Nova Scotia to Manitoba, south to northern Florida and west to Texas. A pioneer species in open fields and meadows; also grows well on dry, infertile soils. Fall color is variable but usually colorful. Eastern Hophornbeam is best planted as an understory tree in partial to full shade and moist soils. The underside of the leaf is lighter than the upper side. Crossvine is a semi-evergreen to evergreen vine, medium in texture, with a fast growth rate. or the delicate white, drooping spikes of Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum). Brasstown Bald What is the highest continental peak at about 14,500 feet? Regions of Georgia are also home to a variety of animals, including deer, raccoons, and snakes. It displays good drought tolerance if planted in moist, well-drained soils. The flowers are round, 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and are fragrant. It produces large acorns, one to 1.5 inches in diameter. Winged Sumac is a large, deciduous, flowering shrub with coarse texture and a fast growth rate. It is a slow grower. Cultivars are available. Rhododendrons mix well with other evergreens, deciduous azaleas and dogwoods. Virginia Sweetspire is attractive when used in mass plantings or as a specimen plant. They contain shiny, BB-like brown seeds. Individual fruit are 0.5 inches in size, dull red, and borne in showy clusters. (SS8G1c) Borders GA and SC, Helps transport goods, Yamacraw Indians were settled here. Castanea. It can be used as a groundcover in full sun, but flowering will be sparse. It is rounded in outline with horizontal or drooping branches. PIEDMONT, W.Va. (WV News) - Piedmont's new water plant operator told the mayor and council Wednesday that the city's water is "perfect" when it leaves the treatment facility. The Piedmont Province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division which consists of the Gettysburg-Newark Lowlands, the Piedmont Upland, and the Piedmont . Yellow Buckeye is a large tree with an upright to slightly-spreading crown. In coastal regions, it is an aggressive spreader. The white flowers have a sweet or musky-sweet fragrance, sometimes with a distinct lemon overtone. Some plants in this region include mountain laurels, pine trees, maple trees, beech trees, tulip poplars, magnolia, azaleas, and the Cherokee rose. It prefers moist, acid, sandy soils and full sun to light shade. Use Winterberry as a specimen plant, for screening, hedges or in mixed borders. Bark on young trees is smooth, eventually developing braided ridges. It is similar in fruiting habit to Yaupon Holly (I. vomitoria), except it is deciduous, which makes the fruit more obvious. Habit is low-branched and rounded, and the tree has a suckering tendency. With the increasing destruction of natural environments for urban and agricultural use, many plant species and the animals they support have declined dramatically in numbers and in range. The foliage is aromatic when crushed. Foliage will scorch if exposed to summer afternoon sun. Bottomlands and oak hickory forests in moist shade. 1998. Hickories are large, deciduous trees, 60 feet or more tall, with alternate, pinnately compound leaves. No other native tree matches the brilliant yellow, orange and red coloration of Sugar Maple in autumn. Narrow-Leaf Crabapple is a deciduous, flowering tree with medium texture and a medium growth rate. Southern Sugar Maple is becoming more popular in the nursery trade in the Deep South. Maine to Ontario and Kansas, south to Florida and Texas. Along Coastal Plain stream banks and at the edges of swamps and hammocks. It looks particularly nice as a multi-stemmed form. It can be used as a specimen tree since it provides good shade as well as ornamental flowers. Clusters of small, red flowers appear in February and are followed by winged fruit in March. The leaves emerge early, in March, and vary from green to reddish-purple. Swampy, marshy areas to fertile, moist, well-drained lower forest slopes. Foliage is dark green and glossy. It is a butterfly larva host plant. Dogwood fruit are a favorite of birds and other wildlife. Its long needles, large cones and sparse branching pattern make it the most distinctive pine of the Coastal Plain. It is also native to inland areas of the Florida peninsula as well as to the Bahamas. 8 to 12 feet tall with a spread of 8 to 15 feet. Fruit are round, spiny balls on 2- to 3-inch pedicels. Mailing Address: 2440 Old Athens Hwy Cornelia, GA 30531. The bark is a pleasing gray color. Two-Winged Silverbell is often confused with Carolina Silverbell (H. tetraptera). They were developed from native southern Vaccinium species, mainly of the Coastal Plain. White oaks are in subgenus Leucobalanus. Fragrant, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers are borne in February and March. North Carolina to Florida and west to Mississippi. White Pine is an evergreen tree having medium-fine texture and a medium-fast growth rate. Oval, red fruit mature in fall. Along stream banks and moist upland sites in the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain. ISBN 0-8203-0954-0. While learning about the plants and animals living in each region, students will learn how heat affects the organisms and nonliving objects in these habitats. This tree has not been used in landscapes, so its full site tolerance is not known. 