Glossy Abelia
Semi evergreen
Small, glossy, simple leaf . Green and
burgundy
small pink tubular flower
2’ – 3’ rounded shape shrub
Japanese Maple
expensive
slow growing small tree
palmate leaves, 2 – 3 ‘’ wide and tall
leaves can be red or green
used as an accent plant.
Sugar Maple
4- 5” palmate leave
green leaves – orange in the fall
grey bark
helicopter seeds
large, fast growing trees
maple syrup
Japanese Aucuba
evergreen shrub
grows in full shade
large leaves with yellow blotches on
leaves.
leaves 4 – 8” long and half as wide
Several different varieties with
different with patterned yellow
blotches
don’t confuse it with the croton
houseplant
Japanese Barberry
small leaves < 1” long, half as wide
burgundy leaves in spring and summer
no leaves in winter revealing its thorny
stems, like barbed wire.
‘crimson pygmy ‘ is a dwarf variety -3’
River Birch
medium sized landscape tree
small serrated, green leaves that turn
yellow in fall.
bark peals off like paper revealing a
white inner bark.
Butterfly Bush
silver, lance-shaped
leaves. fragrant stems
purple flowers that attract butterflies
many varieties, one white flowering
variety, and a yellow, but most bloom
in shades of blue and purple
Common Boxwood
glossy, simple, small leaf. Smooth
edges
oppositely leaf arrangement.
Soft textured - very huggable
distinct fragrance of cat pee.
usually grown as a formal, evergreen
hedge
Sasanqua Camellia
very showy flowers on a large loosely
branched shrub
evergreen leaves – serrated leaf
margins
blooms in many different shades of
pink, white, and red
blooms in cold months when many
things aren’t blooming
Japanese Camellia
Evergreen shrub
Leaves are glossy, serrated leaf margin
with black dot “glands” on the
serrations used for respiration
Blooms are showy – double flower and
single flowers depending on variety.
Blooms from fall to spring – some
varieties even bloom in winter.
Very similar to sasanqua camellias
except the leaves are a larger.
Plum Yew
A spreading evergreen conifer with
fernlike foliage.
Grown for its unique texture.
Tolerates a wide range of conditions
Leaves are stiff and needlelike.
Small fruit on mature plants look like
plums.
‘Fastigiata’ is a columnar shaped Plum
Yew variety.
Flowering Quince
Deciduous shrub. Scraggly, natural
growth habit.
Red flowers emerge before the leaves
– early spring. Entire plant is covered.
Fruit looks like a green apple – edible
Stems are thorny
Some varieties bloom white and pink.
Often used in natural areas.
Redbud
Medium-sized, broadleaf tree with
heart-shaped leaves
Great flower display in early spring.
Entire tree is covered with purplishpink flowers before leaves emerge.
Even the trunk can have flowers.
Great fall color – yellow
Large (3” – 4” ) bean pods form in the
fall and eventually turn brown and
hang onto the tree in the winter
months
Dogwood
Small tree with 4-season interest
Silver, flying saucer shaped terminal
buds open to be white “flowers” in
spring before the leaves emerge.
Flowers are 4-petaled and showy.
Leaves are oppositely arranged on the
stem with smooth leaf margins. Often
see anthracnose diseased grey spots.
Red fall color. Red, oval berries form in
tight clusters and hang on through the
winter.
Rock Spray Cotoneaster
Sprawling, semi-evergreen shrub with
tiny, oval leaves (1/2” long). Shrub gets
6’ to 8’ wide and 1’ to 2’ tall.
Used as a groundcover and to stabilize
steep slopes. Strong, herringbone
patterned stems and branches.
Pink or white flowers form on the
stems in the spring and red berries in
the fall. Fall color is yellow and orange.
Scraggly looking in the winter. Catches
leaves of neighboring trees. Looks
good cascading over retaining walls –
waterfall effect.
Leyland Cypress
Fast-growing. evergreen conifer.
