Dip the cut ends in a rooting hormone to enhance rooting.Division: Root division can be done in fall or early spring. Flat-topped flower heads consisting of 15 to 45 small pink tubular flowers appear from mid-June through August. It may need staking in wet years. Never collect native plants from the wild as it will deplete natural ecosystems. Flower spikes, 6 to 12 inches long, appear in June on the tips of stems. Powdery mildew may be a problem when it is grown in moist, shady sites. Leaves are alternate, up to 4 inches long and34 inch wide, becoming smaller as they ascend the stem. Landscape Uses: Wild Geranium is a beautiful addition to a woodland garden or perennial border. Three of the most common, garden-worthy species are described below. The dried pods with loose seeds were used as rattles to entertain Indian infants. The clusters are arranged in whorls around square stems. The flowers are tiny, approximately 1/4 inch across, with six reflexed tepals and anthers that rise above the stigma. Comments: Some authorities feel this plant has the most beautiful flowers of all the plants in the Amaryllis family. A similar species, A. hubrichtii, Arkansas Blue Star, grows 3 feet tall and wide. The disk flowers turn dark red-purple with age. Size: 2 feet tall and 12 to 18 inches wide, Native To: Florida to Texas, north to North Dakota andMinnesota, east to New York and Connecticut. Home gardeners are becoming more aware of perennials and so are commercial landscapers. Asclepias is native to Georgia and easy to grow. From spring to early summer, blue, star-shaped flowers, 12 inch across, are borne in loose clusters at stem tips. It is found in glades, rocky areas and prairies in northeast Georgia. They are lance-shaped, 1 to 2 inches long and alternate along the stem. Plants that Attract Georgia Wildlife - | Department Of Natural They are also difficult to transplant. Liriope is generally used as a ground cover, the variegated varieties widely used in landscaping. Landscape Uses: Use Little Brown Jug in shaded woodland gardens. Comments: There is a great deal of confusion among botanists as to the correct classification of this plant. Bract: A modified leaf, usually smaller than the ordinary foliage leaves, that occurs just below a flower or inflorescence. When possible, plant species grown straight from local seed sources. It adapts to both moist and dry soils. As they mature, the flowers open wide enough to allow bees inside for pollination. This selection of lantana is apparently hardy in Georgia. Small white flowers are borne in dense terminal spikes in spring. Divide plants in the fall, leaving at least one bud on each piece of rhizome. They are borne in terminal clusters at the top of stems in June. Scarlet Rose Mallow was a Georgia Gold Medalwinner in 2007. The Cherokee Indians used apoultice made from the leaves to cure headaches and heart trouble. Comments: Birds are attracted to the plant because its leaves hold water like cups and provide a drinking reservoir. Expect the plant to die back each winter in the Piedmont and Mountain areas of Georgia. Pistil: The seed-bearing organ of a flower, including the stigma, style and ovary. Be prepared to irrigate the plant during dry periods. Native To: Massachusetts to Minnesota, south to Nebraska and New Mexico, east to Florida. In the fall, the leaves turn shades of red and persist throughout the winter. Flower heads are daisy-like and 2 inches across. Flowers attract butterflies, and the foliage is a food source for Monarch butterfly larvae. Remove flower heads before seeds develop to avoid unwanted self-seeding. Comments: Orange Jewelweed can be aggressive in moist woodland sites. Landscape Uses: Use Star Tickseed in sunny areas atthe front of perennial beds or in meadows, ditches or other open areas in sun or partial shade. Stem leaves are wider and more rounded than the basal leaves. Large fluffy white or rose plumes are produced in late summer on 5- to 10-foot plants. Noted for its glorious springtime, warm summers, brisk autumns, and brief winters, Georgia can also support many non-native species, and they are beginning to make their way across the landscape. The foliage frequently declines in midsummer. The upper leaf surface is covered with white, curly hairs that give the plant a silvery appearance. Habitat: Sand hills, open woods and roadsides in the Coastal Plain, Native To: The Coastal Plain from South Carolina to Florida. Each flower has five triangular lobes: two forming an upper lip and three