Plants For Tour Guides

My additions to the Tour Guide Training Manual

Southern Azaleas

Various species of Rhdodendron indica. Imports from the Orient. First seen in this country at Magnolia Plantation in the 1830's. Can be anywhere from dwarfs to shrubs over 6 feet tall. Shades of reds, pinks and white.

Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum

Deciduous conifer native to freshwater swamps. Has a very soft pale green needle which turns copper color in the Fall before dropping for the winter. Famous for their knees at local plantation gardens. One on left side of King Street below Tradd at First Scot's parking entrance.

Boxwoods
Buxus species

Evergreen shrub for low hedging and borders. Most commonly here we use fairly short Japanese and Korean boxwoods. Old gardens still have English boxwoods which can be head height and have a very distinctive musty odor.

Camellia Japonica

Japonica referring to from Japan. Evergreen shrub with flowers in shades of red, pink and white. Blooms typically begin in December and can be in flower as late as May. Older ones here can appear as small trees.

Camellia Sasanqua
Fall Camellias

Evergreen shrub with smaller flowers than the larger Japonicas. Sasanquas bloom in the fall and ealy winter in shades of pinks, reds and white. They are also mildly fragrant.

Camellia Sinensis
Tea Plant

Evergreen shrub from East and Southeast Asia used for making tea. Seen as a novelty in local gardens or in mass production at the Tea Plantation. Typically blooms January to March.

Vitex,Chaste Tree,Spikenard

Large shrub or small tree. Decidous. From the Mediterranean region. Noted for it's spikes of typically lavender flowers. Sometimes you see pink or white here.

Carolina Cherry Laurel
Prunus Caroliniana

Native tree with glossy green leaves that have a distinctive cherry smell when crushed. Fragrant white clusters of flowers in the spring followed by black cherries in the Fall. An old fashioned plant that was typically used as a large fast growing hedge. Newer varieties are more compact.

Cassia

Deciduous tropical shrub and small tree covered in yellow flowers starting in the fall lasting until winter unless frozen.

Citrus

Evergreen shrubs and trees with fragrant white flowers. Many types of citrus are commonly seen downtown. It's most likely to see kumquats, satsuma oranges, grapefruit and lemons. Many survived temperatures in the upper teens in January 2014.

Cleyra
Ternstroemia gymnanthera

Glossy evergreen shrub sometimes as tall as 6 feet, typically with reddish new growth in the Spring. It's pretty inconspicuous and I don't believe in 31 years anyone has asked me what it is.

Crape Myrtle
Lagerstoemia indica

Amazing summer flowering deciduous trees in shades of red, pink, purple and white. Originated in India, China and Japan. Earliest ones start blooming here in late April and I've seen them in bloom until November. Peak bloom is from late June until early September. The bark is smooth and peeling. The variety Natchez White has bark that looks like cinnamon. Chopping the branches back severely is referred to as Crape Murder.

Dogwood
Cornus florida

Classic spring blooming native tree. Four petaled white blooms appear just as trees are leafing out. Pinks ones rarely seen here as they don't thrive in the heat and humidity. Often has lovely fall color.

Fatsia

Tropical looking evergreen shrub with large multi-lobed leaves. Clusters of small white flowers above the leaves in the fall followed by small black fruit.

Feverbark
Pinckneya pubens

Small deciduous native shrub with trumpet shaped white flowers tinged with pink. Discovered in Georgia by Bartram and named by Andre' Michaux for Charles Cotesworthy Pinckney. Used in colonial days as a treatment for malaria.

Gardenia
Gardenia Jasminoides

Glossy evergreen shrub with white waxy fragrant flowers. Typically bloom in late April through May. Scattered blooms later in summer. Named for Alexander Garden a Charleston physician and botanist.

Gingko
Gingko biloba

Large deciduous tree with pale green fan shaped leathery leaves. Bright yellow fall color. Branching is in interesting upward angles. Most trees planted now are male. Females produce a very foul smelling fruit.

Holly
Ilex species

Numerous varieties of evergreen shrubs and trees often with spiny leaves. Many varieties grown locally but the three most commonly seen here are Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)

Savannah Holly Burford Holly

Hydrangea

Deciduous shrubs with large clusters of blue to pink flowers in the summer. Some varieties change color according to soil ph. Acid turns blue, alkaline turns pink.

Indian Hawthorn
Raphiolepis indica

Low to medium evergreen shrub usually blooming just as the azaleas are finishing in the spring. Flowers in shades of white to pink. Very hardy and withstands poor conditions.

