Shrub Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee' [Dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea] A unique plant with attractive flower panicles and coarse, handsome foliage. 'Pee Wee' is an excellent compact cultivar (up to 3' high and wide) that has smaller leaves and flower panicles than the species type. Tops (including flower buds formed in fall) can die back when winter temperatures go much below 20 degrees F (often in Zone 6b and colder). Flowers form on previous season's growth. Thus, no flowers will appear in the years…
Shrub Hydrangea quercifolia 'Sike’s Dwarf' [Dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea] A unique plant with attractive flower panicles and coarse, handsome foliage. 'Sike's Dwarf'' is an excellent compact cultivar (up to 3' high and 4' wide) that has smaller leaves and flower panicles than the species type. Tops (including flower buds formed in fall) can die back when winter temperatures go much below 20 degrees F (often in Zone 6b and colder). Flowers form on previous season's growth. Thus, no flowers will appear in the…
Shrub Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake' [Double Oakleaf Hydrangea] A unique plant with attractive flower panicles and large, coarse, handsome foliage. 'Snowflake' is a large cultivar (up to 8' high and 10' wide) that has large (up to 15" long) flower panicles of double sterile flowers. Tops (including flower buds formed in fall) can die back when winter temperatures go much below 20 degrees F (often in Zone 6b and colder). Flowers form on previous season's growth. Thus, no flowers will appear in…
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.
Shrub Indiana Native Hypericum prolificum [Shrubby St. John's Wort] Hypericum prolificum is a compact, rounded Indiana native shrub. The attractive bright yellow flowers, appearing in summer, are unique and crowned by a dome of many long stamens. This species can suffer in hot and humid environments, causing it to become prone to root rot and wilt.
Shrub Ilex crenata 'Hetzii' [Hetz Japanese Holly] This species, like other hollies, is dioecious and 'Hetzii' is a female cultivar that will only be able to produce fruit if there is a male pollinator planted nearby. Nice mounded broadleaf evergreen that holds its color through winter. Withstands severe pruning. Winter desiccation injury to leaves in exposed sites. Spider mites can be serious. Avoid high pH soils as chlorosis may occur.
Shrub Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil' [Sky Pencil Holly] 'Sky Pencil' is a nice extremely narrow, upright, fastigiate broadleaf evergreen that holds its color through winter. This species, like other hollies, is dioecious and 'Sky Pencil' is a female cultivar that will only be able to produce fruit if there is a male pollinator planted nearby. Withstands severe pruning. Winter desiccation injury to leaves in exposed sites. Spider mites can be serious. Avoid high pH soils as chlorosis may occur.
Shrub Indiana Native Ilex glabra [Inkberry] This species, like other hollies, is dioecious, so plant females for fruit and an occasional male for pollination. Withstands severe pruning. Winter desiccation injury to leaves occurs in exposed sites, with severe yellowing when temperatures drop below -20 degrees F. Avoid high pH soils.
Shrub Ilex glabra 'Chamzin' [sold as Nordic®] [Nordic Inkberry] The Nordic Inkberry is quite hardy (USDA zone 3), compact, and rounded with glossy dark green leaves that hold their color well through the winter. Tends to lose its lower leaves and branches with age. This species, like other hollies, is dioecious, and 'Chamzin' is a male cultivar, so no fruiting will occur. Withstands severe pruning. Winter desiccation injury to leaves occurs in exposed sites, with severe yellowing when temperatures drop below -20 degrees F.…
Shrub Ilex glabra 'Compacta' [Compact Inkberry] This hardy cultivar is compact and dense with an oval to rounded habit, but it tends to lose some of its lower branches with age. Ilex glabra, like other hollies, is dioecious, and 'Compacta' is a female cultivar, so plant a male pollinator for fruit set. Withstands severe pruning. Winter desiccation injury to leaves occurs in exposed sites, with severe yellowing when temperatures drop below -20 degrees F. Avoid high pH soils.