forming a lower lip (see Figure 4). Germination should occur in one to two weeks when they are provided warm (70 F+) temperatures. Cultural Requirements: Halberdleaf Yellow Violet prefers woodland soil high in organic matter and partial shade. A separate flowering stem, approximately 6 inches long, appears in March or April. Light enhances germination so cover the seeds lightly with the germination medium.Cuttings: Take summer stem cuttings before plants bloom. UGA Extension is not responsible for any damages, costs, liability, or risk associated with any use, functionality, and/or content of the website translations. Stem leaves are slightly smaller than the basal leaves and oval in shape. It also spreads by rhizomes and seed, and it can be aggressive. Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and spreading several feet, Habitat: Meadows, woodland edges and disturbed sites, Native To: Eastern North America, from Minnesota toMaine, south to Florida, west to Texas. The genus name Helianthus is derived from the Greek words Helio, which means sun, and Anthus, which means flower. Some variation is to be expected in seed propagated plants; resulting seedlings can be inferior to parent plants. Warm temperatures (70 F+) and light are required for germination.Cuttings: Stem cuttings can be taken in spring before flowerbuds form.Division: Divide plants in fall or spring. Most are grown for their flowers and some for their foliage. The flowers resemble those of snapdragons, with three upper lobes and a two-lobed lower lip arising from a tube. It will not tolerate wet sites. A lemon-yellow variety found in the trade is one of the latest blooming sunflowers, adding a splash of color to the late fall landscape. GSU Perimeter College Native Plant Botanical Garden - Cultivating a Propagation: Seed, cuttings or divisionSeed: Stratify the seeds at 40 F for one month before planting them.Cuttings: Stem cuttings from firm new growth can be taken in the spring.Division: Root division can be done when the plant is dormant. Germination should occur in about two months.Division: Plants can be divided in fall or late winter. Native To: Connecticut, west to Michigan and Illinois, south to Louisiana, east to Florida. There are 14 Baptisia species native to the Southeast. In late August, pink to rose-purple tubular flowers are borne in terminal racemes. Reddish-brown flowers appear in April and May at ground level. Habitat: Low, rich woods, wet fields, seepage areas, alluvial thickets and grassy roadsides, Native To: Most of the Continental U.S. except Oregon, Nevada and California. Basal leaves disappear at flowering. Plants grow best in full sun but will tolerate light shade. Characteristics: Bloodroot is a clump-forming plantwith basal leaves up to 8 inches across. Light is required for germination, so cover the seeds lightly with the germination medium. The upper leaf surface is shiny, while the lower leaf surface is golden green. The larkspur types grow well, acting as reseeding annuals. Temperatures of 70 F orhigher will enhance germination.Cuttings: Take stem cuttings of new spring growth when it begins to harden.Division: Divide plants in late winter or early spring. Prairie Purple Coneflower, Echinacea simulata, is found in the western prairies of Georgia on limestone substrates. As the nursery industry evolved in the 1800s, exotic plants were imported from foreign lands. Cultural Requirements: Brown-eyed Susan prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Characteristics: Leaves are opposite, elliptic to oval in shape, 3 to 6 inches long, with toothed margins and pointed tips. Comments: The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Comments: The species name maculatum means mottled leaves.. Cultural Requirements: Star Tickseed is found throughout the Southeast in a variety of sites, from partial shade to full sun and from moist to dry soils. Plants in the genus Baptisia are members of the pea family and are legumes. It received a Georgia Gold Medal Award in 2000. This is an easy plant to grow in shaded woodland gardens. Clusters of showy red tubular flowers, 1 to 2 inches long, appear in terminal racemes inspring before leaves emerge. From June to September, yellow sunflower-like flower heads, about 3 inches across, are borne on stem terminals. This removes a germination inhibitor from the seed.Cuttings: Stem cuttings can be taken in May or June. Landscape Uses: Use Carolina Lily as a specimen plant in a perennial border or a sunny woodland. The leaves