Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Monday - October 18, 2010
From: Jeffersonville, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Flowering shrub for Jeffersonville, IN
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I live in Southern Indiana and am wanting to change some of my landscaping. I have 2 fairly large double pink (?) knock out bushes and another lighter shade of pink knock out bush. I am looking for a shrub that reaches 8-10 feet tall that would compliment these roses I would love to have another flowering shrub, but am open to other suggestions.ANSWER:
We are assuming you are referring to the Knock-Out rose, which is a recently hybridized floribunda rose. The Knock-Out is a trade name, and the hybrid has surely been patented. There are very few members of the rosa genus native to North America; most, including the floribundas, are native to China. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to the growth, propagation and protection of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which they are being grown. This plant is out of our area of expertise, but the link above will take you to a good article about them.
We will be glad to recommend a flowering shrub native to the area of Clark County for your purposes. And, along the way, we'll show you how to use our Native Plant Database to make your own choices in the future. To make your own selection, go to our Recommended Species, click on Indiana on the map, then select "shrub" under General Appearance, and indicate the amount of sunlight and moisture in the soil that will be available, and NARROW YOUR SEARCH. You appear to be in Zones 5a to 6b, so we will check each plant we recommend to be sure it will be all right in your USDA Hardiness Zone. When we searched in this way, we found 28 possibilities; by following each link you can go to our page on each shrub and see if it fits your requirements, or use our Search technique to find others you like better.
Flowering Shrubs for Jeffersonville, IN:
Cephalanthus occidentalis (Common buttonbush) - 6-12 ft., blooms white, pink June to September
Cornus racemosa (Gray dogwood) - to 16 ft., blooms white May to June
Cornus sericea (Redosier dogwood)- 6 - 12 ft., blooms white May and June
Physocarpus opulifolius (Atlantic ninebark) - 3-10 ft., blooms white, pink May and June
From our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Shrubs Questions
Pruning of Desert Hibiscus Coulteri from Lubbock, TX
October 20, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
We have in our garden this year 2 volunteer Desert Hibiscus Coulteri----quite lanky! I notice on your website under "comments" someone notes they should be cut back "nearly...
view the full question and answer
Sprout from a non-native sago palm in Poinciana FL
October 16, 2013 - I have two mature (10 years old)sago palms. One of them sprouted a new "head' at the top of the trunk. It is competing with the original one. It is not a pup coming from the root area. Can I cut it ...
view the full question and answer
How to Control Poison Ivy
February 22, 2016 - We have lots of Poison Ivy on a site we are clearing it is adjacent to a pond and children are around this area all the time. We are creating hiking paths. I have a lot of experience but I do not wan...
view the full question and answer
Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus) in Jasper TX
October 27, 2011 - Carolina allspice (calycanthus floridus) grows in my yard in East Texas. It is native to the eastern U.S., but I notice there is a variety whose distribution extends through Louisiana. Since I live in...
view the full question and answer
Plants for 100 gal. pot by pool from Ft. Worth TX
June 23, 2012 - What North Texas evergreen — or combination of evergreen plants, bushes or trees — could thrive in a huge, 100-gallon clay pot (immovable!) that is situated in full sun year round in an exposed area n...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |