Landscaping

Native Plants

Spring Island encourages the use of native plants through its Habitat Review Board guidelines, for which the Trust’s landscape ecologist provides advice and expertise. Planting plans around the home must be approved by the HRB and require at least 50% native plants. The use of “traditional favorites” (non-invasive, exotic species which have been historically used in the Low country such as camellias, azaleas, jasmine) is allowed in select areas. The introduction of invasive exotics and landscape vegetation requiring large quantities of water will not be approved.

To find out more about landscaping with native plants, visit our Native Plant Project website to learn landscaping with natives how-tos, search for South Carolina native plants by type and site requirements, and access our educational videos and materials about working with natives.

The following plants are prohibited on Spring Island due their invasive nature. This list was created by the Spring Island HRB and Spring Island Trust with input from the South Carolina Pest Plant Council.

Trees

Chinaberry, Melia azedarach 
Chinese Tallowtree, Triadica sebifera 
Princesstree, Paulownia tomentosa 
Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima 
Callery Pear, Pyrus calleryana 
Chinese Parasol Tree, Firmiana simplex 
Mimosa, Albizia julibrissin 
Paper Mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera 
White Mulberry, Morus alba
White Poplar, Populus alba

Shrubs

Autumn-Olive, Elaeagnus umbellata
Chinese Privet, Ligustrum sinense
Japanese Knotweed, Polygonum cuspidatum
Scotch Broom, Cytisus scoparius
Shrub Lespedeza, Lespedeza bicolor
Thorny-Olive, Elaeagnus pungens
Trifoliate Orange, Poncirus trifoliata
Japanese Privet, Ligustrum japonicum
Multiflora Rose, Rosa multiflora
Nandina, Nandina domestica
Salt Cedar, Tamarix spp.
Winged Burning Bush, Euonymus alata

Vines

Bigleaf Periwinkle, Vinca major 
Cherokee Rose, Rosa laevigata 
Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis 
English Ivy, Hedera helix 
Japanese Climbing Fern, Lygodium japonicum 
Japanese Honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica 
Kudzu, Pueraria montana 
Chinese Yam, Dioscorea polystachya 
Common Periwinkle, Vinca minor 
Oriental Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus 
Sweet Autumn Virginsbower, Clematis terniflora 
Asiatic Jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides (In controlled spaces only)

Grasses

Chinese Silvergrass, Miscanthus sinensis 
Cogongrass, Imperata cylindrica 
Bahiagrass, Paspalum notatum 
Dallisgrass, Paspalum dilatatum 
Giant Reed, Arundo donax 
Golden Bamboo, Phyllostachys aurea 
Bamboos Species, Phyllostachys spp. and Bambusa spp.
Tall Fescue, Festuca arundinacea 
Torpedograss, Panicum repens 
Vaseygrass, Paspalum urvillei 
Weeping Lovegrass, Eragrostis curvula 
Nees Itchgrass, Rottboellia cochinchinensis 
Japanese Stilt Grass, Microstegium vimineum 
Johnsongrass, Sorghum halepense 
Phragmites, Phragmites australis

Aquatic Plants

Crested Floating Heart, Nymphoides cristata 
Alligatorweed, Alternanthera philoxeroides
Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes
Water Lettuce, Pistia stratiotes
Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria
American Lotus, Nelumbo lutea
Water Chestnut, Trapa natans
Water Primrose, Ludwigia hexapetula
Hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata
Giant Salvinia, Salvinia molesta
Green Hygro, Hygrophila polysperm
Common Reed, Phragmites australis

Other

Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare 
Nodding Thistle, Carduus nutans 
Queen Anne’s Lace, Daucus carota 
Rattlebox, Sesbania punicea 
Showy Rattlebox, Crotalaria spectabilis 
Sericea, Lespedeza cuneata 
Tropical Soda Apple, Solanum viarum 
Wart-Removing Herb, Murdannia keisak 
White-flowered Wandering Jew Tradescantia fluminensis
Mexican Petunia Ruellia brittoniana
Sword Fern Nephrolepis cordifolia
Coral Ardisia, Ardisia crenata
Winged Yam, Dioscorea alata
Air-potato, Dioscorea bublifera
Wild Taro, Colocasia esculent

The mission of the Spring Island Trust is to preserve and protect Spring Island’s environment and cultural history, providing education, expertise, and leadership in the conservation of natural resources throughout the Lowcountry.

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40 Mobley Oaks Ln. · Okatie, SC 29909 · 843-987-7008

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