What’s blooming, Cola? Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and for most of us we grew up associating February 14 with flowers + chocolates. You are not alone and today we are making it local.
Spring will be here before you know it, so let’s all stop and smell the flowers this morning. Here they are local flowers you can meet in south carolina.
Fern’s Valentine’s Day Offer – with local vegetation and anemones | Photo provided
Anemone | These flowers are easy to identify and are a member of the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. In the photo above, can you identify the red flower with the dark center and white ring?
Arrowwood Viburnum | These flowers are a flattened cluster of several small, white buds. The difference is that you need to pick these fancy flowers quickly, before the flowers turn into berries in early autumn.
Atamasco Lily | Better known as rain lily. This takes a little preparation – if you plant a bulb this spring, it will bloom in March or next April. The long grass-like leaves will form around the base and isolated flowers will blossom with long white petals.
Black Eyed Susan | This is one of the most popular wildflowers that grow in North America. It is a member of the Aster + family and can grow to more than 3 feet tall, with 6-inch leaves and 3-inch diameter flowers.
Camellia | There are about 300 species of camellias. Some are great for a Valentine’s Day bouquet and some are perfect for tea leaves + for cooking.
Carolina Aster | These purple flowers start late and can also be called Aster Climber, as they tend to grow vertically and are slim.
Columbine | These flowers come in a variety of colors + can be seen almost all year round. Curiosity: these beautiful flowers are the hummingbird’s favorites.
Common Yarrow | Scientifically known as achillea millefolium, this flower is made from a bunch of small white buds in bloom. Together, the buttons form a flat dome-like shape that sits atop a long, thin stem.
Coral honeysuckle | Also known as trumpet honeysuckle, this flower will be the star of any bouquet. With its bold colors + trumpet shape, this intertwined vine can grow to be 3 to 6 meters long.
Crested Iris | These short-stemmed flowers have vibrant colors, including lilac and gold petals. These plants also exhibit a beautiful organic movement due to the petal drops.
Dogwood | Just like Darius Rucker said “Choosing a bouquet of dogwood flowers ”, dogwoods are easy to distinguish by their white, red and pink + flowers are abundant in South Carolina.
Ferns | You may know that ferns are common in South Carolina, but did you know that you can find nine local types of ferns in your own backyard? Each of these indigenous species has a similar appearance – a series of small green leaves branching from a central stem – with slightly variable leaf patterns.
Magnolia | Southern magnolias produce fragrant white flowers in the summer, so watch out for them and their leaves are a remarkable dark green with a tanned underside. There are three types of magnolia native to South Carolina – south, star and sweetbay.
Noisette Roses | Noisettes originated in Charleston, which dates back to the first decade of the 19th century. They are tall shrubs or vigorous climbing roses with elegant, slim foliage. The flowers display pastel colors, including shades of yellow.
Oak leaf hydrangea | These large bushes can be seen all over the city. The cushioned cone shape these flowers exhibit is due to the grouping of hundreds of small flowers. Depending on the season you harvest them, you may have white, red or orange flowers.
Wild Indigo | Pay homage to South Carolina’s history with the indigo branches. It is no surprise why these flowers were once used to dye clothes with their rich violet hue.
Yellow Jessamine | We can’t talk about South Carolina flowers without mentioning the state flower. Yellow jasmine features yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, which you may start to notice in early spring.
Wanting more local flowers? Check out this list of South Carolina native plants.
Not sure where to buy a bouquet locally? Here are some suggestions.
American floral, 7565 St. Andrews Rd.
Blossom Shop Columbia, 2001 Devine St.
Loach Florist, 2927 Millwood Ave.
Fern Studio, 2855 Devine St.
Florist on main street, 1546 Main St., Suite C
Forest Acres Florals, 2305 Beltline Blvd., Suite B.
Pineview Florist, 3030 Leaphart Rd., West Columbia
The Flower Station, 5216 Two Notch Rd.
Three Oaks Florist, 142 State St., West Columbia
Woodley’s Garden Center, Two Notch + Irmo
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