Pyramidal shape. Feathery appearance
to dark green foliage. Very
symmetrical. Can get 70’ tall and 8’
wide.
Great to use in the landscape for a
privacy screen.
Often sold as Christmas trees.
Forsythia
Deciduous shrub used for it spring
flower display. 6’ to 10’ loose and
mounding growth habit.
Small, yellow flowers cover the plant in
early spring before leaves emerge.
Light grey bark covered in lenticels
(knotty ridges).
Leaves are lancolate with serrated
margins. Veins are very prominent.
Stems are often used in floral
arrangements.
Gardenia
Medium-sized evergreen shrub grown
for it’s fragrant, white flowers.
Leaves are very glossy and waxy.
Flowers can be singles (daisy-like) or
doubles (more like a tea rose). Flowers
fade to an unattractive brown.
Can be marketed as an indoor plant.
Borderline hardy in zone 7. “Athen’s
choice” and “August Beauty” are two
hardy varieties for zone 7.
Ginkgo
Large broadleaf conifer (though it
doesn’t have needles).
Distinct fan-shaped leaf. Turns bright
yellow in the fall.
A living dinosaur – oldest tree species.
There are male trees and female trees
(dioecious). Females have green, 1”
round fruit that smells bad – but
edible.
Grown for its fall color and its herbal
qualities (enhances brain function and
memory).
Bigleaf Hydrangea
Large deciduous shrub.
Big “snowball” flowers – white, pink,
purple, blue – unique because the
flower color is influenced by soil
acidity. Some “lacecap” varieties with
lacy flowers instead of snowballs.
Leaves are 4” long and half as wide.
Serrated leaf margins with prominent
veins.
Flowers are often used in floral
arrangements fresh or dried.
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Deciduous, natural looking shrub.
Leaves are coarsely textured like
sandpaper. Leaves are lobed similar to
a red oak.
Large beehive shaped flower clusters.
White summer flowers fade to pink in
the fall.
Nice red fall color. Papery bark
exfoliates.
Dwarf Burford Holly
Medium-sized, evergreen shrub. 6’ – 8’
(not very dwarf) full and rounded.
Convexed, stiff, plastic-like and glossy,
ovate, needle-pointed leaves 2” long
by 1” wide.
Red berries in the winter.
Often used in foundation plantings or
hedges. Often mass-planted.
Carrisa Holly
Small rounded shrub. 3’ to 4’ mounds.
Leaves are very similar to dwarf
burford hollies. Close observation
needed to see the light green band
around the leaf margin. Leaves have a
bright green midrib.
No berries unlike dwarf burfords.
Good for foundation plantings. Not
good for pruning.
Compacta Holly
Medium sized rounded shrub 4’ x 4’ at
maturity.
Leaves are small in undescript. Small,
less than an inch. Smooth leaf margins,
may have crenate indentions towards
the leaf tip.
Black berries – hard to see
Leaves look very similar to dwarf
yaupon hollies and boxwood. Leaves
are alternately arranged unlike the
oppositely arranged boxwood. Leaves
are a little glossier than dwarf
yaupons.
Dwarf Yaupon Holly
Small, evergreen, rounded shrubs.
Neat, trained appearance.
Small, ovate leaves. – 1” long. Slightly
cremate margins. Burgundy-red stem
tips and petioles. Grey, almost white
stems.
Used as a foundation plant or in mass
plantings as a groundcover. Takes
shearing well.
Small Anise Tree
An upright evergreen shrub with a
loose natural habit. Upright and stalky.
The leaves are licorice scented and
elongated to 4”. The color is yellowgreen. Smooth, waxy texture with an
entire leaf margin.
Very versatile shrub – sun, shade, and
soil types.
Leaves are attached to the stem at an
upward facing angle.
Shore Juniper
An evergreen conifer groundcover.
Grows only 1’ tall, but spreads up to 8’.
