S.C. Code Ann. § 57-23-20: Unlawful to injure plants, shrubs or trees along beautified section.

When any stretch of road shall have been so designated and marked by the road authorities of any county or counties it shall be unlawful for any person to dig, pull up, gather, remove, cut, maim, break or injure in any way, including any injury done by fires intentionally set, any wild, cultivated or ornamental plants, shrubs and trees situated on or along any such marked stretch of public road or highway or any public or privately owned land lying along such road. But the provisions of this section shall not apply where the acts hereby prohibited are done by or under the instructions of the proper authorities lawfully in charge of such public roads, highways or lands or by or with the permission of the owner of any privately owned lands.

Nothing herein contained shall affect the right of any person interested to recover damages in a suit, action or proceeding for the commission of any of the acts and deeds hereby prohibited.

Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or imprisonment for not more than thirty days.