At a glance
- Region ID: GA-COASTAL
- Anchor cities: Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 8b–9a
- Soil: Sandy, fast-draining coastal soils
- Catalog size: 17 plants
- Climate factors: Hurricane risk June–November, salt air exposure, occasional hard freezes, maritime temperature moderation
Pruning & maintenance calendar
January – February
Structural pruning of deciduous trees. Hard cutback of die-back perennials (firebush, lantana). Occasional hard freeze events — monitor tender plantings.
March – April
Spring bloom. Live oak leaf drop — annual event, not decline. Azalea and camellia post-bloom pruning.
May – June
Hurricane prep begins. Dead palm frond removal. Chinch bug monitoring on St. Augustine.
July – August
Peak heat and humidity. Fungal pressure peak. Tropical sod webworm monitoring on St. Augustinegrass.
September – October
Hurricane season peak. Storm damage assessment and cleanup. Fall planting window opens.
November – December
First frost typically late November to December. Winterize tender tropicals (cocoplum, Simpson's stopper). Mild for coastal areas.
Regional pest & pathogen pressure
- Southern chinch bug on St. Augustinegrass — defining mid-summer pest. Tell: expanding yellow-to-brown patches in sunny lawn portions; tiny black-and-white bugs at patch margins.
- Tropical sod webworm — late summer pressure. Tell: ragged-edged patches; small caterpillars at soil surface, active at night.
- Salt spray damage — species selection for salt tolerance is critical near the coast. Non-salt-tolerant plantings on exposed sites will decline regardless of other care.
- Palmetto weevil on transplanted palms — targets stressed palms, especially freshly transplanted cabbage palms. Tell: wilting of central spear leaf, followed by collapse of canopy.
- Whitefly species complex — multiple species across ornamental shrubs. Heavy in humid summers.
- Hurricane wind and salt damage — annual risk. Salt-laden wind during storms can defoliate and kill non-tolerant species miles inland.
- Spanish moss on live oak — epiphytic, not parasitic, but heavy loads can shade interior canopy and reduce growth.
- Deer browse — heavy in suburban-rural interface (Hilton Head, Sea Islands). Species selection and fencing are the primary controls.
Core staples (commonness 1)
Currently: 9 of 9 core staples profiled. Full catalog tracked in the catalog data.
Live Oak
Core staple · NativePruning — late summer or fall
Iconic coastal tree — the defining image of the Lowcountry with Spanish moss draping. Hurricane-resistant, salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant. Spanish moss is epiphytic and harmless — it uses the tree for support, not nutrition, though very heavy loads can shade interior canopy. Annual leaf drop in March-April alarms clients new to the region — this is normal, not decline. Surface roots extensive at maturity. Site away from structures and hardscape.
Common pests
Pest Live oak gall wasps
Numerous types — bullet, wool, leaf, twig galls. Cosmetic primarily. Public concern is high; arborist explanation usually suffices.
Cabbage Palm
Core staple · NativePruning — remove dead fronds only
Native coastal palm — state tree of both South Carolina and Florida. Hurricane-resistant and salt-tolerant. Never remove green fronds — over-pruning weakens the palm and invites palmetto weevil. Remove only fully dead, brown fronds. Self-cleaning in some specimens. Hardy through zone 8b.
Common pests
Pest Palmetto weevil
Targets stressed palms, especially freshly transplanted specimens. Wilting of central spear leaf followed by canopy collapse. Prevention through proper transplanting technique is the primary control.
St. Augustinegrass
Core stapleMowing height — 3.5–4 inches standard, 2.5 inches dwarf cultivars
Regional turf default for residential lawns. Salt-tolerant, shade-tolerant, adapted to the coast's heat and humidity. Maintain at proper mowing height to suppress chinch bug pressure and weed encroachment. Bermudagrass is the alternative for full-sun athletic turf.
Common pests & pathogens
Pest Southern chinch bug
Irregular yellow-to-brown patches in sunny portions of the lawn, expanding outward over weeks. Tiny black-and-white bugs at the soil surface at patch margins. The defining pest of St. Augustine throughout the coastal Southeast.
Pest Tropical sod webworm
Brown ragged-edged patches; small caterpillars at the soil surface, especially active at night. Pressure peaks late summer through fall.
