County soil summary
Soil types in Charleston County, South Carolina
The most widespread soils are Bohicket, Rutlege and Wadmalaw; the most common drainage class is very poorly drained (42% of the land), and typical topsoil pH is 4.7.
- Well or moderately well drained
- 21% of land · state 66%
- Typical topsoil pH
- 4.7 very strongly acidic · state 5.3
- Septic fields very limited
- 98% of land · state 75%
- Subject to flooding
- 44% of land, any frequency · state 14%
Most common soils in Charleston County
Share of mapped land
A county is a patchwork of many soils. These 8 cover 62% of the mapped land; 35 named soil series are mapped here in all.
| Soil | Share of land | Drainage | Topsoil pH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bohicket | 20.0% | Very poorly drained | 7.3 |
| Rutlege | 8.8% | Very poorly drained | 4.6 |
| Wadmalaw | 6.5% | Poorly drained | 4.7 |
| Yonges | 6.4% | Poorly drained | 6.5 |
| Foxworth | 5.6% | Moderately well drained | 4.7 |
| Capers | 5.6% | Very poorly drained | 7.2 |
| Pactolus | 5.1% | Moderately well drained | 4.5 |
| Ridgeland | 3.6% | Somewhat poorly drained | 5.1 |
What this means
What the soils in Charleston County mean for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For your garden
Typical topsoil in Charleston County is very strongly acidic: pH 4.7 (most land between 4.6 and 5.1). Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.
Sandy topsoil covers 53% of the land. It drains fast and warms early in spring, but dries out and loses nutrients quickly: mulch, compost and steady watering help. The most common surface texture is loamy fine sand (40% of the land).
75% of the land is somewhat poorly to very poorly drained, so soil stays soggy for long spells after rain and in wet seasons. Raised beds, plants that tolerate wet feet, and not working the soil while wet all help.
For your lawn and yard
On 72% of the land, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 69% of the land, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 98% of the land in Charleston County very limited, 1% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.
Statewide, 75% of the land is very limited, so Charleston County is more restrictive than typical.
Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.
Flooding is mapped on 44% of the land (2% occasional, 33% frequent).
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Drainage
How long the soil stays wet
The most common drainage class is very poorly drained (42%). 21% of the land is moderately well drained or better, compared with 66% across South Carolina.
Show as a table
| Category | Charleston County | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 1.3% | 3.9% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% | 3.6% |
| Well drained | 2.3% | 45.3% |
| Moderately well drained | 17.6% | 13.4% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 13.5% | 9.5% |
| Poorly drained | 20.4% | 14.3% |
| Very poorly drained | 41.5% | 9.3% |
| Not rated | 3.4% | 0.8% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating for conventional drain fields
The rating looks at the soil from 24 to 60 inches deep: permeability, depth to a seasonal water table or bedrock, flooding and slope. “Very limited” means at least one feature is unfavorable enough that a conventional field is hard to make work.
Show as a table
| Category | Charleston County | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Somewhat limited | 1.4% | 24.3% |
| Very limited | 98.1% | 75.0% |
| Not rated | 0.5% | 0.3% |
Rain, runoff and water table
Hydrologic soil group, flooding, seasonal water table
Hydrologic soil group
How fast rain soaks in when the soil is already wet. Group A soaks in fastest, D slowest.
Show as a table
| Category | Charleston County | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 10.1% | 33.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 3.6% | 14.6% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 0.0% | 4.8% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 37.1% | 8.0% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 0.4% | 12.3% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 31.2% | 13.7% |
| Not rated | 4.0% | 0.9% |
Flooding
Show as a table
| Category | Charleston County | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| No flooding | 56.1% | 85.7% |
| Rare or very rare | 9.4% | 0.8% |
| Occasional | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Frequent or very frequent | 33.1% | 10.8% |
| Not reported | 0.0% | 0.1% |
Seasonal high water table
Show as a table
| Category | Charleston County | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Within 18 inches at some time of year | 68.9% | 34.8% |
| 18 inches to 3.3 feet | 17.5% | 12.1% |
| Deeper than 3.3 feet or none reported | 13.6% | 53.1% |
Topsoil pH and texture
First mineral layer of each soil
Typical topsoil pH is 4.7 (very strongly acidic); 80% of rated land falls between 4.6 and 5.1. Median topsoil organic matter is 1.5%.
Show as a table
| Category | Charleston County | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Strongly acidic (below 5.5) | 93.8% | 62.3% |
| Moderately to slightly acidic (5.5–6.4) | 4.6% | 34.1% |
| Near neutral (6.5–7.3) | 0.9% | 2.4% |
| Alkaline (7.4 and up) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0.7% | 1.1% |
Texture
Show as a table
| Category | Charleston County | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy | 52.8% | 42.7% |
| Loamy (loam, silt loam and similar) | 42.8% | 55.0% |
| Clayey (40%+ clay) | 0.0% | 1.0% |
| Organic (muck or peat) | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Not reported (rock, urban land, etc.) | 3.4% | 0.8% |
Sources & data dates
- Source
- USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
- Data date
- SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
- Scope
- Charleston County, South Carolina (FIPS 45019): 599,115 acres of mapped land, 70,185 acres of open water excluded. State comparisons pool all mapped land in South Carolina.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped land area: each map unit’s acres in the county times each soil component’s percentage. Open water is excluded. Topsoil values use the first mineral horizon of each component. Full methodology.