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Avatar for Dutchlady1
Mar 19, 2015 10:15 AM CST
Thread OP

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
A friend is newly resident in Indiana, just south of Indianapolis, and has a fairly bare yard. Any recommendations for easy to grow perennials/shrubs, preferably with some instant gratification so they don't lose heart? I have already recommended Forsythia.
Avatar for Shadegardener
Mar 19, 2015 10:18 AM CST
Name: Cindy
Hobart, IN zone 5
aka CindyMzone5
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier
Butterfly bushes are popular. Some of the big box stores don't carry them early in the season though so best to go to a nursery or garden center. It can get pretty warm down there compared to us in the NW corner.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money. Cree proverb
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Mar 19, 2015 10:54 AM CST
Name: Jennifer
48036 MI (Zone 6b)
Cottage Gardener Houseplants Spiders! Heucheras Frogs and Toads Dahlias
Hummingbirder Sedums Winter Sowing Peonies Region: Michigan Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Shade, sun, or both?
For full sun:
Rudbeckia and the traditional purple Echinacea are solid perennials that require little care and bloom first year. Even if the Rudbeckia's don't over winter they generally self sow easily. Several types of Coreopsis also are hardy or self sow. The fancier ones sometimes require some babying over the winter.

I have trouble getting most butterfly bushes to over winter for some reason.

Veronica's and salvias are also good choices.

Bluestone Perennials has a great "Plant Finder" feature that can be helpful for someone starting out. It asks you to fill in different parameters and will then generate a list of good options.
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Mar 19, 2015 11:47 AM CST
Thread OP

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Thank You!
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Mar 19, 2015 12:37 PM CST
Name: Michele Roth
N.E. Indiana - Zone 5b, and F (Zone 9b)
I'm always on my way out the door..
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Forum moderator Garden Sages Garden Ideas: Master Level Dog Lover Cottage Gardener
Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Keeps Horses Hummingbirder Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
Spring has sprung interest-
Koreanspice Viburnum; ease of care, pretty blooms and wonderful scent.
Lilacs; some nice dwarf cultivars are available now, too.
Daffodils; lots of daffodils!

Late spring interest-
Hybrid veronicas; if they'd like a low, creeping groundcover that's covered in blooms.
Decorative alliums; available in many colors and heights, gorgeous and hardy enough to leave in place.
Peonies; fast to rise, and pretty.
Camassia; plant 'em and that's it. Very nice as a shorter accent to peonies.
Siberian iris; division probably won't be required for several years.

Mid-summer interest-
Daylilies; super easy, and available in almost every color.
Lilies; easy, and available in almost every color.
Heuchera; low water-usage and widely available.
For shadier areas-
Hostas; super-easy.
Hydrangea; may require a balanced watering and feeding regime, but otherwise pretty care-free.
Japanese Forest Grass; stunningly pretty lightener for shadier places.

Late summer interest-
Garden phlox; choose mildew-resistant varieties.
Gladiolus, just drop them in sun-warmed soil and cover. Staking probably won't be required if they aren't watered/fed excessively. The Glamini series are shorter by nature, but they're newer so availability may be limited.
Heleniums; lots of newer, shorter varieties are available now.
Lily 'Cassablanca'; easy, but staking may be required in open areas. Delightfully fragrant!
Crocosmia; some are hardier than others, but all of the ones I've tried so far have been successful here. Clipping required once per season.
Sterile Rose-of-Sharon; care-free. Non-sterile plants will provide several lifetime's-worth of seedlings.

Autumn interest-
Monkshood; super-easy, but considered toxic.
Heliopsis; low water-usage, and more varieties are being added all the time. 'Summer Sun' is a more compact variety that's widely available here.
Perennial chrysanthemums; Minnesota Mums are hardy here, and they're fairly easy to care for.
Koreanspice Viburnum; lovely burgundy, ripe peach and plum autumn leaf colors.

Of the plants listed, nearly all are non-targeted by the plethora of rabbits living here. Hostas and lilies can be attractive to deer, while glads and phlox will occasionally be taste-tested by groundhogs.

Smiling
Cottage Gardening

Newest Interest: Rock Gardens


Avatar for Dutchlady1
Mar 19, 2015 2:13 PM CST
Thread OP

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
Region: Florida Cat Lover Garden Sages Cactus and Succulents Tropicals Hosted a Not-A-Raffle-Raffle
All very helpful, thanks
Avatar for Shadegardener
Mar 19, 2015 4:16 PM CST
Name: Cindy
Hobart, IN zone 5
aka CindyMzone5
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier
Impressive lists. Now I know where to come when I need suggestions!
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money. Cree proverb
Avatar for BurtieR
May 29, 2020 7:36 AM CST
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
what are the conditions? clay soil? wet/dry? Lots of tall tress to cast dappled shade or is it totally bare? Id start with bigger shrubs and trees first. oak tree, witch hazel, Bladdernut, dwarfbush honeysuckle..all depending on the conditions. Spend the extra money on the larger containers, if you can, for quicker gratification.
Avatar for PlantingOaks
May 29, 2020 12:57 PM CST
central ohio (Zone 5b)
I have terrible luck with butterfly bushes here in Ohio. Don't know if indianapolis is different. I've always wondered what the secret is, as they have such an easy reputation, yet I never see them around here.

I second almost everything on chelle's list. Thumbs up
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