South Carolina has one of the lushest natural ecosystems, and Myrtle Beach is no exception. After a day on the Grand Strand, come back to your own personal backyard paradise full of native plants.
Benefits of native plants:
- Adaptable: These plants have evolved with the landscape and are designed to thrive in Myrtle Beach’s climate. That makes them more resilient to injury and change.
- Buzz-friendly: Pollinators love native plants. Showy flowers and bright colors will invite birds, bees, and butterflies to your landscape.
- Low maintenance: Native plants can often survive on rainfall alone, especially in Myrtle Beach. You won’t need to worry about fertilizer either.
If you live right along the coast, you’ll also want to keep in mind the salt tolerance of certain plants. The ocean breeze carries the salt, but the sandy soil is what makes plants susceptible to damage as nutrients and water drains more quickly. Symptoms of salt damage include everything from leaf burn to death.
We’ve included several plants that can handle coastal living, but check out South Carolina Native Plant Society’s full list of plants.
1. Bee balm (Monarda didyma)
Bee balm is one of the most popular native plants in North America for good reason. It’s a great choice for beginner gardeners and requires minimal fuss to produce showstopping blooms. Bee balm’s vibrant red whorls attract the attention of neighbors and pollinators alike.
Plant bee balm in a place that gets plenty of sun. Generally, the area’s rainfall provides enough water for bee balm, but supplement with additional water if there’s a dry spell. Consider placing this flower in view of your kitchen or office window so you can enjoy watching your winged visitors.
- Plant type: Flower
- Hardiness zones: 4-9
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water needs: High
- Soil: Rich, moist
- Duration: Perennial
- Mature height: 2-4 feet
2. Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
If you love the look of a luxurious blanket of green cascading down your fence or siding, don’t miss Virginia creeper. This thick-growing vine with blue berries and small white flowers is the perfect addition to a pergola or trellis, especially if you want some shade.
Virginia creeper turns a lovely shade of deep red in the fall. You’ll get the best autumn color if you grow it in full sun, though it tolerates some shade. Give it plenty of deep watering sessions when it’s still getting established and during intense heat. Once it’s settled, it’s easy to maintain.
- Plant type: Vine
- Hardiness zones: 4-9
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water needs: Moderate
- Soil: Sandy, loamy, clay
- Duration: Perennial
- Mature height: 30-50 feet
3. Azalea (Rhododendron)
If you take a walk around your neighborhood, you’re sure to spot a few azalea bushes. Called the “star of the Southern garden,” these gorgeous, easy-to-grow plants add a bounty of vibrant flowers to your yard. Colors include white, pink, salmon, lavender, violet, orange, and red. Proper care can result in blooms lasting from February through May.
Choose a partially shaded area to plant your azaleas so they can enjoy cooler temperatures. Water sparingly (when the top few inches of soil feel dry), as their shallow root system makes them susceptible to damage from excessive moisture. They will have the most success in well-draining soil with a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch.
- Plant type: Flower
- Hardiness zones: 5-9
- Sun: Partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Well-draining, acidic (4.5-6.0 pH)
- Duration: Perennial
- Mature height: Most types grow 4-6 feet; some native varieties reach 20 feet or more
4. Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
Inkberry, also known as gallberry, is a mound-shaped shrub with lance-shaped, leathery foliage that ranges from dark to light green in summer and fall. Small flowers give way to black berries in the winter. The flowers attract bees, resulting in unique and prized honey.
Inkberry is commonly found growing wild in sandy woods and on the edges of swamps. It likes weekly watering, especially as it’s getting established. If your soil is on the more basic side, consider amending it with peat moss in the spring. Plant inkberry as a low hedge, border plant, or addition to aquatic features.
- Plant type: Shrub
- Hardiness zones: 4-10
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water needs: Moderate to high
- Soil: Acidic, rich, moist
- Duration: Perennial
- Mature height: 5-8 feet; smaller cultivars are available
5. Royal fern (Osmunda regalis)
To add a bit of variety to your garden, try adding the royal fern. This tall native fern grows wild along moist bluffs and streams. Spores extend from delicate green fronds in fluffy brown clusters, giving the appearance of a spike of golden flowers.
