Information on each plant is provided according to the following categories: Generally accepted scientific and common names, as used by specialists in the field, are listed except in cases where names have recently been changed. Growth is more dense in the sun, and loose and open in the shade. Form is upright and pyramidal. 8 to 12 feet tall with a spread of 6 to 10 feet. Its most striking characteristic is the exfoliating, dark brown to gray bark, which flakes off to expose a white inner bark. Red Maple is easy to transplant and tolerates wet soils. Plant it in full sun on well-drained soils. Along the forest floor a profusion of small flowering plants thrive, including mountain skullcap ( Scutellaria montana). It prefers filtered shade and acidic, wet, sandy loam soils. Fragrant, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers are borne in February and March. Creamy-white flowers are borne in flat heads in May. 60 to 100 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide. Red Basil is a small, semi-evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves. Fall color ranges from yellow to deep purple or maroon. Flowers are fragrant, white to whitish-pink, and are borne in erect terminal clusters from late June through August. New Brunswick to Ontario, south to Florida and west to Texas. Trumpet Honeysuckle is an evergreen vine with medium texture and a medium growth rate. Center 4 Unlike Saw Palmetto, the Dwarf Palmetto does not have spiny leaf-stems and does not spread over a large area. Avoid root damage or soil compaction on established trees. It prefers acid soils and full sun to partial shade. New York to Florida, west to Louisiana, Arkansas and Illinois. It will climb trees and masonry structures but is not overly aggressive. To perform well, this plant must have moist soils high in organic matter and light to dense shade. This is where we live! Well-drained, gravelly soils on ridges and on upland slopes. This one focused on the 5 regions of Georgia. Grow Black Gum as a specimen tree. Typically found near granite outcrops in thin woods. Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to north Georgia and west to Oklahoma. Water Oak transplants easily and is tolerant of a wide variety of soils and site conditions. Roadsides, fence rows and forest margins in moist, fertile soil. Some trees grow as multi-stemmed shrubs. Nova Scotia to Ontario, south to Florida, west to Texas. True plant lovers will carefully select from the array of plants available, both native and introduced, to create the most beautiful and functional gardens possible. It is shallow-rooted and not for dry sites. It transplants readily and has fair drought tolerance. A source of wildlife food, it starts fruiting around 25 years of age. Yellow-Root is an excellent choice for naturalizing in boggy soil. 987, The University of Georgia 2022 | All rights reserved. It is pyramidal in youth, developing a long, clear trunk with a small, open pyramidal crown as it ages. Some plants found in the piedmont (our own backyards!) The Georgia Piedmont 4. It is prone to ice and storm damage. What is true of the plants that grow in this soil? Strawberry-Bush is a deciduous shrub having medium texture and medium growth rate. It blooms in early April with clusters of pendulous white flowers. It thrives in the well-drained, sandy soils of the Coastal Plain, but it will adapt to Piedmont clay. By Gary Wade, Ph.D., Extension Horticulturist (Retired); Elaine Nash, Naturalist; Ed McDowell, Master Gardener, Amateur Botanist and Wildflower Photographer; Brenda Beckham, Master Gardener and Plant Enthusiast; Sharlys Crisafulli, Horticulture Program Assistant, Reviewed by Bodie Pennisi, Extension Floriculture Specialist. Yellow Buckeye attains its largest size in rich Appalachian soils in coves and in cool slope forests. Oakleaf Hydrangea is a deciduous flowering shrub with coarse texture and a medium to fast growth rate. Tubular pink to lavender flowers are borne from August to October. Seeds are borne in a legume-like pod. Male and female flowers appear in April and May and are borne in umbels at the leaf axils. Moist soils in low woods and lower slopes in woods and thickets from the lower Piedmont to the southern Coastal Plain. It climbs by twining around branches of other plants. Fall color ranges from bright yellow to fiery orange or vibrant red. It is a compact plant, typically about 6 feet in height. 15 to 20 feet tall with a spread of 10 to 15 feet. Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to Florida and west to Texas. It tolerates salt spray, so it would be a good choice for coastal areas. It has few pest problems. Its heavy needle crop and brittle branches make it susceptible to ice damage when planted outside the Coastal Plain. Scarlet Oak is a deciduous tree having medium texture and medium to fast growth rate. Rabbiteye Blueberry cultivars are similar in many ways to Highbush blueberries but are more adapted to cultivation in the southern states. Reddish-orange to red flowers open after the leaves are fully developed and are not fragrant. Heatherrenee Follow Advertisement Advertisement Recommended The Five Regions of Georgia Form is rounded and low-branching. Flowering time varies from late February in south Georgia to mid April in north Georgia. Rejuvenate with heavy pruning in late winter. Its common name refers to the cross pattern seen when the stem is cut. Big-Leaf Magnolia is a deciduous, flowering tree having coarse texture, a round-headed form, and a medium growth rate. Mountain Stewartia is a large, deciduous, flowering shrub or small tree with medium texture and a slow growth rate. South Carolina southward into peninsular Florida. The leaf is compound, and flowers are trumpet-shaped, orange to red. Moist, sunny locations along a creek or lake would be ideal planting sites. Dry sites are home to some of our toughest native plants, including some oaks, persimmon, beargrass, some pines, sassafras and sumac. other organisms of the region, such as other plants, animals (including pollinators and insects), fungi and soil biota. Black Gum, or Tupelo, is a deciduous tree having medium texture and a medium growth rate. Eastern Redbud is becoming more popular in the nursery trade in the Deep South. It prefers moist soils in full sun to partial shade. 40 to 50 feet tall with a spread of 24 to 35 feet. Bark and flowers are attractive, but it is the fruit capsule that makes this tree distinctive. Virginia Pine is a medium-size tree with medium texture and rapid growth rate. Leaf size is smaller than the large oaks, befitting its small tree status. The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the Eastern United States.It is situated between the Atlantic Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New York in the north to central Alabama in the south. 50 to 60 feet tall and 30 to 40 feet wide. Cut the plant back heavily every few years to rejuvenate because young stems are the most attractive. It is bounded by the coastal plain to the east and the Southern Appalachians to the west. Use Buttonbush as a specimen plant or in group plantings adjacent to ponds and streams, or in other moist areas. New York to Georgia and Alabama, north to Michigan, southwest from Illinois to Texas. It also occasionally occurs in dry uplands. It often requires one to two growing seasons to determine when a plant can adjust to the specific light environment provided. Yellow-Root is not often seen in the landscape, except in natural settings and along stream banks. Virginia to Florida, west to Louisiana, Arkansas and eastern Texas. Georgia Regions: Plants, Animals, and Habitats (Includes Task Cards) by. It has good fire tolerance. Mixed pine/hardwoods ("climax") upland forest along valley slopes and bluffs, 3. Slash Pine is planted widely for timber production in and out of its natural range and habitat. South Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina. Fruit are black. Mints, goldenrods, asters and legumes can often be found growing naturally with many native grasses. Spruce Pine is an evergreen tree with a medium-fine texture and a medium to fast growth rate. They appear from June to August. Southern Sugar Maple may be used as a shade, specimen or street tree. Foliage is glossy green. Moist hardwood forests and wet swampy areas in the Coastal Plain. It preserves species diversity and distribution, and maintains the natural environment. White Oak is a deciduous tree with medium-coarse texture and a slow to medium growth rate. Popular destinations like Atlanta, Ellijay, Helen, Jekyll Island and Savannah are just the start. 3 to 6 feet tall with a spread of 3 to 6 feet. Several cultivars are available. It also can be allowed to ramble on the ground. Connecticut to Florida, west to Nebraska and Texas. It will adapt to hot, dry locations when irrigated. It is commonly used in landscapes because of its adaptability to a wide variety of sites, including sun or shade, wet and dry sites, and both acidic and alkaline soils. The flowers look like creamy-white balls covered with fiber optic tubes. It is the larval host of the hackberry emperor butterfly and is a food source for fall migrating birds. It prefers well-drained, sandy, loose soils and needs adequate moisture during dry weather. It needs training for the first few years after transplanting. Use American Holly for screening or as a specimen tree. Wet woods, bogs, stream banks and springheads of the Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont. Fall color also is variable, ranging from yellow to red. It prefers moist, fertile soils in full sun to partial shade, but it is moderately tolerant of adverse conditions. It is a tough plant that lends a bold, tropical look to the landscape. Failure to conserve, tend and preserve the habitats of these and other native plants can lead to their extinction. Post Oak is not usually planted as a landscape tree, but it would be a good choice for dry reclamation sites. (SS8G1c) Borders GA and SC, Helps transport goods, Yamacraw Indians were settled here. 60 to 70 feet tall with a spread of 50 to 60 feet. Flowers are an important nectar source for honey bees. Use Swamp-Haw in groups for massing or in a shrub border. Its leaves are dark, shiny green above and dull green beneath, with pubescent woolly hairs at the leaf axils. Between 1,000 and 1,300 feet (upper Piedmont area), disease . Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Illinois and Iowa and southeast to Georgia. The foliage and fruit are aromatic. It adapts to both moist and dry soils. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun. Stems are green. Cherry Laurel can be used as a specimen tree or screen plant. Extending southwest from Pennsylvania, these gorgeous mountains span 615 miles through sections of Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. River bottoms, abandoned farmland. It can be used as a specimen tree since it provides good shade as well as ornamental flowers. The piedmont or foothills of the Appalachian Mountains is the oldest and most eroded part of the original Appalachian orogeny. |, An Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran, Disability Institution, County and Club Meetings, Environmental Education, Livestock Programs, Project Achievement, Summer Camp, Aquaculture, Beef, Bees, Dairy, Equine, Small Ruminants, Poultry & Eggs, Swine, Invasive Species, Pollution Prevention, Forestry, Water & Drought, Weather & Climate, Wildlife, Adult & Family Development, Infant, Child and Teen Development, Money, Housing & Home Environment, Corn, Cotton, Forages, Hemp, Peanuts, Small Grains, Soybeans, Tobacco, Turfgrass, Food Preservation, Commercial & Home Food Safety, Food Science & Manufacturing, Nutrition and Health, Blueberries, Grapes, Ornamental Horticulture, Onions, Peaches, Pecans, Small Fruits, Vegetables, Home Gardens, Lawn Care, Ornamentals, Landscaping, Animal Diseases and Parasites, Ants, Termites, Lice, and Other Pests, Nuisance Animals, Plant Pest and Disease Management, Weeds. Young seedlings have a unique grass-like appearance, which may last two to seven years or more because the tree first uses its energy to put down a deep tap root. Moist soils in hardwood forests; often found near streams. Moist soils in the understory of hardwood forests and sandhills. It bears white, pink or rose-colored blooms from March to April. Classroom "Panda"-monium. Rich, moist ravines and slopes, mesic forests, and acidic forest understories in the Blue Ridge. Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus) and other early succession forbs, may already be present in open, sunny areas. Users agree that automated translations may not effectively convert the intended design, meaning, and/or context of the website, may not translate images or PDF content, and may not take into account regional language differences. Deciduous trees provide moist, fertile mulch for understory plants. Its evergreen needles, arranged two per fascicle, are 2 to 3 inches long and persist for three to four seasons. Leaves are elliptical, 4 to 6 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. 8 to 10 feet tall with a spread of 4 to 5 feet. Fall color is golden yellow. There are several ways to develop these types of properties while capitalizing on their native beauty. Oconee-bells ( Shortia galacifolia) and Florida Torreya ( Torreya taxifolia) are examples of plants that require specific habitats and are rare in the woods of Georgia. Fertilize regularly for best growth. It prefers sandy, moist, limestone soils and full sun for best development. It is a prolific seeder and quickly invades cut-over hardwood stands and pine plantations on upland sites. All evergreen Rhododendron species require moist, well-drained, acidic soil, high in organic matter. Moist soils on river flood plains and in alluvial forests, predominately in the lower Piedmont and the Coastal Plain. They are arranged in a drooping whorl at the base of the current season's growth. Form is variable. It spreads outward by root suckers to form colonies. 2003. It prefers well-drained, acid soils with adequate moisture, although it appears tolerant of many different sites, except wet soils. It provides lightly-filtered shade, so other plants will grow beneath it. Black Walnut produces the chemical juglone in its roots and leaves, which kills or inhibits growth of other plants nearby. They are an estimate of the plants winter hardiness according to established U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones. Evergreen plants may be further described according to their leaf shape. Fruit is a warty, dark pink capsule about one inch wide, splitting to reveal scarlet-colored seeds in September and October. Fruit production tends to be heavy every two to three years. (135) $12.00. Naturalized species, such as daylilies, persist after cultivation. A wide variety of woodlands and forest edges, roadsides and fence rows. Virginia to Georgia, west to Tennessee and Alabama. It has