Native Trees For The State of South Carolina

Want to support native trees in the State of South Carolina? Find the best selection of indigenous species right here at Nature Hills Nursery!

You’ll get the best results when you choose salt-tolerant, coastal trees and native trees for South Carolina that can handle hurricanes, drought, sandy soil, heat, and humidity throughout the year. By choosing plants specifically for your area, you can rest assured your tree is well suited to the climate and soil because they originated there!

Native trees typically need less water once established, establish faster, and tolerate local growing zones, climate, weather, and anything else your State can throw at them. Plus you’ll feed pollinators, songbirds, and wildlife by providing them with flowers and plants they recognize!

Best South Carolina Native Trees

The Palmetto State is mostly USDA growing zone 8 with a few areas that dip into zone 7 and up to zone 9. Check with your local County Extension Office for more information if needed and for the many microclimates within these zones.

Start by finding native trees for your South Carolina landscape by knowing your Hardiness Zone, and then choose any tree that has a growing zone range that includes yours!

Being a primarily humid subtropical climate with coastal regions, and some mountainous, the State tree is the Sabal Palm, and you’ll find many other imported Palms and Palmettos growing in this warm climate state!

Best Native Evergreen Trees For South Carolina

These South Carolina native Evergreen and Broad-Leaved Evergreen Trees keep their leaves year-round for privacy, slow wind, stop drifting snow, and color throughout the winters. These evergreens also provide food and shelter for the state bird, the Carolina Wren.

• American Holly Tree/Shrub
• Eastern Red Cedar (Redcedar) Tree
• Loblolly Pine
• Longleaf Pine
• Possumhaw Holly
• Eastern Hemlock
• Eastern/White Pine Tree
• Wax Myrtle

Native Flowering Trees to Grow in South Carolina

Feed pollinators and hummingbirds nectar and pollen they evolved alongside in your State! Many of these trees are host plants for native pollinator larvae too! Plus you’ll love seeing the fragrant, colorful blooms throughout the year!

• Eastern Redbud Tree
• White/Native Fringetree (Fringe Tree) & Grancy Greybeard Tree
• Pagoda, Silky, Swamp Dogwood Trees
• Red, White & Pink Flowering Dogwood Trees
• Magnolia Trees - Bigleaf, Cucumber Tree, Southern, Sweet Bay
• Carolina Silverbell Tree
• Washington Hawthorn
• Common Witch-Hazel (Witchhazel)

What Are Native Shade Trees in South Carolina?

South Carolina can have quite a few hot, sunny days, especially along the coast between Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head Island. So a good, strong shade tree that handles storms and hurricanes, saves money by cooling your home, and gives your backyard relief from the sun is a much-needed respite!

• American Basswood (Linden Tree)
• American Beech Tree
• American Chestnut
• American Elm Tree
• American Hop Hornbeam
• American Hornbeam
• American Sycamore
• Bald Cypress Tree
• Black Gum (Blackgum) Tree
• Black Locust Tree
• Black Willow Tree
• Box Elder Tree (Boxelder)
• Common Hackberry/Sugarberry Tree
• Cottonwood/Eastern Cottonwood Tree
• Kentucky Coffeetree (Coffee Tree)
• Red & Silver Maple Trees - 
• Northern Catalpa
• Oak Trees - Black, Blackjack, Cherrybark, Chestnut Oak, Chinquapin, Overcup, Red, Scarlet, Shumard’s, Southern Live, Swamp White, White & Willow Oak
• Bottlebrush, Red & Buckeye Trees
• River and Sweet Birch Trees
• Sassafras Trees
• Sweetgum Tree
• Tulip Tree/Tulip Poplar
• Washington Hawthorn
• Yellowwood Tree

Native Fruit & Nut Trees in South Carolina

We love edible landscaping trees that look great and provide food! Plus you’ll feel good feeding the diverse amounts of wildlife and songbirds found throughout South Carolina as well!

• American/Wild Plum Tree & Chickasaw Plum Tree
• Bitternut, Butternut, Black, Pignut, Shagbark, Shellbark Hickory Trees
• Black Cherry Tree
• Allegheny, Downy, Shadblow Serviceberry
• Hazelnut/American Filbert Tree
• Pawpaw Tree (Paw Paw)
• Native/Hardy Pecan Tree
• Common/American Persimmon Tree
• Red Mulberry Tree

Much Needed Natives!

Whether you are adding shade, flowers, privacy, or a long-lasting legacy to your landscape, Nature Hills is here to help you find the perfect native tree for your South Carolina landscape!

Help keep your State's native biodiversity intact by planting trees native to your area! Nature Hills is committed to helping you preserve your State’s unique beauty with plants and trees that are sure to do well in your garden without impacting your native flora and fauna!