For Tree Specialist, Only Plants with ‘Good Behavior’ Make the Cut
According to a 2010 survey conducted by the USDA, less than half of the plant life in the Chicago region is native to the area.
It's Joe Rothleutner's job, in part, to make sure the region's native plants are protected. He's the Morton Arboretum's tree improvement specialist, and he breeds new tree and shrub cultivars – plants grown for specific traits – to benefit the future of the Chicago area’s natural landscape.