10 to 15 feet tall with a spread of 6 to 10 feet. Plants vary tremendously in their need for moisture and their tolerance of moisture extremes. Wet woods, bogs, stream banks and springheads of the Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont. Dwarf Fothergilla is a deciduous flowering shrub with medium-coarse texture, slow growth rate and rounded to spreading habit. Flowers are white, urn-shaped, 0.25 inch long and borne on 4- to 10-inch drooping spikes in June and July. 40 to 80 feet tall and 60 to 100 feet wide. Keep the roots cool by mulching, and protect the plants from afternoon sun. Before the development of the nursery industry, native plants were the only choice for landscape plantings. Rare or endangered species are not described. Large, fragrant, showy white flowers appear in early summer. What plants live in the Piedmont region? network of committed specialists, agents and volunteers to help Georgians learn, grow and do more. It climbs by twining. This is one of the most rugged of all the Illicium species, according to Michael Dirr. Blue-green, pest-free foliage turns brilliant orange-scarlet in fall. It is especially attractive when flowers are present. There are some minor disease and insect problems, but they are not life-threatening. Sugar Maple is a deciduous tree having a medium texture, medium to slow growth rate and an upright to oval form. They are clustered in loose racemes arising from the leaf axils of the previous seasons growth. Timber Press, ISBN 0-88192-148-3. Eastern Hemlock is an evergreen tree, having a fine texture and a medium growth rate. It is spectacular in bloom, but a young tree may not bloom until it is five to eight years old. It prefers deep, moist, well-drained soils and needs plenty of moisture for optimum growth. It has few pest problems. Habit is round and spreading, somewhat bushy in appearance. The piedmont or foothills of the Appalachian Mountains is the oldest and most eroded part of the original Appalachian orogeny. Adapted to dry soils, Deerberry deserves to be grown in southern gardens and xeric landscapes. Since pH influences nutrient availability in the soil and nutrient uptake by the plant, it is a useful measurement to know before planting. Use Blackhaw Viburnum as a specimen tree. Virginia to Georgia, west to Tennessee and Alabama. Southern Magnolia is a broadleaf evergreen flowering tree with coarse texture and a medium to slow growth rate. In shaded areas in its natural habitat, the leaves tend to be infected with a gall, which makes them look swollen and watery. Leaves are 8 to 12 inches long with five to seven leaflets. For instance, trees can serve as functional components providing shade. This palm is often confused with Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens). Weather extremes, either temperature or drought, have shown us one of the best and most practical reasons for using native plants their adaptations to local climate. It is often planted at angles for added visual interest. The hard seeds are a favorite food of woodland mice. Wild Olive is a small evergreen tree with medium texture and a medium to slow growth rate. Slash Pine is a large tree often planted as an ornamental because it grows fast and has dense lustrous-green foliage. A similar species, Coast Leucothoe (Leucothoe axillaris), is found in south Georgia. (138) $12.00. Mary Frances Irvin Creswell, 99, formerly of 401 Oakwood Drive, widow of Albert L. Creswell, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Hospice & Palliative Care of the Piedmont. It tends to be multi-stemmed, but it can be easily pruned into a tree form. It is difficult to transplant and is best planted from a container-grown plant. Fruit set is normally minimal. Greenish-yellow flowers are borne in dense pyramidal clusters in June and July. Yellow-Root is not often seen in the landscape, except in natural settings and along stream banks. The ecological diversity in Georgia is complex and wide-ranging, from high mountain ridges of north Georgia to flatwoods and swamps of south Georgia. Seedlings are tolerant of shade and can remain in the shrub layer for years, waiting for a "gap" that provides light. The geographical features and the climate influence the development of vegetation and animal life in each region. It prefers moist, well-drained soils and full sun. It will adapt to full sun. A soil test, available through your local county extension office for a nominal fee, will provide information on the nutrient content and pH level of the soil. Fringetree is a deciduous, flowering tree with medium texture and a slow growth rate. Habit describes the general form or shape of the plant. Male and female flowers are borne on different plants (dioecious). Avoid planting in drought-prone sites. 20 to 25 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide. It is best planted as a seedling and is attractive in its grass-like stage. Water Oak is a fast-growing tree with a rounded crown. Bloom time is from late April to early June. The form of the landscape and the climate of the area influenced the development of vegetation and animal life in each of these provinces. It is easy to transplant when young. It is usually found growing with members of the heath family (ericaceous plants). Found mostly in moist to wet soils. Pignut Maine to Ontario, south to Florida and west to Louisiana. In the mid-1930s, a federal law established the Soil Conservation Service to carry out programs to reduce erosion. It prefers moist soils but has moderate drought tolerance. 25 to 40 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. Leaves are deciduous or semi-evergreen, alternate, leathery, pale green to bluish-white. Use Yaupon Holly as a specimen tree or hedge for screening. Few people can resist the dramatic and breathtaking beauty of native azaleas, the fragile white blooms of the Silverbell (Halesia spp.) It grows best in moist soils in full sun. Trumpet-shaped orange-red flowers are borne from April to June. Other references place a historical timeline on native plants, saying they are plants that were present in a particular area prior to European settlement of that area. Bark is gray and develops deep V-shaped ridges with age. Information on each plant is provided according to the following categories: Generally accepted scientific and common names, as used by specialists in the field, are listed except in cases where names have recently been changed. The fruit are purple and olive-like. When bruised, the leaves emit a fetid odor. White Ash is a large, handsome deciduous tree with medium to coarse texture and medium growth rate. The tree gets its name from the color of its heartwood, which is bright yellow. Fruit appear on female trees only. It has soft, bluish-green needles 2 to 3 inches long, five per fascicle. The word piedmont means foothill and describes an area of land sloping from the foot ("pied") of a mountain ("mont") to an adjoining lowland. Pennsylvania to Missouri, south to Florida and Texas. 1.The Blue Ridge Mountains are a segment of the Appalachian Mountains, located in the eastern United States. U.S. Forest Service publication FHTET-2003-01. Bald Cypress produces "knees" (vertical root extensions) in swamps but not when grown in upland sites. Elevations range from approximately 600 to 1,500 foot. Turkey Oak is a distinctive, small, deciduous tree with crooked branches. It prefers light shade and adequate moisture during dry weather. Red Buckeye is a clump-forming, round-topped, deciduous flowering shrub or small tree. It is pyramidal when young, then develops an oval shape at maturity. Its abundant fruit is an important food for wildlife. Crossvine is a tough plant that will tolerate environmental extremes. It is not as vibrant as Sugar Maple. Plant it in full sun on well-drained soils. Button Bush is a deciduous, flowering shrub with medium texture and a medium growth rate. For best appearance, remove old stems with regular pruning. Fruit are star-shaped with many points. Center 4 In zone 7 and north, it must have some sun every day to do well. It is easy to transplant and prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. Subtle changes in microclimate influence where native plants grow. Mountain Laurel can be used as a specimen plant, in mass plantings, or in shrub borders. Dwarf Palmetto looks best in groups, but it also can be effective as a single specimen. It requires moist, acid soil, good drainage and afternoon shade. It is best planted as a young tree. It has a graceful pyramidal growth form. A wide range of sites, including well-drained upland slopes, heavy clays and dry, rocky ridges. We also extend sincere appreciation to the following individuals who provided images of the plants described in this publication. It prefers moist, rich, acid soils and has moderate drought tolerance. Tulip Poplar, also called Yellow Poplar, is a deciduous tree with coarse texture and a medium to fast growth rate. Possumhaw is grown mostly for its shiny red fall berries, which are consumed by wildlife. 