Work With a Landscape Architect in Charleston, SC Who Knows the Lowcountry

Charleston is home to over 150,200 people and some of the most recognizable streetscapes in the South. 

From the oak-lined avenues of the Peninsula to the marshfront neighborhoods of Daniel Island and Johns Island, Charleston’s landscapes are as iconic as its history. Designing here means working with sandy and loamy soils, humid subtropical weather, and strict city rules for tree preservation, stormwater, and coastal buffers.

At Evergreen Design Group, we bring over 20 years of experience creating planting, irrigation, hardscape, and amenity plans that meet these requirements while reflecting the Lowcountry’s charm. Whether your project is a commercial development, residential community, or public space, we design landscapes that capture the Lowcountry’s appeal, welcome people in, and thrive for decades.

Benefits of Working With Evergreen Design Group

Choosing the right landscape architect firm means hiring a team that understands Charleston’s coastal conditions, native vegetation, and local development rules. Here’s why clients rely on us as their landscape architect in Charleston, SC:

Veteran-owned expertise

Over Two decades of national experience designing large-scale, complex landscapes across climates and project types.

Responsive communication

We respond quickly to questions and updates, keeping your project moving on schedule.

Local knowledge with national reach

 Expertise in Charleston permitting and projects in 40 states ensures reliable, proven results.

Designs with constructability in mind

Each plan is developed for efficient installation and cost-effective long-term upkeep.

One point of contact

We’re your single source for planning, planting, irrigation, and hardscape design, streamlining coordination and ensuring every detail stays consistent.

We design each site to be functional, visually harmonious with its surroundings, and fully aligned with Charleston County’s climate and codes.

Our Landscape Architect Services in Charleston

Evergreen Design Group works with clients throughout the Charleston area, collaborating with land developers, civil engineers, architects, program managers, owner representatives, end users, and design/build contractors to take projects from concept to completion.

We offer

We create site layouts that maximize your property while meeting Charleston’s development requirements. Landscape elements are seamlessly integrated with building footprints, parking areas, open spaces, and amenities designed to work within flood zones and special protection areas (SPAs) near marshes, wetlands, and critical habitat.

Following Charleston’s Stormwater Design Standards Manual, our plans include bioretention areas, vegetated islands, and pervious paving to control runoff before it reaches the Ashley or Cooper Rivers.

Charleston’s tree protection ordinance sets strict guidelines for removals, setbacks, and permitting. If your property has a Grand Tree, such as a mature live oak, magnolia, or cedar, or a Protected Tree, like holly or crape myrtle, you may need city approval before work begins.

We survey each site to record trunk diameter, canopy spread, and critical root zones, then design layouts that maintain required clearances around significant trees. When removals are approved through variance or special exception, we document mitigation and replacement plantings so your project stays compliant and moves smoothly through review.

Our landscape architects design plantings that flourish in Charleston’s subtropical climate and diverse soils, from sandy coastal terrain to richer inland ground. Each plan blends visual appeal with long-term resilience, selecting species that can withstand heat, humidity, and—when necessary—salt exposure.

Carefully chosen plant palettes feature Lowcountry staples such as sweetgrass, butterfly weed, coral bean, and pink muhly grass, along with adaptive species that meet city landscaping requirements. Matching each plant to its ideal location reduces maintenance needs, supports local ecology, and maintains a vibrant appearance through every season.

To avoid plant stress and wasted water, landscaping in Charleston must plan for long, humid summers with temperatures often in the 90s. With a site-specific approach, we incorporate irrigation into the overall design to minimize runoff and keep moisture where it’s needed most. 

Our planners include drip lines for beds, bubblers for shrubs, and precision rotors for turf. Corrosion-resistant components protect against salt spray, and custom schedules for shaded inland areas reduce fungal risk, keeping your landscape healthy, attractive, and easy to maintain year-round.

Charleston is a diverse city with historic neighborhoods, waterfront communities, and growing residential developments that bring people together. Our community amenity designs create spaces where residents can connect, relax, and enjoy their surroundings. 

Playgrounds and splash pads offer fun for families and children, shaded courtyards and rooftop lounges provide gathering spots for busy professionals, and walking trails with seating areas give senior communities places to stay active and social. Every feature is planned to meet residents’ needs while boosting the value and appeal of the property.

Hardscapes define how people enter, cross, and enjoy a property. Our professional landscape architects design hardscapes that make outdoor spaces more usable and welcoming, such as brick walkways leading to a central fountain, stone entry monuments with wrought-iron details, or retaining walls that create garden terraces overlooking the marsh.

We also create pavilions for gatherings, pool decks with slip-resistant finishes, and outdoor kitchens for shared enjoyment. Each feature fits the property’s style, directs movement naturally, and adds lasting function.

How We Protect Charleston’s Natural Habitat

Charleston’s landscapes provide habitat for native plants and wildlife that sustain the region’s balance. We design with elements that support these natural systems and improve conditions for both residents and local species:

Using native plants like seaside goldenrod, red buckeye, and lanceleaf coreopsis to provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies, and pollinators.

Preserving existing tree canopies to protect habitat and shade-sensitive understory plants.

Creating natural buffers along marshes and waterways to filter runoff and protect aquatic life.

Planting deep-rooted species to stabilize soil and reduce erosion.

These choices create landscapes that blend beauty with lasting ecological benefits.

Plan Your Next Charleston Project With Evergreen Design Group

Whether it’s a historic inn in the French Quarter, a mixed-use complex in West Ashley, or a waterfront community on Daniel Island, we create landscapes that fit Charleston’s character and function beautifully for years. 

Share your project goals with us, and we’ll assess the site early—checking tree status, soils, SPAs, and zoning—before delivering coordinated planting, irrigation, hardscape, and amenity plans ready for construction. 

Contact us today to discuss your vision — let’s bring your Charleston project to life with designs rooted in the Lowcountry and ready for the future.

Get in Touch with Us

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