15 Top Native Plants for Southern Gardens

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There's hope for Southern gardeners. These tough plants withstand hot, humid conditions.

01 of 15

Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos
Peter Krumhardt

Treat yourself to the big, bold flowers of hardy hibiscus. Dinner-plate-sized flowers adorn the plants through late summer and early fall and appear in shades of red, pink, and white.

Name: Hibiscus moscheutos

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist soil

Size: To 8 feet tall

Zones: 5-10

02 of 15

Indian Pink

Indian Pink Spigelia marilandica
Rob Cardillo

A hummingbird favorite, Indian pink offers bright red flowers topped with yellow. Plant toward the front of the border and enjoy this native perennial's traffic-stopping show all season long.

Name: Spigelia marilandica

Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 2 feet tall

Zones: 6-9

03 of 15

Crested Iris

Crested iris
Ginny Weiler

This charming woodland iris bears delicate blue, white, or purple flowers in mid-spring. Even when not in bloom, the tiny clumps of foliage are a great textural contrast in the shady garden.

Name: Iris cristata

Growing Conditions: Part sun to shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 1 foot tall

Zones: 3-9

04 of 15

Bee Balm

Native bee balm
Lynn Karlin

Native bee balm bears bright red blooms through the summer months. It's a butterfly and hummingbird magnet—and thanks to its aromatic foliage, is usually ignored by hungry deer or bunnies.

Name: Monarda didyma

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 4-8

05 of 15

Northern Sea Oats

Northern Sea Oats Chasmanthium latifolium
John Reed Forsman Photography

One of this ornamental grass's best features is that it tolerates light shade well. It's also beautiful: The delicate, oat-like heads provide great winter interest and add character to the garden when rustling in the breeze. Note: This can be a fast spreader, so give it lots of room or grow it where you can keep it contained.

Name: Chasmanthium latifolium

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 3-8

06 of 15

Helen's Flower

sneezeweed blooming in a garden
Peter Krumhardt

This fall-blooming daisy comes in a multitude of autumnal colors, including warm golds, reds, and oranges. An easy-to-grow perennial, it's great for a shot of color at the end of the season. One top-notch selection we love is multicolored 'Mardi Gras'.

Name: Helenium autumnale

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 3-8

07 of 15

Stokes' Aster

Wyoming Stoke's aster Stokesia laevis
Alice O'Brien

Grow this tough perennial for its long season of bloom and easy-growing habit. The blue or lavender flowers appear continuously through summer and into fall. Top selections to watch for include 'Blue Danube', 'Peachie's Pick', and 'Mary Gregory'.

Name: Stokesia laevis

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 3 feet tall

Zones: 5-10

08 of 15

Royal Catchfly

Royal catchfly Silene regia
Clint Farlinger

Grow this tough little perennial to satisfy yourself and the hummingbirds. It produces bright, eye-popping red trumpet flowers in mid- and late summer.

Name: Silene regia

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and well-drained soil

Size: To 3 feet tall

Zones: 5-8

09 of 15

Woodland Phlox

woodland phlox
Peter Krumhardt

Woodland phlox has it all; it's disease resistant, doesn't mind shade, and offers blue, purple, or white fragrant springtime flowers.

Name: Phlox divaricata

Growing Conditions: Full to part sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 16 inches tall

Zones: 3-8

10 of 15

Swamp Lily

swamp lilies
Bill Stites/EYESWEET INC

A top marsh or water-garden plant, swamp lily bears beautiful clusters of pink or white flowers from spring to fall and long, blue-green, strap-like leaves.

Name: Crinum americanum

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist to wet soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 8-11

11 of 15

Pitcher Plant

carnivorous pitcher plants
Rob Cardillo Photography

Though they're native to swampy areas, carnivorous pitcher plants will also grow in moist gardens. Enjoy their interesting funnel-shaped leaves and alien-like springtime flowers.

Name: Sarracenia purpurea

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist or wet soil

Size: To 18 inches tall

Zones: 4-7

12 of 15

Rain Lily

rain lily
Denny Schrock

This crocus look-alike offers charming flowers in shades of red, pink, and white. They appear in autumn, giving the garden a punch of color after the long, hot season.

Name: Zephyranthes candida

Growing Conditions: Sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 18 inches tall

Zones: 7-10

13 of 15

Foamflower

Foamflower
W. Garrett Scholes

A charming groundcover for shady spots, foamflower produces clusters of starry flowers in early spring. For more interest, look for newer selections that have purple-marked foliage or pink-tinged flowers.

Name: Tiarella cordifolia

Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 1 foot tall

Zones: 3-8

14 of 15

False Indigo

False indigo
Susan Gilmore

False indigo is a must-have perennial for your garden. Its blue or purple flowers make a statement in late spring, and its blue-green foliage and charcoal-gray seed pods are beautiful in late summer.

Name: Baptisia australis

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil

Size: To 5 feet tall

Zones: 3-9

15 of 15

Bugbane

white bugbanes
Lynn Karlin Photography

Tall spires of white flowers make bugbane an attractive accent in the shade garden. While bugbanes are pretty, we especially love 'Hillside Black Beauty', a selection that sports dark chocolate-purple foliage.

Name: Actaea racemosa (formerly known as Cimicifuga racemosa)

Growing Conditions: Shade and moist soil

Size: To 5 feet tall

Zones: 3-8

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