7 Notable Plants of Georgia

Have you ever been in the forest or walking through a field in Georgia and tripped over a plant whose name you didn’t know? Have you ever been outside when a friend pointed at a plant, and then said a word you had never heard before and definitely couldn’t pronounce? Have you ever noticed a particularly beautiful flower growing from a crack in the sidewalk, and been frustrated that you couldn’t name it? Well, look no further! This article lists seven notable plants that can be found in Georgia, particularly in the Atlanta area, though most will probably grow other places too. While this isn’t an exhaustive guide, and you should definitely never eat any part of a plant you find in the wild without extensive research first and confirmation from at least one other person, you should know enough by the end of this article to be a little less perplexed the next time an interesting volunteer wildflower springs up in your garden. And if you can’t get through this essay in one day, you can read about a plant every day for a week! Just imagine, every day while eating breakfast you could be reading about Woodsorrel and its exploding seedpods, or Jewelweed and its multiple types of flowers. You have to admit that sounds appealing. No? Well, not everyone is a plant nerd. But whether or not you are, it would still be useful to know the following plants.

Common Yellow Woodsorrel

Oxalis Stricta

  Common Yellow Woodsorrel is a small plant that can grow in a wide variety of North American terrains. Because of the fact that its leaves consist of three leaflets, it is sometimes confused with clover. However, if you look closely, you will notice that unlike clover, the individual leaflets have a distinct heart shape. Other ways to tell it apart from look-alikes are that it has small yellow five-petaled flowers, and the way it produces interestingly-shaped seed pods. They will eventually explode, sending seeds up to three feet away from their parent plant. Common Yellow Woodsorrel is not very picky about where it grows; it will live in woodlands, fields, and gardens, much to the annoyance of most gardeners. In fact, it is found in almost every single U.S. state, and into Canada as well. No one is completely sure whether or not it is native to North America; it’s a mysterious little plant! Common Yellow Woodsorrel is edible in small amounts, though larger portions can cause kidney stones in humans. It has a lemony taste, similar to clover but slightly more flavorful. Though some consider it a nuisance, Common Yellow Woodsorrel is a good plant to know in Georgia. 

Common Yellow Woodsorrel

American Beautyberry

Callicarpa Americana

American Beautyberry, also known as French Mulberry, is a member of the Verbenaceae family. It can grow up to nine feet tall, though it is typically only three to five feet in height. It is a woody, deciduous shrub named for its gorgeous magenta berries, which are not only a nice splash of color in late summer and early fall, but are also essential for native birds, who love to feast on the berries and the seeds inside. Birds aren’t the only ones, though. Deer also enjoy munching on the foliage any time they can. This bush prefers to grow in partial shade, and doesn’t need a whole lot of water compared to some other, less drought-resistant plants. While these plants are native to Georgia and the surrounding area, other species of Beautyberry aren’t naturally from the United States, and therefore one must be cautious not to plant the non-native relatives. The American Beautyberry shrub is a great native addition to a garden or yard, and a hit among local wildlife. 

                                                        Purple Coneflower

                                                       Echinacea Purpurea

One of Georgia’s more popular native plants, this wildflower is also very well-loved among pollinators. Insects, especially butterflies, rely on this plant for pollen, and birds, particularly American Goldfinches, enjoy eating the seeds from dried-out flower heads. A member of the asteraceae (daisy) family, Purple Coneflower can grow to be up to four feet tall, though it is often shorter. It is a perennial that can grow in full or partial sun in addition to being fairly drought tolerant, generally preferring sandier or rockier soils, though it can normally grow in gardens just fine. In fact, it grows quickly and is an aggressive spreader. Its flexibility in conditions help it to grow in a lot of places. It can be useful, too; its leaves have been known to have mild antibiotic qualities, and may help to boost the immune system by fortifying cells and even increasing white blood cell count! They grow best when the seeds are exposed to cold winter temperatures before the spring, and this can be mimicked by being put in the fridge in a moist paper towel for one to two months prior to planting. Purple Coneflower is a great native wildflower to know in Georgia. 

