Cold Hardiness Zones in Georgia Zone Ave. Min. Temp. 6b -5 to 0 oF 7a 0 to 5 oF 7b 5 to 10 oF 8a 10 to 15 oF 8b 15 to 20 oF

Drought-tolerant Plants The following plants are known to have good drought-tolerance, good pest resistance and adaptability to a wide range of soils and environmental conditions in Georgia. When selecting trees and shrubs, consider their mature size and provide sufficient growing space. * Indicates plant is native to the U.S.

Common Name

Botanical Name

Georgia Hardiness Zones

Mature Size Ht./Width (Ft.)

Evergreen or Deciduous

Comments

Trees American Holly* Bald Cypress* Bouganvilla Goldenraintree Chestnut Oak Chinese Pistache Crape Myrtle Deodar Cedar

Ilex opaca Taxodium distichum Koelreuteria bipnnata Quercus prinus Pistacia chinensis Lagerstroemia indica Cedrus deodara

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 7a to 8b

50/40 70/30 40/30 70/60 35/35 Variable 70/60

E D D D D D E

European Hornbeam

Carpinus betulus

6b to 8b

60/40

D

Male and female trees. Only the female bears fruit. Adapts to wet or dry sites Showy pink capsules in summer Very adaptable Brilliant orange fall color Many flower colors and plant sizes Gets large so needs lots of space Use as single specimen or in groups for screening

Common Name

Botanical Name

Georgia Hardiness Zones

Mature Size Ht./Width (Ft.)

Evergreen or Deciduous

Comments

Trees (continued) Foster Holly

Ilex x attenuate

6b to 8b

40/20

E

Ginkgo Hedge Maple Japanese Zelkova Lacebark Elm Laurel Oak*

Ginkgo biloba Acer campestre Zelkova serrata Ulmus parvifolia Quercus hemisphaerica

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b

80/80 45/45 80/50 50/50 60/40

D D D D D

Needle Palm* Nellie R. Stevens Holly Overcup Oak* Pin Oak* Sawtooth Oak Shumard Oak*

Rhapidopyllum hystrix Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ Quercus lyrata Quercus palustris Quercus acutissima Quercus shumardii

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b

12/12 25/15 50/50 70/40 60/70 80/60

E E D D D D

Southern Magnolia* Trident Maple Willow Oak* Windmill Palm

Magnolia grandiflora Acer buergerianum Quercus phellos Trachycarpus fortunei

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b

80/80 30/30 60/40 40/10

E D D E

Yaupon Holly*

Ilex vomitoria

7a to 8b

30/20

E

Adam’s Needle* American Beautyberry* Beautybush

Yucca filamentosa Callicarpa americana Kolkwitzia amabilis

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b

6 8/6 10/15

E D D

Bumald Spirea

Spiraea x bumalda

6b to 8b

5/5

D

Burkwood Viburnum Butterfly-bush Chastetree

Viburnum x burkwoodii Buddleia davidii Vitex agnus-castus

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b

10/8 15/10 20/20

E D D

Red fruit persist all winter. Pyramidal growth habit. Male and female trees. Female has smelly fruit so plant a male Specimen tree or hedge for screeing Elm-like foliage. Nice shade tree Tough tree. Several cultivars Nice shade tree Tough plant. Sharp needles near main trunk Great for specimen or screening GA Gold Medal Winner Pyramidal growth habit Tough large shade tree Large pyramidal shade tree Little Gem cultivar (30ft. x 15ft.) is recommended for small spaces GA Gold Medal Winner Nice pyramidal form Cold-hardy trunk-forming palm Female produces translucent red fruit

Shrubs Bold texture, sharp spines, yellowwhite spring flowers Clusters of magenta fruit in summer Pink bell-shaped flowers in spring Several cultivars, flower colors and plant sizes Cultivar Mohawk is a GA Gold Medal Winner Many flower colors. Butterfly magnet Purple, lavender or white cultivars

Common Name

Botanical Name

Georgia Hardiness Zones

Mature Size Ht./Width (Ft.)

Evergreen or Deciduous

Comments

Shrubs (continued) Chinese Photinia Cutleaf Lilac Dwarf Yaupon Holly Firethorn (Pyracantha) Flowering Quince

Photinia serrulata Syringa laciniata Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’ Pyracantha coccinea Chaenomeles speciosa

6b to 8b 7a to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b

25/30 8/4 5/5 20/20 10/10

E D E E D

Fortune’s Tea-olive Forysythia (Yellow Bells) Fragrant Tea-olive

Osmanthus x fortunei Forsythia x intermedia Osmanthus fragrans

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 7b to 8b

30/30 10/10 30/30

E D E

Glossy Abelia Japanese Aucuba Japanese Cleyera

Abelia grandiflora Aucuba japonica Ternstroemia gymnanthera

6b to 8b 7a to 8b 6b to 8b

6/6 10/15 10/6

E E E

Japanese Spirea Juniper Leatherleaf Viburnum

Spiraea japonica Juniper spp. Viburnum rhytidophylum

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 7b

Variable Variable 10/10

D E E

Prague Viburnum Rose-of-Sharon Southern Waxmyrtle Thunberg Spirea

Viburnum x pragense Hibiscus syriacus Myrica cerifera Spiraea thunbergii

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 7a to 8b 6b to 8b

10/10 12/10 15/15 5/5

E D E D

Vanhoutte Spirea

Spiraea x vanhouttei

6b to 8b

10/12

D

Winter Jasmine

Jasminum nudiflorum

6b to 8b

4/7

E

6b to 8b

20

E

Confederate Jasmine

Gelsemium sempervirens Trachelospermum jasminoides

7a to 8b

20

E

Creeping Juniper Creeping Phlox Lady Banks Rose

Juniperus horizonatalis Phlox subulata Rosa banksia ‘Alba Plena’

