A friend of mine grows a few varieties of rugosas in Jacksonville. If they take the heat here, they should be fine in coastal Georgia. Earlier today, he was telling me that they are more tolerant of spider mites than any rose he has ever grown. Cherokee rose is a very strong grower that requires a lot of space but of the hundreds of plant species in my yard, it attracts the most attention when it is in flower.

I find that lower zone 8b, at least, is not covered well in gardening literature. The best way to find out about a plant is to try it yourself or ask other gardeners in your area about their experiences. You can get away with a lot more if you work with the microclimates in your yard.

Georgia may have a website for an Exotic Pest Plant Council. Florida's will list invasive plants (thugs) of interest to you at www.fleppc.org.

Your roses will have problems with the humidity more than just the heat. It makes Black Spot very happy. Don't plant that Cherokee anywhere near where you will have to walk. It's pretty for only a short time of year, and the rest of the time it will sense there is a warm body near and attack with those horrid thorns. The thorns are the worse. If it likes the spot, it could almost be consider invasive.

Most old roses, David Austen roses, Noisettes, Lady Banks, Cecile Brunner, Don Juan do fine.

Invasives: beware of anything you pick up at a plant swap! Helianthus angustifolius and hardy ageratum (once Eupatorium coelestinum, but I think it's changed its name now) have taken over in my garden.

Asparagus fern. I am battling this everywhere in my yard. I have covered it with cardboard and mulch, and it's still fighting it's way free...scary.