Midtown - Downtown in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Botanical Luxury
The Hampton-Preston estate's glasshouse—actually a metal glass, and masonry structure—stood out as the garden's most expensive and ostentatious element. In it the family exhibited many tropical or otherwise tender plants year-round for wealthy visitors to the site. Here, Mr. Scholz, a European gardener, most likely directed the labor of enslaved persons in producing a small amount of annual bedding plants to enhance the main garden and in propagating rare specimens.
In Visits to Columbia Gardens No. 1 of the 1861 edition of The Farmer & Planter, W.R. Bergholz describes at length the glasshouse's organization and the species maintained there:
After passing through many fine walks and a neatly arranged flower garden we came to an extensive range of glass, and through the kindness of Mr. Scholz, the present intelligent gardener, were admitted to see the exotic treasures of the charming greenhouses. Here our attention was first attracted by a collection of Pelargoniums (scented Geraniums) in full bloom, some fine Fuchsias, and well-grown specimens of Acacia pendula, Inga pulcherrima (Calliandra tweedii), Musa Cavendishii (Musa x Caendishii - plantain) and Paradisiaca (Musa paradisiaca - desert banana), Nepenthes Destillatoria, Ficus Elastica, Maranta Zebrina (Calathea zebrina), withits beautiful variegated leaves, Caladium bicolor, the interesting Dionaea Muscipula, and some fine species of Lycopodium, etc.
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The rear walls of the green-houses are beautifully decorated with the finest species of Passifloras, among which, we discovered the rare P. Decaisneana (Passiflora x Decaisneana), in full bloom.
[Caption:]
Illustration of Passflora x Decaisneana from Flore Des Serres Et Des Jardins De L'Europe, Ou Descriptions Et Figures Des Plantes Le Plus Rares Et Le Plus Heritantes, 1852-1853. This plant is grown in the Boyd Foundation Horitcultural Center.
Erected by Historic Columbia Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 34° 0.657′ N, 81° 1.809′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in Midtown - Downtown. It can be reached from Pickens Street north of Blanding Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1613 Blanding St, Columbia SC 29201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hampton-Preston Sustainers Garden (a few steps from this marker); A Natural Showcase
Additional keywords. enslaved labor
Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 26 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
