Native Plant List for Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi
This is a "starter" list of native plants for Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes.
Georgia, Alabama & Mississippi - Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winged Sumac | Rhus coppalina | F | D-W | 30' | Pyramidal yellow-green flwr spike with red berries in fall |
| Pond Cypress | Taxodium ascendens | F-P | W-A | 45' | Useful for soil stabilization at water edges |
| Bald Cypress | Taxodium distichum | F-P | W-D | 65-90' | Reddish, peeling bark and rusty fall color |
| Winged Elm | Ulmus alata | F-P | D | 80' | Corky wings often appear on its branches |
| Cedar Elm | Ulmus crassifolia | F-P | W-A | 80' | Excellent street tree; late summer flowers, fall fruit |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum | F | W-D | 50-75' | Buds & young twigs are red; great foll color |
| Florida Maple | Acer Saccharum | F-P | A | 50-75' | Excellent fall color; produces maple syrup |
| Indigo Bush | Amorpha fruticosa | F-P | A-W | 6-18' | Fragrant compound foliage; 1/2" blue flwrs with orange |
| Paw Paw | Asimina triloba | P-S | A | 40' | Unique fruit resembles & tastes like banana |
| River Birch | Betula nigra | F | A-W | 40-70' | Modest yellow fall color; seed attracts birds |
| Ironwood | Carpinus caroliniana | P-S | W-A | 20-30' | Good street tree; yellow, orange & scarlet fall color |
| Eastern Redbud | Cercis canadensis | F-S | A-D | 20-30' | Clusters of pink flowers line branches in Apr |
| Pagoda Dogwood | Cornus alternifolia | P-S | W-D | 15-25' | Clusters of white flowers turn to black berries |
| Swamp Dogwood | Cornus stricta | P-S | W-A | 30' | White flowers late spring; blue fleshy fruit in summer |
| Parsley Hawthorne | Crataegus marshallii | P-F | W-A | 30' | White flwr clusters bloom in early spring; scarlet fruits |
| Mayhaw | Crataegus opaca | F | W-A | 35' | White flwr clusters (Feb); red fruit (Apr); thorny thicket |
| Titi | Cyrilla racemiflora | F-P | W-A | 30' | White fragrant racemes (May-Jun); brown seeds persist |
| Silverbell | Halesia diptera | P-S | A | 35' | Small white flowers hang from branches in early spring |
| Cassine Holly | Ilex cassine | F-P | W-A | 30' | Abundant reddish-orange fruit produced in fall |
| Deciduous Holly | Ilex decidua | F | A-W | 25' | Bright red display of red fruits (on fem.) eaten by birds |
| American Holly | Ilex opaca | F-P | A-D | 20-40' | To ensure fruit one male is needed per 2-3 females |
| Yaupon Holly | Ilex vomitoria | F-P | W-D | 30' | Fem. plants bear red fruit in fall that persists in winter |
| Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua | F | W-A | 60-85' | Brilliant scarlet-red to red-purple fall color |
| Tulip Tree | Liriodendron tulipifera | F | A | 70-90' | Large tulip-like flowers are yellow, green, & orange |
| Southern Magnolia | Magnolia grandiflora | F-S | A | 100' | Large white flwrs (spring) become scarlet seeds (sum.) |
| Sweet Bay Magnolia | Magnolia virginiana | P-F | W-A | 60' | White fragrant flwrs (spring) become red seeds (sum.) |
| Southern Crabapple | Malus angustifolia | F-P | D-A | 30' | Pink blooms (spring) become sm. apples that birds eat |
| Wax Myrtle | Myrica cerifera | F-P | W-A | 25' | Small blue-grey fruits on females last through winter |
| Black Gum | Nyssa sylvatica | F | A-D | 30-60' | Scarlet red autumn color |
| Swamp Bay | Persea palustris | F-P | W-A | 40' | Wildlife eats fruit; leaves used from seasoning cuisine |
| Spruce Pine | Pinus glabra | F-P | D-A | 70' | Short, twisted yellow-grn needles in pairs, oak-like bark |
| Longleaf Pine | Pinus palustris | F | D-A | 100'+ | Long needles; slow, above ground growth when estab. |
