Plants Of Promise

Every two (or so) weeks, I will feature a plant that is native to Georgia. This plant may or may not be easy to find in an average retail nursery, but I feel that it has great garden potential. If you see a plant featured here that you would like to have, encourage your favorite nursery to carry it.

If you cannot locate a source for these plants, contact me.

Many of these plants may be found on rescues conducted by the Georgia Native Plant Society. If you are interested in learning more, contact them through their web site or email me.

October 5, 2006

Purple Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

September 21, 2006

Mt. Airy Fothergilla (Fothergilla x 'Mt. Airy')

January 11, 2006

Seersucker Sedge (Carex plantaginea) This evergreen sedge can be found growing wild in extreme northern Georgia and the Appalachians. The grass-like leaves are a bright green with a mild "puckering" that resembles seersucker fabric. Seersucker sedge forms a pleasant mound which can be periodically divided. The plant produces non-showy dark brown seed heads during the spring. Plant Seersucker sedge in partial to full shade with organic moist, but well-drained soil. This makes a wonderful native, non-aggressive alternative to Liriope. It mixes well with Foam Flowers (Tiarella), Ferns and other moist woodland native perennials. image

December 29, 2005

Chalk Maple (Acer leucoderme) This is one of our small understory maples usually only reaching 20-30 feet in height. It thrives in the shade of taller hardwoods as well as full sun. It prefers to grow in loose, organic, well-drained soil. The leaves are a bit smaller and turn down at the tips. Fall color is bright yellow to orange. The "delicate" habit of this tree reminds me very much of Japanese Maples. However, the trunk and larger limbs of the Chalk Maple are pale gray to white giving the tree great winter interest. This tree is somewhat rare in areas of Georgia, but can be found on at least one site being rescued by the Georgia Native Plant Society.