There’s a lot to love about gardening in USDA Zone 8. The growing season is long, winters are mild, and in some locales, you can casually brag about your backyard citrus tree. That’s what makes Zone 8, which spans much of the southern tier of the U.S., ideal for growing a wide variety of plants.
Growing in Zone 8 is not all rosy. Summer weather can be a scorcher! To beat the heat, gardeners can plant with the rhythms of the seasons for growing success. This means taking advantage of the early spring weather when temperatures are still relatively cool. Whether you are in Birmingham, Dallas, or Charlotte, early spring offers the cool nights and mild days that allow the following varieties to take root and build strength before summer’s heat moves in.
Want to know what to plant this spring? These four plants can take the Zone 8 heat, but benefit from going in the ground soon after your last average frost date passes:
Gardenia
With an unmistakable fragrance and an alluring flower, gardenias are a Southern classic. Plant around a patio so you and guests can catch whiffs of its scent on the breeze, or use these fantastic fragrant blooms as an aromatic hedge. Diamond Spire® Gardenia is particularly stellar in the garden as its 4-ft. tall columnar form is outstanding as a specimen plant or as a “thriller” in a sizable combination planting. For sunny locations, find a partially shaded spot for this handsome shrub.
For something a little less statuesque but just as beautifully fragranced, ScentAmazing® Gardenia matures to just 2.5-3 ft. tall and wide. Its enticing blooms are single-flowered, which is a bit different for gardenia, and cheerful yellow centers add to the variety’s visual appeal.
Blueberries & Blackberries
Southern Living® Plant Collection’s assortment of berry bushes were chosen specifically for their ability to withstand the South’s infamous heat and humidity–including the sky-high temps that a Zone 8 summer can see.
The Collection’s three blackberry varieties are a blast to plant in spring and even more fun to harvest in the summer–each one of them are pollinator attractors as well as thornless! Pick berries to your heart’s content with “ouchless” confidence. DownHome Harvest® ‘Navaho’ has amazingly sweet berries and is hardy down to Zone 6. DownHome Harvest® ‘Osage’ produces sweet, long-lasting berries for extended enjoyment. And DownHome Harvest® Prime-Ark® ‘Freedom’ produces plump blackberries on new canes—so no waiting until next year to harvest its deliciousness!
As for blueberries, our low-chill hour varieties mean that even in Zone 8, your family can enjoy a bountiful crop! From the large-berried rabbiteye DownHome Harvest® Bless Your Heart® to the fragrant-blooming DownHome Harvest® Hello Darlin® with its deep-red fall foliage, the blueberry category has something for every landscape need and berry preference.
Agapanthus
Looking for quick color in the spring garden? Agapanthus is an abundant bloomer that thrives in borders, cut flower gardens, containers, and accent plantings. Its intricate blooms burst like fireworks from tall stems, but don’t let its delicate flowers fool you: this tough, low-maintenance perennial can beat the heat! The seven “Ever” series varieties all bloom in spring, and they bloom much earlier than other agapanthus varieties. In addition, varieties like Ever White™ and Ever Amethyst™ rebloom through the summer and into fall, giving you months of purple-hued lollipops to enjoy in containers, beds and borders. When blooms aren’t present, their straplike leaves and texture and movement in the landscape.
When it comes to gardening in Zone 8, the key is getting plants in early, as soon as the final threat of frost has passed. Not only will you (and the pollinators!) enjoy their beauty and abundance all spring, but they’ll be ready to shine all summer long once established!
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