are widest above their middle and deeply lobed. Propagation: SeedSeed: Collect seeds when flower heads turn brown in the fall. Cultural Requirements: Halberd-leaf Rose Mallow prefers full sun to partial shade and moist soil. The cultivar 'Black Knight' is one of the most popular for beginners due to its dark lilaclike flower clusters and wonderful fragrance. Provide good air circulation among plants to prevent powdery mildew disease. They need light to germinate so cover them lightly with the germination medium. Habitat: Bogs, marshes, wet woodlands, swamps, seepage areas and shallow streams, Native To: New York to Illinois, south to Texas and Florida. Landscape Uses: Use Common Milkweed in butterfly gardens, perennial borders, wildflower gardens or rock gardens. Seeds of many perennials, however, do have special requirements, often a need for chilling, before germination can occur. Seeds should germinate in one to two weeks. Remove silky tails from the seeds, then store the seeds dry at 40 F for four to six months. Comments: Dwarf Cincquefoil is a larval host and/or nectar source for the Grizzled-skipper butterfly. The crushed foliage is used to soothe bee stings. Place them in a paper bag to dry and to release their seeds. For generations, long before there was a nursery industry, people planted and enjoyed wildflowers. Leaves are opposite, approximately 1 14 inches long at the base of the stem and up to 2 inches long at the top of the stem. This plant can be somewhat aggressive in the garden, so it may need to be planted in a confined space. They droop downward from the terminal leaves, hence the name nodding trillium. A similar species, Cutleaf Toothwort, Cardamine concatenata (syn. Comments: The plant is a nectar source for bees and butterflies. Seeds should germinate in about a month. It grows best in full sun and is fairly drought tolerant. Hardy ageratum flowers in late summer and fall, producing stems 1 to 2 feet tall with bluish-purple flowers that closely resemble the flowers of true ageratum. These are followed by spherical black pods, 12 to 1 inch in length. It does poorly in heavy clay. The plant spreads by seeds. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. Sow them right away and keep them warm (70 F to 80 F). Fruit are two-parted capsules pointed at both ends, with each part containing rows of seeds. It will naturalize. Size: 1 to 1 12 feet high and 1 12 feet wide, Habitat: Rocky wooded slopes, roadsides, open woods and thickets. Sun and shade tolerance varies. Dentaria lanceolata), is also common in the Southeast. This species is endangered in Canada and is somewhat rare in Georgia. Stems are reddish. Habitat: Rocky and dry open woods, gravel stream banks, thickets, prairies and bluffs, Native To: All states east of the Mississippi River (exceptNew England), west to Wisconsin, south to Texas. The University of Texas at Austin. Characteristics: Multiple erect stems rise 2 feet. Propagation: Seed, cuttings or divisionSeed: Collect seeds in the fall when fruit are dark blue and becoming soft. No pre-treatment of the seeds is required. Characteristics: Leaves are palmate, up to 10 inches long, with three to seven deeply cut lobes and toothed margins. Characteristics: Leaves lack petioles and are joined directly to the stem. Deadheading will encourage repeat flowering and prevent unwanted re-seeding. Each flower consists of 20 to 30 fertile ray flowers and a central disk of dark yellow sterile flowers. Comments: Native American Indians used the juice from the root of Bloodroot as a fabric dye. Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the flowers. Propagation: Seed or divisionSeed: Collect seeds when capsules turn brown and split. Botanically speaking, Georgia is a very interesting state for native plants. It is also found in California. Habitat: Ditches, marshes and wet meadows, Native To: Most of eastern and central North America, from Maine to Georgia, west to Texas, north to Minnesota. Petaloid: Resembling a flower petal in form, texture and color. Habitat: Shaded, moist woodlands, stream banks, seepages and wet rocky areas, Native To: Maine, south to Georgia, west to Mississippi, north to Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Landscape Uses: Plant Dwarf Crested Iris along the edges of moist shaded woodland where its diminutive size can be readily seen. They are borne in terminal cymes in spring. Stems are arching and slightly zigzag. Plant them right away in a well-drained germination medium and maintain