gracie

Horticulture Supervisor, Kyle Cheesborough Veronicastrum, or Culver’s root, is an outstanding summer bloomer, with tall, branching spikes of white-lavender flowers.  The name ‘Culver’s root’ refers to Dr. Culver, who prescribed the plant as a laxative, the roots in fact being a powerful emetic and cathartic.  Veronicastrum is a native Missouri…...

Horticulture Supervisor, Kyle Cheesborough Butterfly-weed, Asclepias tuberosa, is a very hardy, drought tolerant, Missouri native perennial with clustered orange blooms in late spring into mid-summer. As the name suggests, this plant is irresistible to butterflies as a nectar source, and the Monarch butterfly uses the plant as a host for…...

Horticulture Supervisor, Kyle Cheesborough The northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) is a large, deciduous tree native to Missouri.  The almost chartreuse-green, heart-shaped leaves give this tree a tropical feel and the flowers in late spring are a stunning addition.  A delicacy for a variety of bees and the only host plant…...

Horticulture Supervisor, Kyle Cheesborough Irises of Wild Wood Valley Blue flag (Iris versicolor), is a wetland iris growing along shorelines or in a few inches of standing water.  The blue flag can cause dermatitis in susceptible individuals, so be sure to wear gloves when dividing the rhizomes. Yellow flag (Iris…...