Shrub Indiana Native Lindera benzoin [Spicebush] The Spicebush is an excellent native shrub for naturalizing or in borders. Tolerant of full shade, although it tends to become leggy in lower light situations. Difficult to transplant; use container-grown plants. Prefers moist soils; not especially drought tolerant. Dioecious.
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)…
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.
Herbaceous Liriope spicata [Creeping Liriope] Liriope specata, or Creeping Liriope is a grass like perennial that has glossy dark green leaves. In late summer the plant produces spikes of pale lavender to white flowers. In the fall, the plant produces dark berries on the flower spikes.
Shrub Lonicera fragrantissima [Winter Honeysuckle] Widely adapted to different soils and exposures. More drought-tolerant, and also not a weed problem, like some other Lonicera. Branches can be forced indoors in winter to provide fragrance. Renewal pruning to a low framework every 5-8 years is helpful to maintain nice form and vigor.
Shrub Lonicera korolkowii [Blueleaf Honeysuckle] The Blueleaf Honeysuckle is an irregularly loose, open, and arching shrub. Attractive pink flowers appear in the leaf axils in late spring and are followed by bright red fruits that mature in mid to late summer. This plant is rare in the trade and quite difficult to establish. Transplant balled-and-burlapped or container-grown. Rejuvenate periodically by cutting back 6-12" from the ground. Like nearly all honeysuckles, this plant can be invasive in environments that it is…
Tree Maackia amurensis [sold as Summertime™] [Summertime Amur Maackia] The Summertime Amur Maackia is a small tree with low branches, attractive mottled bark, and upright, creamy flower racemes that appear in the summer. This tree, closely related to Cladrastis kentukea (American Yellowwood), is an adaptable plant that is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Tree Indiana Native Maclura pomifera [Osage-orange] Withstands wind and dry conditions well. Used by farmers as a hedgerow for livestock fencing because of its thorniness. Highly deer resistant. Fruits are said to be an insect and rodent repellent. Extremely decay resistant wood, containing 1% by weight 2,3,4,5-tetrahydroxystilbene (a fungitoxic compound). Large fruits create litter problem; select staminate trees to avoid fruit (unless you believe the fruits are of interest). Due to invasive root system, do not plant near sewer or drainage…
Tree Maclura pomifera 'Wichita' [Wichita Osage-Orange] Male selection does not produce the large green fruits, mostly thornless.
Tree Indiana Native Magnolia acuminata [Cucumbertree Magnolia] This tree gets it name from the cucumber-looking fruits it bears in the fall. Full sun is best, although it has tolerance for partial shade. Because the roots are thick and fleshy and grow downward more than out, it can be moderately difficult to transplant. Generally trouble-free, but scale can be a problem on occasion. This species may not be ideal for street tree plantings because of a tendency to suffer ice damage.