60 to 80 feet tall, with a sparse branching habit. Spice-Bush is a deciduous shrub having medium texture and slow to medium growth rate. Bark is smooth and light gray. Reddish-orange to red flowers open after the leaves are fully developed and are not fragrant. Furthermore, light levels change as the plant canopies mature and change. The foliage is reddish as it emerges, changing to a dark, lustrous green. It thrives in the well-drained, sandy soils of the Coastal Plain, but it will adapt to Piedmont clay. Leaves color early in the fall and are showy crimson-red. Some plants in this region include kudzu, pine trees, oak . Full sun and well-drained soils are preferred. They are an estimate of the plants winter hardiness according to established U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones. Summer fruit are berry-like, purplish-blue and edible by humans and birds. Red maple, bald cypress, willow and buttonbush are common species found in wet areas, although they will also adapt to dry sites when planted in landscapes. Habit is loose, open and erect. Stems are thorny. It prefers moist soils, but it may adapt to sun if irrigated. Leaves are alternate, obovate, often with a three-lobed apex. ISBN 0-8130-2644-X. It does well in the average home landscape, displaying good drought tolerance and adaptability to sandy or clay soils as well as wet and dry sites. Young fruit are green, fade to yellow, then to brown. Bloom color ranges from nearly pure white to pink, rose pink or red. Occurs in forest openings and along fence rows. Foliage is blue-green in summer, turning wine-red in fall. Use Sweetshrub as a specimen plant or in groups within a shrub border or woodland setting. Honey-scented, yellow flowers appear before the leaves in March. Plant Bald Cypress as a specimen tree. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0-618-09858-5. Painted Buckeye prefers rich, moist soil in partial shade. This plant is endangered in Florida. During drought or extreme cold, they will roll into tight cylinders. 5 feet tall and sprawling as it roots along its horizontal stems. In this region, which is located. 1988. Flowers are brown-purple, less than 0.25-inches across, and appear in early spring. We have faculty and staff in every county across the state that are available to assist you. There are male and female trees. There are more than 100 distinct environments or plant communities in the state. For more than a century, we've provided research and education through a In large, sunny, open areas, such as fields and rights-of-way, native grasses may provide a low-maintenance alternative to turfgrasses. It is an easy-to-grow, clump-forming palm adaptable to all areas of Georgia. Shumard Oak is one of the largest of the southern red oaks. They are arranged along the stems in two planes. The guidelines when planting a native landscape are the same as those for any landscape: select plants adapted to the soil, local site conditions and climate. The flowers are one inch across and borne in terminal clusters. Blueberries thrive in acidic, well-drained soils that have been enriched with organic matter. Acidic dry soil, oak-pine forests and, occasionally, on moister slopes in the interior of the Southeast. River Birch is a deciduous tree having medium texture and a fast growth rate. It suffers from some disease and insect problems and is always dropping leaves and branches. River bottoms, abandoned farmland. Stems are smooth gray to grayish-brown. A single plant may have several trunks that creep along the ground, rooting and branching as they grow. Piedmont Rhododendron is found along stream banks and wooded slopes in the lower mountains and Piedmont and the upper Coastal Plain. It is a striking plant in bloom. Climbing vine growing 10 to 20 feet. Transplanting is most successful when done during the warm summer months. Use River Birch as a shade or specimen tree, particularly in groupings. A variety called magniflora has larger flowers than Two-Winged Silverbell. Fragrant white flowers, often blushed pink, open in April and May. Southern Michigan to Kansas, south to North Carolina and Florida, and west to Texas. Plant Pinckneya as a flowering specimen plant. The bright red fruit display is an outstanding feature. Use Fringetree as a flowering specimen tree. Well-drained soils along rivers and streams. The Inner Coastal Plain supports much of Georgia's agricultural production, including blueberries, pecans, and even olives. Fragrant, small white flowers are borne in terminal clusters from May to June. Godfrey, Robert K. 1988. If rainfall is not adequate, all newly installed plants, including native plants, need supplemental watering their first year or until they become established. A small, deciduous oak associated with rocky soil, granite outcrops and dry slopes in the Piedmont. It prefers moist, fertile soils but tolerates adverse sites relatively well. Virginia, south to Florida, west to Texas and Missouri. Sandy, wet areas along streams, bays and hammocks. Bark is dark brown to black, thick, and deeply fissured, becoming ridged and rough near the base. Fall color is variable, ranging from yellow to orange or red. Maryland and Virginia, south to Florida, west to Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas. The fall color of all hickories is glowing, luminescent yellow. Leaves are opposite, pinnately compound, 8 to 15 inches long with five to nine leaflets (usually seven). Because it is attractive to bees when flowering, it may be best to plant it away from the public. 