Shrub Cornus sericea 'Baileyi' [Red Twig Dogwood] A shrub with a rounded habit, bright red stems that persist into winter, dark green ovate-laceolate leaves, and white cymes in spring. It has many uses borders, naturalizing, specimen, erosion control, and in moist soils.
Shrub Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' [Red Twig Redosier Dogwood] The Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood has attractive, strongly red stems, providing winter interest to the landscape. It is a larger variant that has better resistance to leaf spot than other cultivars. Grows well in a variety of situations, including wet soil. Easy to transplant. Relatively trouble-free. A three-year pruning cycle improves form, vigor, and winter stem color effect. Cutting all stems 6-12" from ground in late winter has similar effect. Best in mass plantings. Excellent…
Shrub Cornus sericea 'Farrow' [sold as Arctic Fire™] [Dwarf Red Twig Redosier Dogwood] This plant has attractive dark red twigs all year round, but the color is especially prominent in winter. Deer resistant. Grows well in a variety of situations, including wet soil. Easy to transplant. Relatively trouble-free. A three-year pruning cycle improves form, vigor, and winter stem color effect. Cutting all stems 6-12" from ground in late winter has similar effect. Best in mass plantings. Excellent for winter color. Leaf blights and twig cankers can be problematic.
Shrub Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi' [Dwarf Redosier Dogwood] 'Kelseyi' is a dense dwarf shrub that has red twigs all year round. The stem color is not as strong as that of the species type, but is still attractive. Grows well in a variety of situations, including wet soil. Easy to transplant. Relatively trouble-free. A three-year pruning cycle improves form, vigor, and winter stem color effect. Cutting all stems 6" from ground in late winter has similar effect. Best in mass plantings. Good for…
Shrub/Tree Cotinus coggygria [Common Smokebush] Usually dioecious, so heavy-fruiting clonal material should be used when possible. Can be pruned to low framework each year to promote plant coloration which occurs best on vigorous stems. Misty fruiting panicles give the species its name. The fine-textured hairs on the fruit pedicels and peduncles change colors, being best when tinted smoky pink.
Shrub/Tree Cotinus obovatus [American Smoketree] Cotinus obovatus can be a large shrub or small tree and is most noted for its extraordinary fall color and fluffy, smoke-like fruiting panicles. It is a tough plant, adapted to poor, rocky, limestone soils.
Shrub/Tree Cotinus × 'Grace' [Grace Smokebush] 'Grace' has become a popular cultivar with its purple emerging leaves and giant panicles of smokey, pink flowers. The "flowers" are actually misty fruiting panicles that give the species its name. The fine-textured hairs on the fruit pedicels and peduncles change colors, being best when tinted smoky pink. Can be pruned to low framework each year to promote plant coloration which occurs best on vigorous stems.
Tree Indiana Native Crataegus phaenopyrum [Washington Hawthorn] One of the finest small trees for winter color. The 1-3" thorns can be dangerous, especially around children. Fireblight, leaf spot, and cedar-hawthorn rust are among the worst problems, although more trouble-free than many hawthorns. Japanese beetles like to feed on hawthorns.
Tree Crataegus × mordenensis [Morden Hawthorn] This uncommon plant resulted from a cross between Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet' and C. succulenta'. It has attractive clusters of double flowers and is highly resistant to hawthorn rust.
Shrub Indiana Native Dasiphora fruticosa [Bush Cinquefoil] Extreme hardiness and long season of bloom make this a favorite in severe climates. Low stature and tolerance of poor, dry soils give it added usefulness in other areas also. Can develop a ragged, unkept habit over time. Remove 1/3 of canes each year (3-year pruning cycle), and consider renewal pruning to a very low framework every 3-5 years if needed.