Blue foliage stands out in the
landscape. Good plant to use as a
contrasting accent in foundation
plantings.
Used as a groundcover on steep slopes
that are hard to mow. Looks cool
spilling over walls.
‘Blue Star’ and ‘Blue Chip’ are popular
varieties with greyish blue foliage.
Blue Rug Juniper
A low growing conifer used as a
groundcover. Similar to shore juniper
in habit and color. Leaf texture is more
feathery. Hugs the ground more than
shore juniper.
Great for slopes and space filler.
Crape Myrtle
Large shrub that is often times trained
into a small, multi-trunked tree.
Flowers form cone-shaped clusters in
pink, lavender, and white. Blooms in
mid summer.
Bark is ornamental and exfoliating.
Greyish brown outer bark peels away
to expose cinnimon colored new bark
underneath.
Round seed clusters form in the fall.
Red, yellow, and orange fall color.
Variegated Chinese Privet
Large semi-evergreen shrub with
unique green and white variegation.
Leaves are 1 ½” long and half as wide.
Used as a hedge, foundation plant,
and mass plantings.
Shrub can get 10’ tall by 10’ wide
untrained.
Small, insignificant flowers that smell
like cat pee.
American Sweetgum
Large, deciduous tree. Juvenile trees
have a pyramidal shape that broadens
as it gets older.
Distinct star-shaped leaves. Great fall
color – (orange to burgundy)
Round, spiked seed pods 1 ½” across
Painful to step on barefooted.
Grey-white bark on straight trunks.
Better left to a natural setting. Not a
good landscape tree mainly because of
messy seed pods.
Yellow Poplar
Large, columnar deciduous tree. Inner
wood is yellowish. Fast growing.
Leaves are large 4” tall and wide. They
have a distinct shape similar to the
shape of a tulip flower. Lobed, smooth
margins .
Attractive, but hard to see flowers. 2”
to 3” flowers look like green and
yellow tulips. Tulip poplar is another
common name.
Yellow fall color.
Often used in the timber industry
because of its long and straight trunk
and clean grain. Good for furniture
and cabinets.
Southern Magnolia
Large evergreen tree.
Dark green, stiff, glossy leaves. Green
on top and fuzzy and tan on the
underside.
Large, fragrant, white flowers up to 1’
across. Smells like lemons.
Grenade-like seed heads with red
berries within. Looks like a cone.
Used in large landscape areas that can
accommodate its large size.
Leatherleaf Mahonia
A natural looking evergreen shrub that
is often confused as a holly because of
its spiked leaves.
Yellow flowers in long strands in late
winter and early spring that smell like
grapes. Sometimes called the Oregon
grape.
Leaves are oppositely arranged with
no petiole. Blade attaches directly to
stems.
Wax Myrtle
A large evergreen shrub or small tree.
whorled leaf arrangement. leaves are
2” to 3” long and 1” wide.
Open branching creates a soft texture
in the landscape.
No significant flowers. Used as small
patio-trees or large foundation shrubs.
Heavenly Bamboo
Also called Nandina. Evergreen.
Straight species can get large, up to 8’
tall and 4’ wide. Grow upright and
loosely branched. Usually more foliage
on the top of the plant as opposed to
the bottom of the plant
Leaves are compound and fern-like.
Leaf color is greenish with purple new
growth. Red fall color.
Clusters of red berries in the fall and
persist through the winter.
Harbour Dwarf Nandina
A dwarf variety of the Heavenly
bamboo. Small, rounded evergreen
shrub 3’ x 3’.
Brightly colored,fern-like foliage works
great as an accent plant.
No flowers or berries.
Indian Hawthorn
small evergreen shrub that grow in
neat mounds.
Round, glossy, green leaves that are
slightly tinged with burgundy.
Small, white, daisy-like flowers that
form in small clusters in the spring.
Great plant for foundations. Versatile
and healthy plant.
