Plants

Cotinus coggygria
[Common Smokebush]

Usually dioecious, so heavy-fruiting clonal material should be used when possible. Can be pruned to low framework each year to promote plant coloration which occurs best on vigorous stems. Misty fruiting panicles give the species its name. The fine-textured hairs on the fruit pedicels and peduncles change colors, being best when tinted smoky pink.

Shrub/Tree

Cotinus coggygria 'Purpureus'
[Purpureus Smokebush]

'Purpureus' is known for its purple-pink fruiting panicles. Can be pruned to low framework each year to promote plant coloration which occurs best on vigorous stems. Misty fruiting panicles give the species its name. The fine-textured hairs on the fruit pedicels and peduncles change colors, being best when tinted smoky purple to pink.

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.

Shrub

Cotoneaster divaricatus
[Spreading Cotoneaster]

One of the most ornamental and trouble-free of the cotoneasters, although subject to the troubles of Rosaceous plants on occasion. These include lacebugs, scale, mites, and fireblight, but they are not usually a serious problem.

Shrub

Cotoneaster multiflorus
[Many-flowered Cotoneaster]

Salt tolerant and pH adaptable, and has best appearance when grown as multi-stemmed and branching to the ground. Mites, aphids, canker, and fireblight can be problems in stressful sites.

Tree

Indiana Native

Crataegus crus-galli
[Cockspur Hawthorn]

The strong horizontal branching is good for softening vertical lines of buildings. The 2-3" thorns can be dangerous, especially around children. Although attractive, some find the small, white flowers malodorous. Fireblight, leaf spot, and cedar-hawthorn rust are among the worst problems to affect this species. Japanese beetles like to feed on hawthorns.

Indiana Native

Tree

Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis 'Cruzam' [sold as Crusader™]
[Crusader Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn]

This variant of Cockspure Hawthorn is a thornless type. The strong horizontal branching is good for softening vertical lines of buildings. Although attractive, some find the small, white flowers malodorous. Fireblight, leaf spot, and cedar-hawthorn rust are among the worst problems to affect this species. Japanese beetles like to feed on hawthorns.

Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis 'Cruzam' [sold as Crusader™]

Tree

Indiana Native

Crataegus mollis
[Downy Hawthorn]

Quite susceptible to cedar-hawthorn rust, with leaves heavily spotted with orange in some years. Rust limits usage in many areas. Large fruit pose a maintenance issue when they drop.

Indiana Native

Tree

Indiana Native

Crataegus phaenopyrum
[Washington Hawthorn]

One of the finest small trees for winter color. The 1-3" thorns can be dangerous, especially around children. Fireblight, leaf spot, and cedar-hawthorn rust are among the worst problems, although more trouble-free than many hawthorns. Japanese beetles like to feed on hawthorns.

Indiana Native