Alright so maybe this is not OFFICIALLY official, but I have been updating this blog post for a few years now so I feel somewhat of an authoritarian on the subject!
This is your one stop shop for all your information on what blooms here in Charleston, what time of year to plan to see them, and where exactly you should go to get the best photos of all the floral wonders Charleston has to offer! Whether you are new here, planning a visit, or simply a local who just wants to see a different side of this beautiful city, I hope you find this post helpful. It has been many years of “research” in the making so without further ado, let’s get into it…
In January we are treated with a variety of camellias in reds, pinks, whites, and hybrid color. They start blooming around November and continues to bloom for awhile, pretty much all the way through mid to late February so unless we have a really bad winter freeze (like we had Christmas 2022), you are sure to catch them if you come during winter.
Middleton Plantation and Magnolia Gardens both do a camellia walk, which is a tour you can take during camellia season included with the price of admission. But for a cheaper alternative, we like to head to Charleston Towne Landing State Park and Hampton Park. The main loop around the pond in Hampton Park includes tall, well established camellias with low hanging limbs surrounded by bare crepe myrtle trees and handing Spanish moss. Some white varieties come out as early as October but January- early February seem to be the best times for the colorful reds and pinks!
In February, you should head back to Hampton Park to see the Chinese magnolia tree, also know as a saucer magnolia. It is not native to Charleston but grows well here and is actually a hybrid of two different types of magnolia trees, breed in the late 1800s in France. There is only one really big tree in the park you can take a close up photo, on the northwest side of the duck pond, but you won’t have to walk far to find it because in peak bloom you can’t miss the massive pink flowers cascading over the neighboring oak tree. It reached peak bloom around February 2-3 of 2020 and only stayed in bloom for about 7 days, so don’t wait to late to go check it out.
Update: in early 2021 we had a long, cold, cloudy winter, so peek bloom for this tree was much later, between February 20-28. In 2023, we had a very mild January and it bloomed early around January 21-25
Another of my favorites in late February into March is the Eastern red bud tree. It normally is in bloom the first week of March but in 2023, again since we had a mild January, it bloomed around mid February, February 19th we saw it at its best. I love the one on lower King Street (11 King Street) as it’s branches canopy away from the house and onto the sidewalk making for a magical photo with the contrasting blue house in the background.
March is when things really start getting exciting. We will start back at the beautiful Hampton Park for two gorgeous flowering peppermint peach trees that canopy on the south side of the pond. I thought for the longest time this was a cherry blossom but my sweet neighbor who volunteers at the park corrected me. But it is in the genius prunes which includes all the plums, apricot, cherry, and peach trees. We went last year on March 3rd and it was in peak bloom but a week later every single flower was gone. They don’t hold their blooms long so around late February start keeping your eye out for this one. There is another much smaller one at Washington Square along the fence facing Broad Street that blooms a week or two later than the ones at Hampton Park so if you are that way you can check that one out as well.
Update: these trees bloomed late in 2021, we went on March 19 they were in peak bloom! In 2023 they bloomed early, around March 4.
Also in March our favorite wisteria grows downtown at 54 Meeting Street, Check out this post I did last year for more information. This spot has gotten popular between tourists and photographers so go early in the morning for less crowds and also the sun will still be in the East so you’ll have better light for photos. In 2019, it had great wisteria blooms around March 22 and 23 but by the 28th they were starting to die out. In 2020 we had a mild winter so the wisteria’s peak bloom was closer to March 20-21. Wisteria usually only blooms for about a week and a half and even shorter if there is a lot of rain fall, so don’t hesitate on these! In 2023 we had a very warm February, so we were at peek bloom around March 10-12 but the weather then cooled with little rainfall so they stayed around much longer which was a nice treat.
There is also a beautiful vine of wisteria along 2 Water Street and also 63 Meeting Street. But Meeting Street is definitely the most spectacular, in my opinion.
This past March we also stumbled across a beautiful Chinese fringe tree on lower King Street. I loved how this particular one was manicured into a canopy between the two houses. We were here on March 29 of last year.
Another beautiful row of pink fringe trees, also known as Loropetalum, can be found on James Island on Sweet Bay Road. I love how the tiny pink petals fall to the ground and create a faux pink carpet!
Lastly, I love this row of flowering pear trees that bloom along Oyster Point Row in James Island (1528 Camp Rd). This area is where Dreaming Farms has their pumpkins patch and Christmas tree farm. But during the spring there is just a beautiful row of blooms as far as you can see.
April is the month of azaleas! Although they vary on their arrival time each year, some times as early as February, you can always count on the azaleas blooms to hang around the longest. Their bloom usually also coincides with the annual Cooper River Bridge Run and the Flower Town Festival in Summerville. Some of my favorite spots include behind the main house at Magnolia Plantation, White Point Garden by the benches, and the alley of azalea at Hampton Park (located next to the Denmark Vesey monument). There is also a small but beautiful garden of azaleas in Mepkin Abbey Gardens which is in Moncks Corner. Definitely worth checking out if you find yourself up that way.
