Illinois' woodlands are home to the American hornbeam, a striking native tree that grows to heights of 25 to 40 feet. Its beautiful bark adds a lovely touch to any naturalistic garden, and in the fall, its leaves change to vibrant shades of yellow, scarlet, and reddish-purple. This tree truly shines in the winter, when its unique blue-gray branches are on full display. Often referred to as musclewood for its muscular-looking bark, and ironwood for its heavy and durable wood, the American hornbeam is a standout native plant that consistently showcases its stunning characteristics.

Palisade® American Hornbeam has forest green deciduous foliage on a tree with an oval habit of growth. The serrated pointy leaves turn outstanding shades of yellow and in the fall. It produces small clusters of brick red hop-like fruit from early fall to late winter, which fade to brown over time. The furrowed gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

A cultivar of a charming small deciduous tree, native to the eastern US, that works well under power lines and along the street. This tree produces an attractive dark green, wide-spreading canopy that turns red and orange in the fall. The smooth gray trunk has distinctive muscle like fluting evoking its other common name, musclewood.

Lucas Columnar Hornbeam is primarily valued in the landscape for its rigidly columnar form. It has forest green deciduous foliage. The textured pointy leaves turn outstanding shades of yellow and in the fall. The smooth gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Elegant tree with a tight oval habit and clean dark green foliage makes an amazing tall hedge or vertical accent. The winter character is exquisite with the slender branches smartly arranged around the main trunk. Needs no pruning to maintain its shape, but takes shearing well. Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and moderate shade.

A dense dwarf variety with excellent form and few troubles; columnar habit makes it great for smaller landscapes; takes pruning very well and can make a fantastic hedge.

Frans Fontaine Hornbeam is primarily valued in the landscape for its rigidly columnar form. It has forest green deciduous foliage. The glossy pointy leaves turn an outstanding gold in the fall. The smooth gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Forbidden Fruit features bold, yellow-orange foliage with blue-green margins. The bright yellow hue changes to a more demure, creamy white as the plant ages. Forbidden Fruit is quite slug resistant, making it a great choice for display gardens and out of the way shade beds.

Pilgrim Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender tubular flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive small textured oval leaves remain emerald green in color with showy creamy white variegation throughout the season.

Vulcan Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender tubular flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late summer. Its attractive textured pointy leaves remain white in color with distinctive bluish-green edges and tinges of chartreuse throughout the season.

This Hosta is grown locally at our Chalet Farm in Wisconsin. It is a large leaved ornamental blue-green leaves are cupped, nearly round and have a dull glaucous bloom; provides beautiful texture and contrast to other plants; near-white spikes of flowers in mid-summer.

Age of Gold Hosta features dainty spikes of white tubular flowers with lavender overtones rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive large textured oval leaves remain gold in color with showy lime green variegation and tinges of chartreuse throughout the season.

This Hosta is grown locally at our Chalet Farm in Wisconsin. It is a large leaved ornamental green leaves are cupped and have a dull glaucous bloom; provides beautiful texture and contrast to other plants; purple-white spikes of flowers in mid-summer.

This gorgeous hosta from Olga Petryzn’s breeding program is a seedling of hosta ‘Big John’. Plant forms a mound of blue-green foliage with a vase-shaped growth habit. Plenty of substance and nice corrugation. Near-white flowers atop tall scapes in June.

Ann Kulpa Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender tubular flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive large textured heart-shaped leaves remain dark green in color with prominent white stripes and tinges of yellow throughout the season.

August Moon Hosta is grown locally at the Chalet Farm in WI and features dainty spikes of white bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in midsummer. Its attractive textured heart-shaped leaves remain yellow in color throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Attractive olive green leaves with gold variegation; provides beautiful texture and contrast to other plants; lavender spikes of flowers in mid to late summer

Band of Gold Hosta features dainty spikes of white tubular flowers rising above the foliage in early summer. Its attractive heart-shaped leaves remain dark green in color with distinctive gold edges and tinges of creamy white throughout the season.

Ben Vernooji Hosta features dainty spikes of lavender tubular flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive textured heart-shaped leaves remain powder blue in color with distinctive yellow edges and tinges of bluish-green throughout the season.

Enormous bold, puckered blue-green leaves and spikes of pale lavender-white flowers; great impact plant for the garden when set against finer textured plants

Blue Angel Hosta features dainty spikes of white bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive enormous textured heart-shaped leaves emerge blue in spring, turning bluish-green in color throughout the season.