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