Plants

Cornus alba 'Regnzam' [sold as Red Gnome™]

[Dwarf Red Twig Tatarian Dogwood]

'Regnzam' is a compact cultivar, also known for its bright red stems and fall foliage. 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 blight can be a problem.

Cornus alternifolia

[Pagoda Dogwood]

Broad-spreading, low branched, forming stratified tiers, very interesting branching habit. Leaf spot and twig blight/canker can be problem for older trees.

Cornus amomum

[Silky Dogwood]

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. Scale and leaf spot can be a problem. Can appear a bit coarse in the landscape.

Cornus officinalis

[Japanese Cornel Dogwood]

The Japanese Cornel Dogwood is a large multi-stemmed shrub or small tree of oval rounded outline, usually branching to the ground. No serious disease problems, although it sometimes suckers abundantly. These suckers should be removed to control spread; this is especially important if maintaining this plant in tree form. Closely related to Cornus mas, but tends to have more attractive bark, is more open in habit, flowers one to two weeks earlier, and is slightly…

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.

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.

Filipendula purpurea 'Elegans' [sold as Japanese Meadowsweet]

[Japanese Meadowsweet]

Fraxinus profunda

[Pumpkin Ash]

Emerald Ash Borer is severely affecting all species of this genus. Damage can be prevented with the appropriate pesticide, but the treatment cost will eventually exceed replacement cost. See the Purdue Landscape Report article: Should ash trees still be protected from emerald ash borer? for more information

Gleditsia aquatica

[Water Locust]

This native Indiana tree species is found in three southwestern counties near the lower Wabash River. It is often found in wet or ponded locations where there is standing water or high water tables. Not recommended for the landscape as it has large, multi-pronged thorns.  Like its cousin, the honey locust, it has compound leaves, but can be differentiated by its location, much smaller seed pods, and flattened thorns along the branches.

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra 'Summer Sun' [sold as Summer Sun Rough Sunflower]

[Summer Sun False Sunflower]