In the gardening world, the term "exotic" definitely has a negative connotation.

Exotic — or non-native plants — can become problematic if they have an aggressive, invasive growth habit. Common examples include Chinese privet, English ivy and eleagnus.

If making additions to the landscape this fall, consider planting natives. Native plants are tough, easily established and thrive in our climate. The following are a few to consider:

Purple beautyberry

Few things are more impressive in the fall landscape than a mass planting of purple beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma). Graceful and rounded with long, slender, arching branches, purple beautyberry is a deciduous shrub growing to 3 to 4 feet tall, spreading to 4 feet or greater. This plant is prized for its clusters of shiny lavender berries that line the stems in fall. Beautyberry blooms on new growth, so thinning of old branches in winter is fine.

Bottlebrush buckeye

This deciduous shrub (Aesculus parviflora) grows 8 to 12 feet high, spreading to as much as 15 feet. With large panicles of small white flowers, few plants can match the summer flowering of the bottlebrush buckeye. Native to Georgia, this large, mounded shrub is ideal for shady locations like under tall pines. Bottlebrush buckeye looks good when grown in groups of three to five plants as a background to smaller shrubs or perennials

Sweetshrub

Native to streambanks and forests across the southeast, Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) is valued for its fragrant flowers and foliage. The species produces reddish flowers in spring with a strawberry aroma. The cultivar "Athens" has yellow flowers in late spring. Sweetshrub grows best in moist, fertile soil and prefers sun to partial shade. Growing to 8 to 10 feet tall, this plant is useful in unclipped, natural borders.

Oakleaf hydrangea

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a deciduous flowering shrub with coarse texture and medium to fast growth rate. Its form is round with many upright branches and large, fragrant, panicle-type flowers up to 12 inches long. Oakleaf flowers in May and June on the previous season's growth. Fall color is excellent and varies from red to purple. Plant in moist, well-drained soils and partial shade; avoid planting in hot, dry sites. Prune after flowering.

Virginia sweetspire

An interesting native shrub valued for fragrant flowers at a time when few plants are in flower, Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is ideal for naturalizing in moist areas of the garden. This deciduous flowering shrub has a spreading growth habit with white fragrant flower spikes in April and May. It prefers moist soil and sun to partial shade. Itea often holds its foliage well into winter, and in a mild winter, foliage often persists until spring. "Henry's Garnet" has great reddish purple fall color.

Winterberry

A native deciduous holly growing 6 to 12 feet tall, winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is a great plant for shrub borders and areas with wet soils. An extremely hardy plant, winterberry has deep rich green foliage in summer with an oval or rounded form. Male and female flowers are located on different plants, and females set bright red berries in pairs. Fruits develop in late summer/early fall and persist all winter. Winterberry prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, acidic conditions.

Billy Skaggs is an agricultural agent and Hall County extension coordinator. Phone: 770-531-6988. Fax: 770-531-3994.