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Spectacular Loropetalum

Loropetalum, Georgia, Zone 7b, Shrub
Loropetalum

I was shocked to see my huge, 10 ft tall by 6 ft wide, Loropetalum in full bloom so early. The extra warm weather a few weeks ago may have brought this about. I jogged back up the driveway to get my camera and captured this.

Also called Fringe Flower, this beauty is related to Witch Hazel. There are many shapes, sizes and varieties of this great plant. On the left, the 10 ft. monster, badly needing a pruning when finished blooming. The other is a 10 inch tall dwarf, weeping variety. One of my few purchases, I planted it under the Crabapple Tree this past spring. It should only get 2-3 ft. tall.

Lorocrop
DLorocrop
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Nandina

The drab landscape is spotted with bright color thanks to red-berried Nandina.

nandinaNo maintenance, deer resistance, and drought tolerance allow Nandina to thrive in Georgia. Commonly and misleadingly called “heavenly bamboo”, it’s not a bamboo. The only member of it’s own genus, Nandina, the plant is toxic to some animals. While “generally classified as non-toxic to humans”, care should be taken to keep them away from high traffic areas where pets or children could ingest them.

This plant is super invasive in Georgia and should never be planted. I pull every one of them I can find in my woods. They are sold in nurseries and stores, but I have found over the years they have little value in the woods or garden, due to their prolific spread into the native forests. Maybe a variety without seeds that does not spread?

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Winter Blooming Mahonia

Leatherleaf Mahonia, Northeast Georgia, Non-native plants
Leatherleaf Mahonia

Leatherleaf Mahonia is considered invasive. Looking around, there are several more-birds love to eat the dark purple berries and have distributed the seeds nearby. Don’t plant this in your yard, and get rid of any you see, they will spread. This one was already here, and I have cut some down since.

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Hen & Chick, Sempervivum calcareum

Hen & Chick, Sempervivum calcareum, Zone 7b, Northeast Georgia
Sempervivum calcareum

Happy Hen & Chick soaking up rare rays of sun due to rainy, overcast early January.

They have lived in this salvaged strawberry pot for 5 years. The clay is falling apart and I haven’t dared move it.

Sempervivum calcareum, Hen & Chick, Northeast Georgia, Zone 7b

These are third generation plants given to me by a friend. There are many, in containers and the yard, thanks to amazing hardiness and multiple “babies” from the mother plant. They love sun and take the heat of Georgia summers. The rosettes are interesting even in winter. While dark purple now, they will change to vivid green this summer.