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…
Shrub Indiana Native Corylus americana [American Hazelnut] The American Hazelnut is a medium to fast growing shrub and an Indiana native. Being monoecious, the male catkins are 1 1/2 to 3" long, that emerge yellowish brown and are quite showy in early spring. The female catkins are inconspicuous with its stigma and style barely protruding out of the buds, but the color is a rich red. The American Hazelnut is a great large shrub for native restoration projects or adding seasonal interest…
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.
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.
Tree Indiana Native Diospyros virginiana [Common Persimmon] Most are usually dioecious and have a deep tap root which makes large plants difficult to transplant. Flowers attract bees while the fruit attracts birds and many mammals. The fruit is astringent when green, sweet and edible when ripe. Fruits, twigs, and leaves can be a littler problem.
Shrub Euonymus fortunei 'Vegetus' [Vegetus Wintercreeper Euonymus] This cultivar has a more shrub-like habit than the species type, but can be moderately effective as a groundcover or wall climber. Also much heavier fruiting than the straight species; the fruiting display can be quite attractive, if fruits are borne in high enough numbers. Very susceptible to Euonymus Scale.
Shrub Hypericum calycinum [Creeping St. John's Wort] Relatively trouble-free. Tolerates dry conditions well (even drier shade). Generally, tops are killed back in severe winters near its limit of hardiness. Mowing to the ground each spring improves aesthetics of the following regrowth. Slow to leaf out in spring. Can be invasive via spreading stolons. Poisonous to animals.
