A potted cordyline fruticosa grows in a courtyard next to the Osborne Administrative Building on USC’s campus.
Sydney Dunlap/Staff
VanderHyden said Forest Lake Greenhouses has plenty of options for both, even the trickier garnet color, which can be hard to perfect as most flowers either lean too pink, red or purple.
The retail planter has found the best results with winter pansies and especially violas, which VanderHyden said has a variation that is the “reddest of the red” that you would “definitely call garnet.”
VanderHyden said for people hoping to get a USC-themed arrangement at Forest Lake Greenhouses in Florence, she encourages people to call ahead to ensure they can grab one of the more limited garnet options.
A picture of a canna lily growing on the pathway between Flinn Hall and the Horseshoe on Sept. 29, 2025.
Sydney Dunlap/Staff
More than garnet and black
While garnet flowers are pretty, Stewart said school spirit has deep roots that extend far beyond the color of plants. In fact, flowers are often on the bottom of maintenance staff’s priority list.
“It’s really all about the tree canopy on our campus,” Stewart said.
Trees are central to the Horseshoe, one of the most popular spots on campus that provides a comfortable spot for people to sit, unwind and reflect.
“I think a lot of it is just, it’s for people’s mental health, you know, to be in a space that’s tranquil and quiet and beautiful and shady,” Stewart said. “People need that.”
And beyond aesthetics, Stewart said staff members put a lot of effort into creating the safest atmosphere possible.
A number of trees create a shaded alcove next to Wardlaw College on USC’s campus.
Sydney Dunlap/Staff
“I think, for the most part, safety is like the number one priority for us, and so we’re trying to be a little more cognizant of providing a landscape that feels safe to our student, staff, faculty, visitors,” Stewart said. “A lot of that is going to be where we go into a landscape and we may have to remove certain plant material that’s overgrown.”
The goal is for people to feel comfortable wherever they walk on campus.
“We see people enjoying our campus and, honestly, when people come onto our campus, a lot of people say this is why I chose Carolina,” Stewart said. “You know, when they walk and see what we have here, they’re like, ‘Wow, I’d love to be here.’ ”
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