Native Plants Resources
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This publication is intended to be a quick guide for plant enthusiasts of North Georgia. Each plant listing is accompanied by a photograph and a brief plant description. The description contains the common name, scientific name, leaf description, flower description, habitat and plant uses.
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Native plants are a great choice for Georgia landscapes. They provide food and habitat for native insects, birds, and other creatures and allow the gardeners to support local ecosystems. They are well suited to their native environments and many are quite beautiful. However, they are not super plants! They need to be sited in locations that closely match their native habitat, and the general public often assumes they need little or no care. This publication outlines conditions under which native plants need supplemental water and pest protection. Using the guidelines presented here, gardeners will be able to grow healthy native plants in their landscape.
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C 1081
New Native Little Bluestems
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is a drought tolerant, low maintenance native plant. This ornamental, warm season perennial grass tolerates a wide range of soil conditions and is easily grown. Its purplish bronze blooms and vertical clusters of slender leaves make it a lovely addition to any landscape. It is cold hardy in Georgia, although it may suffer moderate damage in cold winters in the North Georgia mountains. Dr. Carol Robacker of the University of Georgia and Dr. Melanie Harrison of the United States Department of Agriculture have recently created new Little Bluestem cultivars with improved form, reduced height, and more intense red or blue foliage. Several of these desirable new plants are now available to the landscape industry and the public!
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