Springtime Greenery
Kousa Dogwood
Small, deciduous tree noted for its white flowers in late spring and large bright red fruit in fall
Has good red fall color
More disease resistant and drought tolerant than native Florida Dogwood
Plant in organic, rich, moist but well-drained soil
Plant in full sun to partial shade
Prune after flowering in spring; fertilize in late spring
Height: 20-30 feet; Width: 20-30 feet
Hardy in USDA zones (4)5-8:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; may not be hardy in zone 4a but survive in protected areas of zone 4b.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to partial shade.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade with protection from hot afternoon sun; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Eastern Redbud
Small, deciduous tree noted for its purple/pink flowers in early spring before the leaves
Has decorative bean-like seed pods fall through winter
Drought tolerant once established
Tolerant of poor and alkaline soil
Plant in full sun to light shade
Prune after flowering in spring; fertilize in late spring
Height: 15-20 feet; Width: 15 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-9:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun to light shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Zone 9: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade; provide supplemental water during dry spells.
Korean Spice Viburnum
Deciduous shrub noted for its pinkish-white fragrant flowers in mid spring and red to black fruit in fall
Reddish fall color
Plant in rich, moisture-retentive, slightly acidic soil; water during dry periods in growing season
Plant in full sun to partial shade
Prune after flowering in spring; fertilize in late spring
Height: 6 feet; Width: 6 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-7:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun to light shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade.
Canadian Hemlock
Pyramidal needled evergreen grown as a hedge or screen or as a specimen in larger landscapes
Produces brown cones less than one inch
Plant in rich, moist, but-well drained soil; does not tolerate drought
Plant in full sun to partial shade; does not tolerate heat or urban stress
Prune as needed in the spring
Watch for tiny "cotton ball" growths at base of needles – sign of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
Height: 40-70 feet; Width: 30-50 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 3-7:
Zone 3: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun to light shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; avoid exposure to winter wind.
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun to light shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; avoid exposure to winter wind.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun to partial shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; avoid exposure to winter wind.
Zone 6: Plant in fall; plant in light to partial shade; avoid exposure to winter wind.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in light to partial shade; avoid exposure to winter wind; may struggle in warmer areas of this zone.
Snowmound Spirea
Dwarf deciduous shrub with dark blue-green leaves and white flowers in mid to late spring
Maintains a neat rounded form
Plant in rich, moist, but-well drained soil
Plant in full sun to light shade
Prune as needed while dormant in winter; fertilize in spring
Height: 3-5 feet; Width: 3-5 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-8(9):
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in fall or early spring; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 9: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to light shade; may struggle in warmer areas of this zone.
Sweetshrub or Carolina Allspice
Large deciduous, suckering shrub with fragrant (spicy) dark maroon flowers in spring
Leaves are fragrant when crushed, but fragrance is highly variable between different plants. There is a wide range of fragrance intensity in this plant. Walter's experience has shown that if the leaves and twigs are highly fragrant when crushed, the flowers will also be more strongly scented.
Plant in rich, moist, but-well drained soil
Plant in full sun to partial shade; may become open or leggy in shadier locations
Prune after flowering in late spring
Height: 6-10 feet; Width: 6-12 feet, suckering
Hardy in USDA zones (4)5-9:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; may suffer some branch dieback in this zone.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in fall or early spring; plant in full sun to partial shade.
Zone 7: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade.
Zone 8: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade.
Zone 9: Plant in fall; plant in full sun to partial shade.
Siberian Iris
Deciduous perennial producing clumps of grassy foliage and 3-inch beardless lavender flowers in summer
Plant in reliably moist to wet soil; will tolerate standing water and boggy conditions
Plant in full sun to light shade
Remove dead foliage in fall
Height: 2-3 feet; Width: 2-3 feet, spreading
Hardy in USDA zones (3)4-9:
Zone 3: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; may be marginally hardy in this zone.
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Japanese Iris
Deciduous perennial producing clumps of grassy foliage and 6-inch beardless pale violet flowers with dark violet veins in summer
Plant in reliably moist to wet soil; tolerates boggy conditions during growing season; dry in winter
Plant in full sun to light shade
Remove dead foliage in fall
Height: 2-3 feet; Width: 2-3 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-9:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
German Bearded Iris
Deciduous perennial produces clumps of grassy foliage and 6-inch bearded flowers with white ruffled petals edged in deep blue-purple in late spring to early summer
Plant in rich, moist, but well-drained soil
Plant in full sun to light shade
Remove dead foliage in fall; divide rhizomes after blooming in summer
Height: 2-4 feet; Width: 2-4 feet, spreading
Hardy in USDA zones 3-9:
Zone 3: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun to light shade; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun to light shade.
