Easy-to-Grow Native Plants Your HOA Won't Argue With

By North Georgia Native Nursery, LLC — www.northgeorgianatives.com

Although not exhaustive, this list is a good guide for plantings that will not readily reseed, grow too tall or become overly aggressive. I would argue almost any native plant can be used when proper design and maintenance techniques are applied, so do not be afraid to try plants not on this list. If your favorite plant is not on the list, use it anyways (or perhaps put it in your backyard for your own enjoyment).

One of the key things to remember for a design to maintain a tidy and purposeful appearance is to plant in large groups - usually of odd numbers - and to use repetition throughout the entire area. For a greater "wow" factor throughout the year, plant in swaths of seven or more plants.

("Spp." indicates several species possible)

Full Sun Perennials

  • Achillea millefolium aka Common yarrow – Deer-resistant (several cultivars available with varying colors)
  • Agastache foeniculum aka Anise hyssop – Deer-resistant, can reseed, however the continuous flowering all summer, low-maintenance, and wildlife contributions make it well worth it
  • Allium cernuum aka Nodding onion – Deer-resistant, makes a good border, flower attracts many pollinators
  • Amsonia spp. aka Bluestars – Deer-resistant, solid perennial to provide structure to middle of a border, spring blue flowers and excellent yellow fall color
  • Asclepias perennis aka White swamp milkweed – Deer-resistant, 12-18" tall and wide, long-blooming, monarch larval host plant
  • Asclepias tuberosa aka Butterfly weed – Deer-resistant, 12-18" tall and wide, monarch larval host plant
  • Aster laevis aka Smooth aster – Long-blooming, 2-3' tall and wide, important for late season pollinators
  • Baptisia spp. aka Wild indigo – Deer-resistant, shrubby form, blue green foliage, showy spring flowers
  • Brickellia cordifolia – Deer-resistant, blooms late summer with pink flowers
  • Coreopsis auriculata 'nana' aka Lobed tickseed – Evergreen groundcover, long-blooming
  • Echinacea spp. aka Coneflower – Cultivars that have been bred for compact growth are available
  • Eryngium yuccifolium aka Rattlesnake master – Deer-resistant, provides interesting structure in back of border
  • Gaillardia pulchella aka Indian blanket – Continuous bloomer, very drought tolerant
  • Iris spp. – Deer-resistant, easy filler with semi-evergreen foliage and upright structure
  • Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline' aka Scarlet beebalm – Deer-resistant, excellent groundcover to fill a large area, scented foliage, very interesting flowers, hummingbird magnet
  • Penstemon calycosus aka Long-Sepal beardtongue – Provides clean foliage throughout the year, lovely bell shaped flowers
  • Phlox spp. – Species and/or cultivars that have be bred for compact growth, less powdery mildew
  • Pycnanthemum spp. – Deer-resistant, although aggressive, these plants can make an excellent groundcover. Amazing pollinator attractor!
  • Rudbeckia fulgida aka Orange coneflower – Easy to grow and maintain, dependable perennial
  • Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' – Groundcover, well-behaved goldenrod, important late season pollinator plant
  • Stokesia laevis 'Peachie's Pick' aka Stokes aster – Semi-evergreen, easy to grow perennial, showy flowers
  • Verbena canadensis – Deer-resistant, groundcover provides continuous bloom through summer
  • Zizia spp. aka Golden Alexanders – Deer-resistant, good low-mounding structure, larval host for various butterflies, important for pollinators

Ornamental Grasses

All deer-resistant with high wildlife value.

  • Andropogon virginicus aka Broomsedge
  • Muhlenbergia capillaris aka Pink Muhly Grass
  • Panicum virgatum aka Switchgrass
  • Schizachrium scoparium aka Little bluestem

Shade Perennials

  • Carex spp. – Deer-resistant, evergreen, grassy groundcover
  • Chrysogonum virginianum aka Green and Gold – Yellow-blooming, semi evergreen groundcover
  • Erigeron pulchellus aka Robin's Plantain – Spring blooming, daisy-like flower, groundcover, very drought tolerant
  • Heuchera americana aka American Alumroot aka Coralbells – Easy, semi-evergreen perennial
  • Iris cristata aka Dwarf Crested Iris – Deer-resistant, spring-blooming
  • Iris verna aka Dwarf Iris – Deer-resistant, spring-blooming
  • Packera aurea – Deer-resistant, spreading, evergreen groundcover with yellow flowers in spring, works well in chronically wet areas
  • Phlox divaricata aka Wild blue phlox – Evergreen groundcover, 8" lavender-blue flowers in spring
  • Sedum ternatum aka Woodland Stonecrop – Evergreen, succulent, groundcover

