Eastern Dogwood – Cornus florida Native
Native in 90 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 30 ft that tolerates shade, with early spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
North Carolina native plants
USDA PLANTS records 365 plants as native to North Carolina (NC) and routinely sold by nurseries. Each one is mapped by county, so you can see which grow wild where you live.
North Carolina native plant list
This list has 365 North Carolina natives that nurseries routinely sell: 100 trees, 59 shrubs, 90 wildflowers, 100 grasses and sedges, 8 ferns and 8 vines. The most widespread include Butterfly Weed, Blunt Spikerush and Common Rush, each recorded as native in at least 91 of North Carolina's 100 counties. Checked against USDA PLANTS on June 13, 2026.
American Black Elderberry – Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis Native
Native in 90 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 7 ft for full sun, with spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Butterfly Weed – Asclepias tuberosa Native
Native in 93 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun, with midsummer flowers and showy fruit.
Blunt Spikerush – Eleocharis obtusa Native
Native in 91 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A sedge for full sun.
Western Brackenfern – Pteridium aquilinum Native
Native in 88 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A fern that tolerates shade.
Arrowleaf Tearthumb – Polygonum sagittatum Native
Native in 73 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A vine for full sun.
Black Cherry – Prunus serotina Native
Native in 87 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 80 ft for full sun, with late spring flowers and showy fruit.
Winged Sumac – Rhus copallinum Native
Native in 83 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 8 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Woolly Yarrow – Achillea tomentosa Native
Native in 88 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with late spring flowers.
Common Rush – Juncus effusus Native
Native in 91 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial rush for full sun.
Cinnamon Fern – Osmunda cinnamomea Native
Native in 66 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A fern that tolerates shade.
Trumpet Vine – Campsis radicans Native
Native in 73 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A vine for full sun, with summer flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Red Maple – Acer rubrum Native
Native in 85 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 68 ft for sun or part shade, with early spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
New Jersey Tea – Ceanothus americanus Native
Native in 81 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 3 ft that tolerates shade.
Pennsylvania Smartweed – Polygonum pensylvanicum Native
Native in 87 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An annual wildflower for full sun, with spring flowers.
Shallow Sedge – Carex lurida Native
Native in 89 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade.
Royal/Flowering Fern – Osmunda regalis Native
Native in 66 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A fern that tolerates shade, with fall colour.
Groundnut – Apios americana Native
Native in 71 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A vine that tolerates shade and wet soil, with late spring flowers.
American Holly – Ilex opaca Native
Native in 83 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 40 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Swamp Rose – Rosa palustris Native
Native in 77 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 8 ft that tolerates shade, with spring flowers and showy fruit.
Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod – Solidago rugosa Native
Native in 83 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with late summer flowers.
Tapertip Rush – Juncus acuminatus Native
Native in 88 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial rush for sun or part shade and wet soil.
New York Fern – Thelypteris noveboracensis Native
Native in 48 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A fern that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Muscadine – Vitis rotundifolia Native
Native in 69 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A vine for sun or part shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Sourwood Tree – Oxydendrum arboreum Native
Native in 83 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 35 ft that tolerates shade, with early summer flowers and fall colour.
Button Bush – Cephalanthus occidentalis Native
Native in 71 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 15 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil, with summer flowers and showy fruit.
Broadleaf Cattail – Typha latifolia Native
Native in 82 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for sun or part shade and wet soil, with showy fruit.
Strawcolored Flatsedge – Cyperus strigosus Native
Native in 86 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for full sun, with showy fruit.
Field Horsetail – Equisetum arvense Native
Native in 25 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A horsetail for sun or part shade.
Virginia Creeper – Parthenocissus quinquefolia Native
Native in 60 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A vine for sun or part shade, with fall colour.
American Hornbeam – Carpinus caroliniana Native
Native in 82 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 30 ft that tolerates shade, with mid-spring flowers and fall colour.
Common Witch Hazel – Hamamelis virginiana Native
Native in 70 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 20 ft for sun or part shade, with fall flowers and showy fruit.
Common Goldstar – Hypoxis hirsuta Native
Native in 82 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with early spring flowers.
Virginia Wildrye – Elymus virginicus Native
Native in 84 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade.