If you have bare space beneath a dense tree or under your roof’s overhang, this is the perfect spot to plant royal fern. It prefers shady, wet environments, making it a fantastic choice for shielded areas or low slopes. For faster growth, make sure your soil is on the more acidic side.
- Plant type: Fern
- Hardiness zones: 3-9
- Sun: Partial shade to full shade
- Water needs: Moderate to high
- Soil: Acidic, moist, rich
- Duration: Perennial
- Mature height: 2-5 feet
6. Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera)
Do you have nosy neighbors? Or maybe you just prefer a more natural privacy screen? Wax myrtle, also known as Southern bayberry, is a great option for your landscape’s perimeter. This fast-growing hedge sports glossy green leaves. It tolerates salt and sea spray, making it ideal for coastal planting.
You may notice a pleasant aroma coming from your wax myrtle shrub. The leaves and berries were often crushed and used in candles. People aren’t the only ones attracted to this plant, either. Birds enjoy the food and shelter it supplies.
- Plant type: Shrub
- Hardiness zones: 7-10
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water needs: Moderate
- Soil: Average, well-draining, slightly acidic
- Duration: Perennial
- Mature height: Most varieties grow between 3 and 8 feet
7. Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Make your house a hummingbird hangout by adding coral honeysuckle to your landscape. The long, trumpet-shaped flowers are perfect for the hummingbird’s needle-nose beak.
This twining vine can trail along the ground, climb over vegetation, or hang against hardscaping. To get the best flowers, grow it in full sun on a trellis or fence. If you need to cut it back, prune after the main show of spring flowers.
- Plant type: Vine
- Hardiness zones: 4-11
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water needs: Moderate
- Soil: Moist, well-draining, clay, loam
- Duration: Perennial
- Mature height: 10-15 feet
8. Goldenrod (Solidago)
Goldenrod lives up to its name. Tall, slim stems are topped with fluffy yellow flowers that brighten any backyard. Butterflies and bees are especially drawn to the vibrant blossoms. If you associate goldenrod with sneezing, have no fear: It’s actually ragweed that’s responsible for allergies.
Plant goldenrod in the fall or spring. It grows aggressively, so keep it away from less aggressive plants, or consider planting it in a bordered garden bed or container. As the plants get taller, you may need to stake them to stop them from falling over.
- Plant type: Flower
- Hardiness zones: 3-9
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Moderate
- Soil: Average, well-draining
- Duration: Perennial
- Mature height: 1.5-5 feet, depending on variety
9. Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Magnolia blossoms are one of the most iconic flowers of the South. If you’ve never enjoyed their sweet smell or admired their large white petals and glossy, evergreen leaves, you’re missing out. Sweetbay magnolias are a smaller version of the classic Southern magnolia — perfect for smaller yards.
This is a tree that doesn’t mind getting its feet (or roots) wet, making it a great choice for a sloped area of your yard that tends to retain moisture. For best results, plant your sweetbay magnolia in the spring in soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
- Plant type: Tree
- Hardiness zones: 4-10
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water needs: Moderate; can tolerate boggy conditions as well as drought
- Soil: Average, moist, acidic
- Duration: Perennial
- Mature height: 20-30 feet
Tips for a successful native plant garden
Choosing your native plants is just the beginning: Next, you need to grow them! Always research best plant care practices for the varieties you choose. These tips also will help get you started so you’re on your way to the native garden of your dreams.
- Group plants with similar water needs together. This is called hydrozoning, and it helps prevent water waste.
- Test your soil pH. You can collect a sample and send it to your local cooperative extension office, or use a pH test strip to determine it yourself.
- Create a rain garden. A rain garden is a collection of plants installed in a low part of your lawn that rely solely on rainwater. It helps control erosion, filter water, and save you energy.
If you’d rather spend the afternoon at the beach instead of laboring in the yard, contact a pro. A Myrtle Beach landscaping professional can design, install, and perform routine maintenance on your native yard.
Main Photo Credit: Siegella | Pixabay
