I don't know your exact location but I'm about 30 miles north of Birmingham. Daffodils are blooming early this year due to an extremely mild winter, they usually show up in late-March to mid-April. Camellia may be of interest to you. There are two types - Japonica and Sequoya (not sure about the spelling). One blooms pink in the spring and the other blooms white in the fall (or that may be the other way around). Magnolia trees hold beautiful foliage all year and smell wonderful when blooming in the spring; there are several types of magnolias. Banana plants never produce fruit and palm trees have to be dug up and moved indoors each fall. Hope this all helps a little.

You certainly need to add camellias to your list, both C. japonica and C. sasanqua. They offer a wide range of color, form, and bloom time. With a few careful selections, you could easily have color all fall and winter long. Camellias are evergreen.

Though not showy, my Osmanthus fragrans (Tea Olive) blooms off and on all fall and winter and is delectably fragrant. Tea Olive is also evergreen.

Pansies can provide some off and on color for you, if you get them planted in the early fall after the worst of the heat has passed. They will suffer in any very cold temps (20s) but usually rebound.

Winter jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum, will bloom heavily in the dead of winter with sprays of bright yellow flowers.

There are many kinds of holly, azaleas for shadier locations, cleyera, Indian hawthorn, glossy abelia, aucuba, and many more. For trees, you can look at the Southern magnolia, and several of the tree hollies. I know that others will chime in with plenty of others.

It's too bad that you don't want any needle leaf evergreens, because there are hundreds and hundreds of beautiful and interesting shrubs, groundcovers, and trees.

I also advise you to consider a few deciduous plants, trees or shrubs, to bring into your landscape. They offer a refreshing change of seasons, fall color, interesting winter structure, and more.

If I recall, you are in the Cullman area, right? Correct me if I'm wrong. If so, you're somewhat limited to what can flower in the winter. It is a temperate zone...warm temperate but temperate....not semi-tropical. This is a good time to visit your locally owned garden centers for some ideas. I don't mean the big box stores which can load up with all kinds of inappropriate plant material and don't have anyone on staff to advise you.

Rocky, I had not refreshed the computer when I typed my response so have stomped on your answer. Sorry!

But I wanted to add this for smurf: be sure to revisit some of your older threads. There's a wealth of information for you, and some super contacts.

I'll also add that some palms can be grown in this location year round. It's not my cup of tea since I lived for so long in a location that was covered up with palms of many kinds, but I can help you track down some help for you if you like.

I have a greenhouse now that we made but has kept the plants over the winter, I don't mind digging plants and replanting, I'll have to do that with ears and gingers I believe.. I'm coming from Canada where I had to dig all my garden and store the bulbs so it's no issue for me to do that.. I do plan to have plants that go dormant for the winter for that affect also.
Your correct I'm in cullman, and we're pretty sure were buying here. If not within 10-20 min to here. I do want to make a trip to the botanical garden but still have yet to have a chance. I would of loved to be able to go this coming may when I've read is the best time but I'm due April 30th and with a scheduled csection may will be out of the question. Thanks everyone for your quick response, tonight I will be looking up all those suggestions and finding a soured to get some come spring.

I don't mind digging things up for the winter. Coming from Canada I'm use to that.. Yep I'm in cullman and plan to buy here or with in 20 min. I will have plants that go dormant for the winter to have that effect. Just need some ideas for other things that will add color or flowers when my other plants won't.
I would love to go to the botanical garden in may, when I've heard it's best. However the fact I'm due April 30th and have a scheduled csection, may will be out of the question this year.
Just looking for a few plants to keep the garden from looking dead for the winter. Since up until now that was always the case.
I have alot of research to do before I start buying plants or seeds so I get it perfect. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll be looking into all of them to tonight.
Jen

When I was growing up we had lots of violets around the house.