Welcome

Nestled along central Lake Erie in the heart of Ontario's Carolinian Forest Region, South Coast Gardens offers a selection of trees, shrubs and perennials, including a large variety of species native to the southern Great Lakes ecoregion and eastern North America. A display garden at the nursery features a diversity of plants native to our local area that are important for supporting our native pollinators and birds. The gardens also showcase trees from areas south of Ontario, including many that are being observed 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 that have been observed at the property!

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