Interrupted Fern – Osmunda claytoniana Native
Native in 19 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A fern that tolerates shade, with fall colour.
Coral Greenbrier – Smilax walteri Native
Native in 28 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A vine that tolerates shade and wet soil, with showy fruit.
Hazel Alder – Alnus serrulata Native
Native in 81 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 30 ft for full sun and wet soil.
Mountain Laurel – Kalmia latifolia Native
Native in 69 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 6 ft that tolerates shade, with mid-spring flowers.
Virginia Water Horehound – Lycopus virginicus Native
Native in 81 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with summer flowers and showy fruit.
Little Bluestem – Schizachyrium scoparium Native
Native in 80 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
Crested Woodfern – Dryopteris cristata Native
Native in 10 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A fern that tolerates shade and wet soil.
American Wisteria – Wisteria frutescens Native
Native in 20 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A vine that tolerates shade, with spring flowers.
Sassafras – Sassafras albidum Native
Native in 79 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 75 ft for full sun, with late spring flowers and fall colour.
Cane Reed – Arundinaria gigantea Native
Native in 66 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 25 ft for full sun, with fall colour.
Cardinalflower – Lobelia cardinalis Native
Native in 79 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with summer flowers.
Fall Panicgrass – Panicum dichotomiflorum Native
Native in 77 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An annual grass for full sun and wet soil.
Common Maidenhair – Adiantum capillus-veneris Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A fern that tolerates shade.
American Bittersweet – Celastrus scandens Native
Native in 9 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A vine that tolerates shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Eastern White Oak – Quercus alba Native
Native in 74 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Virginia Sweetspire – Itea virginica Native
Native in 63 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 10 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil, with mid-spring flowers.
Common Blue Violet – Viola sororia Native
Native in 79 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A wildflower for sun or part shade, with mid-spring flowers.
Greater Bladder Sedge – Carex intumescens Native
Native in 77 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Sweet Gum – Liquidambar styraciflua Native
Native in 70 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Silky Dogwood – Cornus amomum Native
Native in 60 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 10 ft for sun or part shade, with early spring flowers and showy fruit.
Mexican Cardinal Flower – Lobelia fulgens Native
Native in 79 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with summer flowers.
Rice Cutgrass – Leersia oryzoides Native
Native in 77 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
Post Oak – Quercus stellata Native
Native in 68 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 60 ft for full sun, with fall colour.
Smooth Sumac – Rhus glabra Native
Native in 57 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 12 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Common Selfheal – Prunella vulgaris Native
Native in 78 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with midsummer flowers.
Woolgrass – Scirpus cyperinus Native
Native in 76 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade, with showy fruit.
American Beech – Fagus grandifolia Native
Native in 67 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 80 ft that tolerates shade, with fall colour.
Common Winterberry – Ilex verticillata Native
Native in 56 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 10 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Dotted Smartweed – Polygonum punctatum Native
Native in 76 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A wildflower for full sun and wet soil, with summer flowers.
Fox Sedge – Carex vulpinoidea Native
Native in 75 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade.
Eastern Redcedar – Juniperus virginiana Native
Native in 67 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 50 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit.
Eastern Baccharis – Baccharis halimifolia Native
Native in 56 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 10 ft for sun or part shade and wet soil, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
Giant Goldenrod – Solidago gigantea Native
Native in 76 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with showy flowers and fall colour.
Poverty Rush – Juncus tenuis Native
Native in 74 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial rush for sun or part shade.
Blackjack Oak – Quercus marilandica Native
Native in 66 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 25 ft for full sun, with fall colour.
American Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana Native
Native in 55 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 6 ft for sun or part shade, with early summer flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
New York Ironweed – Vernonia noveboracensis Native
Native in 75 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
Yellow Indian Grass – Sorghastrum nutans Native
Native in 73 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
Black Willow – Salix nigra Native
Native in 65 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for full sun and wet soil.
Silky Willow – Salix sericea Native
Native in 55 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 12 ft for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Partridge Pea – Chamaecrista fasciculata Native
Native in 75 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An annual wildflower that tolerates shade, with early summer flowers.
Fowl Mannagrass – Glyceria striata Native
Native in 68 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Southern Red Oak – Quercus falcata Native
Native in 65 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 75 ft for sun or part shade, with fall colour.
