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Popular Plant FAQ
The Details On Some Of Our Most Popular Plants
A plant being listed here does not guarantee that it is currently in stock. If you are interested in purchasing a specific plant, you can call ahead to make sure it is available.
Annuals
Annuals only live for one growing season. They need to be replanted every year.
Alternathera (Joseph’s Coat)
If you’re looking for vivid, colorful foliage, Joseph’s Coat fits the bill! It’ll catch every eye in the garden. Native to Mexico, it tolerates our summer heat well.
Available in spring and summer
| Mature Growth | 6” to 3’ tall, 6” to 2’ wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun – afternoon shade is beneficial |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly. Their soil needs to be consistently moist, but don’t leave them in standing water. |
| Wildlife Considerations | Deer-resistant |
| Design Tips | A popular choice in container gardens as the “filler.” If you’re planting it in your landscape, plant it in larger groups for maximum impact. |
Angelonia
Heat tolerant, drought tolerant, beautiful blooms – angelonia has everything! It resembles a snapdragon but has smaller blooms, which make lovely cut flowers. No need for deadheading but if you cut it back to the ground periodically, it will grow back thicker in about a week.
Available in spring and summer
| Mature Growth | 1” to 3’ tall, 1’ to 2’ wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least six hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Once the plant has established itself, allow it to dry out between waterings. Moderately drought tolerant. |
| Wildlife Considerations | Attracts pollinators |
| Design Tips | A popular choice in container gardens as the “thriller.” If you’re planting it in your landscape, plant it in larger groups for maximum impact or use it as a beautiful border. |
Begonia
Begonias are prized for their vibrant blooms and textured foliage! Their bright colors will catch all eyes in your garden beds. Deadhead and pinch them back regularly to keep them healthy and prolong their blooming period. These are a different type of begonia from the one you would use as a houseplant – those are Rieger begonias.
Available in spring and summer
| Mature Growth | 6” to 3’ tall, 6” to 1’ wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun, partial sun, full shade |
| Water Requirements | Water fairly regularly to keep the soil moist but not too wet |
| Wildlife Considerations | Deer-resistant |
| Design Tips | Plant it in larger groups for maximum impact. They are also a popular choice for container gardens as the “filler.” |
Celosia (Cockscomb)
Celosia is a popular choice amongst gardeners because it’s easy to grow! You’ll find their stiff, waxy blooms in three different shapes: crested, plumbed, and spicate. They make beautiful cut and dried flowers!
Available in summer and fall
| Mature Growth | 6” to 1’ tall, 1’ to 3’ wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least six hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly. Their soil needs to be consistently moist, but don’t leave them in standing water. |
| Wildlife Considerations | Attracts pollinators |
| Design Tips | A popular choice in container gardens as the “thriller.” If you’re planting it in your landscape, plant it in larger groups for maximum impact. |
Dahlias
With blooms in almost any color and a variety of sizes, you’re sure to find a dahlia that’s perfect for all your garden projects!
Available in spring and summer
| Mature Growth | 1’ to 3’ tall, 3’ to 8’ wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least six hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly. Their soil needs to be consistently moist, but don’t leave them in standing water. |
| Wildlife Considerations | Attracts pollinators |
| Design Tips | Pay attention to the mature height of your selected dahlia. Some can get quite tall, and some can have large dinner plate- sized blooms. Plant them where they and other plants in your bed can all be seen. |
Impatiens (New Guinea and Sun Patiens)
Impatiens are blooming powerhouses that will make a statement in your garden. However, many are prone to contracting downy mildew. That’s what makes the New Guinea and SunPatien varieties so popular – they are more disease-resistant!
Available in spring and summer
| Mature Growth | New Guinea: 12” to 15’ tall, 1’ to 3’ wide SunPatiens: 24” to 36” tall, 24” to 36” wide |
| Sun Requirements | Partial sun to partial shade |
| Water Requirements | Water when dry. When they start to wilt, they need water. |
| Wildlife Considerations | Attracts pollinators |
| Design Tips | A popular choice in container gardens as the “spiller” or “filler.” Pair them in your landscape or container with begonias, marigolds, or salvia! |
Petunias
Petunias come in a variety of colors and patterns – you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for your garden! Wave petunias are aggressive growers that cover your garden in color, making them great borders or groundcovers. Supertunias, on the other hand, have long vines that look beautiful in a hanging basket.
