Could you provide photographs? It’s hard for people to make suggestions without any idea of the site.

agree.. need the pix.. and some idea of space a ailable..

a redbud need be at least 15 to 20 feet from teh house... a river birch.. the same if not more...

i dont know your sources.. but some of your info is suspect.. im not aware of any invasive butterfly bushes.. nor that river birch need to live in a bog ... there are plants that tolerate wet... but dont necessarily NEED wet ... dont get confused over that ...

ken

What might be considered invasive in one part of the country is not necessarily invasive in another part. I have Buddhlea (Butterfly bushes) in NJ/Zone 7a/b and have no issues with them. Maybe there are seed sterile cultivars of the plant. They do tend to need a lot of pruning regardless if you have/don't have winter die back on them. I still like them, but not a native to N. America.

" im not aware of any invasive butterfly bushes.. "

Then you might be one of the few that are not!! Buddleias are considered a listed invasive species in several states and the sale of them - if not a registered sterile cultivar - prohibited in at least two.

A flowering crabapple would work, provided you select for disease resistance. Very hardy, attractive and low maintenance.

" I have Buddhlea (Butterfly bushes) in NJ/Zone 7a/b and have no issues with them. "

You may not have issues with them but one rarely sees evidence of invasive properties within one's own garden. They are, however, a listed invasive species in New Jersey.

Here are my landscape pics

Hope these pics help. Face west, get full sun after the sun get past the roof to the front.

The rocks are really unfortunate--impossible to remove, reflect huge amounts of heat to add to the heat of the western sun, and in other than dry climates encourage a million seedlings that are nightmares to remove.

Perhaps some of the low junipers would work--they like hot and dry.

A viburnum would be great on that corner. Depending on the variety, you could get one that fills out widely (Burkwood, Opening Day) or is more narrowly shaped (winter thru or brandy wine). They flower beautifully in spring, have nice green foliage in summer and fall color. Very hardy once established.

Ok, I will look into a viburnum. Are they disease or pest resistant? Thank you!

Not that I’m aware of. This blog has some helpful info on viburnums: https://www.grimmsgardens.com/viburnums-the-gardeners-must-have-plant/

Here are a few ideas:

Thanks for the design idea, wow. Another question, do the berries drop and get messy?

No more than any living plant will be messy. And compared with the leaves the berries are small potatoes. That's one reason why the rocks are a bad idea. Much harder to keep clear of debris. On soil or mulch the droppings just rot down and disappear.

I think that any tree will eventually be too big for your space. Nor would I plant the junipers, they add nothing to a garden, but only fill space.

There are many plants that could be put in those areas. There are dward Lilac that would fit. Rose of Sharon grows to a height so could be planted to anchor the garden. Spirea are also nice.

You say northeast Indiana. So the Fort Wayne children's zoo or the Indianapolis Zoo would be great places to get ideas of what will grow in your area. Both are probably with in an hours drive of your location. There is a wonderful garden at Michigan Rd and 38th street in Indianapolis. If nothing else drive through the parks and expensive neighborhood in your town and see what they are planting. your

As some one suggested there are many annuals that could be planted among the larger plants.

N

A single viburnum is unlikely to have many berries. They need another viburnum of a different clone of the same or closely related species that blooms at the same time to have much in the way of berries.

I read somewhere that deer like to eat viburnum and the part they eat won't grow back. Anyone have thougts on that?

The shrub will regrow as long as they don't come back. It's no different than pruning, except it's unwanted.