Blackie Sweet Potato Vine
Vigorous trailing annual vine with dark purple to almost black bold foliage
Plant in moist, but well-drained soil; water when dry
Tolerates heat
Plant in full sun
Height: 6 inches; Width: to 48 inches or more
Annual in USDA zones 2-9
Hardy in USDA zones 10-11:
Zones 2-9: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; fertilize with water-based fertilizer twice monthly during growing season; cut back foliage and dig tubers for indoors before frost or discard plants after killing frost.
Zones 10-11: Plant in spring; mulch in fall; prune away old foliage in early spring; fertilize twice monthly during spring and summer.
Licorice Plant 'Limelight'
Trailing annual vine with bright chartreuse fuzzy leaves
Plant in moist, but well-drained soil; water when dry
Plant in light shade; may lose leaf color in strong light or heat
Height: 20 inches; Width: to 6 feet
Annual in USDA zones 2-9
Hardy in USDA zones 10-11:
Zones 2-9: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; fertilize with water-based fertilizer twice monthly during growing season; cut back foliage and bring indoors before frost or discard plants after killing frost.
Zones 10-11: Plant in spring; mulch in fall; prune away old foliage in early spring; fertilize twice monthly during spring and summer.
Red Pygmy Dahlia
Tender perennial with bright red daisy-like flowers from mid summer to frost
Plant in moist, but well-drained soil; water when dry
Plant in full sun
Fertilize weekly with nitrogen fertilizers before bloom and potassium fertilizers during bloom
Height: 20 inches; Width: 12 inches
Annual in USDA zones 2-7
Hardy in USDA zones (7b)8-11:
Zones 2-7: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; cut back foliage and bring indoors before frost or discard plants after killing frost; may survive in zone 7b with extra mulch.
Zones 8-11: Plant in spring; mulch in fall; prune away old foliage in fall.
Gay's Delight Coleus
Annual grown for its bold chartreuse foliage with maroon veins
Plant in moist, but well-drained soil; water when dry
Plant in full sun
Pinch plants to encourage bushiness
Height: 24-36 inches; Width: 24-36 inches
Annual in USDA zones 2-9
Hardy in USDA zones 10-11:
Zones 2-9: Plant in spring after danger of frost has passed; cut back foliage and bring indoors or root cuttings indoors before frost or discard plants after killing frost.
Zones 10-11: Plant in spring; mulch in fall; prune away old foliage in fall.
Red Dianthus
Trailing evergreen perennial grown as a groundcover or in containers with silver foliage and red flowers in mid spring
Plant in moist, but well-drained soil
Plant in full sun
Shear back after flowering to promote reblooming
Height: 12-18 inches; Width: 12-18 inches
Hardy in USDA zones (3)4-9:
Zone 3: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt; may be marginally hardy in this zone.
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 7: Plant in spring; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun.
Zone 9: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun.
Nasturtium
Annual known for its vivid color
Plant in well-drained soil. Nasturtium will often grow even in poor soil.
Plant in full sun
Height: 12-inch bush or 24 inches trailing
Green Showers Boston Ivy
A native alternative to Green Showers Boston Ivy is called Virginia Creeper – Parthenocissus quinquefolia.
Vigorous, deciduous climbing vine with large bright green leaves that turn burgundy in the fall
Plant in moist, but well-drained soil
Plant in full sun
Prune at any time to keep in check
Length: 40-50 feet
Hardy in USDA zones 4-8:
Zone 4: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 5: Plant in spring to prevent winter heaving; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost; avoid contact with salt.
Zone 6: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 7: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun; apply extra mulch after first hard frost.
Zone 8: Plant in spring or early fall; plant in full sun.
Next Up
Springtime Planting
12 Plant Varieties and Their Zones
Outdoor Greenery
Soil Preparation for Perennials
Perennials and Shrubs
Growing Green Radishes
Growing Purple Radishes
Kohlrabi and Yardlong Beans
How to Grow Yams