a temperature of 70 F or higher. A few smaller lance-shaped leaves appear along the flowering stalk. Large showy yellow flowers with red centers arise from the leaf axils from July to September. It is the state flower of Nebraska. Many perennials are top heavy and require support to prevent them from bending or falling over during wind and rain. Apply mulch to conserve moisture. Characteristics: Alternate lance-shaped leaves are 5 inches long and 12 inch wide, becoming smaller as they ascend the stem. Propagated by seeds or division, the foliage is attractive and usually evergreen. They are dispersed by wind. They grow best in full sun and are very heat tolerant. Landscape Uses: This is a good groundcover for shady, undisturbed areas. Cut back plants in mid-summer if they begin to flop over. Cuttings: Stem cuttings can be taken in June, and root cuttings can be taken in March or April. Rhizomes spread slowly. Very few are suitable for use around perennials. In shade, blue phlox is loose and open; in sun, more dense and compact. In late summer, flower heads, 3 to 4 inches across, are borne at the tips of stems. Seeds are borne in spindle-shaped pods up to 4 inches long. Do not cover them because they need light to germinate. It prefers slightly alkaline soils that are well drained. Wild Indigo can also be propagated from softwood cuttings taken in spring. In spring a solitary maroon and green flower with erect petals is borne at the top of the stem above the leaves. Some Indian tribes used Wild Indigo for medicinal purposes. The following figures illustrate common terms used to describe the plants, including common leaf shapes, common leaf arrangements, common types of inflorescences (arrangement of flowers on flowering stalks) and parts of flowers. Fruit are small shiny brownnutlets. Perennials vary in their drought tolerance, but more require an ample moisture supply at least during periods of active growth. Characteristics: Upright sturdy stems bear oblong leaves up to 8 inches long with reddish veins. Stratify them dry at 40 F for two to three months before planting. Characteristics: Square stems bear opposite lance-shaped leaves. Deep cultivation is likely to injure roots and often uncovers weed seeds, which can then germinate. Planting depth is critical; if the crown is planted too deeply, it may develop crown rot. Stems are covered with fine hairs and contain a milky sap. Landscape Uses: Use Pink-scale Blazing Star in sunny meadows, perennial borders, cottage gardens, natural areas, butterfly gardens or roadside plantings in the Coastal Plain. Color of the ray flowers is variable, ranging from pink to purple, lavender or white. Bottom leaves are oval with toothed margins, while upper leaves are narrow and lack teeth. Stems are branching and hairy. Sow them directly in flats maintained at 70 F or higher. Landscape Uses: Use Dwarf Violet Iris in the front of a perennial border where it can be seen. Remove spent blossoms after flowering if re-seeding is not desired. Propagation: Seed or cuttingsSeed: Collect capsules before they burst and cast their seeds. Provide good air circulation between plants to discourage powdery mildew problems. UGA Extension is not responsible for any damages, costs, liability, or risk associated with any use, functionality, and/or content of the website translations. A variety called Lady in Red was a Georgia Gold Medal Winner in 2002. Soon native plants became diluted with exotic plants in the product mix. Others that spread aggressively from seed are pruned after flowering to prevent seed production. Flower heads develop a bluish cast as they age. Flowering occurs from summer through fall. They consist of yellow ray petals that are notched on their ends surrounding a central disk of tiny maroon flowers. The plant spreads by stolons (above-ground runners) and can become a groundcover. Comments: Flowers attract bees and butterflies. Characteristics: Leaves are alternate, sessile, 3 to 6 inches long, elliptic in shape and have prominent parallel veins. The center disk flowers elongate and become cone-like and brown as they mature. Native To: Louisiana to Florida, north to West Virginia, west to Kentucky. Cool soils are required for germination. Small yellow flowers are produced over a period of several weeks from spring to early summer. They are self-sterile, so two plants of the same species grown from cuttings or division from the same plant cannot cross and produce fertile seeds. The flower heads of Black-eyed Susan attract bees