Spring is springing up all around us. And in West Columbia that means the colors of the season are beginning to burst.

Jarrett’s Jungle
Jarrett’s Jungle is a locally owned and operated retail Greenhouse and Florist that has earned a reputation for quality blooming plants and a flower shop with decorative pots and baskets.

“Right now we have Lucky Irish Shamrocks, daffodils, variegated orchids, African violets, and spring baskets,” said Jackie Macaulay, owner of Jarrett’s Jungle. “

Other beautiful spring colors that you’ll see at Jarrett’s Jungle are fuchsia hanging pots, and gorgeous begonias.

Botanical Gardens at Riverbanks Zoo
The Botanical Gardens entrance to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden at the end of Botanical Parkway, off of Sunset Boulevard, in West Columbia. Spring is the peak season for Riverbanks Botanical Garden, with thousands of native and exotic plants coming into bloom across the 70-acre garden. The Botanical Garden is considered one of the most beautiful natural sites in South Carolina.

In the spring, the Botanical Garden explodes with vibrant colors. Look for bright forsythia, daffodils, tulips, and hellebores in March.

The “Old Rose Garden” comes to life in April with over 120 varieties of roses, accompanied by blue, pink, and white larkspur spikes.

Also in April, The Walled Garden, a 34,000-square-foot exhibit is completely replanted in April with annuals and perennials to create a “kaleidoscope of colors.” Wildflowers begin appearing on the forest floor beneath towering oaks and maples along the Saluda River in the West Columbia spring too.

West Columbia Neighborhoods
While the Botanical Garden is a planned and maintained host of spring foliage, West Columbia neighborhoods are full of spring hues that serve as decoration for once-dormant winter trees and bushes.

Azalea is one of the most recognizable flowering plants in the area. Azaleas are abundant in West Columbia, especially in the Westover Acres, Saluda Terrace, Saluda Gardens, Hook Avenue, and Saluda Chase neighborhoods. Azalea blooms burst in the robust colors of: pink; white; purple; red; and fuchsia.

You’ll also find Carolina Jasmine, Lady Banks’ rose, Hydrangea; and honeysuckle in West Columbia, along with flowering trees in the spring. Colorful blooming trees include: Dogwood; Magnolia; Cherry, Redbud; and Bradford Pear.

West Columbia is also filled with Wisteria. It typically blooms in mid-spring, with peak flowering occurring from April through early summer.

Rocky Shoals Spider lilies
One of the most rare flowers in the nation grows in the spring in West Columbia. Rocky Shoals Spider lilies are a rare, threatened aquatic plant that requires fast-moving, shallow water and rocky shoals to grow. They bloom on the Congaree River. You can see the Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies usually from mid-May through June, with peak viewing usually occurring late in May.

South Carolina State Farmers Market
South Carolina State Farmers Market Midlands Plant and Flower Festival April 9–12, Thursday–Saturday: 8 am–6 pm and Sunday: 10 am–5 pm.

The festival offers a massive, free-admission selection of spring flowers, trees, shrubs, and gardening supplies. Key offerings include irises, carnivorous plants, and various bedding plants.
For more information, contact Sonia Brazell at 803-737-4614 or [email protected]

With all the color bursting in West Columbia, as the warm weather returns, get outside and enjoy the show nature is putting on around us.