7 Native Shrubs for Georgia Landscapes

Prevent planting shrubs or small trees that can’t survive Georgia’s weather. Knowing which shrub species are native to Georgia will help you cultivate a flourishing landscape.

fasttreeremovalatlanta.com gathered information on 7 shrubs native to the state of Georgia for your landscape.

Georgia Native Shrubs

The following 7 species of Georgia native shrubs are well-suited to handle the state’s (often unpredictably extreme) weather conditions and its progression from USDA’s plant hardiness zones, including 6 in the north of the state to 9 in its most southern region. See this interactive map (only requiring your zip code) to pinpoint your hardiness zone planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/. Now on to the 7 shrub species:

1 – Amorpha fruticosa (False Indigo Bush)

The false indigo bush reaches 6-10 ft., is a loose, airy shrub often forming dense thickets. Plants develop a “leggy” characteristic with fine-textured foliage on the upper parts of the plant. Flowers are small and typically purple to a dark shade of blue, with yellow stamens extending beyond the single petal. Flowers bloom rather crowded in narrow, 3-6 in., clusters at or near the ends of branches, appearing from April to June. The resulting fruit is small, only measuring up to 3/8 inch long. This is a deciduous plant hardy to zones 4 through 9.

2 – Hibiscus moscheutos (Hardy Hibiscus or Swamp Rose Mallow)

This is a 3-8 ft., “bushy” perennial with multiple sturdy stems rising from a single crown. The large, heart-shaped leaves are an off-green color above and hairy-white below. The showy, five-petaled, off-white flowers have a red or burgundy band at their base, from which a tubular column of yellow stamens extends. This popular species is hardy to zones 5 through 8.

3 – Rosa carolina (Carolina Rose or Pasture Rose)

This rose species is a relatively low-growing, suckering shrub. Carolina rose typically grows 1-3 ft. high. Then from thorny stems, fragrant, 2 in. wide, 5-petaled, pink flowers bloom singly or in small clusters. The subsequent fruit turns from dark green to bright red as it ripens.

The Carolina Rose is a member of the rose family (family Rosaceae), which boasts around 2,000 incredible species of trees, shrubs, and plants around the world; Approximately 75 of those species are native North American. This variety of rose flourishes in hardiness zones 3 through 8

4 – Sorbus americana (American Mountain Ash or American Rowan)

The American Mountain Ash is a relatively small, deciduous, understory tree, or shrub – also a part of the rose family – native to northeastern North America from Newfoundland to Georgia. In North Carolina, this species can typically be found in the mountains around forest settings. It can grow to a height of 15 to 30 feet and is rather wide with an open, rounded crown.

The shrub’s white spring flowers, bright orangish fall fruit, and its foliage adds additional appeal to this tree. It is a relatively short-lived species due to its high susceptibility to disease and pests. American Mountain Ash thrives in hardiness zones 3 through 6.

5 – Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw or Stagbush)

Blackhaw is a sturdy, well-shaped shrub or small tree, reaching 12-15 ft. In height and, on occasion, can grow to 30 ft. This deciduous shrub blooms white flower clusters followed by yellow berries that turn blue-black. The species displays dark-green foliage becoming reddish-purple in fall.

The fruit attracts and is consumed by a variety of songbirds, game birds, and mammals. This fruit can be harvested and made into preserves. This exceptional species flourishes in hardiness zones 3 through 9.

6 – Rosa setigera (Prairie Rose or Climbing Prairie Rose)

The “pink prairie rose” has long climbing branches reaching up to 15 feet, with straight, scattered thorns along its stems. Leaves are divided into 3-5 leaflets which are acutely pointed. The plant’s 5-petaled pink flowers are 2 inches in diameter, with many yellow stamens. The flowers bloom in clusters at the end of stems but often only open 1 or 2 at a time. This species is cold hardy to zones 5 through 8.

7 – Aralia spinosa (Devil’s Walking Stick or Hercules’ club)

A large, lightly-stemmed shrub, growing upwards of 12-15 ft., sometimes reaching 20 ft. Every spring, it produces a tall stem covered with orangish thorns. Spiny, divided leaves at the top of the stem can be as large as 3-4 ft. long and just as wide. Topping the umbrella of leaves are 1-4 ft. tall clusters of white flowers. Black fruits appear on bright pink fruiting stalks, crowning the plant in fall. This spectacular species is cold hardy to zones 4 through 9.

Shrubs for Your Georgia Landscape

In this article, you discovered 7 showy, attractive, fast-growing shrubs hardy in Georgia’s climate and perfect for your landscape endeavors.

Planting the right shrubs in the state of Georgia is fundamental to maintaining a hardy, well-groomed, and sharp-looking landscape.

When you plant non-native shrubs, you risk them becoming invasive and uncontrollable or dying prematurely from weather, disease, or insect-related damages.

Sources:
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/aralia-spinosa/
missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=g860
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/viburnum-prunifolium/
dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=405
fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/rosa_carolina.shtml
extension.umd.edu/resource/rosemallow
carolinanature.com/trees/amfr.html