and butterflies. Place them in a paper bag, then crush the bag with a rolling pin to release the seeds from the capsules. Native To: Southern Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, east to southern Virginia, south to northwest Florida, west to Louisiana. Comments: All parts of the plant are poisonous when ingested. Landscape Uses: Use Narrowleaf Sunflower as a background plant in perennial borders or rock gardens, along ponds or in bog gardens. Characteristics: This is a single-stemmed plant arising from a rhizomatous root system. Characteristics: Leaves are oval to round, 34 to 2 inches long, and deeply cut into three to five narrowly lobed segments. Characteristics: A rosette of evergreen basal leaves hug the ground. The fruit is a single green capsule that turns black with age. Habitat: Dry rocky open woods, glades and roadsides, Native To: Maryland to Florida, west to Texas, north toArkansas and Missouri. Fruit are small flat seed-like achenes with four stiff barbed prongs at their upper end. Comments: Plants in the genus Erigeron (Daisy Flea- banes) and the genus Symphyotrichum (American Aster) have many similar characteristics, including small flower heads with white, blue or violet ray flowers and alternate leaves. The mid-rib of the leaf is lighter in color than the surrounding area, and lateral veins have a reddish tint. It likes soils with a slightly acid to neutral pH in the range of 6 to 7. Adding sunflowers to the landscape is a great way to attract birds and other wildlife. Comments: Star Tickseed attracts butterflies. This can be satisfied by keeping them outdoors year-round. Sow the seeds the following spring in outdoor beds. Several varieties are available with pink and white flowers and some with variegated or bronze foliage. Below is a partial list of some plants that are easily grown in Georgia gardens. When native plants disappear or are replaced by exotic species, native insects disappear, thereby impoverishing the food sources for birds and other animals, he says. Comments: Leaves may cause skin irritation when touched. The leaves are sessile and mottled gray-green. Propagation: Seed or divisionSeed: Collect capsules in late summer before they split and release their seeds. Fruit are small, dry, cone-shaped achenes surrounded by numerous fine bristles. Comments: Hummingbirds are attracted to the plant. Store them dry at 40 F for one to three months before sowing them outside in flats or beds in December or January.Cuttings: Cuttings can be taken in the spring after new growth hardens.Division: Plants can be divided in early spring as new growth emerges. Characteristics: Shiny, thick, heart-shaped evergreen leaves, 3 to 6 inches long, are borne at ground level. Cultural Requirements: This plant needs full sun or partial shade and moist, well-drained soils. Propagation: SeedSeed: This plant tends to self-seed readily. Propagation: Seed or cuttingsSeed: Collect capsules when they turn brown. Comments: This plant is susceptible to powdery mildew disease. Darkness enhances germination, so cover the seeding flat with newspaper, then check underneath once a week for germinated seedlings. Store seeds dry at 40 F for two months before planting them in outdoor flats. Remember that it is natural for the tops of many perennials to be killed to the ground by frost. Swale: A shallow depression or low area of land. Astilbe grows 1 to 3 feet high, producing clumps of fernlike foliage and feathery flower spikes. Often, one petal curves inward, partially covering the center of the flower. Cultural Requirements: Sensitive Briar likes sun and dry sandy or rocky soil. Landscape Uses: Use this plant in shaded naturalized areas or wildflower gardens. Helleborus grow best in Georgia in shade or partial shade. Flowers are fragrant, pink to maroon, tubular, 1 inch across, with 5 lobes. Growing about 12 inches high, their blooms usually peak in late spring or early summer. Readers should find this table useful for selecting the right plants for specific locations in their landscapes. Place them in a paper bag, then crush the bag with a rolling pin to release the seeds from the capsules. Bright yellow flowers are produced in summer. Moss verbena varies from blue to purple, lilac and violet; a white variety, 'Alba' is also available. The spikes are 4 to 8 inches long. They are slow to germinate, so do not expect seedlings until the following spring.Division: Plants can be divided in spring or late fall. The reasons for this are many and varied. Stems