Plants and Shrubs That Grow Well in South Georgia

Honeysuckle

• Two types of honeysuckle vines--gold flame and trumpet honeysuckle--are suited ideally to southern Georgia's climate. Both perennials, the vines are medium-textured and medium- to slow-growing. Gold flame honeysuckle is semi-evergreen and blooms in summer with coral red flowers. Trumpet honeysuckle is deciduous and flowers in springtime with red, yellow or orange blossoms.

Holly Fern

• Holly fern is a course-textured, medium-growing ground cover that thrives in shady or semi-shaded areas of southern Georgia. The plant grows to a height of 1 or 2 feet and features dark green foliage that stays on the plant year-round. Holly fern is relatively low-maintenance, but can require weeding and pruning to look its best.

Azalea

• Azalea is a small- to medium-sized shrub that can be found all over the South, with southern Georgia being no exception. You can choose among many varieties, ranging in size from 10 inches up to 8 feet, and with a mass-flowering blooms that range in color from white to pink, red, orange, and peach. Most thrive in sunny or semi-shaded conditions and well-drained, acidic soils with high organic content. Choose between deciduous and evergreen azaleas.

Butterflybush

• Butterflybush is a medium-sized shrub that blooms every summer in southern Georgia with fragrant flowers that, as its name suggests, are very attractive to butterflies. The shrub is deciduous, and grows up to 8 feet tall in a generally rounded formation. Butterflybush grows at a medium rate with fine- to medium-textured foliage. Plant in sun for best results