The most common Smilax species with dense, round heads and long peduncles in your area is S. lasioneura (Blue Ridge Carrionflower). Smilax herbacea is similar, but would have pubescent leaf blades underneath. It is also much less common in Illinois. Here is a link that might be useful: Smilax lasioneura description

7. Eryngium ÂSapphire Blue  long taproots  3 1/2" tall- full sun - well drained soil  original seeds came from JohnnyÂs Selected Seeds-will self sow, but not awfully fast: 8. Nepata moussini  cat mint  full sun  well drained soil  10  12" tall  self sows  shear to the ground after the first flush of bloom to encourage reblooming: 9. Knautia ÂMelton Pastels  2 ' full sun/part shade  allow room to appeciate the shape of the plant  self sows quite prolifically-mother plant came from Bluestone Perennials: Solidago ÂFireworks  full sun  4 tall  will behave for the first 3-4 years then will spread  very late bloomer in fall: Achillea ptarmica ÂAngelÂs Breath  16  10" tall  full sun-well drained soil-blooms look like oversized BabyÂs Breath  does get powdery mildew if not well watered: Leucanthemella serotina  3 tall  full sun  white daisy flowers  Original plant came from Bluestone: Iris sibirica  Siberian Iris - dainty butterfly-like deep royal blue/purple flowers  4 full sun  best in moist soil, but will also perform well in dryish soil: Helianthus maximilliani  perennial native Sunflower  very late bloomer  grows up to 12 tall in rich soil  will benefit from shearing down half the size in spring or early summer:

There are a few Wild Ones chapters in the Chicago area, check out their website at www.for-wild.org. I contacted the president of the Greater Dupage Chapter, knowing that they sometimes have sales. She said they are not this spring, but may in the fall, and they have an email list to join if you want notification of their sales and others in the area (contact Rich Whitney to be on this list: gowild@sbcglobal.net). She also suggested checking out the following groups online for possible plant sales in Chicago suburbs: Schaumburg Garden Club, Midewin, Kane-Dupage Soil and Water Conservation Disctrict, Wheaton Garden Club, Dupage County Forest Preserve. Also, for closer to Chicago itself, contact the North Park Village Chapter of WO. Happy hunting! Maifleur has a good point, too--it can still be cheaper than buying from a nursery (well, at least if you have I-pass!). What you need to do is get together with some fellow native-plant-loving friends to split the cost of gas when you're shopping! And if you don't have any such friends, you need to join a native plant group of some sort! Here is a link that might be useful: Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes

Hi Leslie, thanks for posting this! Sandy (in Evanston, IL :) Here is a link that might be useful: Sandy's website!