17 Flowers That Will Thrive in Georgia’s Hot, Humid Climate
Are you struggling to find the perfect flower selection for your Georgia flower garden this season? While there are many flowers that can stand up to the Georgia heat, there are a few that do it just a bit better than others. In this article, we explore our favorite flowers for the hot and moist Georgia climate!
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The state of Georgia exemplifies magnificent natural beauty, unlike any other southern state. Georgia is home to beaches, canyons, forests, marshes, mountains, and waterfalls, each with a unique range of plant life. But what about flowers? Are there certain types of flowers that will thrive a bit better in Georgia’s temperamental climate?
While many flowers can be planted in Georgia as annual flowers, it takes a hardy perennial to survive the heat and humidity of Georgia’s summers. Because of the heat, and humidity, there are certain flowers that are going to be more likely to thrive. This is true regardless if it’s a single season flower, or something you expect to come back year after year.
Not only is it important to find the right flower fit, but best gardening practices, including proper watering, trimming, or pruning, give flowers – even those not native to Georgia – the best chance of survival.
Flowers That Thrive in Georgia
Georgia has a humid subtropical climate. Even though the state has a variety of terrains, it still has a distinction between all four seasons. Summers are long, hot, and humid, while winters are short and mild. Fall and spring tend to vary concerning the last freeze. There aren’t frequent extreme temperatures that can be harmful to your flowers.
Other than being mindful of the climate, there are some other factors that Georgia flowers need to thrive.
It is no secret that good draining soil is vital to a flower’s health – or any plant. Most of the earth in Georgia has acidic pH levels, so adjustments have to be made, like adding lime to neutralize the soil pH. According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Georgia lives in zones 6 through 9.
Based on plant hardiness and regional climate, you can carefully select which flowers you will add to your garden. Here is a list of 17 flowers that flourish in Georgia’s climate and soil.
Baby’s Breath
Scientific Name: Gypsophila elegans
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: Asia and Europe
- Plant Size: 1 to 2 feet tall
- Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-10
Annual Baby’s Breath is moderately drought tolerant and prone to root rot with too much rain. It is also known as Showy’s Baby’s Breath, and it differs from the perennial baby’s breath, also known as Common Baby’s Breath.
Annual Baby’s Breath has a larger flower that grows in round clumps. Various flower colors are available, like white, purple, and rose. This plant is short-lived; it only blooms for six weeks. Annual Baby’s Breath blooms in spring and summer. Since this flower dies quickly, you can plant it every three weeks or so until the final month of summer.
Begonia
Scientific Name: Begonia grandis
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Geographic Origin: Southern China, Japan
- Plant Size: 12 inches
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade to deep shade
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 6-9
Commonly known as the Hardy Begonia, this pink and sometimes white flower grows well in shaded areas. The fragrant flowers are pleasant to look at, and they tend to attract various pollinators, from butterflies to hummingbirds.
Begonia grandis is a popular begonia variety that has a long bloom time from fall to summer. It grows best in moist soil. Quick water tip: Don’t allow the soil to dry out between each watering session. Though they are a pleasing sight, begonias are toxic to some animals and humans.
Bugle Herb
Scientific Name: Ajuga reptans
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Geographic Origin: Europe, northern Africa, southwestern Asia
- Plant Size: 2-3 inches
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun to full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-10
Ajuga reptans, also known as bugle herb, bugleweed, carpetweed, and Blue Bugle, is a ground covering perennial that flourishes in moist soil and shaded areas. Bugle Herb can tolerate full sun when placed in moist soil.
This flower is invasive. Its purple flowers among the vines and weed-like leaves attract bees, songbirds, and hummingbirds. As a ground covering, Ajuga reptans is foot traffic resistant.
Here’s one fun fact: bugle herb is edible. Some people steep it as tea, and some like to add shoots to a fresh salad.
Christmas Rose
Scientific Name: Helleborus niger
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Geographic Origin: Central and Southern Europe
- Plant Size: 9-12 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full to partial shade
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-8
When planted in warmer regions like the south, Helleborus niger blooms near Christmas time— hence the name Christmas Rose. It is also known as Hellebore, Easter Rose, Black Hellebore, and Lenten Rose. With black roots and a concerning level of toxicity, a Christmas rose is still beautiful to behold.
Described as a large white bowl-like or a cup-shaped flower with yellow stamen, this stemless plant is a shade garden favorite for many gardeners. A Christmas rose is harmful to both humans and animals when consumed.
Cockscomb
Scientific Name: Celosia cristata
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: Tropical Africa
- Plant Size: ½ to 2 ½ feet
- Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Similar in appearance to the plumage of a rooster, Celosia cristata is also scientifically known as Celosia argentea var. Celosia cristata. Other names for this flower are Fairy Fountain, Celosia plumosa, Feathered Amaranth, Plumed Cockscomb, and Woolflower.
It flourishes in moist, well-draining soil, but it can also tolerate dry soil. Beware of excess rainfall and high humidity. This will cause your flower roots to rot. Animals like deer find this flower to be a tasty snack. Cockscomb flowers can be gold and yellow, orange, pink, purple, and lavender.
Common Yarrow
Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Geographic Origin: Europe, western Asia, North America
- Plant Size: 2 to 3 feet tall
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Belonging to the daisy family, the Common Yarrow can be used as ground covering or grown as a wildflower. It prefers well-draining moist soil to produce lovely blooms during mid to late summer. Common Yarrow is beautiful but toxic to animals like dogs, cats, and horses.
Grown well in sunny locations, Common Yarrow can be white, pink, or red. These flowers attract bees and butterflies as pollinators.
