Perennial trumpet vine brings hummingbirds to Georgia gardens.
Georgia's native perennials have adapted to a range of growing conditions across the Peach State. Piedmont region perennials handle Georgia's famous red clay soil without flinching. Those in the Coastal Plain tolerate soils from rich loam to Okefenokee Swamp mud. These perennials handle winter lows ranging from minus 5 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit in Georgia's USDA plant hardiness zones 6b to 8. Gardeners throughout Georgia can beautify their landscapes with a wide choice of these low-maintenance plants. Does this Spark an idea?
Ground Covers
Beetleweed (Galax ureceolata), a low growing evergreen, is common in northwest Georgia's woodlands. The 8 to15 inch plant has glossy, red-tinged, green heart-shaped foliage and leafless stems with spikes of small, white May and June blooms. Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense) likes the cooler summers of northern Georgia's woods. This 4 to 8 inch plant has heart-shaped, green leaves. Its reddish- to brownish-green, spring flower opens on a single stalk beneath the foliage. The plant's spreading rhizome has a gingery flavor. Both these shade-loving perennials like fertile, acidic sandy or loamy soil.
Vines
Perennial Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) grows rapidly, often reaching 35 feet. Its summer-long loom of 3-to 4-inch, yellow, bright red or red-orange trumpet flowers make a showy contrast with the vines deep green, oval leaves. The sun-loving plant attracts hummingbirds. It flourishes in pH-neutral, well-drained, moist woodland soil. Evergreen crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) tolerates conditions from Georgia's southeastern coast floodplains to its northwestern uplands. Up to 50 feet long, it has clusters of yellow, orange or orange-red, spring trumpet flowers. Its glossy, dark green foliage becomes reddish purple in autumn. Like trumpet creeper, it attracts hummingbirds. Crossvine handles partial shade, but blooms more heavily in full sun. It likes slightly acidic, well-drained moist soil.
Tall Perennials
Goat's beard (Aruncus dioicus), a spring and summer blooming perennial, grows to 6 feet high and 4 feet wide. It has compound, dark green foliage and multiple stems of astilbe-like, creamy white flower plumes. Dense stamens make blooming male plants more dramatic than females. Goat's beard grows wild in the acidic soils of northwest Georgia's moist mountain woods. Common boneset (Eupatorium perfolatium), a 3 to 6 foot perennial, grows in the southern and northern state's bogs and wet woods. The butterfly attracting plant has large, lance-like green leaves and erect stems with flat clusters of downy, white June to October flowers. Common boneset grows in sun to shade and moist or wet soils.
Edible Perennial
Georgia's wild populations of sunchoke (Helianthus tuberosus) are most common in thickets and along woodland edges in the north central state. This aster family perennial reaches 6 to 10 feet high. Its hairy stems have multiple branches with large, lance-shaped green leaves. Each branch produces golden yellow, daisy-like blooms from late summer to mid fall. The plant's tubers are a commercially available potato alternative. They're edible raw, boiled or roasted. Sunchoke likes full sun and dry to moist soil.
Tags: green leaves, attracts hummingbirds, Common boneset, dark green, dark green foliage, feet high
