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The Woodstock Gardener, Woodstock, IL (2026)

06/12/2026

I think Heuchera gets put into a box more than almost any other perennial.

Most people hear “coral bells” and immediately think of a little green plant tucked under a tree somewhere. That’s not what these are.

Modern Heuchera comes in colors that most flowering perennials can’t even compete with. Pink, peach, caramel, silver, purple, burgundy, nearly black, and bright chartreuse. Some of them look better for more of the year than the flowers planted next to them.

A few of my favorites:

Berry Smoothie – Bright pink foliage that practically screams for attention. If subtle isn’t your thing, this one is.

Autumn Bride – One of the best flowering Heuchera. Pollinators love it and it can handle more sun than people give it credit for.

Black Forest Cake – Nearly black foliage with bright pink flowers. One of the easiest ways to make everything around it stand out.

Caramel – Probably one of the most underrated Heuchera out there. Great color and one of the better choices if your garden gets a decent amount of sun.

Cinnamon Stick – Copper, silver, cinnamon tones, and red stems. Doesn’t look like every other coral bell on the market.

Citronelle – Bright chartreuse foliage that glows from across the yard. Surprisingly tough and more sun tolerant than most people realize.

Forever Red – About as red as a Heuchera gets.

Georgia Peach – Peach and silver foliage that changes throughout the season. Another variety that can handle quite a bit of sun in Northern Illinois.

Palace Purple – An old-school classic that’s still around because it works.

Plum Pudding – Silver-purple foliage with dark veining. Reliable and easy to mix with almost anything.

One thing I think gets repeated way too often is that Heuchera are shade plants. Some certainly prefer part shade, but varieties like Caramel, Citronelle, Georgia Peach, Autumn Bride, and Cinnamon Stick can take a surprising amount of sun here in Northern Illinois if they’re not growing in bone-dry soil.

No, I wouldn’t stick every variety in a blazing hot parking lot island and forget about it. But they’re far more adaptable than the internet gives them credit for.

If you’re looking for a plant that provides color from April through winter without relying on flowers, Heuchera deserves a spot on your list.

The hardest part is deciding which color you like best.

06/09/2026

Heuchera (Coral Bells) available — 1 gallon pots, $13 each

If you’ve spent any time gardening in Northern Illinois, you’ve probably heard Heuchera called a shade plant. That’s true, but it’s only part of the story. Some varieties can handle quite a bit more sun than people realize, especially here in McHenry County where our summers are generally milder than farther south.

🍷 Summer Wine – Deep burgundy-red foliage that adds contrast all season long.

💚 Autumn Bride – Bright green foliage with airy white flowers in late summer. One of the toughest and most adaptable varieties you can grow.

🩷 Berrie Smoothie – Bright rosy-pink foliage that keeps its color well throughout the growing season.

🖤 Black Forest Cake – Nearly black foliage with bright red flowers for dramatic contrast.

🤎 Caramel – Warm amber, caramel, and apricot tones that brighten shady areas and one of the most reliable performers I’ve seen.

🧡 Carnival Cinnamon Stick – Rich cinnamon-orange foliage that looks like fall color all season.

💛 Citronella – Bright chartreuse foliage that practically glows in the landscape.

❤️ Forever Red – One of the best red Heucheras available, with color that stays strong throughout the season.

🍑 Georgia Peach – Peach, pink, and silver tones that often become even more colorful during cooler weather.

💜 Palace Purple – The classic purple Heuchera that’s been earning its place in gardens for decades.

🍇 Plum Pudding – Silvery purple foliage with dark veining and excellent texture.

One thing I think gets overlooked with Heuchera is that you’re really buying them for the foliage, not the flowers. The blooms are nice, but the leaves are what keep the show going from spring until frost.

For Northern Illinois gardeners, Caramel, Citronella, Georgia Peach, and Autumn Bride are some of the easiest and most forgiving varieties on this list. They handle our humidity well, tolerate more sun than most people expect once established, and are usually the ones I’d recommend to someone just getting started with Heuchera.

