Charleston's warm, humid climate makes it possible to create landscapes with the bold textures, vibrant flowers, and lush foliage typically found in tropical destinations. By choosing the right mix of tropical and tropical-inspired plants, you can enjoy an outdoor space that feels like a private resort while still standing up to our Lowcountry conditions.

Whether you're refreshing an existing landscape or starting from scratch, these favorites bring dramatic color, oversized foliage, and year-round interest to Charleston gardens.

The secret to an authentic tropical landscape isn't relying on a single plant—it's layering different textures, heights, and colors.

Combine flowering favorites like Hardy Hibiscus, Tropical Hibiscus, and Canna Lilies with bold foliage from Elephant Ears, Philodendron Selloum, and Fatsia. Add Graceful Bamboo for privacy and movement, then anchor the design with palms and evergreen accents like Yucca 'Color Guard' for year-round structure.

​The result is a landscape that feels lush, vibrant, and unmistakably Charleston.

​Few plants capture the feeling of Lowcountry living quite like palms. For many homeowners moving to Charleston, incorporating palms into the landscape is one of the first ways they begin creating a sense of place.

But not all palms are created equal.

Some thrive in full coastal sun, while others prefer filtered shade. Some tolerate freezing temperatures surprisingly well, while others may struggle during colder winters. Choosing the right palm for the right location is the key to creating a landscape that feels lush, established, and resilient year-round.

At Brownswood, we help customers select palms not just for appearance, but for long-term success in the Lowcountry climate. Below is a guide to several of our most popular palm varieties - including light requirements, mature size, deer tolerance, and cold hardiness.

​Charleston’s climate allows for a wide range of palms, but proper placement matters. Before choosing a palm, consider:

Sun exposure - Full sun vs. filtered shade
Mature size - Some palms remain compact while others become major landscape features
Cold tolerance - Important during occasional winter freezes
Deer pressure - Especially relevant in rural and marsh-adjacent areas
Maintenance level - Some palms require little upkeep, while others benefit from periodic grooming

The best landscapes often combine palms of varying heights and textures to create a layered, natural look.

Sun: Full sun to full shade
Mature Size: 4–6' tall x 4–6' wide
Cold Hardiness: Extremely hardy (down to approximately -5°F)
Deer Tolerance: High

Native to the Southeast, Sabal minor is one of the toughest and most adaptable palms for Lowcountry gardens. Unlike taller palmettos, it remains trunkless or very low-growing, making it ideal for foundation plantings, woodland edges, rain gardens, and naturalized spaces.

Its fan-shaped leaves create a lush, tropical appearance while tolerating shade, wet soils, drought, and cold better than almost any other palm we grow.

Best Use: Understory planting, native gardens, shaded courtyards

Sun: Full sun
Mature Size: 8–15' tall x 6–10' wide
Cold Hardiness: Hardy to approximately 10°F
Deer Tolerance: Moderate to high

European Fan Palm is a compact, clumping palm with strong architectural character. Multiple trunks and stiff fan-shaped fronds give it a sculptural quality that works beautifully in Mediterranean-inspired and coastal landscapes.

Slow-growing and durable, it performs especially well in containers, courtyards, and smaller garden spaces.

Best Use: Formal gardens, pool areas, containers, courtyard plantings

Sun: Part shade to shade
​Mature Size: 25–40' tall x 10–15' wide
Cold Hardiness: Hardy to approximately 15–20°F
Deer Tolerance: Moderate

​Known for its graceful, fountain-like foliage, Chinese Fan Palm creates a softer, more relaxed tropical appearance than many rigid fan palms. The large, arching fronds add movement and texture to the landscape.

This palm performs best with room to mature and is often used as a statement tree in larger landscapes.

Best Use: Accent tree, poolside planting, tropical-style landscapes

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Mature Size: 20–30' tall x 6–10' wide
Cold Hardiness: Extremely hardy (down to approximately 5°F)
Deer Tolerance: Moderate

Windmill Palm is one of the most cold-hardy tree-form palms available, making it a reliable option throughout the Charleston area. Its textured trunk and compact canopy give it a refined appearance suited to both traditional and tropical landscapes.

Because it tolerates cooler temperatures and partial shade, it is often one of the safest choices for homeowners new to growing palms.

Best Use: Entryways, mixed landscapes, urban gardens

Sun: Part shade to shade
Mature Size: 5–8' tall x 5–10' wide
Cold Hardiness: Exceptionally hardy (down to approximately -10°F)
Deer Tolerance: High

Often considered the most cold-hardy palm in the world, Needle Palm is a rugged native-style palm with deep green foliage and a dense, shrubby habit.

Though slower growing, it thrives in shaded environments where many palms struggle. Sharp black needles at the base provide natural deer resistance and add to its distinctive character.

Best Use: Woodland gardens, shaded foundations, native landscapes

​Sun: Full sun
Mature Size: 15–20' tall x 10–15' wide
Cold Hardiness: Hardy to approximately 10–15°F
Deer Tolerance: Moderate

Pindo Palm is prized for its blue-green, arching fronds and bold tropical texture. It has a softer, more graceful appearance than Sabal palms and produces edible orange fruit in summer.

This palm performs best in sunny, well-drained locations and serves as a dramatic focal point in the landscape.

Best Use: Specimen planting, coastal landscapes, focal points

Sun: Full sun
Mature Size: 4–8' tall x 6–10' wide
Cold Hardiness: Hardy to approximately 15°F
Deer Tolerance: High

Silver Saw Palmetto is one of the most striking native palms available, valued for its silvery-blue foliage and exceptional drought tolerance.

