Gardening in the South is a marvel to anyone who loves lush vegetation and heady scents. Generally speaking, weather conditions are considered subtropical and as such the winters are very mild with only the occasional cold snaps, while summers are characterized by hot daytime temperatures that are laced with high levels of humidity. Because of this climate there are many popular flowers that gardeners in the South just love to add to their landscapes. Here is a list of the five most popular followers for your garden if you live in the South:

1. Enjoy the stunning colors that are offered by the varieties of Heliconia. You may find them to be the most intense reds, a bright orange, and even in rich purple. Popular kinds found in the gardens are the Heliconia Tortuosa with its twisted inflorescences, and also Heliconia Bihai, which is a favorite of hummingbirds.
2. Birds of Paradise are a close second for avid gardeners. Slightly reminiscent of the head and bearing of a crane, these plants offer a breathtaking display of flowers in orange and hues of blue to deep purple. Since it may be propagated by dividing the evergreen and planting both halves separately, it is a favorite of those who like to frequently change the appearance of their landscapes periodically.
3. No garden in the South would be complete without climbing Bougainvillea. As a matter of fact, if left unchecked, these fast growing vines will take over other plants, structures and even trees in a garden! Their flowers add splashes of color to even the drabbest landscapes. Usually they will come in white or purple, but orange, yellow, pink and even red is not unheard of.  
4. Red-hot Cat’s Tail is the South’s response to the Fox Tail plants in the colder regions of the United States. The flowers look like the tails of cats – hence the name, yet while the Fox Tail is a grass, this beautiful flower has the most amazing leaves!  Granted, it may be a bit hard to grow if your particular area has more cold spells than other regions in the South, but with a little bit of effort you will have the most amazing red flowers in your garden!
5. Last but not least is the Hibiscus. The flowers are so big that it is hard to miss them, and the orange, red, and yellow colors will make for a wonderful oasis of color amongst other flowers. Hibiscus Syriacus – commonly referred to as Rose of Althea - is probably the plant most often used.

As you can see, there is a wide variety of plants that you will be able to include in your Southern garden. The key to successful landscaping with them, however, is a good dose of patience. After all, some plants - such as the Bird of Paradise – grow very slowly and mature at their own pace. Many a hobbyist has been known to complain of the fact that there appeared to be no blooms anywhere, just green foliage!  Thus, if you are looking for quick results, you may need to pick some of the faster growing plants to add that lush color you were hoping to see in your landscape a bit sooner. On the other hand, if you do have the patience to let the plant take its time to grown, you will be handsomely rewarded with not only a large specimen, but also one that is useful for dividing later on if you choose to add more plants to your landscape, especially to the sides of entrances, and anywhere else where symmetrical floral displays are desired.