2023 we had an interesting warm spell in February that brought all the azaleas out early. These photos were taken the weekend of March 5th. but historically azaleas are in peak bloom closer to April.
End of March look for the cherry blossoms around downtown. Not as spectacular as a Tokyo or the cherry blossoms of DC, but I do love these on Lamboll Street. There is a pretty row as well cascading onto the sidewalk over on Archdale Street across from the church.
By mid April into early May, the palmetto trees at Coloniel Lake start to show off their wrapped up blanket of Peggy Martin “Katrina” roses. The Charleston Parks Conservatory has done a wonderful job with these roses and they seem to get better each year. In 2019 we went on April 24th and they were right around peak bloom and still looked great. In 2018 we went on May 11th and they also still looked good but was definitely the end of the season. This is a popular spot for runners and walkers but you shouldn’t have a hard time grabbing a photo! And unlike cherry blossoms and wisteria, the blooms stay around a little bit longer so you are sure to find a good time to see them. They are at Colonial Lake up and down the avenue of palm trees along the Rutledge Avenue side.
update from 2020: blooms started showing up in late March and early April this year due to the mild winter. April 3rd- April 11th showed great blooms!
Each year around Mother’s Day you can smell the jasmine before you even see it. There is a gorgeous arch of jasmine at Hampton park, although last year it was starting to look overgrown with other vines so I do hope someone gives it some TLC this year. It is located on the gravel path on the Southeastern side of the pond. In the past we have gone on May 5 and May 13, so don’t wait too late into May or they may all be gone, but you will start seeing them arrive by late April. There is also a popular home on Church street near Stolls Alley that gets a lot of jasmine love and blooms a little later as well as the infamous arch above the door of 0 Tradd Street. Another not as popular spot, but one of my favorites are the four columns of jasmine at North Adgers Warf. I have another post on Jasmine found here.
May also brings us fields of wildflowers each year including these at McLeod Plantation on James Island. This park has free admission if you’re a member of Charleston County parks or pay the small admission fee. There’s a beautiful avenue of oak trees leading to the plantation home that is very picturesque as well.
Head back to Coloniel Lake again late May for the avenue of purple vitex, aka the chaste trees. These trees hold a special place in my heart (you can read all about it here) and this is by far the best place in town to see them. They line the entire right side of the lake along Rutledge Avenue but closer to the lake (as seen below) We went on May 26, 2018 and then again June 5 in 2020. They were definitely better looking in late May then they were by June but they do keep their blooms for a good while.
In June we begin to see the oleanders bloom along The Battery (start at White Point Garden and walk towards the Charleston Historic Foundation building). Individually, an oleander tree might not that impressive but when you have multiple in a row, it can be quite stunning. These were taken on June 5. Go early in the morning to avoid crowds along the battery. If you are walking around downtown there is another big beautiful pink oleander at 14 Lamboll Street, home of the famous guinea hens!
End of June and into July things starts to get very, very hot in Charleston. But the hydrangeas start popping up in the most beautiful rich blue color. This house at 62 Church Street has a lovely hydrangea bush that I have always loved walking past. There is also a very short but beautiful trail at McMahon Playground that is beautiful to see a variety of pink, purple and blue hydrangeas and have a picnic next to while the children play at the playground.
In late June, though July and into August, we start to see the crepe myrtles popping up. We have some in our own back yard but we love to walk around other neighborhoods to see more of a variety. The first photo is from my yard. I love the crepe myrtles along the cobblestone Chalmers Street. Also there are many beautiful ones on the paved loop at Hampton Park. The crepe myrtles continue blooming through end of August so you are sure to catch one at some point if you come over the summer. But just remember if we have had a lot of rain they will lose their petals faster!
Fast forward to the fall. The weather in Charleston is still warm for awhile and although everyone else if discussing pumpkins, fallen leaves, and hues of red and orange, I am still looking for my flowers. In early September the sunflowers bloom and for a small admission cost you can cut your own blooms at Boone Hall farms or just go and take photos in their endless field of sunflowers.
In October, butterfly bushes such as the purple plumbago and the yellow Senna are still in bloom around town. We found this plumbago on a walk on the evening of October 19th right on Broad Street.
In November, I love to drive past this yellow Senna on Wentworth street, cascading over the sidewalk for a nice family portrait. This photo was taken November 7th.
If you are lucky to get invited to a wedding at the Island House on Johns Island, there is an amazing field of wildflowers that we caught on November 3. This is a private venue but you could always call and see if they let folks stop by for photos.
Around November, there is also so much pink sweetgrass around town. They are not necessarily a flower, but still makes for a fun pink background in photos. We found these randomly at the corner of Harbor View Road and Fort Johnson Road on James Island but there are some decent ones at Charles Towne Landing too.
By December we are getting ready for camellias again and its back to the top!
I am sure I left out so many others so comment below if you know of any other spots in Charleston!
Of course depending on the temperature, rainfall, if we had a late freeze, long vs short winter, etc this can impact these dates and they are all subject to change. But hopefully this will give you a good jumping off point and good start. Get your camera and your best buddy, go for a walk, and enjoy this free gift from Mother Nature!
