You explained it really well—and you’re right: a spider that is mostly green is different from one that is mostly yellow. You don’t need to be an expert to describe what you saw.
One possibility is a green lynx spider. These spiders live in South Carolina, often hunt on flowers and plants, and have long, hairy-looking, spiny legs. But green lynx spiders are usually green on both their bodies and legs, so the yellow legs and purple coloring you noticed may mean it is another kind of spider. I can’t identify it for sure from the description alone.
What details could help
- Was the body shaped like a ball, a leaf, or a long oval?
- Were there stripes, spots, or stripes on the legs?
- Did it sit with its legs spread sideways, like a crab, or point forward and backward?
The flat-looking face and pale patch near where the abdomen joins the body are useful details, too. Spiders can look different depending on their age, sex, and lighting.
Staying safe
Please don’t touch or catch it. If you can, ask an adult to look at it or take a picture from a safe distance. If you can’t upload a photo here, that’s okay—you can still describe it, just as you did. An adult could also show the description to a local nature center or university extension office for help.