Available in spring and summer
Did you know? Many of the petunias we stock were grown on the Martin family farm!
| Mature Growth | 6” to 8’ tall, 1’ to 4’ wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun |
| Water Requirements | Keep soil evenly moist, but don’t leave in standing water |
| Wildlife Considerations | Attracts pollinators Deer- and rabbit-resistant |
| Design Tips | A popular choice in container gardens as the “spiller” or “filler.” Pair with angelonia, dusty miller, geraniums, or salvia. Be careful, though – wave petunias may choke out other plants. |
Sweet Potato Vine
Sweet potato vine is a versatile and vigorous garden addition! The foliage is classically a bright chartreuse, but other colors are available. This plant grows very quickly and may require frequent pruning, depending on the look you are going for in your garden.
Available in spring and summer
| Mature Growth | 6” tall, 3’ to 6’ wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun, partial shade/sun, full shade |
| Water Requirements | Keep soil evenly moist, but don’t leave in standing water |
| Wildlife Considerations | Deer- and rabbit-resistant |
| Design Tips | A popular choice in container gardens as the “spiller.” In garden beds, it makes an excellent groundcover. Pair with angelonia, marigolds, or impatiens. |
Perennials
Perennials will come back year after year. They do not need to be replanted every year.
Cranesbill Geranium
Geraniums are a popular choice because they are so easy to grow! They’ll put on a color show for you throughout the spring and summer. True geraniums are perennials and are sometimes called cranesbill geraniums. Annual geraniums actually belong to the pelargonium family.
Available in spring and summer
| Mature Growth | 6” to 3’ tall, 6” to 4’ wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun |
| Water Requirements | Keep soil evenly moist, but don’t leave in standing water |
| Wildlife Considerations | Attracts pollinators Deer- and rabbit-resistant |
| Design Tips | TA popular choice in container gardens. Let its cascading blooms in its ivy form be the star of a window box! Pair with astilbe, irises, angelonia, calibrachoa, or salvia. |
Daylilies
Each daylily bloom may only last for a day, but these beauties will give you a stream of flowers throughout the season! These are tough, rugged plants that can tolerate a variety of conditions. You can even eat the buds and flowers!
Available in spring and summer
| Mature Growth | 1’ to 8’ tall, 1’ to 3’ wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun |
| Water Requirements | Water when the first inch of soil is dry to the touch |
| Wildlife Considerations | Attracts pollinators |
| Design Tips | Plant a mix of early- mid- and late-blooming varieties for long-term color. Pair with coneflowers and black-eyed susans. |
Hardy Hibiscus
End the planting season with a bang! These hardy relatives of the tropical variety are one of the last plants to come back to life each year. The dinner plate-sized hardy hibiscus blooms are well worth the wait!
Available in summer
| Mature Growth | 3’ to 6’ tall, 8’ wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least six hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Keep soil evenly moist, but don’t leave in standing water |
| Wildlife Considerations | Attracts pollinators Deer- and rabbit-resistant |
| Design Tips | These plants need lots of space to spread out! Plant them with phlox, bee balm, or canna lilies in your landscape. |
Hosta
There’s so many varieties of hosta, you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for your garden! While they are prized for their beautiful leaves, they do have lovely flowers that pop up in the summer.
Available in spring, summer, and fall
| Mature Growth | 6” to 3’ tall, 8’ wide or smaller |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least six hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Keep soil evenly moist, but don’t leave in standing water |
| Wildlife Considerations | Attracts pollinators |
| Design Tips | A great border plant. Pair with heuchera or lenten roses. |
Trees
Arborvitaes
Looking for a fast-growing evergreen that’s easy to care for? Look no further than the arborvitae! Also called thuja, this conifer can suit any garden purpose.
