When to Visit

Magnolia Plantation is beautiful every day of the year.  There is always color in the Garden.  Each season has its unique merits. 

SPRING

Traditionally, the peak bloom of Magnolia’s azaleas has been the time to visit.  This is the classic “Southern Spring” of azaleas, dogwoods, and wisteria.  The azaleas usually peak in the latter half of March through the first half of April. 

However, early Spring is considered by many to be even more beautiful, and from mid-February to mid-March, the Garden is a riot of floral magnificence, with thousands of daffodils, flowering cherry and peach trees, and early-blooming Magnolias.  Flowering shrubs, from quince to spirea, enliven the landscape. 

SUMMER

Once Spring has segued into Summer, the wildlife at Magnolia really spring into action.  Nesting egrets and herons have finally hatched their young, and the spectacle of these cavorting newborns is a highlight every May.  The Garden keeps pace with the fantastically fragrant flowers of the Gardenia, and spectacular floral display of the hundreds of Crepe Myrtle and Hydrangea varieties.

Charleston in the summertime is reminiscent of the Caribbean, with its warm temperatures and ocean breezes. 

FALL

Fall settles in at Magnolia in late September, and this is another favorite time for visitors, with ideal temperatures and widespread wildlife.  As the weather cools, in October, Magnolia enjoys an almost “second-Spring,” with the shorter days triggering a significant display of new flowers. 

In November, Magnolia holds its Fall Camellia Festival to celebrate its collection of Camellia sasanquas.  By Thanksgiving, deciduous trees are in full fall color, as beautiful as any mountain region.  The Fall foliage can last until Christmas. 

Christmas is another great time to visit Magnolia, with the House and Grounds decorated for the holidays.   As the landscape quiets for the Winter, the richness of Magnolia’s Garden contrasts favorably with mellow marsh grasses and the ever-flowing blue of the Ashley River.  In January, Camellia japonicas begin to bloom, and Magnolia
has a second Winter Camellia Festival, culminating in the Charleston Camellia Show.  

WINTER

Winter is also an excellent time to visit.  The serene Lowcountry landscape is enlivened by the full bloom of Magnolia’s world-renowned Camellia Collection.  Magnolia has the finest collection of Ancient and Antique Camellias in the country, and since 1840, has introduced over 150 unique varieties of Camellias to the world. 

The Garden swings into Spring around January 15th, with the first of thousands of daffodils and the dramatic bloom of the Flowering-Apricot.  These heralds of Spring complement the already-blooming Camellias.  Together, the excitement and anticipation of early Spring make January and February excellent months to visit.  It is not unusual to have sunny Winter days with temperatures in the 60s.