Kwanzan Cherry
Punus Serrulata

One of the more common cherry trees seen locally. Huge numbers of double pale pink flowers in the spring.

Ligustrum

Evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy green leaves and clusters of white rather insipid smelling flowers in the early summer. Growing up here to me the smell of ligustrum meant spring was gone and the hot summer days were here!

Live Oak
Quercus virginiana

Native oak with massive often low spreading branches. Drops leaves in March as new ones come out so they appear essentially evergreen. Very small acorns in the fall.

Loquat
Eriobotry japonica

Not related to kumquat! Leathery evergreen leaves look similar to magnolias but are more narrow and furrowed. Clusters of fragrant flowers in the fall with orange slightly fuzzy fruit usually by late April. Very astringent if picked too early. Sweet and juicy with a few large seeds. Local kids called them Japanese Plums!

Loropetalum
Loropetalum chinense

Fringe Flower Blooms in the early spring with a profusion of tiny shocking pink strap like flowers. Leaves can be burgundy to green.

Magnolia grandiflora

Large native tree with evergreen leaves with brown undersides. Huge white fragrant flowers late spring through mid summer.

Sweet Bay Magnolia
Magnolia virginiana

Native evergreen tree with smaller leaves and flowers than the grandifloras.

Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum

Small leafed maple with deeply lobed leaves in green to red. Striking fall color. Two at the front gate of the Calhoun Mansion.

Magnolia soulangiana

Called Japanese Maple, or by Southerners...Tulip Tree. Deciduous tree that can bloom as early as January in mild winters.

Magnolia stellata

Star Magnolia.....blooms very early spring.

Mimosa
Albizia julibrissin

Broad spreading deciduous tree with delicate fern like foliage. Pink powder puff flowers in May and June.

Oleander
Nerium oleander

Large evergreen shrub with narrow leaves. Summer blooms in clusters. Red,pink,white,salmon and yellow. The double pink ones are fragrant. Highly toxic!

Palmetto
Sabal Palmetto

State tree! Only palm native north of Florida. Known also as cabbage palm because center of the top growth can be harvested and cooked like cabbage.

Peppermint Peach
Prunus persica

Spring blooming peach tree noted for multicolored double flowers. Blooms before leaves appear.

Pittosporum
Pittosporum tobira

Evergreen green or variegated shrub with glossy whorled leaves. Can be dwarf or as much as 10-15'. White to yellowish flowers in spring smell like orange blossoms.

Popcorn or Tallow Tree
Sapium sebiferum or Triadica sebifera

Import from the Orient now an invasive pest. Used in the old days to make candles from the waxy coating of the seeds. Dried seed pods called popcorn used in decorations especially in the winter. Long sweet smelling catkins of flowers in the spring. Bright yellow to orange fall color.

Pyracantha
Pyracantha coccinea

Spreading gangly shrub often seen espaliered against a wall. Fire thorn has numerous sharp spines and distinct orange berry clusters in the fall. Cluster off white foul smelling flowers in the spring.

Quince
Chaenomeles speciosa

Winter flowering shrub blooms before leaves appear. Slightly thorny. Shades of pink,white,red and salmon. Fruit used to make jellies.

Chinese Photinia
Photinia serrulata

Usually a large shrub or tree. Evergreen. Large clusters of small white foul smelling flowers in the spring. Black berry clusters in the fall.

Red Tip Photinia
Photinia glabra

Shrub to small tree with bright shiny red new growth in the spring. Clusters of small white foul smelling flowers in the spring with black berries in the fall. Usually all around smaller and better behaved than the Chinese photinia.

Sago Palm
Cycas revolutus

Evergreen resembling a palm. Stiff, prickly dark green fronds. Cycas is an ancient plant family. Male on left. Female on right.

Southern or Japanese Yew
Podocarpus macrophylla

Evergreen shrub or tree with dark green needles. Often seen as a hedge or screen as well as espaliered against a wall.

Tea Olive
Osmanthus fragrans

Evergreen shrub or small tree with inconspicuous white to yellowish flowers. Highly fragrant. Starts blooming with first cool weather, typically late September, and blooms intermittently until late spring. Fragrance wafts through the streets. Traditionally planted near the front door to welcome guests.

Umbrella plant
Cyperus alternifolia

Grass-like leaves arranged like spokes of umbrella on 2'-4' stems. Same family as Cyperus papyrus which is larger.

