Spring is a great time to plant perennials. The hearty native plants on our Top 5 list enhance curb appeal, add fresh color to backyard landscapes, and complement your favorite outdoor living spaces. Suzanne from Art of Stone has selected these varieties because they thrive in sunny sites (where the sun shines from at least 12:00 p.m-4:00 p.m.) and are drought tolerant once they get established, making them perfect for north Georgia. (Note: these perennials may be drought tolerant, but they still need to be watered!)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) needs very fast draining soil. From May to September, this native plant produces beautiful orange flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Bonus: it is deer resistant! When mature, it typically measures 1-2 feet high and 1-2 feet wide.
Wild Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis) produces bright blue flowers in April and May. This native plant is deer resistant. Fully mature, it measures 3-4 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide.
Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) is a wonderful, all-purpose groundcover that is great on hillsides and in rock gardens. It produces blue, pink, or purple flowers in March and April.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) produces distinctive purple/pink flowers from April to June. It typically grows in a bushy clump that reaches 2-4 feet high and 2-4 feet wide.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a striking native plant that needs some moisture to start, but is then drought-tolerant. It spreads by seeds, and works well to fill in areas of your landscape or garden. It blooms June-October, and is 1-2 feet tall.
Looking for more ideas and information about native wildflowers? Check out the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and the University of Georgia Extension.