| Cherry Laurel | Prunus caroliniana | F-P | D | 30' | Small white flwrs (spring) become black fruits (fall) |
| Black Cherry | Prunus serotina | F-P | D | 50-80' | Messy tree; sm.l edible berries in sumer attracts birds |
| White Oak | Quercus alba | F-P | D | 60-90' | Brown, red, wine fall color; acorns attract birds/squirrels |
| Cherrybark Oak | Quercus falcata | F-S | W-A | 70-90' | Flaky. reddish bark; good street tree |
| Swamp Chestnut Oak | Quercus michauxii | F-P | W-A | 80-95' | Reliable red fall color contrast with light gray bark |
| Nuttall Oak | Quercus nuttallii | F-P | W-A | 70-85' | Acorn production heaviest every 4-7 yrs; good shade |
| Willow Oak | Quercus phellos | F-S | W-A | 75-90' | Beautiful shade tree; good street tree; high branching |
| Live Oak | Quercus virginiana | F-S | D-A | 70-95' | Short thick trunk with picturesque horizontal branching |
Georgia, Alabama & Mississippi - Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottlebrush Buckeye | Aesculus parviflora | F-P | A | 6-10' | 6-24" spikes of flwrs; yell. fall color; attracts hummers |
| American Beautyberry | Callicarpa americana | F-P | D-A | 4-6' | Sm. white-pink flwrs become berries that attract birds |
| Sweetshrub | Calycanthus floridus | F-S | A | 6-10' | Interesting red or maroon strawberry scented flowers |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | F-P | W | 6-12' | Fragrant flower clusters attract hummingbirds |
| Fringetree | Chionanthus virginicus | F-P | D-A | 20' | White blooms (spring); fruit for wildlife; yellow fall color |
| Summersweet | Clethra alnifolia | F-P | W-A | 2-4' | Ivory white fragrant blooms in summer |
| Buckwheat Tree | Cliftonia monophylla | F-P | W-D | 20' | Terminal white flwr clusters (winter); persist until spring |
| Flowering Dogwood | Cornus florida | F-S | D-A | 25-30' | White flowers in spring become bird-attracting berries |
| Witch Alder | Fothergilla major | F-P | A | 6-10' | Showy, fragrant flowers in spring |
| Dwarf Huckleberry | Gaylussacia dumosa | F-P | D-W | 4' | Small pink flowers become edible fruit; red fall color |
| Witch Hazel | Hamamelis virginiana | F-S | A-D | 8-20' | Golden yellow flowers in fall; spectactular fall color |
| Oakleaf Hydrangea | Hydrangea quercifolia | P-S | A | 6' | Oak-like leaves turn purple in fall; large white flowers |
| Bigleaf Gallberry Holly | Ilex coriacea | F-P | W-D | 15' | Large black fruit used by wildlife; good border plant |
| Winterberry Holly | Ilex verticillata | F-P | W-A | 6-10' | White flowers bloom in spring; berries persist in winter |
| Star Anise | Illicium floridanum | S-P | D-A | 8' | Maroon starry flowers (spring); heavily scented leaves |
| Virginia Sweetspire | Itea virginica | F-P | W-D | 3-6' | White blooms early-sum; red/orange/maroon fall color |
| Mountain Laurel | Kalmia latifolia | F-P | D-W | 5' | Terminal white flower clusters (Apr-May); wine fall color |
| Leucothoe | Leucothoe axillaris | P-S | D-W | 3' | Small fragrant white flwr clusters late winter-mid spring |
| Lyonia | Lyonia lucida | P-S | D-A | 3' | Small, nodding bell-shaped white flowers in spring |
| American Sweet Olive | Osmanthus americanus | F-P | D-A | 20' | Small, white lightly fragrant flowers in early spring |
| Yellow Native Azalea | Rhododendron austrinum | P-S | D-A | 12' | Rich yellow or orange blooms for 3 weeks (Apr-May) |
| Honeysuckle Azalea | Rhododendron canescens | P-S | D-A | 12' | Large, fragrant,flwr clusters form white-pink (Mar-Apr) |
| Summer Azalea | Rhododendron serrulatum | P-S | A-W | 15' | Extremely fragrant white flowers (Jun-Aug) |
| Staghorn Sumac | Rhus typhina | F-P | D-A | 20' | Red fall color; green flwr clusters become red fruit |
