Georgia Native Plant Society
@ganativeplants.bsky.social
Our mission is to promote the stewardship and conservation of Georgia's native plants and their habitats. We grow people who love native plants!
Learn more at www.gnps.org.
Learn more at www.gnps.org.
This is scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea). Compared to Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), scarlet oak has reliably better fall color, deeper sinuses on the leaves, and acorns with concentric rings around the apex of the acorn. (1/2) #nativeplants
November 20, 2025 at 1:24 PM
This is scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea). Compared to Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), scarlet oak has reliably better fall color, deeper sinuses on the leaves, and acorns with concentric rings around the apex of the acorn. (1/2) #nativeplants
Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) are similar looking species with overlapping ranges in Georgia (all of the upper half of the state). Both can have excellent fall color. Deep, vibrant reds that seem to glow in the fall sun are showing up now. (1/2) #nativeplants
November 19, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea) are similar looking species with overlapping ranges in Georgia (all of the upper half of the state). Both can have excellent fall color. Deep, vibrant reds that seem to glow in the fall sun are showing up now. (1/2) #nativeplants
Showing good fall color now is white oak (Quercus alba). Native throughout Georgia, this large hardwood is an important source of food for wildlife. Oaks in the white oak group produce acorns each year; as a result of only growing one year, they are lower in tannin... (1/2) #nativeplants
November 18, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Showing good fall color now is white oak (Quercus alba). Native throughout Georgia, this large hardwood is an important source of food for wildlife. Oaks in the white oak group produce acorns each year; as a result of only growing one year, they are lower in tannin... (1/2) #nativeplants
Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) can have wonderful fall color. On any individual tree, the range of color from one leaf to the next can vary. The fall fruit adds to the beauty and is very popular with birds. The first picture is a species tree while the second picture is a cultivar. #nativeplants
November 17, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) can have wonderful fall color. On any individual tree, the range of color from one leaf to the next can vary. The fall fruit adds to the beauty and is very popular with birds. The first picture is a species tree while the second picture is a cultivar. #nativeplants
The leaves and seeds of tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) have mostly fallen now. The tulip-shaped flower of spring forms a “cone-shaped aggregate of winged seeds” that breaks apart to disperse the seeds when ripe, usually in late fall. #nativeplants
November 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The leaves and seeds of tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) have mostly fallen now. The tulip-shaped flower of spring forms a “cone-shaped aggregate of winged seeds” that breaks apart to disperse the seeds when ripe, usually in late fall. #nativeplants
Serviceberry (Amelanchier) is a small to medium sized tree. It is praised for its tasty summer fruit which is popular with both humans and birds. It also has beautiful spring flowers. Now add gorgeous fall color and it becomes a real winner, especially for smaller gardens. #nativeplants
November 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Serviceberry (Amelanchier) is a small to medium sized tree. It is praised for its tasty summer fruit which is popular with both humans and birds. It also has beautiful spring flowers. Now add gorgeous fall color and it becomes a real winner, especially for smaller gardens. #nativeplants
Our native blueberry (Vaccinium) is one food plant that doubles as an awesome fall color shrub. This picture, taken in Cherokee county, shows just how beautiful its leaves can be. Choose it for the fruit, keep it for the fall color! This is highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). #nativeplants
November 14, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Our native blueberry (Vaccinium) is one food plant that doubles as an awesome fall color shrub. This picture, taken in Cherokee county, shows just how beautiful its leaves can be. Choose it for the fruit, keep it for the fall color! This is highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). #nativeplants
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) is a large native shrub with attractive fall fruit and foliage. Native throughout the state, it is tolerant of a variety of soil conditions although it suckers a bit when happy. The flowers in spring are beautiful so it is a good multi-season plant. #nativeplants
November 13, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) is a large native shrub with attractive fall fruit and foliage. Native throughout the state, it is tolerant of a variety of soil conditions although it suckers a bit when happy. The flowers in spring are beautiful so it is a good multi-season plant. #nativeplants
