Its hot and humid out there, yall.
But these native plants for southern gardens can take the tough conditions.
Marty Baldwin
Gardening in the South has always meant battling heat and humidity.
Credit:Marty Baldwin
These plants are low-maintenance and self-sufficient once theyre established.
They’ll also improve the biodiversity of your yard by attracting birds and other wildlife.
Jack LeCroyis the Regional Extension Agent for Auburn A&M and Auburn Universities Extension.
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Program Areas: Home grounds, gardens, and home pests.
Hardy Hibiscus
Treat yourself to the big, bold flowers ofhardy hibiscus.
Plant toward the front of the border and enjoy this native perennial’s traffic-stopping show all season long.
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They look great planted in masses, and they brighten up any shady spot.
Birds love to eat its seeds, too, so this pretty plant is a wildlife magnet.
LeCroy recommends Southern mountain mint in particular, calling it a must-have for a pollinator garden.
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Aneasy-to-grow perennial, it’s great for a shot of color at the end of the season.
One top-notch selection we love is multicolored ‘Mardi Gras’.
Swamp sunflowers like moist soil and even clay loams.
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Stokes' Aster
Grow this tough perennial for its long season of bloom and easy-growing habit.
The blue or lavender flowers appear continuously through summer and into fall.
Top selections to watch for include ‘Blue Danube’, ‘Peachie’s Pick’, and ‘Mary Gregory’.
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At first glance, you might think its a dogwood because of the flowers.
Mock orange produces fragrant white flowers in the spring that smell like orange blossoms, hence the name.
They do not produce citrus fruit.
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It produces bright, eye-popping red trumpet flowers in mid- and late summer.
There are around 17 species that are indigenous to the South.
Native azaleas are deciduous and have a more upright habit than the mounding-shaped evergreen azaleas.
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LeCroy’s favorite is Alabama azalea (Rhododendron alabamense) because its white flowers have a lemon scent.
Other native azaleas to try: Floridaflame azalea(Rhododendron austrinum)and Piedmont azalea (Rhododendron canescens).
Although this perennial does best with plenty of moisture, it is also somewhat drought-tolerant.
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Look for selections with dark foliage that will add interest even when the plant isn’t blooming.
They appear in autumn, giving the garden a punch of color after the long, hot season.
It grows in most soils and can tolerate periodic flooding.
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Enjoy their interesting funnel-shaped leaves and alien-like springtime flowers.
For more interest, look for newer selections that have purple-marked foliage or pink-tinged flowers.
Leaves are dark green in the summer and dark purple in the winter, so crossvine provides year-round color.
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Hummingbirds love those flowers.
It’s drought-tolerant and can even tolerate standing water for brief periods.
It can grow in clay or sandy soil as well as loam and has some drought tolerance.
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This is a nice small tree to add to your landscape, LeCroy says.
Hummingbirds love the blooms, so it helps feed our feathered friends.
Its a beautiful accent for a landscape.
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If you are looking for a dogwood alternative, this is it, LeCroy says.
These giants are slow-growing, so the white oak you plant today will be enjoyed by future generations.
A white oak can provide cooling shade and provide a home for wildlife.
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Its a good pick for windbreaks and hedges.
Deer and rabbits dont eat it, either.
It produces lavender blooms in the summer that attract pollinators.
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Thisblanket floweris a short-lived perennial in warm Southern climates.
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