Gardening In The South: Top Plants For South Central Gardens

Green Spiky Plants
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(Image credit: Joshua Mayer)
Susan Albert
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last updated
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Gardening in the south can be a challenge if you live where the summers are exceptionally warm. Add to that humidity or excessive dryness and plants may suffer. However, once established, many plants can withstand heat, humidity, and drought.

Top Plants for South Central Gardens

When looking for tried and true plants for South Central gardens, don’t forget to include plants native to this gardening region. Native plants are acclimated to the region and require less water and nutrients than non-native plants. They are easy to find in native plant nurseries or by mail order.

Before purchasing plants, know the United States Department of Agriculture’s plant hardiness zone for your area, and check the plant tags for the hardiness zone. The hardiness zones show the minimum temperatures plants can tolerate for each climate zone. The tag also shows the type of light the plant needs for optimal performance – full sun, shade, or part shade.

Here is a list of native and non-native plants suitable for South Central gardens.

Annuals

Perennials

Groundcovers

Grasses

Vines

Shrubs

Trees

Recommended plant lists also can be found at your local cooperative extension office or on its website.

Susan Albert
Susan Albert
Writer

After graduating from Oklahoma State University with a degree in English, Susan pursued a career in communications. In addition, she wrote garden articles for magazines and authored a newspaper gardening column for many years. She contributed South-Central regional gardening columns for four years to Lowes.com. While living in Oklahoma, she served as a master gardener for 17 years.