Nearly 200 native Lowcountry plants come to life in “Native Plants of Kiawah Island: A Collection of Watercolors,” a striking new coffee table book by local artist Audrey Straus. Released in November 2025, the 375-page hardcover volume showcases nearly 200 original botanical paintings celebrating the flowers, trees and native flora that define Kiawah Island’s landscape.
Substantial in both scope and design, the book measures just over 11 by 9 inches and is bound in a slightly textured hardcover with a hand-sewn ribbon marker. Each plant is accompanied by its taxonomy and notes on preferred growing conditions, making the collection both informative and beautiful — a resource for gardeners, nature lovers and admirers of coastal art alike.
After several years living on Kiawah Island, Straus’s interest in the plants and flora she encountered on daily walks and bike rides grew, and she began painting her way through the island’s botanical database. As her portfolio expanded, so did her vision: a curated collection that honors both art and place. While grounded in respected botanical resources, the book is ultimately an artistic and educational tribute, inviting readers to slow down and notice the quiet beauty of the island’s natural landscape.
A portion of sales will be donated to The Conservancy of the Sea Islands to support its ongoing work preserving Kiawah’s extraordinary ecosystem and coastal habitats.
“Native Plants of Kiawah Island: A Collection of Watercolors” retails for $70 and is available for purchase online and locally at GDC Home, Buxton Books, Indigo Books, Cafe Eugenia, The Sanctuary Beach Shop and Rhodes Boutique.
