Native Plants of Indiana

Temperatures are soaring, trees are budding, and there was a robin hopping around my front yard today. Spring has officially arrived in Indiana. The blooming flowers remind me that it is planting time once again. This year, I'm looking to fill my garden and landscape with plants native to this Hoosier state that I call home. The options are endless, but here are a few from my list.

Black-Eyed Susan: These prolific wildflowers, daisy-shaped with yellow petals and dark brown or black cone-shaped middles, are great for a flower garden. They are easy to grow, needing very little care, and normally don't need to be treated with insecticides since there are no insects or diseases that threaten them. If you need a plant that produces beautiful flowers without the fuss, these are perfect for you. They are also perennial, so you can enjoy them year after year. Find a sunny spot and sow the seeds directly into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked in spring or early summer. If you get them out early enough, they will bloom this year. If you plant them later in the summer or fall, you won't see blooms until next season. After a few years, separate the clumps by digging some of the plants out of the cluster and transplanting somewhere else. If you don't do this, the plants become overcrowded, resulting in small flowers. You can find Black-Eyed Susan seed packets at virtually any store with a garden section.

Butterfly Weed: This is another great perennial native to Indiana. The beautiful bright orange flowers grow in clusters at the top of tall stems. As their name suggests, their abundance of sweet nectar is perfect for attracting butterflies to your garden. Hummingbirds also find the nectar and bright color irresistible. It requires full sun, and you can use it in rock gardens or as a border. It usually needs a couple of seasons to become well established, but then it is very hardy and dependable.

Columbine: This perennial is another favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies. The flowers are large and may be seen in blue, pink, purple, yellow and white or even combinations of these colors. They are very hardy, easy to grow and need very little care. They like partial shade, and are great for rock gardens, containers or borders. Sow the seeds directly into your flower garden in early spring. Once they are established, separate them in the spring as you would Black-Eyed Susan. The seed packets can be found at your local garden store.

Phlox: These beautiful flowers are mostly annual, but there are some perennial varieties as well. They grow in large clusters of flowers on top of tall stems. The colors range from shades of red, purple, and scarlet to yellow and white. Sow the seeds in early spring directly into your garden, or if you want early blooms, start the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost. Then transplant the seedlings outdoors. They grow best in full sun, and do great as border edging for a garden. Pinch off the blooms as they die and the plant will continue to bloom all summer long. You can find phlox as seed packets or as individual seedlings at a garden center or greenhouse.

Smooth hydrangea: These beautiful perennial bushes are great for display individually or as a group to form a hedge to a garden or walkway. Growing up to four feet tall, they produce huge flower heads composed of a cluster of small flowers. Since the flowers are very fragrant, they are perfect for use as cuttings in a vase. They grow best in full sun or partial shade, and you can grow them from seeds or from cuttings. Start new cuttings from April through August, selecting new growth on the plant and including two to three pairs of leaves in your cut. Plant them in sandy soil in the shade and cover them with a glass jar until their roots have formed. You may then transplant them anywhere you wish.

These are just a few of the many options when it comes to plants native to Indiana. Whether you need trees, plants for hedging, or flowers, there are many varieties from which to choose. Pay attention to the size of plant, color and shape of the flower produced, and the purpose you need it to serve, then choose accordingly. No matter which type (or types!) you choose, it is sure to add beauty and interest to your garden for years to come.