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly in extreme heat |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds Eaten by deer and rabbits |
| Design Tips | These trees work great as a privacy screen! |
| Popular Varieties | Green Giant Arborvitae Mature size: 25’-30’ tall and 8’-10’ wide The Green Giant has a conical form and is a versatile addition to your garden. It’s virtually disease-free.Emerald Green Arborvitae Mature size: 15’-18’ tall and 4’ wide The Emerald Green is narrow and pyramidal. It’s one of the most popular choices for a screen, tall hedge, or topiary. |
Birch Trees
Birch trees are fast-growers that provide lots of interest to your garden with their textured bark! If you have a river or pond, these are great to plant along the bank to prevent erosion.
| Mature Growth | 40’ to 60’ tall and wide (traditionally; size depends on variety) |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least six hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Keep soil evenly moist |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds Deer and rabbits are known to eat its foliage |
| Design Tips | Birch trees are great in areas of your yard that retain water because they like to stay in moist soil. They are also prized for their textured bark that adds lots of interest to your landscape! |
Crabapple Trees
A blooming crabapple tree is a great way to add drama to your garden! They do produce fruit that is smaller than your standard apple and less tasty. They are prized more as an ornamental tree!
| Mature Growth | 20’ tall and wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least six hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly in extreme heat |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds Attracts pollinators |
| Design Tips | A great tree for small yards! |
Crape Myrtles
Due to how suited it is for hot and sunny places, the crape myrtle is a staple of the southern garden! They have the longest bloom time of any flowering tree.
Don’t commit “crape murder!” Drastically cutting back your crape myrtle in the fall will make it look like ugly stumps that don’t have the pretty mottled bark that grows on maturing trunks. Your incorrectly pruned tree with also now grow skinny shoots that are too weak to hold up flowers.
| Mature Growth | 15’ to 20’ tall, 15’ wide (traditionally – size depends on variety) |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least six hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly in extreme heat |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds Attracts pollinators |
| Design Tips | Dwarf varieties make great borders. |
Cryptomeria
Also called a Japanese cedar, cryptomeria is a fast-growing, beautiful evergreen. They can reach 30’ to 40’ tall and 20’ to 30’ wide. Some gardeners will use them as an alternative to Leyland cypress trees.
| Mature Growth | 50’ to 80’ tall, 20′ to 30′ wide wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least six hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly in extreme heat |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds |
| Design Tips | Often used in Japanese gardens. You’ll see them planted in groves or linear plantings as a windbreak or a privacy screen. You can plant young ones in a container but as they mature, they will need to eventually be transplanted into the ground. |
Cypress Trees
These North American natives will give you year-round interest with their evergreen growth!
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly in extreme heat |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds |
| Design Tips | These trees work great as a privacy screen! Because their mature size can be quite large, they are not suited for small gardens. |
| Popular Varieties | Leyland Cypress Mature size: 50’+ tall and 20’ wide (expect less than 3’ of growth per year) Because of their large growth, plant them no closer than 15’ apart from one another.Murray Cypress Mature size: 30’-40’ tall and 12’20’ wide (expect less than 4’ of growth per year) The Murray cypress is an improved Leyland cypress. It is not as susceptible to pests or diseases. Carolina Sapphire Cypress |
Dogwood Trees
Dogwoods will give you year-round interest in your landscape! White, pink, or red flowers in the spring will give way to beautiful red berries in the winter.
| Mature Growth | 15’ to 20’ tall and wide |
| Sun Requirements | Partial morning sun to full shade |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly to maintain evenly moist soil |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds Attracts pollinators |
| Design Tips | This flowering tree makes a great centerpiece of your shade garden! |
Magnolia Trees
Magnolia trees are a southern staple. Enjoy its glossy, evergreen leaves throughout the year and its fragrant blooms in the spring and summer!
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun |
| Water Requirements | Water incrementally |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds Seeds are eaten by birds, squirrels, and rabbits |
| Design Tips | Dwarf varieties make beautiful privacy screens. Don’t plant anything under magnolias – leaf litter will cover anything below. |
| Popular Varieties | Little Gem Magnolia Mature size: 20’-25’ tall and 10’-15’ wide This is a true dwarf magnolia. It can be trained as espalier against a wall or fence.Teddy Bear Magnolia Mature size: 16’-20’ tall and 10’-12’ wide This is true dwarf magnolia. Its compact, upright form makes for the perfect tree for smaller landscapes. Alta Magnolia |
Maple Trees
Looking for a fast growing tree that will give you lots of shade? Maples tick the boxes! They are prized for their fall color, when the beautiful green leaves turn into gorgeous shades of orange and red. Japanese maples grow a little slower, but they make up for it in interest. Their leaves come in an assortment of shapes, sizes, and colors that will all accent your garden well.
