Prairie Girl,

All the plants you named should be fine except possibly hosta. I am from Charleston but never lived there as a gardener. However, I often take plants to my sisters in law, and the hosta have not survived!

Other plants I can think of that you can grow but we can't (even in zone 7 where I am - Charleston is zone 8) are delphinium and lupine. Some of the plants that like cooler climates will do better down here if you make sure they get afternoon shade. My lilac thrives like that, but I don't know about in Charleston.

You will be able to have bougainvillea and poinsettia in sheltered spots!

Ficus vine also grows well and is so nice to soften those hard surfaces like step risers:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B6Rke9ICCHQ/T5M03KI4GHI/AAAAAAAACDc/BxlRBaVVsPs/s1600/MarchApril2012+092+(960x1280).jpg

Loquat and fig trees are good. And if you have never smelled tea olive, you are in for a real treat.

(I know you didn't ask for suggestions, but I needed to repost to be able to follow the thread - forgot to check the box!)

Thanks Kate! Suggestions are good. You mentioned that you became a gardener after you moved. I have lived in SC before, as a child, in Beech Island. All I remember is cotton, which is the one thing I probably am not interested in growing, lol. I know the heat is scorching. Our garden was probably all melons, peppers & tomatoes. Can you recommend any books that you have referred to again and again?

Prairie Girl,
I have referred to the Southern Living Garden Book and Southern Living Landscape repeatedly. Both are by Steve Bender. It seems I have foolishly passed them on to my daughter as I'm downsizing, but from memory, at least one of them explains all the climate zones of the southeast. There may be new editions out, but the older ones are still valuable.
I'm posting a link here in case you want to find a used copy.

Here is a link that might be useful: book comparison site

prairegirl,
Gardenias, gardenias, and more gardenias, Camellias, Oleanders, Sweet fragrant tea olive, (You really MUST get at least one of these), and all the above mentioned plants that you stated you like, they will all live here.
BUT, you will want to visit local yocal nurseries, and check out what they are selling.
Rosemary is a bush here, and you can make a topiary out of it.
Cannas grow really well here, and come back and spread every year. So do dahlias.
But what ever you do, buy an August Beauty gardenia as soon as you get settled in. (My favorite bush). Plant it where you will see it from your sitting area, they usually put out a real nice bloom in spring, and again in the fall.
See what you have to look forward to?
Don't be emotional, get excited.