Nestled along central Lake Erie in the heart of Ontario's Carolinian Forest Region, South Coast Gardens provides landscape design services and offers a selection of trees, shrubs and perennials, including many species native to the southern Great Lakes ecoregion and eastern North America. A display garden features a diversity of plants, including many that are being tested for their cold hardiness in our USDA zone 6a/6b climate. These include Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), Sweetgum (Liquidambar syraciflua), Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), Alabama Snow-wreath (Neviusia alabamensis), Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) and Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) among many others. Mixed in are nearly 350 species and varieties of Rhododendrons and azaleas which add colour through the spring season. Frost-hardy sub-tropical plants ideal for outdoor container gardening further enhance the garden display from spring until early November.
The first garden beds at the nursery were established in 2006 and have been expanding each year since then. Although the gardens are still young and many specimens are still in the process of getting firmly established, from the time the first Rhododendrons and Magnolias come into flower in late April until the Asters and Witch Hazel finish blooming in October, the gardens provide a myriad of colour and attract a wide assortment of butterflies and birds. The owners are avid naturalists and record much of the wildlife seen at South Coast Gardens including more than 230 species of birds have been observed at the property!
2022 Garden Gate Openings
We welcome visitors to the nursery but encourage you to contact us in advance to ensure that someone will be available to assist you.
Hours of operation 10:00am to 5:00pm on the following dates:
- May 7/8
- May 14/15
- May 21/22/23 (Victoria Day weekend)
- May 28/29
- June 4/5
- June 18/19
- September 24/25
- October 1/2
- October 15/16
- October 22/23
We can also provide curbside pick-up services if requested. For this service plant orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance. Once the order is confirmed, specific curbside pick-up times will then be arranged. If you have an interest in this service, please email us and Kevin will follow up with you.
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