Hyams Garden Center and Accent Store

Serving Greater Charleston Area with Quality, Variety & Professionalism since 1981

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2026 Tree of the Year: The Live Oak

The Grand Guardian of the Lowcountry

Some trees grow.
Some trees survive.
But the Southern Live Oak — Quercus virginiana — endures.

Standing like quiet sentinels across historic avenues, churchyards, coastal marsh edges, and Charleston gardens, the Live Oak is more than a species. It is a companion to time — a living archive of stories whispered through Spanish moss.

🌿 Why the Live Oak Is a Tree Worth Honoring

The Live Oak earns its laurels through:

  • Strength and longevity — many live for centuries, some older than the cities that surround them
  • Canopies of majesty — branches that stretch horizontally, offering cathedral-like shade
  • Ecological devotion — a single oak can support hundreds of species: insects, birds, squirrels, owls, fungi, and more
  • Salt and storm resilience — a tree built for Lowcountry winds and brackish whispers from the Atlantic

If the landscape had a backbone, it might very well be oak.

🕊 Symbolism: What the Oak Teaches Us

Throughout history and across cultures, oak trees symbolize:

  • Strength that does not need to shout
  • Wisdom earned through seasons
  • Protection, like a grandmother’s quilt
  • Endurance, both quiet and unwavering

If delphiniums inspire us to reach upward,
the oak reminds us gently to stand our ground.

📚 A Brief Botanical Lesson (Disguised as Poetry)

The Live Oak keeps its leaves — thus the name — evergreen in spirit, even when winter sighs.
It roots deeply, but its branches stretch wide — a lesson in balance if ever a gardener needed one.

To help one flourish:

  • Plant where roots may spread and air may wander
  • Water deeply in youth — so age may be prosperous
  • Mulch well, and it will answer with shade

This is not a tree you plant for your lifetime alone —
but for the next generation who will sit beneath it.

✨ Whimsy Worth Remembering

If the Live Oak could send a postcard, it might read:

“I have stood here long before you.
I will stand long after.
But today — today I am glad you noticed me.”

And somewhere, under a bowing branch,
a squirrel nods knowingly.

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Shrub of the Year 2026

🌺 2026 Shrub of the Year: The Azalea

Where Southern Charm Meets Botanical Brilliance

Every year, a few plants step out of the wings and onto center stage. For shrubs — 2026 belongs wholeheartedly to the Azalea. Chosen as the National Garden Bureau’s “Year of the Azalea,” this flowering shrub is finally getting the spotlight it has always deserved.

Beloved across the American South — from manicured Charleston gardens to woodland borders glowing in spring — the azalea isn’t just a shrub. It is a season unto itself.

🌿 What Makes the Azalea 2026-Worthy?

A Symphony of Spring Color — blooms in coral, salmon, lavender, fuchsia, snow-white and everything in between

A Masterclass in Versatility — thrives in containers, woodland gardens, foundation beds, and formal borders

A Gift That Keeps Growing — many varieties return faithfully year after year, rewarding patient gardeners with decades of blossoms

🌸 Symbolism: The Poetry of the Azalea

Historically, azaleas have symbolized home, warmth, and abundance — the floral equivalent of a front-porch welcome and a pitcher of sweet tea.

They’ve also been associated with temperance and elegance, making them the perfect addition to gardens that want not only beauty, but grace.

🪴 A Whisper of Botanical Instruction

Azaleas prefer:

Dappled light — like sunbeams filtered through oak branches

Acidic soil — add peat moss or pine needles for a happy plant

Mulched roots — think of it like a cozy quilt for your shrub

A gardener who tends an azalea is really tending patience. Plant them, care for them just a little — and they will reward you exuberantly.

✨ A Dash of Whimsy

If azaleas could speak, they would say:

“We bloom when we’re good and ready…

and when we do, we intend to be unforgettable.”

And that — dear gardener — is precisely why the azalea is our 2026 shrub of honor.

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Flower of the Year and Plant of the Year

🌸 2026 Flower of the Year: Delphinium — A Symbol of Aspiration & Hope

As we welcome the new year, we’re excited to highlight the Delphinium as the 2026 Flower of the Year! Selected by floral trend experts for its beauty, striking form, and meaningful symbolism, delphiniums are poised to be one of the most talked-about blooms of the season.

🌿 A Flower That Reaches for the Sky

Delphiniums are instantly recognizable for their tall, elegant flower spikes and jewel-like colors — especially ethereal blues, rich purples, soft pinks, and creamy whites. This vertical growth naturally draws the eye upward, which isn’t just visually stunning — it’s symbolic. These flowers represent aspiration, growth, and hope, making them perfect for celebrating life milestones or lifting someone’s spirits.

🌈 Symbolism to Inspire

In floral language, delphiniums are often associated with:

💫 Ambition & aspiration — their soaring stems reach skyward, inspiring us to grow and reach higher

🌟 Hope & positivity — they evoke a sense of calm optimism, perfect for new beginnings

🎓 Celebration & encouragement — beautiful in bouquets for graduates, new homeowners, or anyone entering a fresh chapter

💐 Garden & Design Tips

Delphiniums make a dramatic focal point in:

Garden borders — their vertical structure brings contrast and texture

Vase arrangements — they pair beautifully with soft peonies, roses, or airy grasses

Seasonal displays — use cooler tones for winter serenity or mix pastels for spring freshness

Whether you’re choosing them for a cutting garden or a statement bouquet, delphiniums are a *flower that says more than beauty; it says possibility.*

🌱 2026 Plant of the Year: Money Tree — Prosperity, Balance & Good Fortune

This year’s Plant of the Year takes us indoors with the beloved Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) — a houseplant that not only adds lush greenery to your space but carries a rich tradition of symbolism and wellbeing.

🍃 Why the Money Tree?

Chosen for its striking appearance and meaningful associations, the money tree has become a favorite among plant lovers and gift givers alike. Its braided trunk and vibrant green leaves offer both visual charm and layers of symbolic meaning:

💰 Prosperity & abundance — widely associated with good fortune in East Asian cultures

🧘 Balance & harmony — the five leaflets on each leaf are often said to represent the five elements in feng shui (wood, water, earth, fire, metal)

🌿 Stability & growth — its robust nature reflects resilience and wellness

These symbolic qualities make the money tree an especially thoughtful plant to bring into a home or workplace at the start of a fresh year.

🌞 Caring for Your Money Tree

One of the reasons the money tree is so popular — beyond its beauty and symbolism — is its approachable care:

🪴 Bright, indirect light keeps its leaves vibrant

💧 Water only when the topsoil dries to prevent overwatering

🌡️ Enjoys consistent indoor temperatures (moderate & cozy)

Whether gifted for luck or chosen simply to enhance your interior with green vitality, the money tree brings both meaning and beauty into everyday spaces.

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🌿 Final Thought

At Hyams Garden Center, we love sharing plants and flowers that brighten your garden and your life — not just your landscape. The delphinium and money tree speak to what many of us hope for in 2026: growth, beauty, balance, and positive energy. 🌼🌱

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Fraser Fir Christmas Trees and More

There’s no place like Hyams for the holidays, and the season has officially arrived! Our Premium Fraser Fir Christmas Trees—fresh, fragrant, and a beloved Charleston tradition for over 40 years—are now available in all sizes while supplies last. And to complete your festive look, we’re stocked with a beautiful variety of fresh wreaths, garlands, and roping to bring holiday warmth to your porch, entryway, mantle, or table. Visit Hyams and make this Christmas your most magical yet.