Plants

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Tree

Indiana Native

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Prunus pensylvanica

[Pin Cherry]

Pin or Wild Red Cherry is a slender, small shrub-like tree that is native to Indiana. Often seen as a pioneer species, Pin Cherry can be seen to develop in vacant areas. Its bark is shiny, red in color, and often aromatic when brusied or cut. P. pensylavnica produces a large amount of fruit when fully mature, which could promote weediness.

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Shrub

Indiana Native

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Prunus pumila

[Sand Cherry]

Prunus pumila is a creeping, low-growing small shrub naturally found in sandy locations, such as dunes, where it acts an important stabilizer. The cherry fruits are too bitter to eat fresh, but can be used in jams and jellies.

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Tree

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Quercus × 'Crimschmidt' [sold as Crimson Spire™]

[Crimson Spire Oak]

The Crimson Spire Oak is notable for its powdery mildew resistance and reddish fall color that it gained from its White Oak parent, in addition to the dense, strong, vertical, columnar form, and tolerance to drought and urban conditions gained from its Fastigiate English Oak parent.

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Liana (Climbing Vine)

 InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

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Reynoutria compacta

[Japanese Knotweed]

Handsome groundcover with summer color. Adaptable to poor, dry soils. Just a root cutting stuck in poor soil will lead to an aggressive spreading groundcover. Spreads by underground stems; can be very invasive. Fall color not attractive (best to mow it down in the fall).

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Shrub/Tree

 InvasiveThis plant is considered invasive

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Rhamnus cathartica

[Common Buckthorn]

Tolerates most sites. Dioecious. Very invasive, by the seeds that birds love to eat; probably best to refrain from planting this species in the landscape. Susceptible to rusts (Puccinia coronata), that also attacks oats (in oat growing areas, buckthorn eradication is recommended). The bark, leaves, and fruit were once used in purgatives, thus one of this plant's common names, "Purging Buckthorn".

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Shrub

Indiana Native

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Rhus glabra

[Smooth Sumac]

Large, club-like fruit clusters and rather coarse compound leaves make this a plant that can best be appreciated from a distance, and so it is at its best in large-scale plantings. Picturesque branches. Hard to kill this plant. Can be rejuvenated by cutting to ground in late winter. Plants are dioecious, so only females have the fruiting interest, but all plants are reliably colorful in fall foliage. Spreads rapidly by suckers.

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Shrub

Indiana Native

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Robinia hispida var. fertilis

[Bristly Locust]

Can fix nitrogen. Especially well adapted to poor, dry, alkaline soils. Though native, can be invasive on sandy soils. Frequent pruning may be needed.

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Tree

Indiana Native

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Robinia pseudoacacia

[Black Locust]

Widely variable in form, the most picturesque are straight-trunked with branches abruptly fanning out at the top. Fixes N2. Locust borers are troublesome and difficult to control, but many trees live with them successfully for many years. Leaf minors and permanently wet soils can be problems.

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Herbaceous

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Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues'

[The Blues Little Bluestem]

Little bluestem is native to prairies and fields from Quebec to Alberta and from Arizona to Florida. Ornamental grass good for low maintenance.

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Shrub

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Sorbaria sorbifolia

[Ural Falsespirea]

Coarse texture and unusual spirea-like flowers give this plant unique summer interest. Best in large-scale situations. Spreads vigorously by suckering if not contained. Intensive root pruning can be used to control spread. Does not do the best in dry soils but does tolerate them. Does poorly in heavy wind. Flowers turn brown with senescence and esthetic is slightly improved by their removal. To some, a bit too coarse in winter habit.

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