Native Plants: Plants that thrive in the Southeast are the best choices that will attract the widest range of buyers when your property is listed. Keep the plant variety to a minimum. Many non-native plants can thrive in the Southeast as long as you know the plant’s hardiness zone. 

Bee balm:  This is a flowering perennial that is resistant to deer and rabbits. It attracts hummingbirds and is a popular herb for teas. 

Woodland Phlox: This perennial is disease resistant, can grow in the shade, and has blue, purple, and white flowers in the spring.  

Flowering Dogwood: This tree adds beautiful eye-catching foliage. White flowers begin in the spring, followed by red fruit clusters and leaves in the fall. 

Clay Soil: In this area, rocky clay soil is common. Building raised garden beds for perennials that need loamy more aerated soil can be costly and time-consuming. If you want to plant it and leave it, consider plant choices that thrive in clay soil. 

Hostas: This is a popular item in Southern gardens known for its minimal maintenance. They provide great foliage and blooms in the summer. They do best in partly sunny locations and have several different varieties. Avoid planting these in locations that have standing water. 

Daylilies: If you are looking for showy blooms, several daylily varieties are a good choice for curb appeal. They are adaptable to a variety of water levels and great for full sun locations in your yard. Canna Lillies are also an option if you have a yard that tends to collect water as they thrive in wet conditions.  

Hydrangeas: These perennials are native to North America and can thrive in the heavy clay in this area. Annabelle hydrangea varieties can withstand heavy summer rain and can withstand challenging conditions. 

Ornamental Grasses: These additions create great textures to accent your garden. They add various shades of green that change throughout the year and some have flowering plumes for showiness with little effort. Hardy grasses are also great choices for low-maintenance gardens because they are drought and heat tolerant. Grasses that thrive in our local zone need full sun and a spot with good drainage. Choose dwarf varieties for ground cover and 

Mondo Grass: These are popular for borders along garden beds and walkways. This grass is very tough, being able to handle bad weather conditions, and is resistant to pests. If you have a shady spot in your yard, try using this as ground cover as the roots spread rapidly. They have blooms from July to August followed by fruit clusters for some seasonal interest.  

Maiden Grass: These plants are known for their arching stems and autumn foliage. They are drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and can survive in clay soil. Plant them in groups for larger areas or use them as a border for a garden bed. 

Pampas Grass: This is a good choice to add some color contrast in the dull gray and brown winter backdrops for Tennessee and North Georgia. They can reach over five feet and have showy white plumes in the summer that can reach up to ten feet. Pampas grass will attract birds, is disease resistant, and also good for cut flowers.