If you live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 5 locales in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, you can grow dozens of different wildflower and annual types. Petunias, pansies, marigolds, daisies, poppies, baby's breath, foxglove, forget-me-nots, snapdragons and nasturtiums give your garden a colorful start. Cosmos, asters, coreopsis, alyssum, sunflowers and bluebonnets are others that do well in the sun. Some plants listed as annuals may reseed in the Southern states, too.
Few plants rival the rose for blooms and scent. Grow hybrid teas, climbers, floribundas, moss roses and damasks in the garden's sunny spots. The come in red, yellow, purple, pink, white and other colors. Roses come back year after year with proper care and pruning. Choose healthy plants and feed them regularly with organic fertilizers and compost. Mulching helps conserve moisture, especially in those hot Southern summers.
Lilies abound in many Southeastern gardens. Daylilies come in many colors, and some are scented. Other suitable bulbs are tulips, daffodils, irises and gladiolas. Many bulbs require planting in the fall, so prepare the soil before there's any chance for a potential frost or very cold temperatures. Plant the bulbs in full sun where you can enjoy views of the flowers out your windows. These also make nice cutting flowers.
Hydrangeas are common plants in the Southeast. Their large, fat bloom heads are blue or pink depending on the soil's acidity. Jasmine vines grow easily and have a nice fragrance. Gardenias are shrubs with flowers that are not only beautiful and delicate, but their fragrance is very pleasant. Dogwoods are actual trees that flower in the early spring, as do plum and Bradford pears. The blossoms come in the common white or pink.