Azaleas are the one group of plants Southerners never tire of learning about. Get the details on how to choose, plant, and care for these popular shrubs. ooyoo/Getty Images Rhododendrons and azaleas are arguably the Southern gardener’s favorite shrubs. Credit:ooyoo/Getty Images While rhododendrons generally do better in the Upper and Middle South, azaleas are more accommodating. Azalea species can be evergreen or deciduous. As beautiful as they are, azaleas are toxic to both humans and animals....

There is an art to growing bamboo. Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) is anevergreen perennialthat grows in running and clumping formations. The thick stems grow vertically in loose clumps but do not contain any thorns. Credit: Miguel Michán/Getty Images The continuous foliage and quick growth rate make common bamboo an excellent option as a privacy hedge. It’s best to plant in late spring or early fall. Plant Attributes Bamboo Care Plant container-grown bamboo any time of year....

Bright colors and a fuzzy ‘beard’ make these irises stand out. What makes a bearded iris is the beard that appears on the three downward petals. The beard is the stamen part of the flower that produces the pollen. Credit:Getty images The other three petals, called the standards, curve upward. In the center are the pollen receptacles or the style arms. Bearded irises can bloom fromearly springto mid-summer. These plants have rhizomes, an underground stem, that multiply each year and can be divided easily....

Keep these beauties cool, and they will show off their blooms all summer long. The popular tuberous and angel wing begonias are just two of more than 2,000 varieties. Begonias asannuals or perennials, shrubs, and climbers, ranging from 8 inches to over 5 feet tall. Credit: Vaitekune/Getty Images Be aware that begonias are toxic to pets.They are also potentially invasive in warm climates. Begonias are planted after the last spring frost....

Enjoy fragrant flowers paired with massive, bright green leaves. Magnolias are a dime a dozen in Southern landscape design. Bigleaf magnolia has enormous oblong leaves that can reach over 2 feet long and 1 foot wide. Credit: nickkurzenko/Getty Images It has the largest simple leaf of all native North American plants. It also has the most significant single flower of the group. In the right conditions, they grow slowly up to a foot per year and to 40 feet tall....

This striking flora resembles a tropical bird and will give your garden a lot of style. GETTY IMAGES Key Takeaways Stunning doesn’t even begin to describe this tropical plant. Bird of paradise is easier to grow than you might think. Credit:GETTY IMAGES Here is what you oughta know about growing and caring for bird of paradise. Plant Attributes Bird of Paradise Care Bird-of-paradise (Strelitziasp.) thrives in partial shade with regular water....

Pick big, luscious blackberries right in your own backyard with our easy tips for growing blackberries. For many of us, one taste of ablackberry cobblerinstantly brings back thoughts of childhood summers spent picking berries. Blackberries are some of the first fruits of the season. Credit:Getty Images Cultivated blackberries are usually erect or trellised and have larger, sweeter, and less seedy fruit. There are even varieties without thorns so that you could gather berries without covering yourself in scratches....

Carpet the garden in vibrant red, orange, and yellow blooms. Getty Images Sun-loving blanket flowers are a beloved native wildflower abuzz withbutterfliesand native bees. Flowering spring through fall, blanket flowers are a must-have for native plant enthusiasts and butterfly gardeners alike. Credit:Getty Images The cheerful flowers look lovely massed in perennial beds and are perfect for naturalizing into meadows and prairie plantings. Sow lower-growing varieties at the front of mixed borders or tuck them into cottage gardens....

Nothing’s sweeter than growing blueberries right outside your door. In late fall, leaves turn bright red, providing color well into winter. Blueberry plants can take two to three years before they begin to produce fruit. Credit: Helen Norman Here’s everything you’re gonna wanna know about growing and caring for your ownblueberry plants. you’re free to mix blueberries into your shrub border. Hide reflective tape or cover the plants with bird netting to discourage them....

The popularity of Boston ferns, which dates back to the Victorian era, has lasted until the present. The ferns are a common sight onSouthern porches, their green or bluish-green fronds arching gracefully as they grow. These tropical ferns require a frost-free climate to survive the winter. Credit: Supersmario / Getty Images That’s why they are mostly grown indoors near a window with bright, indirect light. Boston fern is often moved outdoors during the warm summer months....

This colorful bloomer will bring the dramaand the hummingbirds! Those with pliant branches can be grown as informal espaliers. Many grow quickly to 10 or 15 feet tall, while other varieties only grow to 3 feet. Credit:Southern Living/Valerie de Leon Bottlebrush can be severely damaged in freezing temperatures. Plant bottlebrush in well-drained soil in full sun in Coastal and Tropical South gardens. To plant, dig a hole two or three times wider than the rootball....

This shrub shows off from summer through fall. Twelve-inch bloom spikes stand atop the foliage in June and July. A big bottlebrush buckeye can be quite the sight. Credit: summerhillnursery.com But the show doesn’t end in summer. While beautiful, this plant is toxic to animals and people. Bottlebrush buckeye needs moist, well-drained soil, partial to full shade, and pests rarely impact it. It thrives in USDA Zones 5 to 9....

Shrubs with versatility and sculptural qualities. Boxwoods are shrubs with small, dense, evergreen leaves that have a versatile and sculptural quality. Once established, boxwoods are relatively low maintenance. Credit: Roger Foley However, boxwoods are toxic to people and pets despite being easy to maintain. Plant Attributes Boxwood Care Plant boxwoods in well-drained soil with a lot of organic matter. Loamy soil or sandy conditions is best. Most boxwoods prefer some shade, but some varieties handle full sun exposure better than others....