few pests due to the pungent foliage. Not for full sun or stressful environments. Evergreen Rhododendrons are flowering shrubs/small trees with dark green, leathery foliage. It also has igneous rocks in some areas. Shortleaf is subject to pine bark beetles and pine-tip moths, as are most pine species, as well as to littleleaf disease. Oak trees such as white oak, scarlet oak, and northern red oak dominate the overstory, though maples, sycamore, ash, and pine are also well-represented. Georgia is a diverse state, with many habitats from coastal beaches to mountain hardwood forests. Depending upon past adaptive changes in each of these environments, some plants will be dominant while others will be rare or unable to survive. The flowers (male and bisexual) occur together in 4- to 8-inch panicles in March and May. Scarlet, tubular flowers with protruding stamens are pollinated by ruby-throated hummingbirds. Black Walnut is a fine shade tree for stream banks and flood plains. Because it is attractive to bees when flowering, it may be best to plant it away from the public. The highly glaucous forms have not yet been exploited by the nursery industry. The plant is stoloniferous and spreads outward over time. An understory tree found on dry slopes in upland hardwood forests.. Ontario to Minnesota, south to Florida and west to Texas. Many small, white flowers are borne in May and June on upright, cylindrical inflorescences, 8 to 12 inches long. It can be pruned into a tree form or shaped as a hedge. North- or east-facing slopes are preferred. This hands-off approach is more environmentally friendly. The female flowers produce berries about 0.25-inches in diameter; they change from white to orange, then to black by late summer. Chestnut Oak, also called Rock Oak or Rock Chestnut Oak, is a deciduous tree with medium-coarse texture and a medium growth rate. There are many definitions for native plants. Then backfill with the same soil removed from the hole and water thoroughly to remove air pockets. Vacciniums are one of the most common native shrubs. Avoid planting in drought-prone sites. The Piedmont Region of Georgia is in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Coastal Plain. The flowers make a showy display when nothing else is blooming. Coastal areas from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Texas. Distinctly pyramidal when young, it becomes more open and irregular with age. The bright red fruit display is an outstanding feature. Several cultivars are available. Native plants vary widely in their requirement for plant nutrients and soil pH (a unit used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a soil). In nature, it may be somewhat invasive. Minnesota to Georgia and Alabama; does not extend into the Coastal Plain. Yellow Buckeye is a large tree with an upright to slightly-spreading crown. Since pH influences nutrient availability in the soil and nutrient uptake by the plant, it is a useful measurement to know before planting. It displays good drought tolerance if planted in moist, well-drained soils. The gray-brown bark is somewhat shaggy, looking like a cat scratching post. It is spectacular in bloom, but a young tree may not bloom until it is five to eight years old. Shumard Oak is used as a fast-growing shade or specimen tree. Its evergreen foliage does not allow much sunlight beneath the canopy. North Carolina to the Florida panhandle; southern Alabama. Carolina Silverbell, in contrast, has flower petals that are united for more than half their length. Leaves are pinnately compound with five to seven pairs of leaflets. Fall color is usually bright yellow. Leafspot, mildew and root-rot can be serious problems. Bark is scaly and mottled. ISBN 0-8203-2524-4. 50 to 80 feet tall with a canopy width of 40 to 60 feet. In nature, older trees are flat-topped with few lower branches, which is probably due to competition for light. It prefers moist soils, but it may adapt to sun if irrigated. Spider mites are a problem in south Georgia. Buckthorn Bully is an attractive small tree that should be used for naturalizing in wildlife habitats. It loses its leaves early, often by late September. Begin your journey by exploring Georgia's cities below. Southern Pennsylvania, southern Indiana and eastern Iowa, south to Florida and west to eastern Texas. Nova Scotia to Manitoba, south to northern Florida and west to Texas. This plant is named for the Ogeechee River, where it is commonly found. Southern Massachusetts to Florida, west to Iowa and Texas. University of Georgia Press. Attractive and hardy, it has been known to survive temperatures well below zero. Occurs in areas that are wet during winter months. Form is oval to rounded. Full sun and well-drained soils are preferred. Tulip Poplar, also called Yellow Poplar, is a deciduous tree with coarse texture and a medium to fast growth rate. It is a low, spreading palm with stiff leaves and spiny leaf stems. Seeds have traveled north on car tires. In nature, the macroclimate of an area, including winter and summer temperature extremes, precipitation and humidity, dictates the geographic distribution of a native plant. Shumard Oak is one of the largest of the southern red oaks. It has a shallow root system that will heave concrete, so avoid using it as a street tree. The flowers occur in racemes, 4 to 8 inches long, in May and June. The flowers and fruit are somewhat showy. 