| Dwarf Palmetto | Sabal minor | F-S | D-W | 6' | Tropical leaves; round black fruit persists into winter |
| Snowbell | Styrax americanus | F-P | W-A | 10' | Numerous small white flowers (Apr-May) |
| Tree Huckleberry | Vaccinium arboreum | F-P | D-A | 20' | Bell-shaped white flwrs; berries for wildlife, red fall color |
| Elliott's Blueberry | Vaccinium elliottii | F-P | A-W | 12' | White flwrs (Mar-May); edible black fruit; red fall color |
| Arrow-wood Viburnum | Viburnum dentatum | F-P | D-A | 5-9' | Flowers May-Jun; small blue-black berries in fall |
Georgia, Alabama & Mississippi - Flowering Perennials
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doll's eyes | Actaea alba | P-S | A | 1-2.5' | Sm. white flwrs (Apr-May); poisonous berries (Aug-Sep) |
| Red Baneberry | Actaea rubra | P-S | A | 2' | 1/2" puffy white flowers become red poisonous berries |
| Columbine | Aquilegia canadensis | S-F | A-D | 24-36" | Interesting red/yellow flowers attract hummingbirds |
| Jack-in-the-Pulpit | Arisaema triphyllum | P-S | A | 12+" | Spathe appears Mar-May; red berries late sum-fall |
| Goat's Beard | Aruncus dioicus | P-S | A | 4-6' | 6-10" plumes of small cream-colored flowers |
| Wild Ginger | Asarum canadense | S | A | 4-6" | Evergreen groundcover, glossy heart-shaped leaves |
| Butterfly Weed | Asclepia tuberosa | F-P | A | 24-36" | Clusters of brilliant orange flowers attract butterflies |
| Wild Hyacinth | Camassia scilloides | P-F | A-D | 1.5' | Spike of light blue flowers; bulb |
| Blue Cohosh | Caulophyllum thalictroides | P-S | A | 1-2' | Small yellow-green flowers, clusters of blue berries |
| Green n' Gold | Chrysogonum virginianum | F-P | A | 8" | Large yellow flowers contrast green foliage spring-fall |
| Cohosh | Cimifuga racemosa | P-S | A | 3-8' | Long slender clusters of white flowers in sum & fall |
| Spring Beauty | Claytonia virginica | P | A | 5-10" | 5-petaled white flowers with pink veins bloom Feb-May |
| Bead Lily | Clintonia umbellulata | P-S | A | 24-36" | Oval-shaped basal leaves; white flowers; ground cover |
| Pink Lady Slipper | Cypripedium acaule | P-F | A | 8-12" | Distinctive red-streaked pink pouch; challenge to grow |
| Yellow Lady Slipper | Cypripedium calceolus | P-F | A | 18-24" | Distinctive yellow pouch |
| Shooting Star | Dodecathion meadia | F-P | D-A | 10-16" | Delicate white to pink petals, red & yellow centers |
| Mist Flower | Eupatorium coelestinum | F-P | A | 1-3' | Dense clusters of blue flowers late summer until frost |
| Joe-Pye Weed | Eupatorium purpurea | F-P | A | 48-80" | Large pink flowers attract butterflies in droves Aug-Sep |
| Queen of the Prairie | Filipendula rubra | F-P | A | 48-60" | Showy large pink plumes Jun-Jul |
| Wild Strawberry | Fragaria virginiana | F-P | A | 6" | Spring flowers become tasty fruit in early summer |
| Swamp Hibiscus | Hibiscus coccineus | F | A | 6-8' | 6" wide red flwrs are striking against large bold leaves |
| Spider Lily | Hymenocallis caroliniana | P-F | A | 8-12" | Beautiful unusual white flowers with six protrusions |
| Crested Iris | Iris cristata | F-P | D-A | 5-10" | Pale lavender-blue crested flowers Apr-May |
| Red Flag | Iris fulva | F-P | A | 24-36" | Large copper flwrs in late spring; attracts hummingbirds |
| Blazing Star | Liatris spicata | F | A | 2-5' | Bright pink-purple stalks of interesting flowers |
| Yellow Bell Lily | Lilium canadense | F | W-A | 6' | 3" yellow-orange flowers with dark spots; beautiful! |
| Turks Cap Lily | Lilium superbum | F-P | A | 4-6' | Gorgeous orange & yellow flowers; AM sun, PM shade |
| Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis | F-P | A | 24-54" | Terminal clusters of bright red 1.5" flowers in fall |
| Great Blue Lobelia | Lobelia siphilitica | F-P | A | 12-24" | Elongated clusters pale to dark blue flowers; late sum |
| Coral Honeysuckle | Lonicera sempervirens | F-P | A | 15-25' | Coral-red-yellow trumpet-shaped flwrs; berries for birds |
| Wild Lily of the Valley | Maianthemum canadense | P-S | A | 1-3" | White flowers in spring; red berries in late summer |
| Virginia Bluebells | Mertensia virginica | F-S | A | 12-24" | Pink flower buds open to sky blue flowers Mar-Apr |
| Forget-me-not | Myosotis scorpiodes | P | A | 4-24" | Long flowering period of May-September |
| Allegheny Spurge | Pachysandra procumbens | P-S | A | 9-12" | Mottled purple leaves; flowers are white with pink tinge |
| Woodland Phlox | Phlox divartica | F-S | A | 12-16" | Covered with 1.5" soft pink/lavender flowers in spring |
| Jacob's Ladder | Polemonium reptans | S | A | 12-18" | Terminal clusters of light blue, bell-shaped flowers, spr |
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | F-P | A | 24-36" | 2-4" flower heads with 10-20 bright yellow petals |
| Oconee Bells | Shortia galacifolia | P-S | A | 3-6" | Bell-shaped flower (early spr); evergreen ground cover |
| Fire Pink | Silene virginica | F-P | D-A | 10-16" | Deep red star-like flowers draw hummingbirds Apr-May |
| Indian Pink | Spigelia marilandica | P-S | A | 1-2' | Showy red tubular flowers with yellow on the inside |
| Celadine Poppy | Stylophorum diphyllum | S | A | 16-24" | 2" wide lemon-yellow flowers |
| White Trillium | Trillium grandiflora | S-P | A | 8-16" | Showy white flower turns pink, has 3 petals; 3 leaves |
| Blue Violet | Viola papilionacea | P-S | A | 6-12" | Excellent ground cover with purple flowers in the spring |
| American Wisteria | Wisteria frutescens | F-P | A | 30' | Large shrub vine with fragrant blue or pink flwr clusters |
Georgia, Alabama & Mississippi -Perennial Ferns
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Maidenhair | Adiantum pedatum | P-S | A | 18-36" | Airy fan-shaped green fronds, delicate black stems |
| Ebony Spleenwort | Asplenium platyneuron | P-S | A | 6-12" | Small evergreen fern; dark green foliage; shiny stem |
| Lady Fern | Athyrium felix-femina | S | A-W | 18-24" | Delicate lacy arching fronds, red stems when mature |
| Rattlesnake Fern | Botrychium virginianum | P-S | A | 2.5' | Deciduous ferm retains primitive features; one frond |
| Hay-scented Fern | Dennstaedia punctiloba | P-S | A | 36" | Fronds small like hay when crushed |
| Marginal Fern | Dryopteris marginalis | P-S | A-W | 18-24" | Evergreen fern; gray-green, deeply cut leathery fronds |
| Ostrich Fern | Matteuccia struthiopteris | P | A | 3-4' | Large, lustrous green arching fronds resemble a palm |
| Sensitive Fern | Onoclea sensibilis | F-P | W | 12-24" | Deeply pinnate.leaves; poisonous to livestock |
| Cinnamon Fern | Osmunda cinnamomea | P-S | A-W | 24-48" | Clusters of arching fronds; fertile fronds are brown |
| Royal Fern | Osmunda regalis | P | A-W | 2-6' | Bi-pinnate blade; pinnea resemble locust tree leaves |
| Christmas Fern | Polystichum acrostichoides | P-S | A | 12-36" | Stiff deep green fronds are once-pinnate |
| New York Fern | Thelypteris noveboracensis | P-S | A-D | 12-18" | Light green foliage; fronds are tapered at both ends |
| Netted Chain Fern | Woodwardia areolata | P-S | W-A | 18-24" | Broadly triangular, deeply cut sterile fronds; striking |
| Sun Exposure | Soil Moisture | Drought Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| F = Full Sun | W = Wet | E = Excellent |
| P = Part Sun | A = Average | G = Good |
| S = Shade | D = Dry | M = Moderate |
| P = Poor |