Plants and Habitats Naturally Kiawah Demonstration Garden | Page 2
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
The passionflower is a deciduous, perennial vine that is native to Kiawah Island. Its
showy flowers that bloom in the spring and summer attract numerous butterflies
and its fruit is a food source for birds. This climbing vine does well in partial sun
conditions. Additionally, it is the larval host plant for the gulf fritillary butterfly and
several other lepidopterans.
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
Kiawah Island lies at the northern limit of the saw palmetto’s natural range. This
wonderful native understory plant that can eventually grow to about eight feet
provides dense cover for wildlife. This evergreen performs well in “edge” conditions
where it receives at least partial sun throughout the day.
Sweetgrass (Muhlenbergia filipes)
This showy, native grass is known for its pink-purple fall blooms and is a familiar
sight to everyone who travels the Kiawah Island Parkway. Sweetgrass performs
best, and will provide the best blooms, when it is planted in full sun. It is a good
alternative to turf grass, and will build a far better wildlife habitat - while requiring
less maintenance and resources (water and fertilizer).
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
This native, deciduous, medium-sized understory shrub grows well in part shade and
can provide diversity to the understory in sub canopy portions of the landscape. It
provides nice fall foliage and its spire-shaped, white flowers bloom in the spring.
Walter's Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum)
This native species, from the genus Viburnum, is a large evergreen shrub that
can grow well in partial shade. It is a good substitute for non-native Viburnum
species, and can be utilized as a hedge instead of exotic privets or Elaeagnus. Its
white blooms appear in the spring. Like many native plants it supports a variety of
songbirds.
Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)
This native shrub, found growing among many natural habitats on Kiawah, is a
low maintenance and easy to care for evergreen that can be purchased in several
different forms. The typical yaupon is a medium to large shrub, while the dwarf
variety is much lower, usually growing to about two feet. This versatile plant is also
available from many nurseries in a tree.
To learn more about the Naturally Kiawah Demonstration Garden, the Kiawah Conservancy’s Naturally
Kiawah Habitat Enhancement Program and the Naturally Kiawah Emblem or Kiawah Island’s native
plants, contact the Kiawah Conservancy at 843-768-2029 or [email protected].
Photograph Credits:
Coral honeysuckle courtesy of Joseph A. Marcus, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (LBJWC); dahoon holly courtesy
of Jenny Evans; dwarf palmetto courtesy of Alan Cressler, LBJWC; passionflower courtesy of Joseph A. Marcus, LBJWC;
Virginia sweetspire courtesy of Sally and Andy Wasowski, LBJWC; and Walter’s viburnum courtesy of Becca Taylor.