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is also known as musclewood, ironwood, or blue-beech. It is a small to medium-sized tree found in moist woods. American hornbeam’s small leaves can be brightly colored or more muted (shown from two different years). (1/2) #nativeplants
November 12, 2025 at 1:14 PM
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is also known as musclewood, ironwood, or blue-beech. It is a small to medium-sized tree found in moist woods. American hornbeam’s small leaves can be brightly colored or more muted (shown from two different years). (1/2) #nativeplants
With their large size, trees make incredible fall color displays and the native sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) is one of the best in Georgia. Although largely found in the northern half of Georgia, it still has a presence in the Coastal Plain, even into the panhandle of Florida. (1/2) #nativeplants
November 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
With their large size, trees make incredible fall color displays and the native sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) is one of the best in Georgia. Although largely found in the northern half of Georgia, it still has a presence in the Coastal Plain, even into the panhandle of Florida. (1/2) #nativeplants
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is the plant in our logo and we love it: it is a beautiful 4-season plant. In spring, it has beautiful flowers; in summer, it has handsome foliage; in fall, it has gorgeous fall color; and in winter, it has beautiful, exfoliating bark. (1/2) #nativeplants
November 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is the plant in our logo and we love it: it is a beautiful 4-season plant. In spring, it has beautiful flowers; in summer, it has handsome foliage; in fall, it has gorgeous fall color; and in winter, it has beautiful, exfoliating bark. (1/2) #nativeplants
Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) is a tree of some distinction if you get a chance to see its warty bark. Without that characteristic, it probably would not be noticed as its leaves are modest and nondescript, its flowers small, and the berries tiny and high above most people. (1/2) #nativeplants
November 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) is a tree of some distinction if you get a chance to see its warty bark. Without that characteristic, it probably would not be noticed as its leaves are modest and nondescript, its flowers small, and the berries tiny and high above most people. (1/2) #nativeplants
American witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is our latest native shrub to bloom – November is normal for these fanciful crinkles of gold to appear in deciduous woodlands. Found throughout Georgia, this shrub is in the Hamamelidaceae family which includes Fothergilla (witchalder). (1/2) #nativeplants
November 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
American witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is our latest native shrub to bloom – November is normal for these fanciful crinkles of gold to appear in deciduous woodlands. Found throughout Georgia, this shrub is in the Hamamelidaceae family which includes Fothergilla (witchalder). (1/2) #nativeplants
This is smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) putting on a show in north Georgia, but you can see it on roadsides throughout the upper half of Georgia. This one is absent of the flame-shaped clusters of rusty fruits. A second photo shows the fruits on a plant that already dropped its leaves. #nativeplants
November 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
This is smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) putting on a show in north Georgia, but you can see it on roadsides throughout the upper half of Georgia. This one is absent of the flame-shaped clusters of rusty fruits. A second photo shows the fruits on a plant that already dropped its leaves. #nativeplants
Hickory gold is an important part of fall color. These tall hardwoods are also an important part of north Georgia forests (with some species extending into the Coastal Plain). Hickories provide nuts for wildlife and are host plants for over 200 species of moths and butterflies. (1/2) #nativeplants
November 6, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Hickory gold is an important part of fall color. These tall hardwoods are also an important part of north Georgia forests (with some species extending into the Coastal Plain). Hickories provide nuts for wildlife and are host plants for over 200 species of moths and butterflies. (1/2) #nativeplants
This is green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), a tall hardwood with pale yellow fall color, sometimes with just a tinge of pale purple. Native range is fairly widespread in Georgia. It is currently at risk by the emerald ash borer, however, a pest that is now in Georgia. #nativeplants
November 5, 2025 at 1:14 PM
This is green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), a tall hardwood with pale yellow fall color, sometimes with just a tinge of pale purple. Native range is fairly widespread in Georgia. It is currently at risk by the emerald ash borer, however, a pest that is now in Georgia. #nativeplants
