Hyams Garden Center and Accent Store

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

Gardening Tips

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Plant of the Year 2025

Brunnera Macrophylla ‘Jack of Diamonds’ is the Plant of the Year for 2025, celebrated for its bold foliage and charming spring blooms. This shade-loving perennial features large, silver leaves with dramatic dark green veins, offering a striking visual appeal in gardens. In mid-to-late spring, its delicate baby blue, forget-me-not-like flowers add a touch of elegance, making it a perfect choice for shaded borders and woodland settings.

This plant may face challenges in Charleston’s climate, as it prefers cooler conditions and partial to full shade. While it can grow in USDA zones 3-8, Charleston (in zone 8b) might be on the warmer edge of its tolerance. If planted, it should be placed in shaded areas with consistently moist soil and protection from the intense summer heat to ensure its health.

Brunnera Macrophylla ‘Jack of Diamonds’:

  1. Placement: Plant in a shaded or partially shaded area, such as under trees or on the north side of buildings, to protect it from intense afternoon sun.
  2. Soil: Ensure the soil is rich, consistently moist, and well-draining. Add organic mulch around the plant base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
  3. Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, especially during Charleston’s hot summers.
  4. Heat Protection: Use a layer of mulch to cool the roots and reduce water evaporation. Provide extra shade during the peak summer months if necessary.
  5. Maintenance: Prune back dead leaves and spent flowers to maintain its appearance. Monitor for slugs, which can be a problem in moist environments.

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Flower of the Year 2025

Sunflowers have been crowned the Flower of the Year for 2025, symbolizing warmth, resilience, and optimism. Their vibrant yellow petals evoke feelings of joy and positivity, making them a timeless favorite for gardens and floral arrangements. Whether planted to brighten landscapes or used as cheerful décor, sunflowers continue to captivate enthusiasts with their enduring beauty and significance.

Sunflowers thrive in Charleston, South Carolina, due to the region’s warm, sunny climate and well-drained soil. They grow best in full sun and are highly tolerant of the summer heat and humidity typical of Charleston. Ensure they are planted in a spot with at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily and provide moderate watering.

Sunflowers:

  1. Planting: Choose a location with full sun exposure, ensuring at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. Well-draining soil is essential to prevent root rot.
  2. Soil Preparation: Add organic matter, like compost, to improve soil fertility. Sunflowers prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.0-7.5).
  3. Watering: Water deeply but infrequently. Allow the topsoil to dry between waterings to encourage deep root growth. Avoid overwatering, especially in Charleston’s humid conditions.
  4. Pest Management: Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids or caterpillars. Use organic pest control methods, such as neem oil, if needed.
  5. Support: For taller varieties, stake the plants to protect them from Charleston’s coastal winds.

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Celosia

Celosia plants, known for their vibrant and unique flower heads, are a captivating addition to any Charleston garden, especially during the autumn season. These striking blooms come in a variety of colors, including fiery reds, bright oranges, and deep purples, making them perfect for enhancing the warm tones of fall. The flowers, which resemble plumes or cockscombs, add an exotic touch to garden beds and containers, standing out amidst the more muted hues of traditional autumn foliage.

Beyond their beauty, Celosia plants offer incredible variety in both shape and size, making them versatile for different garden styles. Dwarf varieties can be used as stunning borders, while taller types create dramatic focal points. The intricate, feathery textures of Celosia blossoms provide a delightful contrast when paired with other fall favorites like mums and asters, creating a garden that is visually dynamic and rich with color and texture.

Caring for Celosia in Charleston’s autumn climate is relatively easy, as these plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Regular watering helps maintain their lush appearance, though they are moderately drought-tolerant, making them well-suited to the region’s variable weather. Deadheading spent blooms can encourage new growth, ensuring that your garden remains vibrant throughout the season. With a little attention, Celosia can transform your autumn garden into a lively and colorful sanctuary, celebrating the beauty of the season in full bloom.

