tall against Chicago’s strong gusts. Its sturdy structure and resilience make it a perfect fit for your garden.

  1. Winterberry

One of the most iconic cold-resistant plants for Chicago gardens is the Winterberry. This deciduous holly shrub is native to North America and is known for its vibrant red berries that persist throughout the winter, making it an excellent choice for adding color to your garden when everything else seems to be dormant. Winterberry thrives in well-drained, acidic soil and is easy to care for, making it a favorite among local gardeners.

  1. Russian Sage

If you are looking for a perennial that can withstand the Chicago cold, Russian Sage is an excellent choice. This woody perennial features aromatic silvery-gray foliage and tall, spiky lavender-blue flowers that bloom from mid-summer to early fall. Russian Sage is drought-tolerant and thrives in well-drained soil, making it perfect for the sometimes-unpredictable weather in the Chicago suburbs.

  1. Purple Beautyberry

Purple Beautyberry is a delightful shrub that can add a burst of color to your Chicago garden, even during the coldest months. In the fall, it produces clusters of bright purple berries that persist into winter, providing a unique and attractive contrast to the surrounding snow. This deciduous shrub is low-maintenance and adapts well to a variety of soil types.

  1. Sedum (Stonecrop)

Sedums are succulent perennials that are incredibly cold-resistant and require minimal care. These plants come in a wide range of varieties, from groundcovers to tall, upright species. They are known for their fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers that bloom in late summer and fall. Sedums can endure the cold temperatures and provide a lovely backdrop for your garden year-round.

  1. Boxwood

Boxwoods are classic, evergreen shrubs that can add structure and greenery to your garden during the winter months. They are known for their dense, dark green foliage and can be pruned into various shapes and sizes. Boxwoods are hardy and can tolerate the cold, making them an ideal choice for Chicago gardens. Just be sure to water them adequately in the fall to prevent winter burn.

  1. Winter Aconite

If you want to welcome the first signs of spring in your garden, consider planting Winter Aconite. These small, cheerful yellow flowers bloom as early as February, often pushing through the snow. They are hardy and can endure the cold temperatures of the Chicago suburbs, providing a burst of color when you need it most.

Conclusion

Creating a beautiful and thriving garden in the Chicago suburbs, even in the face of harsh winters, is entirely possible with the right selection of cold-resistant plants. From the vibrant red berries of Winterberry to the elegant evergreen Boxwood and the early blooms of Winter Aconite, there are numerous options to choose from. By incorporating these cold-resistant plants into your garden, you can enjoy year-round beauty and create a welcoming outdoor space that can be appreciated throughout all seasons. So, get ready to transform your Chicago garden into a winter wonderland that you will cherish for years to come.

 

chicago plants

Chicago Summers Can Be Rough – Some Ideas on What to Plant

If you’re thinking about updating your summer landscaping, it’s important to remember that despite the freezing cold winters in the Windy City, Chicago’s summers can be downright brutal. Below, you can learn more about some ornamental plants – trees, bushes, and flowers – that will absolutely thrive in the hot Chicago summer months.

Hellebore

Hellebore is a beautiful option for landscaping in Chicago because it will provide visual interest all year round. In the summer, its long-blooming bright pink flowers add ever-important color while the bright green leaves stay green throughout the winter months. Hellebore performs best in partial shade, and it’s a perennial, so it will bloom again and again as long as it is maintained.

Coneflower

If part of your space is always in full sun, it’s important to find plants that can tolerate those rays without being burned to a crisp. Coneflower is by far one of the best choices here, and the droop-petal coneflowers are actually native to the Chicago area! They come in a wide range of colors, they bloom all summer long, and they will absolutely thrive if left to bake in the hot summer sun. You can expect them to grow to anywhere from 12 to 24 inches tall and about a foot wide, so make sure you plan adequate space.

Smoke Bush

If you’re looking to incorporate some greenery into your landscape, the smoke bush shrub is a fantastic option. It changes color throughout the season – from a stunning coral pink to a golden cream – so there’s always some visual interest. While the smoke bush thrives in full sun, it also fares well in only partial sun, so you can be fairly flexible with its placement.

Creeping Lilyturf

If you’re looking for groundcover with pizzazz, look no further than creeping lilyturf! It looks very much like ornamental grass, and it can survive virtually anything the Chicago climate can throw at it. When the wind blows and the lilyturf moves, its beautiful shine is noticeable from hundreds of feet away. Just be careful when planting; you’ll want to make proper use of edging to keep it within its boundaries. Otherwise, it can easily take over your entire space.

Hosta

No summer landscape is complete without some hosta, and there are dozens of varieties that fare exceptionally well in the brutal summer heat. These are considered fail-safes because even if you have never grown a plant in your life, you will struggle to kill them. They will survive virtually any imaginable condition, but if you want them to look their absolute best, plant them in a mostly shady area that receives a few hours of indirect sunlight each day.

Whether you’re looking for bold, bright color, evergreen foliage, or even conversation-starting groundcover, these five plants are perfect for Chicago summers – even if you’re not much of a gardener. They’ll look great all summer long, and in many cases, they’ll continue to provide visual interest all year, too!