Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina)

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina, invites visitors to stroll through its romantic garden, Audubon Swamp, Ashley Riverwalk, and historic Magnolia house, and to learn about the history, horticulture, and nature of the low country. The site's history traces to the late 17th century, when Stephen Fox acquired a 400-acre plantation along the banks of the Ashley River and passed the land to his son-in-law, Thomas Drayton, establishing the Drayton family name on the Ashley's shores. The Draytons expanded their holdings over the next two centuries, reaching nearly 1,700 acres by the dawn of the Civil War; this land became known as Magnolia-on-the-Ashley and later Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. In the 1840s, the Rev. John Grimké Drayton planted the elaborate Picturesque garden to help his new wife, Juliana Ewing, a Philadelphia socialite, adjust to Lowcountry life, hoping the gardens would add beauty and showcase his collection of azaleas and camellias. Four restored and preserved enslaved cabins remain on the property, and dedicated conservation work continues to honor those who labored in the rice fields, house, and gardens.

In the late 17th century, Stephen Fox acquired a 400-acre plantation along the banks of the Ashley River. Fox passed the land to his son-in-law, Thomas Drayton, thus establishing the Drayton family name upon the Ashley's shores. The Draytons expanded their land holdings over the next two centuries, reaching nearly 1,700 acres by the dawn of the Civil War. This land made up what became known as Magnolia-on-the-Ashley and later Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. Carolina Gold Rice, cultivated by the enslaved, provided the vast wealth enjoyed by the Drayton family. Four restored and preserved enslaved cabins are still present on the property, and dedicated conservation work continues to ensure those who labored in the rice fields, house, and gardens at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens are honored. In the 1840s, the Rev. John Grimké Drayton planted the elaborate Picturesque garden to help his new wife, Juliana Ewing, a Philadelphia socialite, adjust to Lowcountry life. The Rev. Drayton hoped the gardens would not only add beauty to their property but would also showcase his amazing collection of azaleas and camellias. Drayton's stunning plants—long kept in the greenhouses of New York and Pennsylvania—were among the first of their kind to be planted outside in South Carolina's subtropical climate. While Drayton possessed the vision, it was the enslaved who carried it out and labored to bring the Picturesque garden to life.

A historic garden and plantation attraction in Charleston, South Carolina, focused on history, horticulture, and the nature of the low country.

Product categories. Garden visits · Audubon Swamp · Ashley Riverwalk · Historic Magnolia house

1. 1Magnolia Plantation & Gardens in Charleston, SCmagnoliaplantation.com
2. 2History — Magnolia Plantation & Gardensmagnoliaplantation.com
3. 3Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina)wikidata.org