50 to 60 feet tall and with a spread of 30 to 40 feet. Evergreen Rhododendrons are flowering shrubs/small trees with dark green, leathery foliage. Use Small Anise-Tree as a specimen plant and for screening or hedges. Allow plenty of room for development. Another approach is to remove no more vegetation than is necessary to locate and build the house. It is pyramidal to rounded in form. Leaves are dark green above and pale green below. Swamp Azalea is a variable small to medium size shrub found from low, marshy areas and along stream banks to high, mixed-forest mountains. North- or east-facing slopes are preferred. It can be invasive. It also is useful for windbreaks, hedges, shelter belts and topiary. 8 to 10 feet tall with a spread of 4 to 5 feet. Georgia has a varied landscape, ranging from the ancient Appalachian Mountains in the north, across the Piedmont region's coastal plain, and ending with salt marshes and the Atlantic Ocean. Leaves remain on the tree throughout the winter. A good wildlife plant, especially for birds. They ripen from September to October. It needs training for the first few years after transplanting. They combine well with evergreens, dogwoods and other understory plants. Leaves are two to three feet across, blue-green, palmate in shape, with a large notch in the middle. Many cultivars are available. Sap is milky. Shagbark grows best on moist alluvial river and valley soils and on adjacent slopes and ridges. New Brunswick to Ontario, south to Florida and west to Texas. Fall color is excellent and varies from red to purple. Virginia Pine is a medium-size tree with medium texture and rapid growth rate. All pines are intolerant of shade and need sun to establish and thrive. Form is pyramidal when young (sometimes narrow) and becomes broader with age. The leaf is compound, and flowers are trumpet-shaped, orange to red. The terminal leaflet is often missing. Virginia Creeper is a good plant for quickly covering fences, walls and arbors. Creamy-white flower clusters are borne in a flat head in May. It is a low, spreading palm with stiff leaves and spiny leaf stems. Fruit production tends to be heavy every two to three years. It is a nice choice for a fragrance garden. It does not tolerate hot, dry sites. Found on granite outcrops. The two acre garden, due to its aspect, is protected from severe weather and contains about 3,000 plants ranging in age from young one-year-old plants to very old plants. It is not aggressive and can be kept within bounds with regular pruning. Palmetto palm is sometimes used as a street tree, but it is used more often as a single specimen or in groupings in landscapes. Within these species, five are evergreen across their range; at least two more are partially evergreen in the southern part of their range. The cut vines hold up well and are used by florists. The top sides of the 2- to 4-inch-long leaves are dark or pale green, and the undersides are brown and scaly. It is easy to grow and is tolerant of most sites and soil conditions. Georgia Basil is a good landscape plant for dry soils in full sun. Afternoon shade and irrigation during periods of limited rainfall are required to grow the plant successfully in the lower Piedmont. Use Oakleaf Hydrangea as a specimen plant or in groupings. They remain on the tree for two years. If the names are in debate, the most widely used names are given. 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. 50 to 80 feet tall with a canopy width of 40 to 60 feet. These elegant deer have a reddish brown coat in . They may persist two to four years on the plant. Use Eastern Redbud as a flowering or specimen tree. Florida or Southern Sugar Maple is a deciduous tree of medium texture and a slow to medium growth rate. Post Oak is not usually planted as a landscape tree, but it would be a good choice for dry reclamation sites. Wet or moist soils, stream banks, swamps and borders of woods. Leaves are occasionally deformed by infestations of aphids. This bundle addresses the new Third Grade GSE for S3L1. The half-inch white flowers bloom in clusters after the leaves emerge, with pink anthers on numerous stamens. Hot, dry, rocky areas in the lower south. In 1937 the Georgia General Assembly authorized the . Central New Jersey west to southern Missouri, south to Texas and into Northern Florida. Maine to Florida, west to Texas; north to Arkansas, Illinois, Wisconsin. Trees of the Southeastern United States. Timber Press. For instance, white pine and sugar maple can be found in the mountains of north Georgia, but the heat and humidity of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain restrict their occurrence in south Georgia. Mature trees tend to be alternate bearing, with good flowering one year, then few to no flowers the next year. See more at www . Virginia and Kentucky, south to northern Florida, west to Mississippi. Leaves are 3 to 7 inches long and 2 to 4 inches wide. Use Hoptree as a specimen plant. Flowers