white flowering SC natives?

other than magnolia, buttonbush and southern swamp lily? i need mainly shrubs and smaller plants... no trees. also any plants that are native and grown for foliage would be helpful

gardenia? or spirea?

This message was edited Nov 3, 2007 6:01 PM

gardenia isn't native ..... or is it? im going to find out

Not sure the gardenia is native but it was discovered and named by Alexander Garden, a South Carolinian. I just do not know where he discovered it. LOL

There is a fellow here in Beaufort that is currently documenting native plants; he is actually doing his thesis on the subject. I think I will ask him about reference materials. Dr. Porcher's book "Wildflowers of SC" is excellent and does cover some shrublike plants. I recently learned that Steven Elliott, the first (or one of the first) botanist in America was from Beaufort and Mellanchamp, another early botanist was from Bluffton.

Diehrd: Sorry, I was just thinking "white flowering shrubs"....
Kind of forgot about the "native" part of your request. :) I do tend to think of gardenia as native though, because it's been grown here for so long.
Pretty sure spirea comes from Europe. (Bridal Wreath is the one I was thinking.)
Deb

This message was edited Nov 3, 2007 7:35 PM

There is a Stewartia that has white flowers and was discovered on St. Helena.

Also, you might want to check out the historic Heyward House in Bluffton. That was recently landscaped and I believe they used many natives.

How about Itea Virginica (Virginia Sweetspire). Despite it's name, it's also a native to the Carolinas, I believe. Had difficulty finding it when we moved to NC - bought three from Sunlight Gardens in Tennessee (www.sunlightgardens.com).

I love this shrub, but I must admit I had better luck with it in Kentucky than here in NC. More rainfall, I think.

Then I heard that it is "bear candy" and that bears love it.

Well hope I don't see any bears, and I hope my Itea Virginica survives this drought year to bloom beautifully next year.

Entlie

where could i get it?

Thanks ardesia i'll look into that