Basic Horticulture with Jon Fritz.
Photo: Dodie Mytko Clark (used with permission)
- Basic Horticulture with Jon Fritz. Photo: Dodie Mytko Clark (used with permission)
Learn About Native Plants and Sustainable Landscaping
If you are interested in gardening and would like to know more about native plants, sustainable landscaping practices, ecology, and more, the South Carolina Native Plant Certificate Program might be for you. This program is a partnership between the South Carolina Botanical Garden (SCBG) and the South Carolina Native Plant Society (SCNPS).
How the South Carolina Native Plant Certificate Program Works
To complete the certificate, participants need to take 7 core classes and 4 electives. However, you do not have to intend to complete the certificate to enroll in these classes since they are open to the public. This is a very flexible program; classes can be taken in any order, and there is no time limit for completing the certificate.
Core Native Plant Certificate Classes Across South Carolina
Of the core classes, three can be held anywhere in the state: Botany, Basic Horticulture and Sustainable Landscaping. This fall, we have these core classes scheduled at the SCBG in Clemson, at the TEACH Center in Charleston and a new location at Myrtle Beach State Park.
Core Classes at the South Carolina Botanical Garden
The additional four core classes in the program rely on the unique and innovative Natural Heritage Trail at the SCBG. This Trail is a reconstruction of the major habitats that defined South Carolina from the mountains to the sea, and, as a result, this is an invaluable teaching tool. Natural Plant Communities, Spring and Fall Herbaceous Plants and Tree Identification are all taught only at the SCBG in Clemson.
Native Plant Certificate Electives
Electives vary every spring and fall. This year, we added two new field classes: one at the Catawba Reservation and one in the Sandhills. In the past, electives explored multiple habitats and plant communities from the mountains to the coast. We are very excited about the classes on fungi and native plants, invasive plant management and evergreens.
Registration, Discounts and Program Information
For an overview of the program and to register for classes, visit the certificate webpage here. Verified SCBG Friends members and SCNP Society members receive a 10% discount.
If you have questions about the program or need the code, please reach out to Sue Watts at watts9@clemson.edu.
Scheduled South Carolina Native Plant Certificate classes are below. Additional classes will be added, so consult the main calendar for the most up-to-date listing here.
September 2026 Classes
Basic Botany – (Charleston) Core September 11, 2026
Basic Botany – (Clemson) Core 9.18.26
Basic Horticulture – (Charleston, SC) Core September 25, 2026
Basic Botany – (Myrtle Beach) Core September 26, 2026
October 2026 Classes
Plant Communities of Piedmont and Catawba Indians Elective, October 2, 2026
Basic Horticulture – (Clemson) Core October 10, 2026
Fungi & Native Plant Communities, Elective October 10, 2026
Fall Herbaceous Plant Identification – (Clemson) Core October 16, 2026
Natural Plant Communities – (Clemson) Core October 31, 2026
November 2026 Classes
Sustainable Landscaping – (Clemson) Core November 7, 2026
Invasive Species Management – (Clemson) Elective November 11, 2026
Basic Horticulture (Myrtle Beach, SC), Core November 14, 2026
Natural Communities of the Carolina Sandhills, Elective November 16, 2026
Tree Identification – (Clemson) November 21, 2026