are borne in terminal clusters consisting of 12 to 30 individual flowers. Form is oval to round and commonly multi-stemmed. It has an irregular, spreading, loosely branched, upright growth habit. and prosperous Georgia. The trunk is light gray and smooth, with prominent corky, somewhat warty, ridges. Deer shun Red Basils aromatic foliage. Maryland, south to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma. It also can be allowed to ramble on the ground. Factors influencing growth rate include the age of the plant (most growth rates decrease with age), genetic background and site conditions. Massachusetts to Florida, and west to Minnesota and Texas. The fruit capsules look like Japanese lanterns and are conspicuous all summer and into late fall. Stems are green. Palmetto palm is very tolerant of salt spray, flooding and wind. Fruit are enjoyed by cedar waxwings, cardinals and other birds. 4 to 6 feet tall with a spread of 4 to 8 feet. Red Oaks are in the subgenus Erythrobalanus. The Coastal Plain and Piedmont from southern New Jersey to Florida, west to Texas and southeast Arkansas. New England to Florida, Ohio to Mississippi, and west to Texas. can be used as a graphic organizer for binders or as a ticket out of the door. It is a long-lived pine, often growing for more than 300 years. Light pink to lavender flowers borne from June to August are not showy, but the intense color of the purple fruit clustered around the stems in fall makes a dramatic display. Use Buttonbush as a specimen plant or in group plantings adjacent to ponds and streams, or in other moist areas. Hoptree is a deciduous shrub or small tree with medium-coarse texture and slow to medium growth rate. Plant in moist, well-drained soils and partial shade. Use American Hornbeam as a specimen or street tree. Branches are best left on ground level because of the leaf litter problem and the fleshy surface root system. Typically grows in wet soils near water in bottomlands, stream beds and bogs. Yellow Buckeye attains its largest size in rich Appalachian soils in coves and in cool slope forests. 20 to 50 feet tall and 15 to 30 feet wide. Fall color is burgundy red. This oak is also called Spanish Oak because of an association with early Spanish settlements. Oconee-bells ( Shortia galacifolia) and Florida Torreya ( Torreya taxifolia) are examples of plants that require specific habitats and are rare in the woods of Georgia. On dry sites, plant growth is often sparse and stunted. Thin, wet woods; shallow depressions; and other low, moist areas. Trumpet Honeysuckle is a good choice for people allergic to bee stings. Up to 2 feet tall, with a spread of several feet. Bark is a cinnamon-red color and becomes furrowed with age. Good soil preparation is essential for satisfactory plant growth. Showy white, pendulous flowers have leafy bracts. We would like to acknowledge the following University of Georgia faculty who wrote the original manuscript for this publication: Mel Garber, E. Neal Weatherly Jr., Kim Coder and Darrel Morrison. Their growth habit is similar to that of the Southern Highbush Blueberry (V. corymbosum), one of the species that went into their development. Sometimes described as a clumping palm, it is actually a single-trunk palm, but its trunk is either very short or below ground and it will seldom appear tree-like. Shumard Oak is used as a fast-growing shade or specimen tree. This reading comprehension passage focuses on the five regions of Georgia. The Piedmont is home to most of Georgia's population. 583-593 6 to 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide (can grow to 15 feet tall). Foliage is a lustrous, dark green. Southern Indiana and Illinois, south to Texas and Florida. It is a vigorous grower when provided good conditions, but its performance will be disappointing on poor sites. Leaves are dark green above and grayish-green with a dense, felt-like pubescence below. Alabama Azalea grows along dry ridges, steep bluffs, and in flat, moist, sandy areas. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension programming improves people's lives and gets results. Possumhaw is a deciduous tree with medium-fine texture and a medium to slow growth rate. There are several other native sumacs. 5. 40 to 60 feet tall with a spread of 30 to 40 feet. answer choices. Use Sweetgum as a shade or specimen tree. Leaves are palmate, with five leaflets, each 4 to 6 inches long. In addition, there are a number of plants that were introduced to the region but have adapted to the climate and soil. New York and Massachusetts, south to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma. Cultivars are available. Fall color is variable yellow to red. As Sourwood ages in the understory, it can develop picturesque shapes in its quest for light. It spreads via suckers arising from the roots. Many Georgians will recall the extremely low temperatures in December 1983 and January 1985 that killed or critically damaged many introduced species.