tend to creep along the ground. Characteristics: Mayapple produces one to two palmately lobed, umbrella-like leaves, 8 to 15 inches across, at the top of a single stem. The plant colonizes an area by spreading rhizomes. They harvested seeds, cuttings and plants from the wild, experimented with various propagation techniques and incorporated their favorite plants into their landscapes. Georgia Native Plants - Gardenia Beware of Meadows in a Can or other wildflower seed mixes that are formulated for other regions of the country, such as the Pacific Northwest or the Northeast. The Garden is open every day of the year, dawn until dusk. Characteristics: Narrow lance-shaped leaves, 1 12 to 4 12 inches long and 18 to 14 inch wide, are borne on the top of a solitary stem growing 2 to 4 feet tall. Cultural Requirements: A description of the type of environment the plant needs to thrive, including the light level, soil type and soil conditions, is provided. http://www.finegardening.com/plant-guide/, Floradata.com. Seed propagation is difficult because the seeds have double dormancy and require a period of cold stratification followed by warm stratification, then another period of cold stratification before they germinate. In many cases perennial beds require more work than annual beds, which can be completely renovated rather easily each year. Cultural Requirements: Virginia Iris is a wetland species that likes consistent moisture. Propagation: Seed or divisionSeed: Collect capsules in late summer before they split and release their seeds. Characteristics: Leaves are alternate, oval to lance-shaped, 2 to 7 inches long with bristle-like hairs on both surfaces that give them a sandpaper-like texture. In summer, small purple strap-like disk flowers appear in a broad cylindrical inflorescence at stem tips. Cultural Requirements: Plant Coral Bells in well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. Colors range from the familiar coral to pink, white and chartreuse. Purple petals (ray flowers) surround black centers (disks flowers). Peak bloom time is midsummer. It is an easy plant to grow, but it can look rough in summer due to its susceptibility to powdery mildew, a disease that turns the foliage white, then brown. Landscape Uses: Use White Wild Indigo in water-smart gardens (gardens designed with water conservation in mind), naturalized areas, butterfly gardens or perennial borders. Today, there is renewed interest in going native and restoring diversity to our landscapes by planting native plants. Achene: A small, dry fruit with one seed that does not split open when ripe. Butterflies are attracted to the flowers. The leaves are widely spaced along smooth stems that have red streaks. They require light to germinate, so cover them lightly with the germination medium.Cuttings: Stem cuttings can be taken in May. It will adapt to both moist and dry soils. They persist on the plant after flowering and can be collected throughout the fall and winter. All native Irises have adistinctive leaf arrangement. The margins of the large leaves have a few teeth, while those of the small leaves are smooth. Characteristics: Square, narrow, dark-green stems support deep green leaves, 2 to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide, with toothed margins. They are shaped like a cucumber. It also likes two to four hours of morning sun. Characteristics: Unbranched stalks containing milky sap bear large, opposite, ovate leaves up to 5 12 inches long and 2 34 inches wide. All Iris flowers are characterized by three falls (actually sepals) and three upright petals called standards (see Figure 4).The falls are showier than the standards. Gaillardia grows 12 to 30 inches high and blooms from midsummer until frost. The plant spreads by rhizomes. Comments: Butterfly Pea has been used for animal forage and erosion control. Native Americans used its watery plant juices to relieve the itch of poison ivy and insect bites. The plant is drought-tolerant once established. Characteristics: Leaves are basal and heart-shaped with three lobes. Maintenance fertilization practices should be based on soil tests; application of phosphorus is frequently unnecessary once adequate soil levels become established. Liatris scariosa (tall gayfeather)L. pycnostachya (Kansas gayfeather)L. spicata. Sow seeds in outdoor beds orflats and cover them lightly with the germination medium.They should germinate in three to six months.Cuttings: Take root cuttings in late winter just as new buds are sprouting.