The darker varieties like Black Forest Cake, Forever Red, Palace Purple, Plum Pudding, and Berrie Smoothie generally keep their best color with some afternoon shade, while the brighter varieties are often more adaptable to sunnier locations.

The sweet spot for most Heuchera is morning sun with afternoon shade, dappled shade under mature trees, filtered light along a woodland edge, or mixed perennial beds that get partial sun. They also perform very well in containers.

They’re low maintenance, provide color from spring through frost, add texture that few other perennials can match, and unlike hostas, deer usually leave them alone.

1 gallon pots — $13 each

Woodstock pickup

06/09/2026

Echinacea available — 1 gallon pots, $13 each

Let’s be honest about echinacea in Northern Illinois.

Everyone loves the fancy colors, but not all echinacea are created equal. The straight species and older varieties tend to be the longest-lived and most reliable in our climate. Some of the newer hybrids are absolutely beautiful, but they can be shorter lived, disappear after a tough winter, or come back looking a little different than the tag.

💜 Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) – The native classic. Tough, dependable, drought tolerant once established, and one of the best plants you can grow for pollinators.

💜 Magnus – A classic purple coneflower with larger blooms and strong stems. If someone asked me for one echinacea to plant, this would be near the top of my list.

🤍 White Swan – White flowers with the same reliable nature as the classic purple forms. Looks great mixed with darker flowers and ornamental grasses.

💗 Pow Wow Wildberry – Compact with bright rosy-purple blooms. One of the better modern varieties for color and performance.

❤️ Kismet Raspberry – A shorter variety with rich raspberry-pink flowers that fits nicely into smaller beds and borders.

🧡 Cheyenne Spirit – A mix of red, orange, yellow, pink, cream, and purple flowers. Great if you like variety and don’t mind every plant being a little different.

💚 Green Twister – Green-tipped petals that blend into pink around the cone. One of the most unique-looking echinacea available.

💛 Sombrero Lemon Yellow – Bright yellow flowers that really pop in the landscape and pair well with purple and blue perennials.

❤️ Sombrero Salsa Red – Deep red-orange blooms that add warm color through summer.

🧡 Butterfly Rainbow Marcella – Soft peach, coral, and rose tones that change as the flowers mature. One of the prettiest color combinations in the group.

🌈 Sunseekers Rainbow – Large flowers with blended sunset shades that make it a real focal point in the garden.

🩷 Sunseekers Salmon – Soft salmon-pink blooms with a more refined look than traditional coneflowers.

Now for my opinion.

The plain Purple Coneflower, Magnus, and White Swan are the plants I’d bet on still being there 10 years from now. They’re generally longer lived, more reliable, and less fussy.

The fancy hybrids are gorgeous, and I grow them because people love them, but I think gardeners deserve the truth. Many of these newer varieties are bred for flower color first and longevity second. Some can be shorter lived, some may not return as strongly after a few winters, and some can eventually revert or bloom in a stronger dominant color than what you originally purchased.

That doesn’t mean don’t buy them. I have plenty in my own garden. Just buy them because you love the color, not because you’re expecting them to behave exactly like an old stand of Purple Coneflowers.

All of these need full sun and good drainage. They generally don’t like wet feet, but once established they’re drought tolerant, pollinator magnets, and provide seed for birds later in the season.

1 gallon pots — $13 each

Woodstock pickup

06/08/2026

Since my page got reported and temporarily locked till 11 am because I commented on a Facebook group about this topic, I want you to honestly read this.

I know this won’t get as many clicks as a fear-mongering “You’re going to kill your cat with daylilies!” post, but I think gardeners and pet owners deserve honest information.

Let’s start with the facts. True lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are highly toxic to cats, and if you know or suspect a cat has chewed on one or been exposed to pollen, it should be treated as a veterinary emergency.

Now let’s talk about the part that gets left out.

There are millions of barn cats, farm cats, and outdoor cats living around old gardens, fencerows, and homesteads where daylilies have been growing for generations. Simply having a patch of daylilies in your yard is not the same thing as a cat ingesting the plant.

