The type of sunlight and soil moisture that your garden receives will determine the best outdoor plants for Georgia. If the soil is naturally wet, you may want to plant plants with roots that can tolerate this moisture, while if your garden is dry, you may want to opt for shade-loving plants, such as hostas. Hostas are low-maintenance plants that thrive in shade. If you want to add some color to your home with flowers, try using a variety of colors.
Perennials
Plants that can thrive in Georgia’s climate include a variety of hardy lantanas. A good candidate for a Georgia landscape, this plant blooms from June to October with showy orange and pink blooms. This plant can tolerate most soil types but requires well-drained ground. Also, it can grow in acidic soil. For all of these reasons, it makes a great choice for the state.
Cardinal Flower is another plant that grows well in our area. This short-lived perennial grows best in a moist, well-drained soil. It has a colorful seed head that attracts butterflies and birds. The flower parts are edible and can be used to treat minor ailments. Once established, it will lay low in winter and bloom in the spring. Regardless of the plant, it’s always a good idea to check its hardiness zone.
Woolly Yarrow is another excellent perennial groundcover. Its foliage is fern-like and glossy. The flower disks are white and sit atop a dark green stem. The plant is drought-tolerant and hardy in Georgia zones three to seven. Its fragrant blooms add a touch of romance to your landscape. Its foliage makes a great underplanting. Another plant for Georgia is Dusty Miller. Its fuzzy leaves are silvery and resemble miniature deer antlers.
Fern-leaf Bleeding Heart: This hardy plant thrives in the shade. Its yellow flowers bloom in clusters over a 12-inch stem and do not require deadheading. It will self-sow in your garden once established. Another perennial that grows well in the shade is yellow bleeding heart. It is easy to grow and is drought-tolerant in Georgia. It’s not worth the effort to divide it, as it tends to grow aggressively.
When choosing your perennial plants, consider planting them in the USDA Hardiness Zone they were grown in. Perennials with the same hardiness zone will thrive in Georgia. You’ll also need to choose the location where you plan to plant them, which can be a sunny spot, a partially sunny spot, or a shaded area. Whatever you choose, plant your perennials as early as possible in the spring and give them plenty of water to settle in.
Evergreens
The state of Georgia is known for its sunny and moist climate, making it a great place to grow a wide variety of plants. If you are looking for new plants for your garden, weedPro.com has some great tips to help you choose the right type of plant for your Georgia outdoor space. You can also try planting Hosta, a low-maintenance perennial that grows well in shade.
The boxwood, an essential shrub in North Georgia woodland gardens, is low-maintenance and versatile. Boxwood has a shiny green color and sometimes interesting variegated foliage. These plants also have a distinctive smell and beautiful flowers, such as a deep pink or white bell. If you want to add some color to your garden without making it too busy, consider planting boxwood. Its spires make an excellent accent to the woodland garden in North Georgia.
Another favorite for Georgia gardens are hydrangeas. They are native to the state and are often considered an essential part of the landscape. While there are a number of hydrangea species, the blue variety is considered a classic choice. These bloom on new wood and are popular with many songbirds. For additional wildlife benefits, consider adding a variety of species to your yard. They will add a little color to your landscape and will attract birds.
Another option for a beautiful, fragrant garden is the buttonbush. This full sun shrub boasts spectacular summer flowers and attracts butterflies, wood ducks, and bees. Another full-sun shrub is sumac. It also produces fruit for birds. The witchhazel, a Coastal Plain native, is a very hardy plant, with a dense foliage. Osmanthus is one of the latest shrubs to bloom and is a great choice for garden landscapes.
If you are looking for a low-maintenance plant, consider using an evergreen. Evergreens do not shed their leaves and stay lush and green throughout all seasons. There are also tons of native evergreen plants to choose from, including southern magnolia, laurel oak, and eastern red cedar. Evergreens are also a great choice for rain gardens, as they are low-maintenance and can drastically cut down on water consumption.
Shade-loving plants
For a beautiful, shade-loving garden, consider using one of the many varieties of hosta. These plants have showy flowers and foliage and can grow to be high in the yard. Hummingbirds and butterflies may also appreciate hosta’s leafy foliage. Many of these plants are drought-tolerant and require little maintenance. Here are some great choices for shade-loving outdoor plants in Georgia. They will add charm and beauty to any area of your yard.
Cyclamen are shade-tolerant plants with delicate, fluttering flowers. Perfect for rock gardens or other low-light areas, cyclamen will remain dormant in the summer and revive to bloom again in fall. The flowering season lasts from fall to early spring. Foxgloves are biennials that bloom late in the spring or summer. They go to seed each year. They need very little care and will make a dramatic addition to your garden.
Perennial geraniums should be placed in shaded areas. This plant’s foliage is covered with chocolate brown hairs, which deer find unappealing. Despite its name, this perennial will naturally naturalize into a nice colony within a few years. It will bloom in the spring and produce clusters of small blue flowers. It’s hardy in zones three to eight.
Native plants are another great option for shade gardeners. There are many species of hosta and heuchera that grow in Georgia. They make for beautiful hanging baskets and low-maintenance rock gardens. They will also add a splash of color to a shady garden. Whether you want to plant a rock garden, or plant a container garden, you’ll find shade-loving outdoor plants for Georgia that are sure to be a welcome addition.
Native plants are also an excellent choice because they were naturally occurring in the region before people arrived. They are adapted to the conditions of the area and require less fertilizer and pesticides. They won’t spread and may not be invasive. And you’ll be supporting wildlife by growing native plants. They provide food and shelter for native wildlife and keep your local ecosystem functioning. If you want to be environmentally conscious, choosing native plants is the way to go.
Low-maintenance plants
For low-maintenance plants, look for those native to Georgia. They have already adapted to the environment and tend to require less care than annuals. They also thrive in the 7b-to-8a USDA hardiness zones that Atlanta boasts. Native trees and plants are a great choice for Atlanta landscapes, as they can grow for decades. In addition, if you’re looking for a little color, look for native flowering plants that can survive in the Atlanta area’s weather.
If you’re unsure of what to plant in your garden, look for low-maintenance varieties. Many plants are low-maintenance if they don’t shed leaves. Evergreens look lush year-round, which means you don’t have to use a leaf blower to keep up with their maintenance. There are plenty of native evergreens in Georgia, including southern magnolia, laurel oak, and eastern red cedar. A rain garden is another low-maintenance choice. It’s also low-maintenance, and can reduce water usage.
Plants that require less water are ideal for low-maintenance gardens. Group plants according to how much water they need, and you’ll be able to save a lot of money on water bills. Newly installed plants should be watered daily for the first 30 days, and then reduced to two to three times a week. For Georgia’s climate, you’ll want to choose plants that don’t require constant watering, or they’ll take over your yard.
Viola species grow well in Georgia’s climate, and are a good choice for adding color to your landscape during fall. Selected breeding has produced many new cultivars in a variety of colors and forms. If you’re looking for low-maintenance outdoor plants for Georgia, you can visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for a comprehensive list of native plants. A few of these include coastal indigo, straggler daisy, and Texas frogfruit.
Hydrangeas are a perennial favorite that bloom in any part of Georgia. There are several species of hydrangeas, and you can easily confuse which ones bloom on old wood or new. Choose hydrangea macrophylla if you want the classic blue variety. If you’d like to enjoy the flowers of this southern flowering plant throughout the year, consider planting it in the fall.
