Each landscape and every part of each landscape present different challenges.

To give Kansans a start on making their own landscape decisions, however, K-State Research and Extension horticulturist Ward Upham provides the following list of ornamental plants, which he personally has seen growing successfully in the state’s harsh environment, plus the area (E–east, C–central, W–west, N–north, S–south) where they were growing:

baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) – E, SC

river birch (Betula nigra) – E, SC

Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) – E, C

Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) – E, C, W

ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) – E

golden raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata) – E, C

American linden/basswood (Tilia americana) – E

saucer magnolia (Magnolia soulangeana) – E

Norway maple (Acer platanoides) – E, C

Schwedler Norway maple (Acer platanoides HV) – E, C

sugar maple (Acer saccharum) – E

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) – E, C, W

red oak (Quercus borealis maxima) – E, C

shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria) – E

Japanese pagodatree (Sophora japonica) – E, C

London plane tree (Platanus acerifolia) – E, C

eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) – E, C, W

western soapberry (Sapindus drummondi) – E, C, W

American yellowwood (Cladrastis lutea) – E

Japanese barberry (Berberia thunbergii) – E, C

mentor barberry (Berberia mentorensis) – E, C, W

redleaf (Japanese) barberry (Berberia thungergi HV) – E, C

orangeye butterflybush (Buddleia davidii) – E, C

Peking cotoneaster (Cotoneaster acutifolia) – E, C, W

spreading cotoneaster (Cotoneaster divaricata) – E, C

redosier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) – E, C

dwarf winged euonymus/burning bush (euonymus alatus HV) – E, C

winged euonymus (euonymus alatus) – E, C

Morrow honeysuckle (Lonicera morowii) – E, C, W

winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) – E, C

Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica) – E, C

common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) – E, C, W

sweet mockorange (Philadelphus coronarius) – E, W, C

(common) European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) – E, C, W

(common) flowering quince (Chaenomeles lagenaria) – E, C

Japanese flowering quince (Chaenomeles japonica) – E, C

Rose of Sharon/shrub althea (Hibiscus syriacus) – E, C, W

Anthony Waterer spirea (Spiraea bumalda HV) – E, C

Vanhoutte spirea (Spiraea vanhoutteii) E, C, W

flameleaf sumac (Rhus copallina) E, C

staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) E, C

old-fashioned weigela (Weigela florida)– E, C

Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) – E, C, W

sweet-autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata) – E, C

Virginia creeper/five-leaf ivy (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) – E, C, W

common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) – E

purpleleaf euonymus wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei radicans, coloratus HV) – E, C, W

scarlet firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) – E

American holly (Ilex opaca) – SE

Oregon grape mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium) E, C, NW

(common) myrtle periwinkle (Vinca minor) – E, C

leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum) E, SC

Oriental arborvitae (Thuja orientalis) – E, C

(pyramid) Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis) – E

Andorra creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis plumosa) – E, C, NW

Pfitzer juniper (Juniperus chinensis HV) – E, C, W

compact Pfitzer juniper (Juniperus chinensis HV) – E, C, W

white pine (Pinus strobus) – E

eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) E, C, W

Hicks yew (Taxus media HV) – E

Wards yew (Taxus media HV) – E