Cats are also obligate carnivores. They are not natural plant grazers, and most have little interest in chewing on tough, fibrous daylily leaves. Some cats will nibble on grass or plants, and there is no way to know which cat might do it, which is exactly why the risk should be respected.

The bigger concern is often inside the home. A bouquet of cut lilies or a potted plant in a confined space gives an indoor cat far more opportunity to brush against pollen or chew on leaves out of curiosity or boredom.

Another thing to consider is that when a cat becomes ill, people often assume it had to be that flower bed they walked through. The reality is that there are many plants and household hazards that can make a cat seriously sick.

Some common plants that are considered toxic to cats include:

• True lilies
• Daylilies
• Autumn crocus
• Sago palm
• Oleander
• Foxglove
• Azaleas and rhododendrons
• Yew
• Castor bean
• Lily of the valley
• English ivy
• Dieffenbachia (dumb cane)
• Pothos
• Philodendron
• Peace lily
• Snake plant
• Aloe vera
• Tulips and hyacinths (especially the bulbs)

And plants aren’t the only concern. Antifreeze, rodenticides, certain human medications, pesticides, toxic mushrooms, and many household chemicals can also be life-threatening to cats.

For what it’s worth, I walked my own property before writing this. I have every one of those plants growing somewhere on my five acres except for two of them. I also have outdoor animals.

That doesn’t mean those plants aren’t toxic. It doesn’t mean I would ever tell someone to ignore the risks.

What it does mean is that simply having a toxic plant on your property is not the same as an animal ingesting it. Nature is full of plants that can be harmful under the wrong circumstances.

My point is not that daylilies are harmless. They aren’t.

My point is that good information is better than fear. Know the risks, know your pets, and understand that there is a big difference between a cat actually ingesting a toxic plant and simply having one growing somewhere in the yard.

The goal should always be education, not panic. If that weren’t true, millions of farmsteads and rural properties across America would have learned a very different lesson a long time ago.

06/06/2026

June 6, 1944.

Imagine being 18, 19, or 20 years old.

Imagine leaving your family’s farm, your small town, your sweetheart, your parents, and climbing into a landing craft knowing there was a very real chance you would never come home.

On D-Day, more than 156,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy. By the end of that single day, roughly 4,400 Allied soldiers had been killed and thousands more wounded. Entire communities would receive telegrams that sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers were never coming back.

Think about that for a moment.

One day.

One day that changed countless families forever.

As we approach America’s 250th birthday, regardless of politics, party, or who you voted for, this is something worth remembering. The United States did not reach 250 years by accident. It was built, protected, and preserved by generations willing to sacrifice for something bigger than themselves.

The men who landed on those beaches weren’t fighting for social media likes, political parties, or cable news talking points. They were fighting for each other, for home, and for the hope that future generations would live free.

We don’t honor D-Day because war is glorious.

We honor it because the sacrifice was enormous.

So today, take a moment. Fly a flag. Learn a story. Thank a veteran. Teach a child why this day matters.

And as America turns 250, let’s remember that our history isn’t perfect, but it is ours—and it was paid for by generations who gave far more than most of us will ever be asked to give.

🇺🇸 Never forget. 🇺🇸

06/02/2026

🌿 Hosta ‘Great Expectations’ 🌿

I’m going to be honest about this one.

If you’re the type of person that wants a plant to double in size every year and give you instant results, you’re probably not going to love Great Expectations.

This hosta is famous for being slow. Sometimes painfully slow.

But that’s also why I like it.

When you finally see a mature clump, you understand what all the fuss is about. The leaves are thick, heavily textured, and have some of the prettiest variegation you’ll find on a hosta. The creamy center and blue-green margins almost look painted on.

A mature plant can reach around 2 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide, but don’t expect it overnight. This is one of those plants that teaches patience.

The bad? It’s slower than many hostas, more expensive than your average hosta, and doesn’t always look perfect when it’s young.

The good? Once established, it’s absolutely gorgeous and doesn’t look like every other hosta in the neighborhood.

And honestly, that’s why I think every hosta lover should own at least one.

Not because it’s rare.
Not because collectors chase it.
Not because it’s expensive.

