Native Plants

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Monday - April 21, 2008
From: Cary, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Water-loving evergreen for Chicago
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Is there a water loving evergreen that will do well in the Chicago weather?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants isn't sure whether you are looking exclusively for evergreen trees, or just any evergreen plant. Also, we're a uncertain as to how wet "wet" is. So, here are a few native evergreen trees that are found in Illinois or neighboring states (Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin) that will grow in wet or moist soil.TREES
The one that tolerates the wettest soil is Picea mariana (black spruce). Check here for a photo and more information.
Pinus strobus (eastern white pine), is native to Illinois will grow in poorly drained soils. Click here for another photo and more information.
Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock). Click here for a photo and more information.
Picea glauca (white spruce). Click here for a photo and more information.
Thuja occidentalis (arborvitae). Clich here for a photo and further information.
SHRUBS
There are several shrubs and sub-shrubs that are evergreen, native to Illinois or adjacent states and grow in moist soils:
Andromeda polifolia (bog rosemary)
Chamaedaphne calyculata (leatherleaf)
Epigaea repens (trailing arbutus)
Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry)
Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry)
Ledum groenlandicum (bog Labrador tea)
More Trees Questions
Can oak pollen be composted?
April 28, 2015 - I have quite a few live oaks in my backyard and my flower beds are filled with pollen stuff. Can I compost and mulch over this or is it a good idea to rake as much as I can out first?
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Browning of Red Western cedars in Medina, OH
April 09, 2009 - I have a row of Red Western Cedars bordering my yard. One week after my lawn people but down spring fertilizer and grub control, they began turning brown. Is there any correlation? If not, what cau...
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What about Asian Jasmine and scrub oaks?
September 01, 2010 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have several clusters of native scrub oaks in my yard. I planted Asian jasmine under them many years ago. The trees look fine, but an arborist has told me that the Asian ...
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Non-native, and/or invasive bermudagrass, St. Augustine and Pistache from Houston
September 24, 2012 - Our St. Augustine lawn died suddenly this summer from either chinch bugs or grub worms (or both?), and a multitude of weeds and native Bermuda have taken over the area. Now that the weather has cooled...
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Injury from non-native Canary Palm from Torrance CA
October 18, 2013 - I got stuck in the eye a yr ago by a Phoenix canariensis. It went through my retina and through the integral chamber and put a stamp on my lense. There was no room for any more err without causing bli...
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