Plants

Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold'

[Gold-Leaf Eastern Redbud]

'Hearts of Gold' is a striking redbud cultivar with reddish-orange tinted emerging leaves that turn bright yellow and finally deepen to a bright green towards the end of the summer. The yellow color develops most intensely under higher light conditions. A fine small tree that is relatively trouble-free and drought-resistant (although the yellow foliage color will become green in drought conditions). Canker, leaf spot, and verticillium wilt can be problematic for older trees, or trees…

Cercis canadensis 'RNI-RCC3' [sold as Midnight Express™ Redbud]

[Midnight Express™ Redbud]

The Midnight Express® redbud is known for its noteworthy flowers. They are small clusters pink pea-shaped flowers that bloom in spring.

Cercis canadensis 'Rubye Atkinson'

[Pink Flowering Eastern Redbud]

'Rubye Atkkinson' has strongly pink and slightly smaller flowers, distinctly different from the purplish-pink flowers of the straight species. A fine small tree that is relatively trouble-free and drought-resistant. Requires some protection from the sun in hotter climates, however flowering decreases with deep shade. Canker, leaf spot, and verticillium wilt can be problematic for older trees, or trees weakened by other environmental stresses. Long tap root means that older plants transplant poorly.

Cornus mas

[Cornelian Cherry Dogwood]

Large multi-stemmed shrub or small tree of oval rounded outline, usually branching to the ground. Small yellow flowers are beautiful when borne in mass in the spring. No serious disease problems. Sometimes it suckers abundantly, and these suckers should be removed to control spread; this is especially important if maintaining this plant in tree form.

Corylus colurna

[Turkish Filbert]

Horizontal branch structure (with lower branches often touching the ground), strong central leader, and bark give good winter character. Does great in hot summers and cold winters, very adaptable. Quite drought tolerant after establishment, leaves stay green when maples scorch. Needs supplemental water immediately after transplanting and until established. Otherwise drought tolerant. Nuts are edible and can be roasted.

Crataegus × 'Vaughn'

[Vaughn Hawthorn]

This small tree is a hybrid of Crataegus crusgalli x C. phaenopyrum. It is generally grown for its fragrant clusters of white flowers in the spring and prolifically produced red fruits that persist into winter. Due to its numerous thorns, it is best used in areas with low traffic. Highly susceptible to rust.

Dirca palustris

[Leatherwood]

Dirca palustris is a small, dense, quite rounded, Indiana native shrub with excellent yellow fall coloration. Although it is generally uncommon in the wild, Leatherwood can be found growing naturally and thriving along the ravines of Turkey Run State Park in Marshall, IN. This plant requires rich, moist, acidic soils and should be protected from intense sun. Leatherwood fruits, bark, and roots are poisonous.

Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea'

[Purple-Leaf European Beech]

In a proper site, an excellent trouble-free shade tree with year-round interest. More adaptable to hot, dry conditions than our native F. grandifolia, but somewhat less hardy. F. grandifolia is preferred in Zone 4. Like F. grandifolia, this tree is so shallow rooted and casts such heavy shade that grass does not grow well beneath it. Low branching habit is a concern for use in the tree lawn as a street tree (may require more…

Forestiera acuminata

[Swamp Privet]

The Swamp Privet is a large shrub typically found near swamps, floodplains, wet woods and marshes. Purple-black fruits (drupes) ripen during late summer and is a food source for water fowl, such as ducks. Forestiera acumunata is dioecious, so one would need a male and female for the shrub to produce its fruit. Leaves are a dark green and looks evergreen from a glance, yet turns a golden yellow in fall.

Forsythia × intermedia 'Gold Leaf'

[Gold Leaf Border Forsythia]