When to plant tulip bulbs in South Carolina

Fall planting in Charleston

Dec 15–Jan 15

Across South Carolina the window opens between October 18 and December 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Charleston: Dec 15–Jan 15
Last frost, Charleston: Feb 4

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant once the soil has cooled below 60°F. Bulbs need 12–14 weeks of cold to flower in spring. In the warmest parts of South Carolina, chill bulbs in the fridge for 8 to 10 weeks first and plant in late December.

Tulip bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

CharlestonDec 15–Jan 15

ColumbiaNov 1–Dec 6

North CharlestonNov 13–Dec 15

Mount PleasantNov 16–Dec 15

Rock HillOct 22–Nov 26

GreenvilleOct 24–Nov 28

SummervilleOct 29–Dec 3

Goose CreekNov 13–Dec 15

GreerOct 24–Nov 28

SumterOct 24–Nov 28

FlorenceOct 30–Dec 4

Myrtle BeachOct 30–Dec 4

SpartanburgOct 18–Nov 22

Fort MillOct 21–Nov 25

Hilton Head IslandDec 15–Jan 15

BlufftonNov 16–Dec 15

AikenOct 31–Dec 5

MauldinOct 24–Nov 28

AndersonOct 28–Dec 2

ConwayNov 8–Dec 13

SimpsonvilleOct 22–Nov 26

EasleyOct 20–Nov 24

North AugustaDec 15–Jan 15

Carolina ForestOct 30–Dec 4

LexingtonOct 24–Nov 28

SocasteeNov 8–Dec 13

TaylorsNov 6–Dec 11

GreenwoodOct 29–Dec 3

HanahanNov 13–Dec 15

North Myrtle BeachNov 6–Dec 11

All 33 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Charleston	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 4
Columbia	Nov 1 to Dec 6	Mar 22
North Charleston	Nov 13 to Dec 15	Mar 7
Mount Pleasant	Nov 16 to Dec 15	Mar 13
Rock Hill	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 27
Greenville	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Mar 28
Summerville	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Mar 22
Goose Creek	Nov 13 to Dec 15	Mar 7
Greer	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Mar 28
Sumter	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Mar 24
Florence	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 19
Myrtle Beach	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 21
Spartanburg	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 8
Fort Mill	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Mar 31
Hilton Head Island	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Mar 3
Bluffton	Nov 16 to Dec 15	Mar 2
Aiken	Oct 31 to Dec 5	Mar 19
Mauldin	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Mar 28
Anderson	Oct 28 to Dec 2	Mar 23
Conway	Nov 8 to Dec 13	Mar 15
Simpsonville	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 29
Easley	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Apr 1
North Augusta	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 27
Carolina Forest	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 21
Lexington	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Mar 25
Socastee	Nov 8 to Dec 13	Mar 15
Taylors	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 16
Greenwood	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Mar 26
Hanahan	Nov 13 to Dec 15	Mar 7
North Myrtle Beach	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 13
St. Andrews	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 16
Wade Hampton	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 16
Moncks Corner	Nov 12 to Dec 15	Mar 10

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in South Carolina?

In Charleston, fall planting from December 15 to January 15. Across South Carolina the window opens between October 18 and December 15, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.