Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southeast

See regional picks for tough pretty plant , and study the article by Julie Lane Gray for even more ideas .

It ’s important to fix first what I imply by a “ tough ” plant . To my mind , it ’s a flora that will thrive on its own as long as it is institute in a place that provide its introductory needs and is impart desirable water . It wo n’t withdraw if it has aggressive neighbors , kvetch if it does n’t get cut back for a year or two , and necessitate special treatment to seem good . A pretty , tough plant life is one that looks more frail than it actually is .

1. ‘Kaori Hime’ Holly-Leaf Tea Olive

Name:Osmanthus heterophyllus‘Kaori Hime’

Zones:7–9

Size:5 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide

shape : Full sun to partial shade ; mean ground

aboriginal mountain chain : Japan and Taiwan

This little tea olive from Japan has become one of the large stars in our garden . It makes a dense plant life with tiny , half - in , deep green , holly - like leaves . In fall , the Nipponese name ‘ Kaori Hime ’ , which translates to “ fragrant princess , ” makes perfect sense , as the relatively large , virginal white-hot bloom fill the entire garden with a fresh odor . This plant life can be used as a cut short hedgerow or a tightly clip foundation flora , or it can be left to mature naturally into an irregular erect bush .

2. ‘Bartzella’ Itoh Peony

Name:Paeonia‘Bartzella’

Zones:4–9

Size:2 - 1/2 foot tall and 3 feet wide

atmospheric condition : Full Lord’s Day to loose shadiness ; median to juiceless soil

aboriginal range : loanblend of Asiatic coinage

Itoh , or intersectional , peonies — loanblend between woody - stem tree peonies and herbaceous paeony — were first make in 1948 by Japanese nurseryman Toichi Itoh . ‘ Bartzella ’ , the existence of American works stock breeder Roger Anderson , is among the proficient of the good . It make a dense , shrublike plant from a woody base each season . In midspring it bear dozens of 6 - to-8 - in , primrose yellow , semi - dual to two-fold peak with a sour centre . The flowers have a mellifluous , citrusy fragrance and are hold in profusion ; we ’ve counted over 65 on one flora . The stems of ‘ Bartzella ’ never need staking , and they stay standing even after heavy spring rains . The foliation look great until fall , and it is deer and coney proof . Cut Itoh peonies back to 4 to 6 inches each winter .

3. ‘Sheri’s Cloud’ Black Gum

Name:Nyssa sylvatica‘Sheri’s Cloud’

Size:30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet full

Conditions : Full sun to partial shade ; average to cockeyed grime

Native range : Eastern North America

This variegated black gum , or tupelo , was found in Arkansas , where the bright leaf made it stand out to its original discoverer . New foliage come forth with a pinkish blood-red tinge before opening to reveal the broad creamy marginal variegation . In fall , the plant takes on bright pink and flushed tones for a show - stopping show . We have found the flora to be reasonably sun - resistant at the JC Raulston Arboretum , even in rather ironical soils , but this plant is very glad in wet sites and would be an excellent addition to a rain garden .

4. Needle Palm

Name:Rhapidophyllum hystrix

Zones:6b–10

Size:6 to 10 foot tall and 8 to 12 groundwork wide

term : Full Lord’s Day to fond ghost ; well - drained soil

Native compass : Southeastern United States

Needle palms are probable the fearless of all palms and grow naturally along the Coastal Plain from South Carolina to Florida and Alabama . They are trunkless to short - trunked with age , but they can sucker tightly around the primary trunk , specially if the main growing degree is damaged . The medium green , palmate fronds are fraction well-nigh back to the centre . The flowers and fruit are organize closely to the trunk , where they are protected by vicious 8 - inch acerate leaf . Needle medallion grow naturally in seasonally wet areas but are quite drought large-minded once establish . In the moth-eaten final stage of their scope they may call for winter auspices for the first year or two , until they gain some size .

— Mark Weathington is the director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University in Raleigh , North Carolina .

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‘Bartzella’ Itoh Peony

Photo: courtesy of JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University

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‘Kaori Hime’ Holly-Leaf Tea Olive

Photo: courtesy of JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University

Regional Picks: Tough Plants—Southern Plains

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‘Bartzella’ Itoh Peony

Photo: courtesy of JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University

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