Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Saturday - May 29, 2010
From: Fort Branch, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Flowering and evergreen shrubs for landscape in Indiana
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I live in Southern Indiana and we are getting ready to redesign our front landscape. Currently, we have some yews and other shrubs that are unruly and require a lot of pruning and care. My husband hates to trim the bushes and I prefer flowering plants. We are wanting to know of some possibilities for low maintenance, flowering shrubs and evergreens or both in one plant. All I can find are azaleas and rhodos. Also if I chose mainly azaleas, what other greens would complement them? I'm even considering a dwarf tree of some kind as accent if it didn't get too large. Thank you for your help!ANSWER:
On our Native Plant Database you can do a COMBINATION SEARCH by selecting Indiana from the Select State or Province box and then 'Shrub' under Habit (general appearance) to find shrubs native to Indiana. We don't really have a way to search for evergreen plants in the database and Indiana doesn't really have a lot of native evergreen shrubs, but here are a few I found by looking at the different species pages of the Indiana native shrubs.
Chamaedaphne calyculata (leatherleaf) is evergreen and flowering, and here are more photos and information.
Juniperus communis var. depressa (common juniper) is evergreen, but not flowering, and here are photos and more information.
Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel) is evergreen and flowering
Mahonia repens (creeping barberry) is evergreen and flowering
For native Indiana flowering shrubs that aren't evergreen, you can find quite a few on our Indiana Recommended list. On this list are commercially available plants native to Indiana that are suitable for landscaping. You can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option in the side bar to select characteristics important to you. For instance. you can choose 'Shrub' in the GENERAL APPEARANCE to narrow the list. You could also limit the results by making a choice in LIGHT REQUIREMENT and/or SOIL MOISTURE. Here are a few flowering plants from that list that aren't evergreen:
Cornus alternifolia (alternateleaf dogwood)
Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (shrubby cinquefoil) This shrub can be evergreen in some locations.
Physocarpus opulifolius (common ninebark)
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)
You can do a similar search for trees in the Indiana Recommended list. Here are three smaller flowering trees from the list:
Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac) has blossoms, showy red fruit and spectacular autumn leaf color.
Prunus americana (American plum)
Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud)
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Shrubs Questions
Need evergreen, drought tolerant shrubs to plant next to driveway along property line in Austin, TX.
February 23, 2011 - Just moved to Austin, TX. What evergreen, drought tolerant shrubs could I plant by driveway, full sun, next to neighbors lawn. I don't want to mow, space is 3.5 ft. wide by 15ft. long. I thought ab...
view the full question and answer
Roses being attacked by spider mites
January 18, 2008 - My roses are being eaten alive by spider mites. I read that this area of Texas has a huge problem with these devils! I've tried everything to kill them to no avail! Can you help me? Gratefully yours,...
view the full question and answer
Further information on Melochia tomentosa in San Antonio
May 29, 2009 - Information in your database is limited for Melochia tomentosa. I would appreciate any further information you can provide such as requirements for sunlight, soils, water,etc.
view the full question and answer
Ailing Tecoma stans from Phoenix AZ
August 24, 2012 - I have several young Tecoma plants in my Phoenix, AZ garden. I planted them in June and have tended to them over the summer. They are watered twice daily. On some of the plants, I've noticed two oddi...
view the full question and answer
Hardiness of Acerola bush for Conway AR
January 25, 2013 - How far north can you grow an Acerola bush? I live in Conway, AR, which is north of Little Rock.We used to be Zone 7, but now we are on the edge of Zone 8, I believe.
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
