UGA Cooperative Extension
Lowndes County Extension:
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Desirable Plants
Native Plants
The term "Native Plant" is used to describe plants that are indigenous to a certain area. These plants are adapted to live under certain conditions, and if taken out of the native range, may die or grow poorly. Generally speaking, plants that were here before the Europeans came to the United States are the baseline for what is considered a native plant.
Plants that are native to Georgia may not grow in all parts of Georgia. Whether a plant will grow in an area is best determined by the "Plant Hardiness Zone" where you are located. A "Plant Hardiness Zone" is an estimate of low temperatures likely to occur in an area. Georgia is a diverse state with conditions that range from mountainous to coastal regions. Zones in Georgia range from 6b to 8b.
Lowndes County and much of north Florida are in Zone 8b. Being in Zone 8b means that our normal low temperatures are usually not lower than 15 degrees. Certain plants also prefer certain types of soils. Other factors to be considered when placing plants are soil moisture, pH, ultimate size of the plant, and the amount of light required. Plants listed here are native to South Georgia or to Zone 8b which includes north Florida. Some native plants such as hollies are common in the nursery trade while others are rarely available. Availability of native and non-native plants largely depends on their marketability.
The University of Georgia has recently published a new publication, Native Plants for Georgia: Part I: Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines (B987). Click on the "Publications" link at the top of the page to locate this new resource.
Palms
Palms are becoming increasingly popular in coastal and southern Georgia. There are several palms native to Georgia that are successfully grown. They are the Sabal/Cabbage Palm, the Needle Palm, and the Saw Palmetto. Other palms that grow well in zone 8 are the Pindo/Jelly Palm and the Windmill Palm. All the palms listed below are well adapted to our normal winter temperatures. The Mexican Fan Palm is commonly planted in zone 8-8b, but can suffer frond damage during cold winters. The Canary Island Date Palm and the Date Palm are commonly planted in zone 8b, but are not well suited here and are more susceptible to insects and disease. Palms that are considered hardy to zone 9-9b are now being planted in coastal Georgia. Cold winters can severely damage these palms. These palms include the Senegal Date Palm, the Chinese Fan Palm, and the Sentry Palm. One palm-like plant that is frequently seen in zone 8 is the Sago Palm. A similar plant is the Coontie Palm. The Sago and Coontie are Cycads and not palms. Other palms not pictured but considered hardy to zone 8 are the European Fan Palm, the Dwarf Palmetto, and the Mazari Palm.
Poisonous Plants
Whether a plant is dangerous is not as simple as yes or no because much about the toxicity of plants is not known. The toxicity of a plant depends on many factors such as the growth stage of the plant, the condition of the plant, the person ingesting the plant, and the quantity ingested. Toxicity of plants can vary greatly among plants of the same species. Plants pictured on this site are categorized according to comments from the Poison Control Center and toxicity relates relates to humans. There are numerous poisonous plants and these are just a few of the ones in our area. It is important to recognize toxic plants and remove them if the risk of ingestion is present. To determine the identity of a plant call your local extension office or the Lowndes Extension office at 229-333-5185. To determine the toxicity of a plant call the Poison Control Center at
1-800-222-1222.
Ingestion of any amount of these plants are of great concern:
Castor Bean
Oleander
Lantana
Carolina Jessamine
Ingestion of several berries/leaves is a concern:
Nightshade
Pokeberries
Hollies
Azaleas
Lyonia
Ingestion of a significant quantity is a concern:
Budkeyes
Poinsettias
Ligustrum
Cherrylaurel
Black Cherry
Rattlebox
Nandina
Chinaberry
For information on plants which are toxic to livestock, please click here.
