Shrub Chaenomeles speciosa [Common Flowering Quince] White, pink, orange, salmon, or red single or double flowers (depending on variant) occur in late April, are born on old wood just before the leaves fully emerge, and occur singly or 2-4 per cluster, creating an excellent dispersal of coloring throughout the shrub. Sparsely produces small, apple-like fruits, commonly called quinces, that are edible if used in preserves; harvest in October. Widely adapted to different soils and microclimates. Place in full sun location for…
Tree Chionanthus virginicus [White Fringetree] Dioecious with male plants showier in flower than females; plant a female if fruits are desired. Plants of known sex are not usually available unless selected in the flowering size. One of the last plants to leaf out in the spring.
Tree Indiana Native Cladrastis kentukea [American Yellowwood] A highly ornamental native tree, even though the pendulous clusters of flowers do not appear in great numbers every year. Well-adapted to Midwest conditions. Develops a tap root. Does not flower fully each year; part of a tree may flower one year, part the next, but the effect is striking even when only certain branches bear flowers. Bees are attracted to the flowers. Flowers appear only after many years from seed. Avoid pruning in spring…
Liana (Climbing Vine) Clematis × jackmanii [Jackman's Clematis] The Jackman Clematis is a hybrid that has flowers with large, rich purple sepals, which develop on new growth. The root system should be kept cool by deep soil preparation and mulching around base. It is said that Clematis prefer "a warm top and a cool bottom". While this is generally true, provide some shade during the day to the top portion for best results. Climbs by twining stems and clasping leaves, so needs a…
Liana (Climbing Vine) InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive Clematis terniflora [Sweetautumn Clematis] Keeping the root system cool by deep soil preparation and mulch around the base is beneficial. Climbs by twining stems and clasping leaves, so needs trellis or wire support. Extremely vigorous; can engulf an entire structure. Prune out old wood, and dead wood that arises from winter-kill.
Shrub 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.
Shrub Indiana Native 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.
Tree Indiana Native Cornus florida [Flowering Dogwood] One of the finest small trees, interesting at almost every season. Distinct horizontal branching patterns. Widely adaptable, but material of different geographic origin varies widely in hardiness. Fruit is an important food supply for native birds and other animals. Not extremely drought-tolerant, but useful in most parts of the Midwest. Dogwood borer and dogwood anthracnose (caused by Discula destructiva) can be problematic, especially in the Eastern and Southern US. Difficult to transplant. Not pollution tolerant.…
Tree Indiana Native Cornus florida var. rubra [Pink Flowering Dogwood] The variety rubra is a group of Flowering Dogwoods with beautiful pink bracts of varying intensities. Flowering Dogwoods are one of the finest small trees, interesting at almost every season, and with a branching pattern that is distinctly horizontal. Widely adaptable, but material of different geographic origin varies widely in hardiness, and the flowers of variety rubra tend to be less cold hardy than those of the white flowering type. Fruit is an important food…
Shrub/Tree 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…