Firebush
Core staple · NativePruning — late winter, hard cutback
Die-back perennial in zone 8b — freezes to the ground most winters in Savannah and Charleston but returns reliably from the roots. Evergreen in protected Jacksonville sites (zone 9a). Native hummingbird plant with continuous orange-red tubular flowers spring through frost. Confirm species at purchase — the native Florida Hamelia patens var. patens has been heavily diluted in the nursery trade by hybridization; only the native form has full ecological value.
Wax Myrtle
Core staple · NativePruning — late winter to early spring
Native fast-growing privacy screen. Salt-tolerant and adapted to coastal sandy soils. Nitrogen-fixing — thrives in poor soils without fertilization. Can be maintained as a hedge or allowed to grow as a multi-stem small tree. Bayberry wax on fruit has historical significance in the Lowcountry.
Dwarf Nandina
Core staplePruning — minimal; selective thinning late winter
Reliable foundation shrub with winter color — foliage turns red to burgundy in cool weather. Firepower, Harbour Dwarf, Gulf Stream are the workhorse cultivars. Note: full-size Nandina domestica is invasive in some southeastern states; dwarf cultivars are less aggressive but check local regulations.
Pink Muhly Grass
Core staple · NativePruning — late winter, cut back to 3–6 inches
Native ornamental grass with spectacular pink-to-purple flower plumes in October-November. Salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant. Mass plantings create dramatic fall displays. Cut back hard in late winter before new growth emerges. Virtually pest-free.
Cocoplum
Core staplePruning — light shaping year-round; protect from frost
Cold-marginal in this region — use only in protected coastal microclimates. Salt-tolerant and hurricane-resistant where it survives. Glossy rounded foliage and edible fruit. In zone 8b (Savannah, Charleston), plant only in south-facing walls or courtyard microclimates where reflected heat provides winter protection. Reliable in protected Jacksonville sites (zone 9a).
Simpson's Stopper
Core staplePruning — light shaping; protect from frost
Cold-marginal — protected sites only. Fragrant white flowers attract pollinators; orange berries attract birds. Excellent small tree or large hedge for sheltered coastal sites. In zone 8b, treat as a protected-microclimate plant. More reliable in Jacksonville (zone 9a) and southward.
Inside the app
Skip the spreadsheet. Verdant Meridian seeds your library with the regional palette on day one.
Pick your region at onboarding — the app loads commonness-1 and commonness-2 plants into your element library.
Try Free — 30 DaysHow this list was built
Compiled from regional wholesale grower availability lists — not retail garden references. No chemical, fungicide, or product recommendations appear anywhere in this database. Diagnostic and cultural information only.
FAQ
What hardiness zone is Savannah?
Savannah sits in USDA Zones 8b–9a. Charleston is 8b. Jacksonville is 9a. The region is humid subtropical with mild winters, occasional hard freezes, and maritime influence that moderates coastal temperatures.
Is Spanish moss killing my live oak?
No. Spanish moss is epiphytic — it uses the tree for physical support, not nutrition. However, very heavy loads can shade interior branches and reduce growth. Removal is cosmetic, not medically necessary for the tree.
What is the best grass for coastal properties?
St. Augustinegrass for residential lawns — shade-tolerant, salt-tolerant, adapted to the heat and humidity. Bermudagrass for full-sun athletic turf. Both are salt-tolerant. Maintain St. Augustine at 3.5–4 inches.
Can I grow cabbage palm in Savannah?
Yes. Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) is native to the coastal Southeast and hardy through USDA Zone 8b. Salt-tolerant, hurricane-resistant, and low-maintenance. State tree of both South Carolina and Florida.
What native plants work for coastal landscaping?
Live oak, cabbage palm, wax myrtle, firebush, pink muhly grass, and dwarf yaupon holly. All native, salt-tolerant, and hurricane-tested — the backbone of low-maintenance coastal landscapes from Jacksonville through Charleston.
Cite this page
Verdant Meridian, “North Florida & Lowcountry Coastal Plant Palette,”
verdantmeridian.app/regions/georgia-coastal, updated May 2026. CC-BY-4.0. Raw data: /data/plants.json.Published under CC-BY-4.0. Free to use, redistribute, build on — attribution required.
