Question
I live in Charleston, SC, and am building a house.  We get to pick all plants for the landscaping but I am VERY unknowledgeable on this topic.  I am looking for plants or bushes that will stay green mostly year round and can stand the heat.  They will receive late afternoon sun and we water frequently so that shouldn't be a problem.  Would prefer not to have any kind of holly bushes but would welcome any suggestions.  The more suggestions you have, the better:)

Answer
There are many evergreen shrubs that will grow well in your area. Here are just a few. Below is a link to a great article on shrubs especially for coastal growing conditions.

Indian Hawthorn spp - smaller knee high shrub with pink/white flowers
Korean or Japanese Boxwood - good for more formal hedge knee to chest high
Azalea spp - many varieties from small gumpos to large karumes, many colors
Anise spp - larger course texture good for foundations and behind other smaller plants
Camellia spp - many varieties, many colors, put in protected alcove or corner
Cleyera - great all around tough evergreen, chest high for loose hedge form is best.
Acuba - very tough plant, wants to be 6 or 8 feet tall, good for screening along fences, etc.
Pittosporum - gets leggy after ten years but still nice plant, dwarf varieties available, makes nice foundation easy to maintain at 3 to 5 feet tall with once or twice a year pruning.

See this link for more:

http://searchwarp.com/swa105178.htm


Good Luck
Sean J Murphy
www.amenityarchitects.com
www.seengineering.com
SEI
Southeastern Engineering
Amenity Architects