Purple Coneflower

Poison Ivy

Toxicodendron Radicans

Not every famous plant is known for its good qualities! Poison Ivy has many faces. It can seem more like a shrub, a trailing vine, or climbing one, and it can have a green flexible stem or a hairy, rope-like one. The leaves can be a variety of colors, including maroon/red, yellow, orange, and green, or it may not appear to have leaves at all! Poison Ivy grows in most of the U.S., and the majority of the human population has some kind of uncomfortable reaction to it; an itchy rash, blisters, or even in some unusual cases, a severe allergic reaction. This happens because of a compound found in every leaf, root, and stem of the plant called ‘Urushiol’ (u-ROO-she-ol). This substance can spread to humans from other people, pets, and objects that have touched the plant, or even the smoke when the plant is burned. The best way to prevent allergic reactions to Poison Ivy is to know how to identify and subsequently avoid it. The hairy texture of the thicker vines can give it away, but the main way to tell whether or not it is in fact Poison Ivy is by learning this common phrase: “Leaves of three, let it be.” If you are exposed to this plant, in order to prevent or lessen the reaction you have it is important to wash the area that touched the plant with soap and water, preferably within fifteen minutes of exposure. Though Poison Ivy is a huge annoyance, it does have good qualities such as being a great food source to deer, some kinds of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects that aren’t affected by the Urushiol oil in the plant, and it also provides ample shelter for some of the smaller creatures in the forest. Despite the fact that Poison Ivy is not all bad, it is still something to watch out for when hiking in Georgia. 

 Poison Ivy 

Blue Mistflower

Conoclinium Coelestinum

Also known by the names of Blue Boneset and Wild Ageratum, Blue Mistflower, though an aggressively spreading wildflower, is a great native plant in a wilder garden. With beautiful flowers that can be anywhere from a purplish-blue to a pale lavender-y pink color, Blue Mistflower can grow up to six feet tall, though it is almost always three feet or shorter. It prefers to grow in wetter areas with partial shade, and it blooms between July and October, depending on its location and growing conditions. Not only is it beautiful, it is very popular among local pollinators, providing both food and habitat for various species of wildlife. Since Blue Mistflower is a perennial, it will come back year after year, and will spread both through seeds and root division, making it a little wilder than your average docile garden flower. However, it is an important native plant to Georgia, and should be recognized for its contribution.

 Blue Mistflower

  Thanks to Catherine Ashby Herschel

                                                                Jewel Weed

                                                            Impatiens Capensis

With lush green leaves and the gorgeous, colorful flowers that it’s named for, Jewel Weed is an annual that can be found in Georgia’s wetlands, stream banks, and other damp areas. This plant prefers partial shade, and will spread aggressively. It can even outcompete an invasive species known as ‘Garlic Mustard’ that threatens most similar plants. An interesting fact about it is that it has two different kinds of flowers: the bigger, more vibrant flowers from which it gets its name, and smaller flowers that never open. The showier flowers need to be cross-pollinated, and typically plants from these flowers are bigger and sturdier than ones from the smaller flowers. However, the smaller flowers don’t need pollen from another bloom, and the plants they produce require far less energy to grow, even though they usually end up smaller and less hardy than their counterparts. Jewel Weed has many medicinal properties; not only can the sap have an anti-fungal effect, it can also help with a wide variety of ailments including irritation from stinging nettle, hives, rashes, and many other similar problems. For this reason, Jewel Weed is a useful plant to have nearby in the warm, buggy months. 

                                                         Jewel Weed

                                                    Hairy Sunflower 

                                                Helianthus Hirsutus

As yet another member of the Asteraceae family, Hairy Sunflower is known for its medium-sized yellow flowers and the rough hairs on its leaves. The stem can be green or, in some cases, a lavendery purple. Hairy Sunflower is a perennial and can get up to six feet tall, though is often shorter. Just like Purple Coneflower, it prefers full sunlight, though it will tolerate partial shade, and is drought tolerant once established. It, too, can be a strong competitor in a garden, and it generally grows best in clay, sand, or rocky soil, preferring to be out in open fields and forests with lots of sunlight. It typically blooms between July and October, depending on where it lives. Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators love its cheerful flowers, and to add yet another similarity between it and purple coneflower, finches love to eat the seeds out of the dried flower heads. Hairy Sunflower is a great native wildflower to be able to recognize in Georgia.