Its low, spreading habit works beautifully in coastal and naturalistic landscapes, especially when mass planted.

Best Use: Coastal gardens, mass plantings, xeriscapes

Sun: Part sun to shade
Mature Size: 2–3' tall x 3–5' wide
Cold Hardiness: Hardy to approximately 15–20°F
Deer Tolerance: Moderate

Though not technically a palm, Coontie is often grouped with palms because of its tropical appearance and low-growing form. This native cycad provides rich texture and performs exceptionally well in shaded Lowcountry gardens.

It is also an important host plant for the Atala butterfly.

Best Use: Shade gardens, understory plantings, tropical textures

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Mature Size: 3–10' tall x 3–8' wide
Cold Hardiness: Hardy to approximately 15°F
Deer Tolerance: Moderate

Another cycad rather than a true palm, Sago Palm is valued for its dramatic, symmetrical form and bold evergreen texture.

Its slow growth and sculptural habit make it ideal for formal plantings and containers. However, all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, so placement should be considered carefully around pets and children.

Best Use: Containers, formal gardens, architectural accents

One of the best ways to create a natural, established look is by layering palms of different sizes and textures throughout the landscape.

For example:

• Use Windmill or Pindo Palms as canopy elements
• Add European Fan Palms for mid-level structure
• Layer in Sabal minor or Sago beneath larger palms
• Incorporate flowering annuals, perennials, and ornamental grasses to soften transitions

The result is a landscape that feels balanced, lush, and distinctly Lowcountry.

The best palm for your landscape depends on more than appearance alone. Light exposure, drainage, mature size, and cold protection all play an important role in long-term success.

Our team can help you select the right palms for your property and guide placement based on your site conditions and goals.

Visit Brownswood Nursery's Garden Center to explore our current palm selection, shop palms online, or book an in-yard consultation to have a design expert come to your home to discuss designing a Lowcountry-inspired landscape.

Hydrangeas are one of our customers' favorite flowering shrubs. With big, bouquet-sized blooms in shades of blue and pink to lime and white, it's easy to see why! Visit our Garden Center soon to choose from dwarf and full-sized varieties for shade or sun!

Hydrangeas for shade in the Charleston area include Bigleaf, Mountain, and Smooth types.

Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) bloom pink or blue (depending on soil pH) late Spring into Summer and are commonly described as mopheads due to their large, ball-shaped blooms. They have wide, textured leaves and sturdy, thick stems. These hydrangeas bloom on old wood, which means they form next season's flower buds on their stems before they bloom. Generally, it is okay to prune away spent flowers. However, to avoid cutting of next year's blooms, it's advisable to avoid pruning this type of hydrangea except for removal of dead branches in Spring once the plant starts to leaf out.

Mountain hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata) bloom in Summer and are also referred to as lacecap hydrangeas as their blooms appear dainty and delicate like lace. Their leaves and stems look a lot like the bigleaf hydrangeas - in fact, it's hard to tell the difference when they are not blooming! These hydrangeas bloom first on old wood. Varieties in this category that rebloom form more flower buds on new growth and bloom again later in the season. If you're uncertain as to whether you have a variety that is reblooming, err on the side of caution when pruning - prune modestly during the growing season to remove spent flowerheads and then only to remove dead branches when leaves emerge in Spring.

Smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea aborescens) bloom in Spring with white or pink ball-shaped blooms. The foliage of these hydrangeas is thinner and more delicate than the bigleaf or mountain hydrangeas. These hydrangeas also have woody stems and bloom on new wood. This means buds form on the current season's growth, so it's okay to wait until the plant has gone dormant in the Fall or until early Spring to prune them.

All of these shade hydrangeas appreciate being shielded from intense, direct sunlight in the afternoon - especially during our hot summers. Gentle morning sun, dappled light throughout the day, or shade for the majority of the day are ideal sunlight situations for these varieties.

Hydrangeas for sun in the Lowcountry include Panicle and Oakleaf types.

Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) bloom mid to late Summer into early Fall. Their flowers first arise lime-green to white, filling out to a full cone shape that turns blush to red as the weather cools down in the Fall. These hydrangeas have woody stems and thinner, narrower leaves than the bigleaf hydrangeas. Panicle hydrangeas bloom on new wood with their buds and blooms occurring in the same season, so it is safe to prune in late Fall or early Spring while the plant is dormant without risk of removing flower buds.

Oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) are one of the more unique hydrangea types, offering showy, cone-shaped, white flowers in early summer. Oakleaf hydrangeas have woody stems, and as their name suggests, large, oak-shaped leaves. Like panicle hydrangeas, oakleaf hydrangea blooms take on rosy tones as the weather cools down in Fall. And, BONUS! Oakleaf hydrangea foliage turns a beautiful red as the shrub prepares to go dormant in the Winter. Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so take care to prune moderately, if at all, immediately after flowering for size and when new growth emerges in Spring to remove dead branches.

Of the sun hydrangeas, panicle hydrangeas are the toughest when it comes to full sun in our climate. Oakleaf hydrangeas come in second with the ability to handle full sun once acclimated.

When considering hydrangeas for your landscape, take note of the amount of space you have available and how much sunlight the area receives at what time of day. At our Garden Center, we carry dwarf hydrangeas and full-sized hydrangeas. Not sure which type is right for your landscape? Our Nursery Professionals will be happy to assist!