Established in 1986, the Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program is a unique partnership between the The Morton Arboretum, the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the Ornamental Growers Association of Northern Illinois (OGA) which is dedicated to developing, selecting, and growing a diversity of plants that are well adapted to Midwestern landscapes and beyond. Herbaceous perennials and grasses developed at the Chicago Botanic Garden and trees and shrubs developed at The Morton Arboretum provide the program with a pipeline of new landscape plants for the horticulture industry and home gardeners alike.

The regional OGA nurseries and a network of additional nurseries, both national and international, are licensed to propagate, grow, and sell new cultivars that are deemed worthy of introduction to retailers, landscape contractors, and other consumers. Proceeds from sales of the program’s introductions support plant breeding work at the Chicago Botanic Garden and The Morton Arboretum, ensuring that new plants will continue to be brought to market.