Daylily
Scientific Name: Hemerocallis
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Geographic Origin: Asia
- Plant Size: 1 to 4 feet
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun to full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-9
A Daylily is commonly grown in Georgia because it is easy to grow. In the past, there were only orange and yellow daylilies available. Now there is an assortment of colors of Hemerocallis to brighten up your home garden.
Edible yet toxic to cats, Daylily has been used in soaps. The taste of a daylily has been described as similar to asparagus or zucchini.
Foxglove
Scientific Name: Digitalis purpurea
- Plant Type: Biennial
- Geographic Origin: Europe
- Plant Size:2 to 5 feet
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Commonly known as Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea has bold colors of the tall perennial blooms that are poisonous to humans. In the past, Foxgloves were used by doctors to treat heart conditions. Foxgloves prefer moist, well-draining soil with a balanced pH to grow.
Deer naturally avoid Foxglove. It happens to contain a particular chemical that deer don’t like. But pollinators like butterflies and bees love the nectar that the flower of Foxglove provides. The large purple to pale pink tubular flower is an excellent addition of color to your garden. But you must be very cautious. Foxglove is poisonous to humans and animals.
Globe Amaranth
Scientific Name: Gomphrena globosa
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: Mexico, Brazil
- Plant Size: 8 to 24 inches
- Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Gomphrena globosa is also known as Globe Amaranth or Globe Flower. This brightly colored spherical flower is drought tolerant. It attracts butterflies and other pollinators. Globe Amaranth is often used in dried flower arrangements towards the end of summer.
Hollyhock
Scientific Name: Alcea rosea
- Plant Type: Biennial, Perennial
- Geographic Origin: Turkey
- Plant Size: 5 to 8 feet tall
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-10
Hollyhocks are short-lived perennials with a long bloom period and prefer full sun. This edible plant attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and songbirds. Hollyhocks are colorful funnel-shaped flowers that range from lavender, red to yellow.
Love-Lies-Bleeding
Scientific Name: Amaranthus caudatus
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin:
- Plant Size: 1 to 3 feet
- Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Known for its long drooping red and gold tassels, Love-Lies-Bleeding is recognized for being a long-lasting flower. Another common name that identifies this flower is Magic Fountain Amaranthus. With a bloom time from fall to summer, the Love-Lies-Bleeding flower may be red, purple, green gold, rose, or bronze.
Marigold
Scientific Name: Calendula officinalis
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: Mediterranean
- Plant Size:
- Sun Exposure: Partial to full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Easily grown in partial to full sun, the orange and yellow plant called the Marigold has many other common names such as Common Marigold, Pot Marigold, Gold Bloom, Ruddles, and Holligold. Beautiful in appearance but bitter in taste. Marigold is an edible flower often described as having a bitter yet tangy flavor.
Marigolds also attract butterflies. This flower has been used as a source of yellow dye in the past.
Phlox
Scientific name: Phlox drummondii
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: Texas, USA
- Plant Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and wide
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Called by many different names such as Phlox, Annual Phlox, Texas Belle, Drummond Phlox, Pride of Texas, or Texas Pride, this annual flower is quite the spectacle with its flower blooms of white, pink, red, and lavender.
Under favorable conditions, Phlox reseeds itself. It prefers sandy well-draining soil out in the full sun or partial shade. This plant is moderately drought tolerant.
Poppy
Scientific name: Papaver orientale
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size:
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-7
Oriental poppy is an orange, red, and pink flower with black centers. The flowers are shaped like a large cup. This colorful perennial flower prefers full sun and well-draining soil to flourish in its environment. Root rot is a potential problem if poppy plants are overwatered.
Oriental poppies are edible. However, they are toxic. Food made with poppies like cakes, muffins, or condiments uses the plant’s immature seed form to reduce toxicity.
Strawflower
Scientific name: Xerochrysum bracteatum
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: Australia
- Plant Size: 1 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 2 inches wide
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade to deep shade
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 8-10
Strawflowers were previously known by the scientific name Helichrysum bracteatum. Its current scientific name is Xerochrysum bracteatum.
It is usually grown as a cut fresh or dried flower, as strawflowers are similar to a daisy. When dried, its straw-like petals retain their color for an extended period.
Wishbone Flower
Scientific Name: Torenia fournieri
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: Asia
- Plant Size: 6 to 12 inches
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade to deep shade
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Wishbone Flower is a tubular two-toned flower that grows in rich, moist soil. The flower is usually purple, lavender, blue, or white. It is sometimes grown outdoors, but it can also be grown indoors. Though it grows best in light shade, the wishbone flower can tolerate the sun with adequate soil moisture.
Zinnia
Scientific Name: Zinnia elegans
- Plant Type: Annual
- Geographic Origin: Mexico
- Plant Size: 6 to 36 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Zinnia can sometimes be used as ground cover. This flowering plant will thrive with adequate amounts of moisture and a sunny location. Zinnia is colorful and easy to grow. It attracts bees, birds, and butterflies to pollinate it.
Different wildlife will eat Zinnia, but deer do not find it pleasing to their taste buds. Zinnia is drought tolerant, heat and humidity resistant, and disease resistant. However, the flower can be susceptible to root rot, blight, and powdery mildew.
Final Thoughts
Today’s list is not exhaustive. There are many more flowers that grow well in Georgia’s climate. Many other shrubs, grasses, and vines that do pretty well in moderate weather.
Remember that there is no secret formula. Habitually using best gardening practices increases the chances of your Georgia flowers’ survival. Sign up for our newsletter for more gardening tips and information.