Wax Myrtle
Myrica cerifera

Evergreen small tree grows at the edge of the marsh. Leaves are glossy green 1.5-3 long. Inconspicuous spring flowers then grayish white fruit clustered along stems in the fall. Fruit has a waxy coating used to make candles.

Asiatic or Japanese Star Jasmine
Traschelospermum asiaticum

Evergreen usually seen as a clipped ground cover. Rarely flowers and inconspicuous. Not a true jasmine.

Carolina jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens

State Flower. Native evergreen vine with fragrant trumpet shaped yellow flowers. Can bloom as early as January through early April.

Confederate jasmine
Trachelospermum jasminoides

Vigorous twining evergreen vine with glossy dark green leaves. Fragrant five petaled white flowers resemble pinwheels. Starts in May then sporadic in the summer. Seen on trellises and fences.

Cherokee Rose
Rosa laevigata

Rampant climbing rose with single five petaled white flowers. Spring bloomer. Often climbs up into trees and drapes.

Coral vine
Antigonon leptopus

Vigorous deciduous vine with clusters of rose colored flowers in the summer. Attaches by tendrils.

Creeping fig
Ficus pumila

Evergreen vine with small rounded leaves attaches to brick and stuck. Referred to as Jekyll and Hyde for it's ability to rapidly change from well behaved to horribly overgrown. Has inedible figs on old growth. Often seen trimmed on risers on stairs.

Holly fern
Cyrtomium falcatum

Coarse, evergreen glossy fronds in clumps up to 2'. Leaflets look similar to holly leaf. Does especially well in shady areas.

Lantana

Spreading or mounding pungent leafed perennial with brightly colored clusters of blooms in reds, yellows, oranges, pinks and white.

Liriope

Evergreen border plants with dark green or white striped leaves. Purple spikes in summer.

Mondo Grass
Ophiopogon japonicus

Similar to Liriope with finer, shorter leaves.

Maidenhair Fern
Adiatum pedatum

Fern with dainty rounded fan shaped leaflets on wiry black stems. Thrives in humidity.

Mandevilla

Summer blooming vine with pink or red trumpet shaped flowers.

Ruellia
Ruellia brittonia

Now commonly called Mexican Petunia. Blue, purple, white and sometimes pink flowers on narrow strappy foliage. New flowers bloom every morning and drop off in the afternoon.

Plumbago
Plumbago auriculata

Shrubby rambling perennial that can often climb as well. Clusters of pale blue, darker blue and sometimes white flowers bloom all summer.

Resurrection Fern
Polypodium polypodioides

Lives on branches of large trees especially oaks. Gray/brown dead looking when dry. Lush and green for a few days after rain.

Spanish Bayonet
Yucca aloifolia

Stiff pointed foliage with toothed edges. Tall stems with white, bell like flowers fragrant in the evening.

Spanish Moss
Tilandsia usneoides

Bromeliad (air plant) not a parasite. Related to the pineapple! Tiny inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in the spring.

Sweet Grass
Muhlenbergia filipes

Native grass used by basket makers. Airy pinkish haze of blooms in the fall.

Trumpet Creeper
Campsis radicans

Vigorous clinging native vine with bright orange, red or yellow trumpet shaped flowers. Climbs high into trees. Hummingbird favorite.

Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens

Twining native honeysuckle vine with red-orange or yellow trumpet shaped blooms in summer. Much smaller than trumpet creeper.

Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis and Wisteria floribunda

Rampant deciduous woody vine. Blooms in spring in elongated clusters with lavender, pink or white flowers. Very fragrant.

Golden Rain Tree
Koelreutia sp

Broad spreading deciduous tree with finely divided leaves. Clusters of yellow flower spikes in summer or fall followed by pink papery seed pods.

Parkinsonia

Also called Jerusalem Thorn. Deciduous tree with very fine pale green almost needle like leaves. Covered with clusters of small yellow flowers in early summer and scatter through the rest of the year. VERY thorny!

Bignonia
Macfadyena unguis-cati

Aggressive evergreen vine crawls over everything. Clings with claw like tendrils at tips of stems. Covered with large, bright yellow trumpet shaped flowers in the spring.

Confederate Rose
Hibiscus mutabilis

Large shrubby or treelike plant. Has double or single white or pink flowers. They typically open white then change to deep rose before closing at the end of the day. Large maple shaped leaves. Starts blooming late summer through fall.