Blog

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 perennial, with a very erect...

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 egg-laying.  In the fall, wispy,...

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 for the catalpa sphinx moth,...

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 pseudacorus),is another wetland iris growing...