‘Clara’ is a popular pink flowering form
Fortunes Osmanthus
Often confused as a holly because of
its spiked leaves. Opposite leaf
arrangement that appears whorled at
a distance.
Dark green evergreen shrub that can
get to 10’ by 10’
Fragrant flowers in the fall
White Pine
A large conifer with bluish-green
needles. Grows in a pyramid shaped. It
branches around the trunk in layers
giving it a stair-tstepped appearance
up to a pointed top like a Chrismas
tree.
4” needles in clusters
Long, thin cones that sometimes have
a curve.
Great for screens and privacy in the
landscape.
Loblolly Pine
Common, large evergreen conifer.
Leaf bundles are in groups of 3.
4”-6” needles
Baseball sized cones.
Natural trees, not commonly planted
for ornamental purposes. Great timber
value.
Japanese Pieris
Medium sized , upright growing,
evergreen shrub.
Leaves are 2” -3” long and narrow.
Smooth margins.
Bright red new growth of leaves on
limb tips give it a distinct appearance.
Attractive flower clusters. Individual
flowers look like bells.
Likes shade and acidic soils.
Firethorn
Evergreen, sprawling shrub. Large and
leggy.
Green leaves that are 1 ½” to 2” long
and ½” wide. Thorny stems.
Often trained onto sides of houses or
trellises (espalier)
Bright orange berries are the main
ornamental characteristic of this plant.
Berries form along stems – ¼” to ½”
round.
Bradford Pear
Medium-sized , symmetrical, deciduous
tree with 4 season interest in the
landscape. Very fast growing and weak
wooded. Round canopy.
White 5-petaled flowers 1” across
completely cover the tree in the spring.
Unpleasant odor.
Leaves are round with crenate leaf
margins. Dark green with purple tinges.
Purple leaves in the fall. Small light
brown pears are edible but bitter.
Good tree to use for fast growth and lots
of color.
Often used along roadways and
driveways.
They are bad to split in half due to weak
branching habit.
Pin Oak
Large deciduous tree. Pyramidal when
young. Fast growing.
Leaves are deeply lobed, and fairly
symmetrical. Leaf tips are pointed.
A native tree mainly used for lumber.
Similar to a red oak, but more deeply
lobed.
Live Oak
Broad, evergreen tree. Doesn’t grow in
northwest GA, but does south and
east of here.
Unique growth habit – branches low to
the ground and spreads.
Leaf is similar to a willow oak, but it is
thicker and sandpaper-like. It also is a
darker green leaf.
Southern Indica Azalea
Evergreen, shrub prized for its spring
blooms.
Leaf is simple, elliptical and 2” long by
1” wide. Slightly hairy. Look for the
light green pointed tip of the leaf.
Flowers are 5-petaled and many colors
depending on the variety.
Stems are attached to limbs in a
unique way, joined in one spot on the
limb in a “Y”.
Kurume Azalea
Evergreen shrub. Blooms in early
spring. Many colors. Spreading and
densely branched.
Leaves are lsightly smaller than
Southern indica azaleas
Popular landscape plant. Also used
often for bonsai.
Hybrid Tea Rose
upright deciduous shrub with thorns
and very showy flowers. There are
thousands of varieties with different
flower colors.
Tend to get fungal diseases –black spot
and powdery mildew
Leaves are small – less than an inch
long and slightly less wide. Slightly
serrated margins. Papery texture.
Orange hips in the winter
Weeping Willow
Deciduous tree with distinct
pendulous branching. Limbs blow in
the breeze.
Long narrow leaves. slightly serrated
and greyish-silver underside
Yellow stems.
Needs lots of water. Messes up field
lines and septic systems.
Anthony Waterer Spirea
Medium-sized deciduous shrub.
Pink flowers in the summer – frilly and
flat-topped flower clusters. Blooms in
the summer.
Small, serrated leaves. 2” -3” long and
1” wide.
Cleyera
Doublefile Viburnum
Adam’s Needle Yucca