Ferns

  • Polystichum acrostichoides aka Christmas Fern – Evergreen, tolerates dry shade
  • Dryopteris marginalis aka Eastern Wood Fern
  • Osmunda cinnamomea aka Cinnamon Fern – Tolerates chronically wet soil
  • Onoclea sensibilis aka Sensitive Fern
  • Athyrium filix-femina aka Lady Fern

Trees and Shrubs

Often overlooked in the suburban landscape are the layers that naturally occur in nature. If you're fortunate you will have large canopy trees, understory trees, and shrubs as well. The layered approach gives more screening, food for wildlife, and provides a more dynamic landscape.

  • Aesculus parviflora aka Bottlebrush Buckeye – Sun-Part shade, deer-resistant, white spikes of flowers in late spring, 10-15' tall
  • Aesculus pavia aka Red Buckeye – Sun-Part shade, deer-resistant, red spikes of flowers in early spring, 10-15' tall
  • Calycanthus floridus aka Carolina-allspice – Shade, colonizing shrub, easy to grow, fragrant flowers
  • Carpinus caroliniana aka American Hornbeam – Part Shade, attractive and low maintenance small tree
  • Cercis canadensis aka Eastern Redbud – Sun-part shade, showy purple flowers in early spring before leaves emerge, try planting in groups
  • Chionanthus virginicus aka Fringe tree – Sun-Part Shade, white flowers in late spring, 8-15' tall
  • Clethra alnifolia aka Summersweet aka Sweet Pepperbush – Shade, moist soil, highly fragrant flowers in summer attracts many pollinators, 6-8' tall and wide
  • Cornus amomum aka Silky dogwood – Shade, moist soil, flowers in spring, fruit in summer
  • Cornus florida aka Flowering dogwood – Sun-Shade, flowers in spring, fruit in fall, showy fall color
  • Crataegus spp. aka Hawthorn – Sun-Shade, flowers in spring, fruit in summer
  • Fothergilla spp. aka Fragrant witch alder – Shade, fragrant flowers in spring, deer-resistant, showy fall color
  • Hamamelis virginiana aka American witchhazel – Shade, flowers in fall/winter
  • Hydrangea arborescens aka Smooth hydrangea – Shade, flowers in summer, 3-4' tall
  • Hydrangea quercifolia aka Oakleaf hydrangea – Shade, flowers in summer, 10-15' Tall, showy fall color
  • Ilex glabra aka Inkberry – Sun, moist soil, evergreen, 6-8' tall
  • Ilex verticillata (cultivars) aka Winterberry – Sun, moist-average soil, red fruit in fall, need male and female
  • Ilex vomitoria aka Yaupon holly – Sun, moist-average soil, red fruit in fall, need male and female, 10-20' tall
  • Ilex vomitoria 'nana' aka dwarf Yaupon holly – Sun, average soil, 3-6' tall and wide evergreen
  • Illicium floridanum aka Florida anise – Shade, deer-resistant, evergreen, 8-12' tall and wide
  • Itea virginica aka Virginia Sweetspire – Sun-Shade, white flowers in summer, brilliant fall color, colonizing spreader
  • Leucothoe spp. aka Doghobble – Shade, evergreen, flowers in spring
  • Lindera benzoin aka Northern spicebush – Shade, host plant for spicebush swallowtail
  • Magnolia spp. – Sun-Shade, varying sizes depending on species
  • Myrica cerifera (and dwarf cultivars) aka Wax myrtle – Sun, varying sizes depending on species vs. cultivar
  • Rhododendron austrinum, canescens, prunifolium, etc. aka native azaleas – Shade/Partial Sun- flowers in spring-summer, 6-15' tall
  • Styrax americanus aka American Snowbell – Shade, excellent small tree for specimen planting, very fragrant flowers
  • Vaccinium spp. – Sun, 4 seasons of interest- flowers, fruit, fall color, and peeling bark for winter, 6-10' tall and wide
  • Viburnum spp. – Shade, flowers in spring, fruit for birds in summer, often has showy fall color, 6-15' tall depending on species