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Fragrant and Beautiful Mosquito Repellent Garden: “A Scarborough Fair!”

There is a long history to the lyrically famous ingredients of “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.” Initially, they appeared in an old English folk song about a Medieval festival, “Scarborough Fair,” in Yorkshire, England.  Several centuries later, in the mid 1960’s, Simon & Garfunkel made them popular once again. Prior to the folk hit version of the lyrics, they were also sung as “Savory Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.”

Sage (Salvia officinalis), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Though the jury is still out for what purpose the original herbal mixture was intended, these three plants combined with a few others, can be used to create an intensely fragrant and beautiful space that not only delights “true lovers” of gardens, but repels mosquitos and other annoying pests. Perhaps the organizers of Scarborough Fair wanted to ensure a bug-free festival experience!

The secret is in the scent. Mosquitos and other biting insects seek out their victims by the gases and odors they emit. Sweat and exhaled carbon dioxide are just some of the enticing elements that make us so attractive to Mosquitos, No-see-ums and other biting pests. Creating a garden space with plants capable of giving off scents strong enough to interfere with the insects’ receptors can make it more pleasant for us to spend time out of doors and more difficult for them to enjoy a free lunch!

Along with the melodic trio mentioned above, a beautiful and fragrant mosquito repelling garden can also include Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citratus), Citronella grass (C. nardus), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Lavender (Lavendula officinalis), Bee Balm (Monarda spp.), Floss Flower (Ageratum), Marigold (Calendula officinalis), Mint (Mentha spp.), Lantana (Lantana camara),  Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea), (E. globulus subsp. Bicostata), (E. vernicosa).

A strong and concentrated amount of the oils present in these plants can help throw these annoying critters off of your scent. Burning or crushing some of these leaves can create an eco-friendly repellent. During an outdoor BBQ, toss a bit of Sage, Rosemary and Lemon Thyme on the grill. While working in the garden, pluck some lavender or mint foliage, crush them together and apply the oil. (Just be aware of any skin allergies before use.)

The best deterrent is to eliminate the environment that benefits the breeding of these insects. Finding and removing sources of standing water is an important first step. Mosquitos can lay 100 eggs at a time. They look for moist conditions that will trigger the growth of the larvae. Potted plants and containers, stagnant ponds, drainage ditches, and abandoned swimming pools are just a few of the common breeding grounds where mosquito and other annoying larvae thrive. Using products containing Pyrethrin (pesticides found naturally in chrysanthemum flowers) or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt. a bacterium found naturally in soil) are some eco-friendly ways of mitigating mosquito proliferation. Pyrethrins come in a liquid concentrate or premixed liquid form that can be sprayed directly on plants and shrubs. Among other forms, Bt is available in a product known as “Mosquito Dunks” that can be submerged in water. It destroys mosquito larvae before they can become biting adults. It does not harm people, pets, wildlife or fish.

Visit our Hyams Garden Store to see our full line of pesticide products. Take a stroll through Hyams Nursery to experience firsthand the beautiful and fragrant choices available for making your own mosquito repelling garden space.

For more on mosquito repelling gardening visit:
Mosquito-Repellent Plants: Do They Really Work? | The Old Farmer’s Almanac

12 Mosquito Repellent Plants | Garden Design

19 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes (thespruce.com)

Life cycle: the mosquito (cdc.gov)

Lyrics, as published by Frank Kidson, 1891:

“O, where are you going?” “To Scarborough fair,”

    Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme;

“Remember me to a lass who lives there,

    For once she was a true love of mine.

“And tell her to make me a cambric shirt,

    Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,

Without any seam or needlework,

    And then she shall be a true love of mine.

“And tell her to wash it in yonder dry well,

    Savoury sage, rosemary, and thyme,

Where no water sprung, nor a drop of rain fell,

    And then she shall be a true love of mine.”[6]

— Stanzas 1–3