Chicago Hardy Hardy Fig

(Ficus carica) -Full to Part Sun–  Fruits on current year’s growth, purple-skinned fruit

 Produces medium-sized purple-skinned fruits with bright pink/red flesh.  Has a sweet, peach-like flavor when fully ripe.   Originated in Chicago, attesting to its hardiness! 

Quart pots $8, Gallon* pots $16

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We have been successfully growing figs in USDA Hardiness zone 5/6 for the past five years. Each year the figs die back almost to the ground but then come back up ready to go in late spring each year (sometimes as late as the end of May – don’t give up on them!).  We have chosen varieties which yield two crops a year and therefore fruit on their first year’s growth.  In some years when winter has stuck around late, the figs have been slow to bud out and the big crops they set failed to ripen before fall frosts.  But getting fresh figs to feast on 2 out of 3 years is totally worth the few off years!  In addition, they are gorgeous landscape plants with their large lobular leaves.  Our plants reach around 8’ in height each year starting from the ground and form multi-stemmed bushes.  Fig leaves can be used to wrap meat and fish before grilling or broiling to impart a coconut-like flavor to the meat!  Though the plants are very drought-hardy, we have found that watering well during dry times helps the fig crop to ripen more consistently (it seems the plant will abort its crop to cope with drought).  Best in full sun, but can take half-day’s shade no problem.  Best in a location protected from the North and West (where winter winds come from).  Figs do not need a pollinator.  Space 5’-8’ apart in row. 

Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

McKenzie Aronia (black chokeberry)

(Aronia melanocarpa) -Full Sun to Part Shade–  Blueberry-sized fruit born in clusters, high antioxidants. Self-fertile, but may produce better with pollinator. 8′ tall x 5′ wide

A seedling selection with improved vigor, large flower clusters, and good production.  

3″ pots $4, Quart pots $8, Gallon* pots $16

North American native plant,   

Medium-sized, attractive, native shrub with 3 season interest.  It is also a practical and prolific berry producer.  Aronias have gained fame recently as a super fruit due to their very high levels of antioxidants.  They are flavorful but astringent and not very sweet, so not super great to eat out of hand (although our picky toddlers loved them last summer).  However, they make a tasty addition to smoothies, jam, baked goods, etc.  The bushes are very productive and the blueberry-sized berries form in easy-to-pick clusters.  We have had some success harvesting with a blueberry rake, but prefer to just snip clusters; removing stems afterwards at the kitchen counter.  Berries are firm, so no worries about squishing as you pick, and they hold on the bush for a long time, so you can wait for the whole bush to ripen and pick all at once.  They are also not as plagued by birds as other berries, and are pest and disease free.  One of our favorites for edible landscaping.  Partial shade to full sun.  Self-fertile but may do better with a pollinator.  Zones 3-8. 

Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Wyldewood American Elderberry

(Sambucus canadensis) -Full Sun to Part Shade–  High Yielding, larger improved fruit quality, wet-loving, plant two varieties for pollination

Newer improved variety.  High Yields and superior fruit quality.  Elderberries are nutritional and medicinal powerhouses, having both antibacterial and antiviral properties, immune boosting properties, and loads of vitamin C.  Needs another American Elderberry for pollination, such as ‘Bob Gordon.’  Prefers full sun but can take some shade.  Flexible on soil requirements but thrives in moist, fertile soils.  Height and width about 8′.

Quart pots $8, Gallon* pots $16

North American native plant,   

Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Bob Gordon American Elderberry

(Sambucus canadensis) -Full Sun to Part Shade–  High Yielding, larger improved fruit quality, wet-loving, plant two varieties for pollination

Newer improved variety, very similar to ‘Wyldewood.’  High Yields and superior fruit quality.  Elderberries are nutritional and medicinal powerhouses, having both antibacterial and antiviral properties, immune boosting properties, and loads of vitamin C.  Needs another American Elderberry for pollination, such as ‘Wyldewood.’  Prefers full sun but can take some shade.  Flexible on soil requirements but thrives in moist, fertile soils.  Height and width about 8′.

Quart pots $8, Gallon* pots $16

North American native plant,   

Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Pink Hardy Water Lily

 -Sun to part shade–  Medium lily with showy pink flowers

Quart pots $8, Gallon* pots $16, 2-Gallon* pots $28

North American native plant,   

Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Wanvisa Hardy Water Lily

 -Sun to part shade–  Variegated Medium/large lily with yellow speckling on deep peach flowers, 3′ to 6′ Spread, 18-36″ deep max, zone 3-11

Quart pots $16, Gallon* pots $24, 2-Gallon* pots $36

North American native plant,   

Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Glade Mallow

Napaea dioica -Sun to part shade–  NA native, clusters of showy small white flowers, edible leaves and flowers, dioecious (separate male or female plants), moist to wet soil

3″ pots $4, Quart pots $8

North American native plant,   

Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana -Full sun–  NA Native, showy light purple flower spires, butterfly, hummingbird and pollinator attractor, spreads agressively but easy to pull, medium to moist soil

3″ pots $4, Quart pots $8

North American native plant,   

Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Svletlana Haskap Honeyberry

(Lonicera caerulea) -Part Afternoon Shade–  1″ long sweet-tart berries, 4-6′ tall

3″ pots $4, Quart pots $8, Gallon* pots $16

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Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Czech 17 Haskap Honeyberry

(Lonicera caerulea) -Part Afternoon Shade–  3/4″ long sweet-tart berries, 4-6′ tall. Long bloom time pollinates all other varieties well.

3″ pots $4, Quart pots $8, Gallon* pots $16

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Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Marge American/European Hybrid Elderberry

 -Full Sun to Part Shade–  High Yielding, larger improved fruit quality, wet-loving, SELF FERTILE, may not pollinate others?

 High Yields and superior fruit quality.  Elderberries are nutritional and medicinal powerhouses, having both antibacterial and antiviral properties, immune boosting properties, and loads of vitamin C.  Needs another American Elderberry for pollination, such as ‘Wyldewood.’  Prefers full sun but can take some shade.  Flexible on soil requirements but thrives in moist, fertile soils.  Height and width about 8′.

Quart pots $8, Gallon* pots $16

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Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

West Wind Shiitake

(Lentinula edodes) –– 

$10-$35 depending on size

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Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Night Velvet Shiitake

(Lentinula edodes) –– 

$10-$35 depending on size

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Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Marsh Mallow

Althaea officinalis -Full sun–  Edible and medicinal roots, showy pale purple flowers, moist soil

3″ pots $4, Quart pots $8

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Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.

Sweet Flag

Acorus americanus -Sun to part shade–  NA native, aromatic leaves have been used as flavoring and medicinally, emergent wetland plant

3″ pots $4, Quart pots $8

North American native plant,   

Availability of plants varies from day to day.  We rarely carry every size/price option listed at any one time.  Please call before you come to check availability.