5 Beautiful Flowers to See in Columbia

Flowers in full bloom mean that warmer days are on the horizon. There are many to keep track of, but you can start with this list of five beautiful flowers to see in Columbia.

Yellow Jasmine

This funnel-shaped, bright-yellow flower goes by so many names, but one thing remains the same; it’s been South Carolina’s official state flower since March 1924.

These flowers bloom from evergreen vines in late winter or early spring, and many see it as a sign that the cold days will be over soon. The vines climb trees and fences, so when the flowers are in bloom, you can see them almost everywhere.

Magnolias

For many, botanic experts or not, magnolias are a symbol of the South.  Depending on the species, they may vary in color — pink, red, purple, yellow, or white — but their citrus scent is unmistakable and fills the air when it’s in full bloom in the summer.

A typical lawn plant, magnolia trees with their large white blossoms are common in Southern home gardens. When in Columbia in the summer, drive down Senate Street to see magnolias in full bloom among other flowers.

Hydrangeas

The shrub with snowball-like flowers is also a favorite in the South, and it’s hard to miss. A typical summer flower, hydrangeas bloom in tones of white, pink, and blue. But there’s a twist. In some species, the color of the flower can be manipulated by changing the soil’s pH level. Acidic soil turns the flowers a deep shade of blue, neutral soil turns them purple, and alkaline soil results in a reddish hue.

You’ll often find different colored blooms in the same shrub. Hydrangeas are a popular flower in shady Southern gardens.

Common Camellia

Although they do very well in the Southern U.S., common camellias originate in Southern and Eastern Asia. Nevertheless, they are one of the most iconic flowers in this part of the country.

Camellias grow in different shapes, sizes, and colors — over 3000 of them, to be exact — but the image of the common camellia is the one that pops into everybody’s mind when they think of this flower. Also known as Japanese rose for the similarities between both flowers, camellias’ most common colors are pink and white.

Roses

Try looking for a typical Southern garden without roses, and you probably won’t find one. They have become a sort of trademarked image of houses in the South during spring and summer.

Noisette, a class of “old” roses, was the first rose created and grown in the United States. Because it was first grown in South Carolina, the historical connection between this flower and the state is strong. You can learn more about it on a visit to the Riverbanks’ Old Rose Garden.

In the spring, sweet fragrances fill the air and pops of color bring trees, bushes, and everything around it to life. In Columbia, these flowers not only add beauty to the city but also carry the promise of summer.

Image by T.Kiya, Licensed via CC BY-SA 2.0

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