Because every garden needs a plant that makes people stop and ask, “What is that?”

For me, Great Expectations is one of those plants. It’s not the easiest. It’s not the fastest. But when it finally hits its stride, it’s worth every bit of the wait.

🌿

06/01/2026

Most people think astilbes are little fluffy shade plants.

Then they meet Superba.

This isn’t the astilbe you’re used to seeing. While many astilbes stay around 18–30 inches tall, Superba can reach 3–4 feet in bloom, creating a completely different look in the garden.

Instead of forming a low mound of flowers, it sends up tall lavender-pink flower spikes that rise above the surrounding plants. If you’ve got a shade garden full of hostas, ferns, and other lower-growing perennials, Superba adds the height that so many shade gardens are missing.

Another thing I like about it is that it’s tougher than people expect. Like all astilbes, it appreciates moisture, but once established it tends to handle a little more sun and a little more dry weather than many of the older varieties.

Common Name: Superba Astilbe
Botanical Name: Astilbe chinensis ‘Superba’
Sun: Part Shade to Shade
Height: 36–48 inches
Width: 24–36 inches
Bloom Time: Mid to Late Summer
Zone: 4–8

If you’ve always thought astilbes were short little plants tucked between hostas, Superba might change your mind.

Sometimes bigger really is better.

Follow The Woodstock Gardener for more plant spotlights, growing tips, and plenty more astilbes to come.

06/01/2026

Bridal Veil Astilbe is one of those plants that has been around forever, and honestly, there’s a reason for that.

While everyone is chasing the newest and rarest plants, Bridal Veil just keeps doing its job year after year. The bright white plumes rise above fern-like foliage in early summer and help brighten shady areas where color can sometimes be hard to find.

What I like most about it is how easy it is to work into a landscape. It looks right at home with hostas, ferns, brunnera, heuchera, and just about any shade perennial you can think of. It’s one of those plants that makes everything around it look better.

Bridal Veil grows about 28–36 inches tall and 18–24 inches wide. It prefers part shade to shade and consistently moist soil. Like most astilbes, it’ll often handle more sun than people expect if it has enough moisture.

Common Name: Bridal Veil Astilbe
Botanical Name: Astilbe × arendsii ‘Bridal Veil’
Sun: Part Shade to Shade
Height: 28–36 inches
Width: 18–24 inches
Bloom Time: Early to Midsummer
Zone: 4–8

Not every plant has to be rare to deserve a spot in your garden. Sometimes the plants that have stood the test of time are still some of the best.

Who else still has a soft spot for the classics?

Follow The Woodstock Gardener for more plant spotlights, growing tips, and yes… more astilbes are coming.

06/01/2026

If you’ve ever thought all astilbes look the same, the Vision series might change your mind.

💜 Vision – Rich lavender-purple blooms that bring a cool, elegant look to the garden.

🌸 Vision in Pink – Bright rosy-pink plumes that light up shady corners and pair with just about everything.

❤️ Vision in Red – Deep raspberry-red flowers that demand attention and add a bold pop of color.

🤍 Vision in White – Clean white blooms that seem to glow in the garden, especially in the evening.

One thing a lot of gardeners don’t realize is that astilbes aren’t just shade plants—they’re moisture plants. While they’re happiest in part shade to shade, they can handle more sun than many people think if the soil stays consistently moist. Morning sun is usually no problem, and I’ve seen them perform surprisingly well with more sun than they’re often given credit for.

Most of the Vision series grows about 18–24 inches tall, forms attractive clumps, attracts pollinators, and provides weeks of color when many shade gardens are mostly green.

Personally, I think every Northern Illinois shade garden should have at least one astilbe. They’re reliable, easy to grow, and when planted in groups, they absolutely steal the show.

Now the question is…

💜 Vision
🌸 Vision in Pink
❤️ Vision in Red
🤍 Vision in White

Which one are you taking home?

And don’t worry—we’re just getting started. More astilbes are coming, including some of my favorite varieties, so make sure you’re following along for future availability, plant spotlights, and plenty of garden temptation. 🌿

The Woodstock Gardener

06/12/2026

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