This one is a two-fer: good fall color and fruit! This is flowering dogwood (Benthamidia florida, formerly Cornus florida). In addition to beautiful spring flowers, this small tree has fruit for the birds and outstanding fall color. This native tree is a real winner for small yards. #nativeplants
November 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
This one is a two-fer: good fall color and fruit! This is flowering dogwood (Benthamidia florida, formerly Cornus florida). In addition to beautiful spring flowers, this small tree has fruit for the birds and outstanding fall color. This native tree is a real winner for small yards. #nativeplants
Chalkbark maple (Acer leucoderme) has wonderful fall color and is showing great color now. Looking like a smaller version of a sugar maple (it was once considered a subspecies of sugar maple), it can have more brilliant color overall (reds and deep pinks vs. oranges). (1/2) #nativeplants
November 3, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Chalkbark maple (Acer leucoderme) has wonderful fall color and is showing great color now. Looking like a smaller version of a sugar maple (it was once considered a subspecies of sugar maple), it can have more brilliant color overall (reds and deep pinks vs. oranges). (1/2) #nativeplants
This is southern sugar maple (Acer floridanum, formerly Acer barbatum) which has a pretty good distribution in the state except for the coast. You can see the resemblance to sugar maple in the leaf shape but the color is often a nice, clear yellow with perhaps a hint of orange. #nativeplants
November 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM
This is southern sugar maple (Acer floridanum, formerly Acer barbatum) which has a pretty good distribution in the state except for the coast. You can see the resemblance to sugar maple in the leaf shape but the color is often a nice, clear yellow with perhaps a hint of orange. #nativeplants
This is sugar maple (Acer saccharum). Fiery orange color, distinctively shaped leaves (not variable like the red maple). Unlike the red maple, fruits take longer to ripen so the seeds/samaras of the sugar maple don’t fall until late summer (red maple seeds fall in early summer). #nativeplants
November 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM
This is sugar maple (Acer saccharum). Fiery orange color, distinctively shaped leaves (not variable like the red maple). Unlike the red maple, fruits take longer to ripen so the seeds/samaras of the sugar maple don’t fall until late summer (red maple seeds fall in early summer). #nativeplants
These hawthorn fruits aren't ripe yet but their orange phase makes for a nice opportunity to play with photo editing! Happy Halloween from Crataegus viridis. #nativeplants
October 31, 2025 at 12:20 PM
These hawthorn fruits aren't ripe yet but their orange phase makes for a nice opportunity to play with photo editing! Happy Halloween from Crataegus viridis. #nativeplants
Red maple (Acer rubrum) is one of our earliest trees to show fall color. Its red color is a major component of wild fall color. Its color is, however, variable. This collection of leaves from a single neighborhood showcases both the variable shapes and colors of its leaves. (1/2) #nativeplants
October 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Red maple (Acer rubrum) is one of our earliest trees to show fall color. Its red color is a major component of wild fall color. Its color is, however, variable. This collection of leaves from a single neighborhood showcases both the variable shapes and colors of its leaves. (1/2) #nativeplants
Since it’s Halloween week, here’s one of our trees with orange fall color: Sassafras albidum. Native throughout the state, this medium tree is known for having 3 different leaf shapes on the same plant, with the “mitten” shaped one being the most familiar. #nativeplants
October 29, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Since it’s Halloween week, here’s one of our trees with orange fall color: Sassafras albidum. Native throughout the state, this medium tree is known for having 3 different leaf shapes on the same plant, with the “mitten” shaped one being the most familiar. #nativeplants
Here is poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) with fruit. Notice that the fruit is white and not very fleshy. Birds do love the fruit and apparently they are not affected by the urushiol contained in the plant. Who has a picture of the fall color on poison ivy? Post it in the comments! #nativeplants
October 28, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Here is poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) with fruit. Notice that the fruit is white and not very fleshy. Birds do love the fruit and apparently they are not affected by the urushiol contained in the plant. Who has a picture of the fall color on poison ivy? Post it in the comments! #nativeplants
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is an abundant vine in Georgia. Named for its five leaflets (quinquefolia), an important way to distinguish it from poison ivy (which has 3). Occasionally, it will have a FEW leaves with only 3 leaflets. (1/3) #nativeplants
October 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is an abundant vine in Georgia. Named for its five leaflets (quinquefolia), an important way to distinguish it from poison ivy (which has 3). Occasionally, it will have a FEW leaves with only 3 leaflets. (1/3) #nativeplants