Searching for the perfect ornamental tree for your landscape? We've got a great selection for you! From the earliest spring bloomers to spring and fall foliage interest, these selections are a feast for the eyes. Pollinators will appreciate their beautiful flowers as well!

It's easy to see why these selections are some of our guests' favorites. Visit our Garden Center soon for these and other new arrivals to add beauty to your landscape!

Transform your landscape into an outdoor sanctuary with the addition of privacy plantings. The trees and shrubs listed here will help you achieve year-round privacy and multiple seasons of interest. And if you live in a deer-prone area, as many of us on the sea islands do, you'll be glad to know that many of our favorites are deer non-preferred!

Our design and installation teams completed this Johns Island landscape transformation with the addition of a patio nestled behind a lush privacy screen of Japanese Yew (Podocarpus). Privacy screens, even in small spaces, make a huge difference in the way in which our clients enjoy extending their living space to the outdoors!

If you’re new to gardening in Charleston, winter planting might sound counterintuitive. In many parts of the country, planting trees and shrubs during the colder months is risky - or simply impossible. But here in the Lowcountry, winter is not only safe for planting … it’s one of the best times of year to get trees and shrubs in the ground.

Thanks to our mild climate and soils that rarely (if ever) freeze, winter planting offers unique advantages that set your landscape up for success long before spring arrives.

In colder regions, frozen ground prevents root growth and can damage newly planted material. Charleston’s winters are different. While we may experience occasional cold snaps, our soil temperatures remain workable, allowing roots to continue growing even when top growth slows.

This means that when you plant trees and shrubs in winter:
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• Roots begin establishing immediately
• Plants experience less stress than during hot months
• ​Growth energy is directed below ground, where it matters most

By the time spring arrives, winter-planted trees and shrubs are already settled in and ready to grow.

​Summer is the most challenging season for plants in coastal South Carolina. Heat, humidity, and drought stress can take a toll - ​especially on newly planted material. Planting during the cooler months gives trees and shrubs a critical head start.

Benefits include:
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• Deeper, stronger root systems before summer
• Reduced watering needs once temperatures rise
• Improved long-term plant health and survival

For DIY gardeners, this means fewer struggles in July and August. For larger landscape projects, it means healthier plants and more predictable results.

Winter is also an ideal season for landscape planning. Without the rush of spring schedules or summer heat, homeowners can take the time to think through how they truly want their outdoor space to function and feel.

Planting in winter allows you to:
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• Establish trees and shrubs that define the structure of your landscape
• ​Get ahead of spring demand for installation schedules
• Watch your landscape come alive naturally as temperatures warm

​Many of the most successful spring landscapes begin quietly in winter.

In Charleston, winter is ideal for planting:
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• Shade and ornamental trees
• Evergreen and flowering shrubs
• Hedges and screening plants
• Foundation plantings

​The hardy trees and shrubs available at our Nursery are well-suited for winter planting, especially when properly watered and mulched.

This is one of the most common concerns we hear - ​especially from newcomers to the area. The short answer: no, when plants are properly selected and planted.

Because our ground does not freeze solid, roots remain protected. A simple layer of mulch and attentive watering during dry periods are usually all that’s needed. Even if foliage appears dormant or slow to respond, root development is still happening below the surface.

Whether you’re installing a single tree or planning a complete landscape transformation, winter planting is an investment in long-term success. It’s a season of quiet progress - ​when the real work happens underground.
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By planting now, you’re not rushing growth. You’re giving your landscape time to do what it does best: establish, strengthen, and prepare for what’s next.

Our team at Brownswood Nursery & Landscape is here to help - ​whether you’re tackling a DIY project or considering a professionally designed and installed landscape. Visit the Garden Center to explore winter-planting options or book an in-yard consultation to start planning for spring.