Tree Cornus kousa 'Greensleeves' [Greensleeves Kousa Dogwood] Greensleeves Kousa Dogwood is fast growing, has symmetrical branching, and its flowers remain green, rather than the creamy white of the straight species. Great exfloiating bark, and waxy, dark green leaves also adds interest to this small tree. Greensleeves flowers later in the spring than the Indiana native Flowering Dogwood (C. florida).
Tree Cornus kousa 'Satomi' [Pink Kousa Dogwood] A striking specimen tree flowering later than the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and differing in having pointed bracts. 'Satomi' is an upright cultivar known for its strong horizontal branching and rose-pink bracts, which vary in intensity, depending on environmental and cultural conditions. For best flowering, place in full sun. Better adapted in cultivation than C. florida in much of the Midwest. Quite resistant to anthracnose. Needs watering during severe droughts. Can get borers but less…
Tree Cornus kousa var. chinensis [Chinese Kousa Dogwood] A striking specimen tree flowering later than the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and differing in having pointed bracts. The variety chinesis has larger flower bracts (up to 2.5" long) than the straight species. Better adapted in cultivation than C. florida in much of the Midwest. For best flowering, place in full sun. Quite resistant to anthracnose. Needs watering during severe droughts. Can get borers but less susceptible to them than C. florida.
Tree Cornus kousa var. chinensis 'Milky Way' [Milky Way Chinese Kousa Dogwood] A striking specimen tree flowering later than the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and differing in having pointed bracts. The variety chinesis has larger flower bracts (up to 2.5" long) than the straight species, and 'Milky Way' has an especially abundant flower and fruit set. Better adapted in cultivation than C. florida in much of the Midwest. For best flowering, place in full sun. Quite resistant to anthracnose. Needs watering during severe droughts. Can get borers…
Tree Cornus × rutgersensis 'Rutban' [sold as Aurora®] (Stellar Group) [Aurora Dogwood] The Stellar Series is a collection of hybrids of the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and the Kousa Dogwood (C. kousa), developed by Dr. Elwin Orton, Jr. of Rutgers University. These vigorous, sterile hybrids are resistant to the Common Dogwood Borer (Synanthedon scitula) and Dogwood Anthracnose (Discula distructiva), which can severly affect the Flowering Dogwood. 'Rutban' is a strongly upright, abundant bloomer with white to creamy-white floral bracts.
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 obovatus [American Smoketree] Cotinus obovatus can be a large shrub or small tree and is most noted for its extraordinary fall color and fluffy, smoke-like fruiting panicles. It is a tough plant, adapted to poor, rocky, limestone soils.
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.
Tree Crataegus × lavalleei [Lavalle Hawthorn] The Lavalle Hawthorn is a small, rounded tree that resulted from a cross of Crataegus mexicana and C. crusgalli. Quite resistant to rust and less thorny than its Cockspur Hawthorn parent.
Shrub Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko' [Dwarf Slender Deutzia] 'Nikko' is a compact, dense, and rounded shrub. Nice in flower as they can cover the plant, and relatively pest free. Branches often killed by cold temperatures in Northern range (or just die back), and then it's often best to cut it back to 6". Renewal pruning every few years can maintain vigor and form. Prune to maintain form by removing old stems, and do so after flowering to encourage best flower show the following…