15 to 20 feet tall with a spread of 8 to 10 feet. Bark is shallowly ridged with white streaks. The foliage turns reddish-scarlet in winter. Connecticut to Florida, west to Michigan and Texas. The leaves are deciduous and alternate, and consist of five leaflets. New York to Missouri, south to Florida and west to Louisiana. The plant is a good food source for wildlife. It prefers light shade and adequate moisture during dry weather. Native plants provide "watchable" wildlife habitats. New Brunswick to Minnesota, south to Georgia. The Piedmont region has large areas of solid bedrock made of gneiss, marble, granite and stone. Is the industrial heart of Georgia. 2004. Sosebee Cove Scenic Area near Blairsville, Ga., has several wonderful specimens. For a sustainable stream bank environment, plant native trees and shrubs. Over time, grass alone will not keep stream banks intact during flooding. Evergreens are found above 3,960 ft (1,200 m). Sandy and rocky dry uplands, in pine and hardwood forest understories, and in clearings. Use Rusty Blackhaw as an understory plant in partial shade or as a specimen plant in full sun. It is widely used in landscaping because it has good site tolerance. Foote, Leonard E., and Samuel B. Jones Jr. 1989. A dense canopy, slow early growth and attractive yellow-green foliage make Spruce Pine suitable for landscaping. Flowers are borne in panicles before the leaves emerge in April. The underside of the leaf is whitish and smooth. This video is a part of GPB Education's Regions of Georgia virtual field trip, which you can view here. The species is not landscape quality, but there are a number of improved cultivars that are landscape quality in the trade. Fevertree (Pinckneya bracteata), Red Titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) and Black Titi (Cliftonia monophylla) are limited to the southern half of the state because the soils and climate there satisfy their special growing requirements. 60 to 80 feet tall with a spread of 50 to 60 feet. The abundant acorn production may be a problem in public areas. The bark is smooth and gray. Post Oak is a medium-size tree with stout, spreading branches and a dense, rounded crown. It spreads via suckers arising from the roots. The fruit are reminiscent of hops, hence the common name. Flood plains on moist soils of valleys and lower slopes. Shrubs are often useful in mass plantings, but some may be planted as individual specimens. They persist on the tree for two seasons. Red Buckeye is an attractive spring-flowering shrub useful in woodland settings where it gets filtered shade and moist conditions. Another species, Bigleaf Snowbell (S. grandiflora), is a small tree commonly found growing as an understory plant in wooded upland sites. This category provides general descriptive information about the plant, including whether it is deciduous (drops its leaves in fall), evergreen or semi-evergreen. 80 to 100 feet tall, but more likely 50 to 60 feet under most landscape conditions. Acorns are an important food for wildlife. The color conveys a warm feeling in the cool early spring. Maine to Florida, west to Texas; north to Arkansas, Illinois, Wisconsin. Get weekly updates sent to your inbox with the latest UGA Extension news. New England to Florida, Ohio to Mississippi, and west to Texas. In Georgia, it comprises most of the timber harvested in the Piedmont. It has chestnut-like foliage with rounded teeth along the margins. An understory plant in moist locations in hardwood forests, often in association with streams. It suffers from some disease and insect problems and is always dropping leaves and branches. Devils Walkingstick is a large, bold plant best used as a specimen or accent plant in the landscape. 6b (Carya glabra and Carya tomentosa), 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. Size is extremely variable over its extensive native range. Red Buckeye is a clump-forming, round-topped, deciduous flowering shrub or small tree. To help Georgia gardeners successfully grow azaleas, they offer the following tips. Piedmont Azalea, the most common species of native azalea, is found growing in a wide variety of habitats, from damp swamp margins to dry upland ridges. East and central North America, east of the Rocky Mountains. They ripen from September to October. However, it adapts to a wide variety of landscape sites. Virginia to Florida, west to Illinois and Texas. It does best when planted in moist, fertile soils in full sun. Young plants transplant best. It has a graceful, attractive, irregular form; sometimes rounded, other times pyramidal. Deerberry is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a fern-like branching pattern. Young trees have a dense, broadly pyramidal form, becoming more open and irregular with age. Individual flowers are 1 inch in diameter with five narrow petals. Both sides of the leaflets are smooth. It may need training. Eastern Hemlock is used as a specimen or screening tree and for a windbreak. Use Carolina Yellow Jessamine on trellises, fences, mailboxes, etc. It develops large, loose colonies when planted in the understory. Stems have short hairs, and buds are smooth. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of Northern Florida and Adjacent Georgia and Alabama. 6 to 8 feet tall with a spread of 6 to 8 feet. Saw Palmetto thrives in areas subject to disturbances, such as areas that have been clear cut, burned by fire or subjected to salt spray. Bark is smooth and light gray. American Holly is a broadleaf evergreen tree with medium-coarse texture and a moderate growth rate. As a member of the White Oak sub-genus, it produces acorns every year and is a good food source for wildlife. The leaves are frequently blue-green, turning a brilliant fall color of yellow, bronze, orange, scarlet and crimson combinations. The topography consists of rounded hills, low ridges, irregular plains, and narrow valleys, all underlain by metamorphic rock. It is tolerant of salt spray and drought, and is an excellent choice for coastal landscapes. The yellow fall color is inconsistent, especially on seed-grown plants. In natural areas, especially along streams, it is an impressive landscape plant with its white bark defining Piedmont streams. Autumn leaf color is scarlet red. Therefore, the mature size of the plant projected in this publication is only an estimate of the size of the plant when it is 10 years old. The state of Georgia has five regions: the Mountains, the Piedmont, the Coastal Plain, the Wetlands, and the Coast. A beautiful specimen can be seen next to the famous arch on the University of Georgia's Athens campus. Use White Pine for a windbreak, screening or as a specimen tree. On older trees, the bark develops a diamond-like or "expanded metal" pattern. Use Dogwood as a flowering understory tree. Disturbed sites, particularly acid, rocky soils of uplands. Moist, well-drained uplands and rich, moist slopes. Bottomlands and oak hickory forests in moist shade. Piedmont Rhododendron is found along stream banks and wooded slopes in the lower mountains and Piedmont and the upper Coastal Plain. Moist, well-drained soils and partial shade are preferred. Use Red Maple as a shade tree in moist soils and full sun. Carolina Yellow Jessamine is an evergreen vine with fine texture and a fast growth rate. Hummingbirds love its flowers. Bark is dark and mottled. If the names are in debate, the most widely used names are given. Trumpetcreeper is aggressive and will climb poles or other plants, so plant it where it will not become a pest. Factors influencing growth rate include the age of the plant (most growth rates decrease with age), genetic background and site conditions. 30 to 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide at maturity. Seeds are relished by birds and other wildlife. The tree gets its name from the color of its heartwood, which is bright yellow. Pennsylvania to Florida and westward to Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri. Planting trees in areas similar to their native habitat will maximize their chances of survival and success. It transplants readily because of a negligible taproot. Green Ash is an early succession tree and needs sun to become established. The family is given as a point of information since some unifying threads are common to plants in the same family. Others occur over much wider and more general environments. It is usually found growing with members of the heath family (ericaceous plants). Most native plants grow well at a slightly acidic pH around 6.0, although some ericaceous plants, like blueberries and rhododendrons, prefer strongly acid soils having a pH below 5.0. All flower best if provided with filtered morning sun and afternoon shade. Variations in microclimates may extend the growing range north or south of the zone listed. Water Oak is a fast-growing tree with a rounded crown. Check with UGA Extension for a list of the best plants for your area. Southeastern Virginia to Florida, west to Texas. Apple Tree View Price of Tree Popular Varieties: Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Granny Why Grow Apple Trees in Georgia? Flowering Dogwood, the most popular flowering tree in the eastern United States, is deciduous with medium texture and a medium growth rate. Plants grow where they do because they have finely adjusted to the local environment. It is also nice when used as an understory plant. Winged Sumac is a large, deciduous, flowering shrub with coarse texture and a fast growth rate. There are male and female trees. Use Narrow-Leaf Crabapple as a specimen flowering tree in full sun.