| Mature Growth | 50’ to 60’ tall, 40’ wide (size depends on variety) Japanese Maples: 8’ to 30’ tall and wide |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least 6 hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly to maintain evenly moist soil |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds |
| Design Tips | Make sure you have plenty of space for this large trees! Pair Japanese maples with ginkgos, sedum, or azaleas in your landscape. |
Poplar Trees
Poplar trees are so popular, the tulip poplar is Tennessee’s state tree! They grow up quickly and will provide your garden lots of shade.
| Mature Growth | 40’ tall and wide (traditionally; size depends on variety) |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly in extreme heat |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds Deer and rabbits are known to eat its foliage |
| Design Tips | Plant these trees away from your house to give its large roots room to grow without causing you any problems. |
Spruce Trees
These native conifers will add rustic evergreen elegance to your garden. It is known to grow slowly, but your patience will pay off with a display of beautiful, fragrant foliage.
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least 6 hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Water substantially in the summer |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds Provides winter shelter for rabbits and other small animals |
| Design Tips | Spruce trees are a beautiful specimen plant in larger landscapes! They can also form a privacy screen. |
| Colorado Blue Spruce Mature size: 40’-60’ tall and 10’-20’ wide The blue shade of its foliage is striking against your green landscape!Norwegian Spruce Mature size: 40’-60’ tall and 25’-30’ wide The Norwegian spruce is one of the fastest growing varieties. |
Willow Trees
Willow trees are fast-growers that are definitely going to catch all the eyes in your garden! If you have a river or pond, these are great to plant along the bank to prevent erosion.
| Mature Growth | 30’ to 50’ tall, 30’ to 40’ wide (traditionally; size depends on variety) |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun – at least 6 hours of sunlight each day |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly to maintain evenly moist soil |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds Deer and rabbits are known to eat its foliage |
| Design Tips | Willow trees are great in areas of your yard that retain water because they like to stay in moist soil. |
Shrubs
Holly
We typically think of holly as being a Christmas plant, but it is perfect year-round. There are male and female holly plants. Females produce berries as long as a male is planted nearby to help with pollination.
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly in extreme heat |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds Berries eaten by birds, squirrels, and chipmunks Foliage eaten by deer and rabbits |
| Design Tips | The bush works well as a border! |
| Popular Varieties | Robin Holly Mature size: 15’-20’ tall and 12’-15’ wide Robin holly’s foliage starts as a beautiful shade of maroon and matures to a rich dark green.Oakland Holly Mature size: 15’-20’ tall and 12’-15’ wide Oakland holly gets its name from its distinctive oak-shaped leaves. Nellie R. Stevens Holly |
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are one of the most popular plants to add to your garden! You’ll have blue blooms if your soil is more alkaline and pink blooms if your soil has more lime, and you can amend as necessary to get your desired color. Or, catch eyes in your garden with one of the white bloom varieties!
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly in extreme heat |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds |
| Design Tips | This plant can shine on its own or play well with others! Pair with hostas, astible, or azaleas in your landscape. |
| Popular Varieties | Limelight and Little Lime Mature size: 3’-8’ tall and wide These chartreuse blooms look great as a border, in containers, or on your kitchen table as a cut flower!Seaside Serenade® Collection Mature size: 3’-4’ tall and wide Exclusively from Monrovia, these hydrangeas are compact in size, have sturdier stems and thicker leaves, and are reliable re-bloomers. |
Laurels
Quick-growing laurel is a great addition to your garden!
| Sun Requirements | Full sun to partial sun |
| Water Requirements | Water regularly in extreme heat |
| Wildlife Considerations | Provides a nesting site for birds |
| Design Tips | Laurels work well as a privacy hedge. |
| Popular Varieties | Carolina Bright ’N Tight Laurel Mature size: 8’-10’ tall and 6’-8’ wide Enjoy fragrant white blooms in the spring from this laurel! |