Have you considered solar power in your home, but been overwhelmed by information and options? The Grow-Solar group buy program aims to make it easier, and cheaper, for homeowners to switch to solar! What is GrowSolar? Grow Solar Gateway Region combines Grow Solar St. Louis and Grow Solar Metro East. It is designed to help…
Category: Missouri
Sunflowers for Sustainability
On a vacant lot in the Old North neighborhood in St. Louis, bright yellow sunflowers bloom against a backdrop of brick buildings and a distant view of the Gateway Arch. Years ago, this picturesque scene was a bit bleaker, with construction debris and weeds filling the lot instead of flowers. In stepped the the Sunflower+…
Plant Profile: Coneflowers
A staple of many wildflower gardens in Missouri because of its beautiful blooms, coneflowers a have a long history of human use, including curing snakebites.
Gardening Help FAQ
The Kemper Center for Home Gardening answers some of the most common gardening help questions from St. Louis gardeners this spring.
Saving Spring: Growing Rare and Endangered Magnolias
An emblem of spring, magnolias are celebrated for their beautiful white and pink flowers that bloom early in the season. While common in home landscapes, half of all magnolia species are threatened with extinction in the wild. They are found around the globe, and are mainly threatened by logging activity as well as habitat loss…
Orchids Native to Missouri
When most people imagine where orchids grow, they see a misty, tropical rainforest. What they may not realize is that orchids are found on every continent, except Antarctica, and live in habitats including grasslands, bogs, deserts and many more. Even in Missouri, with a careful eye and a bit of luck, anyone can find orchids…
Plant Profile: Phalaenopsis Orchids
Commonly called moth orchids, Phalaenopsis are popular house plants that will flower repeatedly once per year with the flowers lasting for four months or more with proper care. Phalaenopsis orchids are one of the longest blooming orchid genera. Where do they come from? Phalaenopsis are a class of around 45 species of mainly epiphytic orchids—orchids…
Botanical Resonance: Saving the Ozark Chinquapin and Its Musical Traditions
The once-beloved Ozark chinquapin tree was almost forgotten after Chinese chestnut blight nearly wiped it out entirely. Now, there is renewed hope for this Ozark tree and the regional traditions it inspired.
Plant Profile: Persimmon
The American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a Missouri-native tree known for its edible fruit and cultural connections.
Wrapping Up a Hard Year for Home Gardening
It was a tough year for gardeners across the region. Here’s how to put your garden to bed for the season If you’re ready for a fresh start next spring.
Native Plants Monarchs Love
In July 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature officially designated the monarch butterfly as an endangered species. The IUCN Red List, of which the Garden is a contributing partner, is considered the world’s leading authority on conservation status of species. The designation is a big step for monarch conservation, but also left many…
Heat-tolerant Plants
As St. Louis and much of the surrounding area experience another round of triple-digit temperatures, the plants around us are feeling it too. Hot, sunny weather will dry out soils quickly. With less water available for the roots to absorb, leaves and stems may start to wilt and flag. An occasional deep, slow watering should…