Hyams Garden Center and Accent Store

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

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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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Camellias

As spring unfolds in Charleston, few blooms capture the season’s charm quite like camellias. With their lush, glossy green foliage and exquisite blossoms in shades of pink, red, and white, these Southern garden classics bring elegance and vibrancy to any landscape. Whether nestled among azaleas or standing alone as a statement piece, camellias offer a timeless beauty that flourishes in our Lowcountry climate. Visit Hyams Garden Center to find the perfect camellia variety for your springtime garden.

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Paint Your Spring with Nature’s Brush

Step into the season of renewal, where every bloom is a brushstroke, and the earth is your canvas. At Hyams Garden Center, a vibrant palette of Spring’s finest awaits—petals kissed by sunshine, leaves whispering in the breeze, colors dancing in the light.

Choose your hues, shape your vision, and let nature’s artistry flourish in your garden beds. Whether bold and bright or soft and serene, your masterpiece begins here.

Come, be inspired. Let Hyams help you paint your perfect spring.