List of Southeastern US Native Plants
Southeastern portions of the United States include Virginia southwards to Florida and west including Louisiana and Kentucky. Gardeners living in this region have a variety of choices in native plant types. Native plant species include flowering vines and perennials, as well as trees and shrubs. Native plants work well in xeriscaping, native, butterfly and wildlife gardens. Does this Spark an idea?
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Native Perennial Flowers
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Gardeners desiring a garden filled with hardy and relatively maintenance-free plants should grow native varieties. They occur naturally throughout the southeast, conditioned to the region's environment. Spiderwort or Tradescantia virginaiana is an herbaceous perennial found growing wild in moist, partially shady locations. Plants have a clumping habit, grassy foliage and grow up to 2 feet tall. Clusters of three-petal, blue flowers bloom throughout spring. Scarlet sage or Salvia coccinea grows naturally in sunny, dry locations. Plants have triangular foliage and grow up to 3 feet tall. Red flowers cover tall, erect stalks and bloom spring through winter. The flowers are butterfly and hummingbird attractors.
Native Vines
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American wisteria has fragrant purple flowers. Native southeastern vines grow well throughout the area. Plants perform well on garden trellises, arbors, fences or inside containers. American wisteria or Wisteria frutescens occurs naturally in moist wooded areas of the southeast. The deciduous, woody vine can grow as tall as 50 feet. Clusters of bluish-purple, pealike blossoms fill the vine in spring. Honeysuckle or Lonicera sempervirens grows wild throughout woodlands and fenced areas. Vines are deciduous in cooler southeastern regions. Foliage is oval and plants grow as long as 15 feet. Butterflies and hummingbirds use the clusters of springtime scarlet red, tubular blooms for nectar.
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Native Shrubs
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Evergreen blueberry bushes are suitable for potted growth. Shrubs native to southeastern portions of the United States include evergreen and deciduous varieties. Some species flower and produce edible fruits. Flame azalea or Rhododendron acustrinum occurs naturally throughout partially sunny areas of South Georgia and northern Florida. It is deciduous and grows up to 8 feet tall. Bright orange and red, trumpet-like flowers fill the plant in early springtime. Evergreen blueberry or Vaccinium myrsiniles grows wild in piney woodlands from South Carolina to Florida. The low-growing shrub reaches 3 feet in height. Pink and white, urn-like flowers bloom in spring. Edible bluish-black fruits follow the flowers.
Native Trees
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Sabal palms are salt and drought-tolerant. Native southeastern trees work well as shade trees or specimens. Species include deciduous and evergreens. Red maple or Acer rubrum occurs naturally in sunny or shady southeastern woods, swamps or bottomlands. The deciduous maple can grow as tall as 120 feet. Foliage tinged in red occurs year-round, with an extreme burst of color in fall. Sabal palm or Sabal palmetto grows wild from North Carolina south to Florida. The single-trunked palm reaches up to 50 feet tall. The 12 foot long fronds are fan-like and thorn-free. In summer, plumes of white flowers form followed by hard, berry-like fruits. The fruits attract various birds and wildlife.
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