Spring has sprung, and so have the flowers. As the weather turns warmer, blooms of red, pink, purple, blue, gold, and every color under the sun are showing us their shining faces. And whether you’re in a quiet suburb, on a bustling city street, or down a rural dirt road, you too can embrace the sun and all that nature has to offer. If you’re looking for flowers, shrubs, trees, or succulents to add to your backyard garden or kitchen window, here’s a few that fair particularly well in the South Georgia heat.

“The earth laughs in flowers.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Traditional

If you’re looking for a traditional southern flower, look no further than the azalea. While azaleas are technically shrubs, these beauties can soar up to 12 feet tall. Although the blooming season starts as early as February and lasts until September, most varieties of azaleas bloom in April and May.

Azaleas

Botanical Name: Rhododendron

Plant Type: shrub

Sun Exposure: light shade

Soil Type: well-drained, moist, organic matter

Soil pH: acidic

Flower Color: red, yellow, purple, pink, white

Bloom Season: late winter to late summer

Special Features: disease resistant

 

Quirky

No, they can’t be used to serve sweet tea, but pitcher plants are a must-have for the true garden aficionado. Unlike most plants that derive their nutrients from the sun and soil, these babies are carnivorous, meaning they eat meat (i.e., insects) to survive, allowing them to thrive in extremely wet, nutrient deficient soil.

Pitcher Plants

Botanical Name: Sarracenia purpurea

Sun Exposure: full sun

Soil Type: wet/saturated

Soil pH: any

Flower Color: red, yellow, purple, pink, white

Bloom Season: spring, April-May

Special Features: carnivorous

 

High Maintenance

When in bloom, the branches of this tree are covered in flowers, making it a striking addition to any spring garden. Be prepared to work, though, as the redbud is highly susceptible to fungal diseases, making frequent and meticulous pruning a necessity.

Eastern Redbud

Botanical Name: Cercis canadensis

Plant Type: tree

Sun Exposure: full sun

Soil Type: well-drained, moist

Soil pH: acidic or alkaline

Flower Color: lavender, pink

Bloom Season: early spring

Special Features: tolerates mild dry spells

 

Useful

No plant is handier during the spring and summer months than the aloe plant. The gel inside the plant’s thick leaves can be used to help heal minor burns and cuts and sooth irritated skin.

Aloe Vera

Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis miller

Plant Type: succulent

Sun Exposure: full sun

Soil Type: well-drained, gritty

Soil pH: neutral to slightly alkaline

Flower Color: orange, yellow

Bloom Season: spring, March-April; summer

Special Features: medicinal uses

 

Low Maintenance

While traditionally purple, lilacs come in a variety of colors. You have to be quick to catch them, though, as the blooms only last about two weeks. These easy-to-grow, low maintenance flowers are a favorite of butterflies, but be on the lookout for snails and slugs looking for a snack.

Lilac

Botanical Name: Syringa

Plant Type: shrub

Sun Exposure: full sun

Soil Type: well-drained

Soil pH: neutral to slightly alkaline

Flower Color: red, yellow, blue, purple, pink, white

Bloom Season: spring, summer

Special Features: attracts butterflies

---

Health Life – March-April 2017

Seasonal Plants

Written by: Anna Limoges