​As Lowcountry residents, we've grown accustomed to the waves of heat and humidity that occur during our Summer months. Whether you find our Summer season charming or you can't wait 'til Fall, as someone who enjoys gardening and beautiful landscapes, you will certainly agree that plants well-adapted to our climate are highly regarded! The following is just a small sampling of the popular heat tolerant plants we have here at the Nursery for sun and for shade.

​Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are heat and drought tolerant champions once established in a sunny location. Requiring minimal maintenance, these colorful perennial flowers return year after year much to the delight of gardeners and pollinators.

Lantana
This sun-loving perennial blooms prolifically through the warm season, providing bright color and plentiful nectar for pollinators. Available in many colors and mature sizes to suit any sunny, well-drained spot.

Sweetgrass (Muhly Grass)
This native perennial grass is covered in fluffy pinkish-purple or white plumes during the Fall season and appreciates a sunny, well-drained location. Sweetgrass proves to be low maintenance and stands up to heat very well once it's settled into its place in the landscape.

Bottlebrush
Another pollinator-attracting plant, Bottlebrush is a sturdy, evergreen shrub that gets its name from the many bright red, bottle brush shaped flowers it produces for weeks during the warm season. Bottlebrush comes in a variety of sizes from dwarf (2-3' tall) to standard (8-12' tall), making it a popular selection for any sized garden space.

Ligustrum Jack Frost
Tried-and-true Ligustrum Jack Frost is versatile, performing well in bright sun or part shade throughout the heat of the Summer. Variegated evergreen foliage and creamy white Spring blooms make this selection an easy choice for any location that calls for a sun-tolerant shrub with attractive foliage.

​Fatsia japonica
A Lowcountry favorite that enjoys our subtropical climate, evergreen Fatsia japonica offers large, palmate leaves and grows well in shaded spaces with rich, well-drained soil. Clusters of white flowers arise in Fall and are followed by berries that attract birds. Give this beauty lots of room as it will mature to a size of 6-10' tall and wide. 

Philodendron selloum
Another plant to round out a tropical oasis feel in the landscape is Philodendron selloum. This large-growing plant matures to 8-10' tall and wide and offers beautifully ornate split leaves. Though it looks as though it might not overwinter, this plant goes through our mild winters quite well as an evergreen.

Cast Iron Plant
As its name suggests, Cast Iron plant has a reputation for being virtually indestructible. Evergreen and tolerant of a variety of less-than-ideal growing conditions, including deep shade, the only thing this plant really asks is not to be exposed to direct sunlight. Matures slowly to 2' tall by 2-3' wide.

Anise
Anise is a popular evergreen shade shrub for its ability to tolerate heat and humidity and because it is not preferred by deer. Various foliage colors and mature sizes are available, allowing for flexibility when combining with companion plantings in shady garden spaces.

Sabal minor
This dwarf Sabal Palm grows well in shade or sun. A great selection for areas that are low lying and tend to hold water, this native Palm will also tolerate drought once established. Small fruits that form after late-Spring flowers attract wildlife.

​We highly recommend amending the soil in your planting area with a top-quality planting mix as well as a starter fertilizer such as Espoma Organic Bio-tone® Starter Plus to give your new plants their best start. On your next visit to our Garden Center, see one of our Nursery Professionals for a copy of our Planting Guide. It provides planting instructions and helpful information about watering and getting new plants established.

What's more exciting than a garden filled with vibrant blooms? All those flowers PLUS the fluttering and buzzing of butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees! With new flowering annuals, perennials, and shrubs arriving almost daily at our Garden Center, Spring is the perfect time to start planting or make additions to your pollinator garden. By including a variety of pollinator-attracting plants in your landscape, you'll spend less time filling feeders and more time enjoying nature!

There are so many plants to choose from that the design of a pollinator-pleasing garden is limited only by your imagination. ​Flowering annual and perennial plants provide a quick and easy way to tuck pollinator-friendly blooms and long-lasting color into your garden beds.

Try a combination of the following nectar-rich varieties for an extended season of blooms:  ​

If you have a larger space available, flowering shrubs and trees can also add height, provide structure, and produce beautiful, pollinator-attracting flowers.

​A sampling of shrubs and trees to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees:

Also, don't forget to include plentiful host plants such as Butterfly Weed (for the Monarchs) and Passion Vine (for the Gulf Fritillaries) as a food source for hungry caterpillars. Host plants vary by butterfly species. If you are looking to attract a particular butterfly to your garden, we recommend doing a little research to find out which host plant(s) that butterfly prefers. Blending host plants with those that produce nectar-rich flowers ensures you will see butterflies season after season.

Visit us at the Garden Center soon for the latest selection of pollinator-attracting plants. One of our Nursery Professionals can assist you in choosing just the right varieties for your garden space!

Brownswood Nursery offers tips on when to prune your Southern Indica Azaleas.

Nothing says Spring like Azalea blooms! Peak bloom time is just around the corner for us here in Charleston, with many Azalea varieties already beginning to flower. For a spectacular Spring bloom this season, don't prune just yet. Watch the video for tips on the best time to prune Spring-blooming Azaleas!

Did you know Southern Indica Azaleas have been a part of Brownswood Nursery's story for over 40 years as one of our very first offerings? We are still proudly growing them today! Come visit us for a tour of our growing fields and take home a few of these gorgeous shrubs in 3, 7, or 15-gallon containers!

Learn more about Brownswood Grown trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses.