Azalea – Rhododendron Ericaceae (Zones 2-9)

• A favorite Spring shrub in southern gardens
• Apply fertilizer and mulch in Spring after blooms fade
• Dwarf plants can be 3 ft or less…Asian varieties can grow up to 40 ft
• Hybrids are available in cold and heat-tolerant varieties
• Evergreen and deciduous shrubs
• Thrive in part sun/part shade
• Need acidic, well drained loamy soil and moderate water
• Have shallow roots – both the soil and leaves must be watered in the morning

Camellia – (Camellia Theaceae) (Zones 6B-9B)

• A second favorite Spring shrub in Southern gardens
• Hybrids are available in cold and heat-tolerant varieties
• Apply fertilizer and mulch in Spring after blooms fade
• Evergreen
• Thrives in part shade
• Need acidic, well drained loamy soil and moderate water
• Have shallow roots – both the soil and leaves must be watered in the morning
• Prone to pest problems such as tea scales and fungal problems: Camellia petal blight and Camellia leaf gall. Bud drop is also common.

Forsythia  – Forsythia x intermedia (Zones 5-8)

• One of the earliest Spring blooming shrubs
• A fast-growing shrub; can be grown as a bush or hedgerow
• Flowers best in full sun
• Grow in well-drained, organically rich soil
• Water moderately as needed; mulching is recommended
• Feed in early Spring with high phosphorous fertilizer
• Prune vigorously immediately after the blooms are gone.

Lilac – Syringa (Zones 3-7)

• A favorite Spring blooming shrub for Northern gardeners
• Heat tolerant hybrid varieties are available
• Prefers full sun
• Thrives in well drained, loamy, slightly acid to alkaline soil
• Prune vigorously immediately after the blooms are gone
• Apply fertilizer and mulch in Spring
• Depending on the growing area, they can suffer from pest problems such as lilac borer and scales and fungal disease such as powdery mildew

Weigela – Weigela (Zones 4-8)

• Prefers moist, well-draining soil
• Thrives in full sun
• A fast growing, deciduous shrub
• Prune and fertilize in later winter.
• Apply mulch in Spring
• Prefers moderate watering; drip irrigation recommended

Geranium – Pelargonium (Zones 10-11)

• Perfect for indoor hanging baskets and outdoor garden borders
• In colder regions, can be dug up and brought indoors or grown as annuals
• Water moderately and deeply as needed; avoid getting the leaves wet
• Prefers moist, well-draining soil
• Thrives in full sun
• Fertilize lightly every 4-6 weeks
• Deadhead spent blooms to promote continual flowering
• Plant outdoors when threat of frost has passed (indoor plants should be in temps of 65-70 during the day and 55 at night)

Impatiens – Impatiens Zones 10-11)

• Perfect as border, bedding and container plants
• Prefer moist, well draining soil
• Not frost tolerant
• Can suffer from various pest problems such as spider mites, caterpillars, aphids, root-knot nematodes and whiteflies
• Common fungal problems are fungal leaf spot, gray mold and downy mildew
• Thrives in part – full shade
• Plant outdoors after threat of frost has passed
• Use a slow release fertilizer in Spring and again in Summer

Pansy – Viola tricolor var. hortensis (Zones 2-11)

• Prefers partial or full sun
• Perfect as border, bedding and container plants
• Prefer moist, humus rich, well draining soil
• Water moderately; do not let soil dry out
• Fertilize lightly as needed
• Deadhead spent blooms to promote continual flowering
  

Petunias – Petunias (zones 6-10)

• Perfect as border, bedding and container plants
• Annual; not frost tolerant
• Thrives in average, well draining soil
• Prefers full sun
• Use a slow release fertilizer during planting
• Tolerates moderate watering

Snapdragon – Antirrhinum (Zones 7-10)

• Prefers full sun
• Grown as annual in colder regions, but is a perennial
• Thrives in well drained , organically rich soil
• Taller varieties may need staking
• Top stem clipping is needed to encourage uniform growth and continual flowering at planting
• When planting, keep soil most for the first three weeks then taper of watering as needed; water from the bottom
• Deadheading is needed and mulching