Gwinnett Daily Post

With longer days and warmer temperatures, spring is the time people begin to turn their attention to landscaping. Though certain plants or trees may catch your eye, knowing what will work for your yard and life can be difficult. With help from Gwinnett Daily Post

contributor Timothy Daly, Agricultural and Natural Resources Agent for the Gwinnett County Cooperative Extension, here is a list of the season's best choices.

Crape myrtle

(Lagerstromia indica)

Crape Myrtles are an upright tree which blooms in summer and autumn.

• Appearance: Upright tree, flowers come in many colors, from purple to red to white

• Why they are great: drought tolerant, easy to grow

• How to Plant: In well-drained soil with full sun exposure and good air circulation

Glossy Abelia

(Abelia X grandiflora)

Abelia are small, rounded shrubs with flowers which bloom late summer into autumn.

• Appearance: Small, rounded shrub, small pink to white flowers

• Why they are great: Attractive foliage, hedge plant

• How to plant: In well drained, moist soil, full sun to partial shade

Loropetulam

(Loropatulam chinense)

Loropetulam is a shrub withflowers, which are produced in clusters during spring.

• Appearance: Irregular, rounded shrubs with pink to white flowers

• Why they are great: Pest free, burgundy foliage

• How to plant: well drained,slightly acidic soils, in sun or shade

Confederate

Jasmine

(Trachelospermum jasminoides)

A flowering plant or vine, commonly grown as an ornamental plant

• Appearance: Evergreen vine, fragrant flowers in spring,

• Why they are great: Attractive foliage, drought tolerant, can be used as a ground cover

• How to plant: Fertile soil, full sun to part shade

Daylily

(Hemerocallis spp.)

These perennial plants' flowers open at sunrise and wither at sunset, possibly replaced by another one on the same stem the next day.

• Appearance: Herbaceous perennials, flowers come in many shapes and colors

• Why they are great: Easy to grow, drought tolerant, low maintenance

• How to plant: Well drained soil high in organic matter, full sun

Callaway crabapple

(Malus ‘Callaway')

‘Callaway' is a white-flowered crabapple tree with pink buds open in spring to white flowers. Flowers are followed by large, bright red crabapples (that mature in fall and may persist into winter.

• Appearance: Small tree, white flowers

• Why they are great: Disease resistance

• How to plant: well drained, moist, slightly acidic soils in full sun

Butterfly bush

(Buddleia davidii)

Also called a summer lilac, this shrub is very fragrant and is also attractive to bees and moths.

• Appearance: Rounded shrub, Flowers come in many colors

• Why they are great: Drought tolerant, attracts butterflies

• How to plant: Well drained, fertile soil, full sun, prune before spring growth

Sedum or stonecrop

(Sedum spp.)

Sedum is a succulant plant that can vary from creeping herb to shrub, whose leaves store water and can produce flowers.

• Appearance: Small, succulent perennials with feathery flowers

• Why they are great: Very drought tolerant, loves full sun

• How to plant: Adaptable to moist soils; full sun