Plants

Tree

Indiana Native

Liquidambar styraciflua
[American Sweetgum]

Handsome shade tree with few troubles and outstanding seasonal interest. Widely adapted to soils and climates, as evidenced by its wide range. Fall foliage coloration varies greatly in timing and intensity among individuals. Rather difficult to transplant in large sizes. Varies widely in hardiness. Select native northern stock for use in North. Horned fruits can be a serious litter problem, dulling mower blades and injuring bare feet. Also see Liquidambar styraciflua (Shuttle Gum Group).

Indiana Native

Tree

Indiana Native

Liriodendron tulipifera
[Tuliptree]

Handsome, tall shade tree with strong central leader. Performs best in good soil with adequate moisture. Variable in hardiness, depending on geographic source. Use native stock when possible. State tree of Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Slightly weak-wooded. Subject to damage in very windy sites. Subject to aphid and scale insects when weakened. Needs good drainage and a lot of soil (tree lawn may be too small). Its poorly branched fleshy root system (taproot)…

Indiana Native

Tree

Indiana Native

Liriodendron tulipifera 'Little Volunteer'
[Little Volunteer Tulip-tree]

'Little Volunteer' is a dwarf cultivar with smaller 4-lobed and flat-topped green leaves. It makes a wonderful street tree with its smaller size in habit, leaf, and flower. While keeping the classic yellow fall color and yellow-orange-green flower as other varieties.

Indiana Native

Tree

Magnolia acuminata 'Yellow Bird'
[Yellow Bird Magnolia]

'Yellow Bird' is a cultivar that has a pyramidal habit and is fast growing. Its flowers are almost non-fragrant, yellow with a greenish tinge at the base of outer tepals. Tepals are longer than the straight species, reaching 3" to 4" long. Since it flowers later, flowering is more dependable without the threat of frosts.

Tree

Indiana Native

Magnolia tripetala
[Umbrella Magnolia]

Full sun or light partial shade. Tropical appearance. Flowers are creamy white with an unpleasant smell. The cone-like rosy red fruit matures in September-October. Endangered in Indiana. Large leaves can be injured by hail or wind. Perhaps too coarse for most landscape situations.

Indiana Native

Tree

Magnolia virginiana 'Northern Belle'
[Northern Belle Sweetbay Magnolia]

The most cold-hardy evergreen magnolia. Large white blossoms that open with the scent of vanilla. This is great around woodlands and near water, where it still grows in very wet soil. Can take full sun or partial shade. Pests and diseases are almost never a problem and has some resistance to drought.

Tree

Malus domestica 'Flower of Kent'
[The Flower of Kent]

Also known as Isaac Newton's Apple Tree, Flower of Kent is a descendent of the original apple tree that was said to inspire Sir Isaac Newton's theory of gravity.

Tree

Indiana Native

Malus ionensis
[Prairie Crabapple]

Apples are not quite edible when raw due to the high amounts of pectin causing a bitter taste. Although the high amount of pectin makes the fruit good for jellies or jams.

Indiana Native