June 2025 - Illinois Native Plant of the Month - Serviceberry - Amelanchier

If you're looking to enhance your landscape or rooftop deck with beauty, biodiversity, and year-round interest, consider planting a Serviceberry—our latest Illinois Native Plant of the Month. Also known as Juneberry, Shadbush, or Saskatoon depending on the region and species, Serviceberry is a multi-season standout that benefits both people and pollinators. This adaptable small tree or large shrub typically grows 15 to 25 feet tall, making it well-suited for a range of garden sizes and urban environments.

May 2025 - Native Plant Of The Month - Zizia aurea

Zizia aurea is a valuable native perennial that supports biodiversity by providing early-season nectar for a wide range of pollinators, especially native bees and butterflies. Its small yellow flowers are a magnet for species like sweat bees and small carpenter bees, and it serves as a larval host plant for the Black Swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillars feed on its foliage.

March 2025 - Native Plant of the Month - Acer Rubrum, Red Maple

The Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is a must-have for homeowners looking to add beauty, shade, and sustainability to their landscape. Fast-growing and highly adaptable, it thrives in city settings, providing cooling shade, cleaner air, and natural stormwater control.

EducationalJenn LassaMarch 12, 2025Acer Rubrum, Red Maple, native plant, Rooftopia, fine gardening, trees

February Native Plant: Red Twig Dogwood

The Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea), also known as Red Osier Dogwood, is a hardy and adaptable native shrub that provides year-round beauty and ecological benefits in Chicago and the Midwest.

EducationalJenn LassaFebruary 12, 2025Red Twig Dogwood, Cornus sericea, fine gardening, rooftopia, native plant

January Native Plant Of The Month: Baptisia

Baptisia, commonly referred to as false indigo or wild indigo, provides a number of significant benefits during the winter months, even though it is a perennial plant that typically dies back completely to the ground in colder climates. Here’s a closer look at how this remarkable plant can positively contribute to your winter landscape and enhance the overall ecosystem during the colder season:

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