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b

0.5 to 1/6 0.5/2 30

E E D

Large shrub, hedge, or screen plant Pale lilac, fragrant flowers in spring A common foundation shrub Red summer berries Many flower colors More cold-hardy than fragrant teaolive Yellow spring flowers Fragrant fall flowers Many improved cultivars. Rose Creek is a GA Gold Medal Winner Bold tropical-like foliage Accent plant, hedge or screen Several cultivars, flower colors and plant sizes Many forms and sizes Large shrub or screen plant White spring flowers. Good screen plant Many cultivars and flower colors Tough plant. Dwarf cultivars available White spring flowers, fine texture Arching branches. White spring flowers Yellow flowers in late winter. Often used on banks or to cascade over walls

Vines/Groundcovers Carolina Yellow Jessamine*

Yellow spring flowers White spring flowers. Madison is a cold-hardy cultivar. Blue Rug and Bar Harbour are popular cultivars Often used on banks Yellow double flowers in spring

Common Name

Botanical Name

Georgia Hardiness Zones

Mature Size Ht./Width (Ft.)

Evergreen or Deciduous

Comments

Vines/Groundcovers (continued) Mondograss

Ophiopogon japonicus

6b to 8b

0.5/0.5

E

Shore Juniper Trumpet Honeysuckle* Trumpetcreeper* Virginia Creeper*

Juniperus conferta Lonicera sempervirens Campsis radicans Parthenocissus quinquefolia

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b

1/6 20 40 50

E E D D

Good turfgrass substitute in shade Blue Pacific and Emerald Sea are popular cultivars Many cultivars and flower colors Orange-scarlet spring flowers Tough vine for walls, or arbors

Herbaceous Perennials Black-eyed Susan* Blue Anise Sage Butterfly Weed* Coronation Gold Yarrow

Rudbeckia spp. Salvia guaranitica Asclepias tuberosa Achillea x ‘Coronation Gold’

6b to 8b 7a to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b

Variable 4/4 3/2 2/2

Daylily False Blue Indigo* Gaura* Globe Thistle Golden Rod Hybrids Lamb’s-Ears Mexican Sage

Hemerocallis spp. Baptisia australis Guara lindheimeri Echinops ritro Solidago hybrida Stachys byzantina Salvia leucantha

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 7b to 8a

Variable 3/4 4/3 4/3 Variable 1/1 4/4

Purple Coneflower* Red Hot Poker Rosemary Russian Sage Sedum (Stonecrop)

Echinacea purpurea Kniphofia uvaria Rosmarinus officinalis Perovskia atriplicifolia Sedum spp.

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b 6b to 8b

3/2 3/3 Variable 4/4 Variable

Speedwell Statice Texas Sage*

Veronica spp. Limonium latifolium Salvia greggii

6b to 8b 6b to 8b 7a to 8b

Variable 2/2 3/3

Wormwood

Artemisia spp.

6b to 8b

Variable

Many species and cultivars Deep blue flowers from spring to frost Orange spring flowers A very popular hybrid Hundreds of cultivars, flower forms and flower colors Violet-blue lipine-like flowers White and pink-flowering cultivars Blue summer flowers Many nice cultivars Woolly foliage. Purple summer flowers Blue and white flowers all summer Several cultivars. Purple, rose or white flowers Red torch-like flowers in late spring Light blue flowers. Many cultivars Light blue late-summer flowers Popular roof garden plant. Tough Many species and cultivars. Pink, purple, blue, or white flowers Prefers partial shade Scarlet flowers all summer Silver King and Powis Castle are popular cultivars

Common Name

Botanical Name

Georgia Hardiness Zones

Mature Size Ht./Width (Ft.)

Evergreen or Deciduous

Comments

Annuals Annual Periwinkle Blanket Flower*

Catharanthus roseus Gaillardia pulchella

1/1 1 to 2/2

Dusty Miller Globe Amaranth Mealycup Sage Moss Rose (Purslane)

Senacio cineraria Gomphrena globosa Salvia farinaceae Portulaca grandiflora

1/1 1 to 3/1 ½ 0.5/1

Musk Mallow

Abelmoschus moschatus

2 to 3/2

Narrow-leaf Zinnia

Zinnia angustifolia

Purple Heart Strawflower (Paper Daisy) Sulphur Cosmos Treasure Flower (Gazania)

Setcreasea purpurea Helichrysum bracteatum Cosmos sulphurens Gazania rigens

1/1 1/3 1 to 3/2 1 to 3/2 1.5/1.5

Pink, red, or white flowers Flowers spring to frost Gray fuzzy foliage. Small daisy-like yellow flowers Likes heat. Several cultivars Purple or lavender flowers Many colors. Single or double flowers Yellow flowers, 3 inches across. Pacific Light Pink is a popular cultivar Tough plant. Flowers yellow, orange, or white Magenta foliage. Small lavender flowers Many colors Yellow, orange or white flowers Daisy-like flowers. Many colors

Prepared by Gary L. Wade, Ph.D., Department of Horticulture, The University of Georgia, July, 2007.

References Armitage, Allan M. 1997. Herbaceous Perennial Plants: A Treatise on their Identification, Culture and Garden Attibutes, Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign, I Armitage, Allan M. 2001. Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials, Timber Press, Portland, OR Dirr, Michael A. 1997. Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs, Timber Press, Portland, OR Dirr, Michael A. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign, IL Rice, Graham. 1988. Plants for Problem Places, Timber Press, Portland, OR