Petunias will do well in mid to late spring until your temperatures hit into the nineties (with high night-time temps too), a few begonias will thrive (cocktail series and Angel wings, particularly), tulips may have to be chilled in your refrigerator for 8 weeks before planting and will be a one year show only, elephant ears will LOVE it and most will over winter in the ground, ditto for Callas (need shade). Pansies are the stars of late fall, winter and early spring, and quickly decline once daytime highs are over 80. Verbenas should do very well, depending on the variety.

You will find that there are many things you could grow in New York that will hate the south. But conversely, there are many things you can have in the south that you could never have grown up north.

Charleston is one of my favorite cities. When you get settled, take an afternoon and walk the streets of the historical section and peek through their fences at their gardens. You can learn a whole lot that way.