Northern Spicebush – Lindera benzoin Native
Native in 54 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 12 ft for sun or part shade, with mid-spring flowers.
Devil's Beggartick – Bidens frondosa Native
Native in 69 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An annual for sun or part shade, with showy fruit.
Hop Sedge – Carex lupulina Native
Native in 64 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade.
Tulip Tree – Liriodendron tulipifera Native
Native in 65 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 120 ft for full sun, with mid-spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Blackhaw – Viburnum prunifolium Native
Native in 53 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 16 ft that tolerates shade, with spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Crimsoneyed Rosemallow – Hibiscus moscheutos Native
Native in 67 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A wildflower for full sun and wet soil, with summer flowers.
Winter Bentgrass – Agrostis hyemalis Native
Native in 64 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Red Mulberry – Morus rubra Native
Native in 63 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 70 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit.
American Hazelnut – Corylus americana Native
Native in 48 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 10 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit.
Littleleaf Buttercup – Ranunculus abortivus Native
Native in 67 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A plant that tolerates shade.
White Edge Sedge – Carex debilis Native
Native in 63 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
American Persimmon – Diospyros virginiana Native
Native in 62 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 55 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Swamp Azalea – Rhododendron viscosum Native
Native in 48 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 16 ft that tolerates shade, with showy flowers.
Broadleaf Arrowhead – Sagittaria latifolia Native
Native in 65 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun and wet soil, with late spring flowers.
Sweet Woodreed – Cinna arundinacea Native
Native in 62 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade.
Shortleaf Pine – Pinus echinata Native
Native in 61 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 100 ft for full sun.
Inkberry – Ilex glabra Native
Native in 44 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub up to 8 ft for full sun and wet soil, with showy fruit.
Common Sneeze Weed – Helenium autumnale Native
Native in 63 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun, with fall flowers.
Whitegrass – Leersia virginica Native
Native in 62 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade.
River/Red Birch – Betula nigra Native
Native in 59 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 70 ft for full sun.
Southern Wax Myrtle – Myrica cerifera Native
Native in 44 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 10 ft for full sun, with showy fruit.
Cutleaf Coneflower – Rudbeckia laciniata Native
Native in 63 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
Grassleaf Rush – Juncus marginatus Native
Native in 61 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial rush for sun or part shade.
Water Oak – Quercus nigra Native
Native in 55 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 90 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Wax Myrtle – Morella cerifera Native
Native in 44 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 10 ft for full sun, with showy fruit.
Green Arrow Arum – Peltandra virginica Native
Native in 62 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade and wet soil, with spring flowers.
Fringed Sedge – Carex crinita Native
Native in 60 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Sour Gum/Tupelo – Nyssa sylvatica Native
Native in 53 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 95 ft that tolerates shade, with fall colour.
Summersweet – Clethra alnifolia Native
Native in 43 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 16 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit.
Jack in the Pulpit – Arisaema triphyllum Native
Native in 60 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with early summer flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Prickly Bog Sedge – Carex atlantica Native
Native in 60 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Virginia Pine – Pinus virginiana Native
Native in 53 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 70 ft for full sun.
Highbush Blueberry – Vaccinium corymbosum Native
Native in 42 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 12 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Swamp Milkweed – Asclepias incarnata Native
Native in 60 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun and wet soil, with fall flowers.
Forked Rush – Juncus dichotomus Native
Native in 59 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial rush for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Black Oak – Quercus velutina Native
Native in 52 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 80 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Chickasaw Plum – Prunus angustifolia Native
Native in 41 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 12 ft for full sun, with showy fruit.
Blue Eyed Grass – Sisyrinchium angustifolium Native
Native in 59 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with mid-spring flowers.
Needlepod Rush – Juncus scirpoides Native
Native in 59 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial rush that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Eastern Black Walnut – Juglans nigra Native
Native in 51 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for full sun, with showy fruit.
Black Raspberry – Rubus occidentalis Native
Native in 39 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 6 ft for sun or part shade, with mid-spring flowers and showy fruit.
American Bur-Reed – Sparganium americanum Native
Native in 57 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Slender Woodoats – Chasmanthium laxum Native
Native in 57 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade.
Sweet Bay Magnolia – