Hoerr Nursery

09/05/2026

At Hoerr Nursery, we practice IPM, or Integrated Pest Management, which uses the lowest-impact method that will be effective to address plant pests. Here’s Carley spraying ornamental cabbages with Bt, or Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring soil bacteria that controls caterpillar pests such as imported cabbageworms, but leaves everything else unaffected.

If something’s bugging your plants, feel free to get in touch!

09/04/2026

Still waiting for fall weather? 🌡️ Us too, but at least you can get fall on your front porch! Mini mums are out and blooming beautifully, just $4.99, and the bigger ones aren't far behind them. Early pumpkins are starting to roll in, and the cornstalks and mini strawbales will be here soon. Hang tight - the heat won't last forever.

09/03/2026

A unique tree for the shady side of the landscape! American hornbeam is a native understory tree with rich green summer foliage, upright oval form, and scarlet fall color. The showy nutlets attract goldfinches, and its smooth, fluted trunk becomes more distinctive with age. In stock now at $282 in a 15 gallon pot.

09/02/2026

Several people have asked how the Painted Lady butterflies that we released on Saturday got inside their little envelopes safely. 🦋

Like all insects, butterflies are ectotherms, which means that they move more slowly when it's cold. Trained handlers gradually cool the butterflies, which calms them and puts them into a sleep-like rest, and then gently place each one into its own envelope with its wings folded upright. The translucent envelopes are made of a smooth paper called "glassine," which helps to protect the butterfly's delicate wing scales from damage while they are being transported.

To keep the butterflies calm, they are shipped overnight in an insulated container with cold packs. We warmed them up just before release so that they would be ready to fly away.

Painted Ladies do migrate south for the winter, but unlike the milkweed-specific Monarchs, they use more than 100 different host plants, keeping their population large and stable. The caterpillars enjoy everything from hollyhocks and sunflowers to hardy hibiscus and asters.

Thank you to everyone who asked such thoughtful questions, and thanks again to everyone who helped make Saturday’s 100th anniversary butterfly release so special!

08/31/2026

Less than a week left to save on stone, sod, bulk landscape materials and more during Hardy Hoerr's Rock and Roll sale! Get all the details at hoerrnursery.com/rockroll.

08/30/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday to celebrate 100 years of Hoerr Nursery! 🦋 With your help, we released one-hundred butterflies to mark this milestone, one for every year we've been a part of the Peoria community. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and everyone who has been a part of our centennial story. We're grateful for each and every one of you!

08/29/2026

Get more of these moments in your life! Join us today at 1pm to celebrate our centennial by releasing 100 butterflies in the perennial yard, one for every year of Hoerr Nursery's history. Activities start at 12:30pm. See you there!

08/29/2026

Less than half an hour from our 100 year butterfly release, and Hoerr Nursery is buzzing! If you're in the area, come out and join us for the main event!

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

Ever seen a lamb's ear in chartreuse? Key Lime is a supersized, velvety twist on the classic silver. Perfect for dry, sunny borders and sensory gardens.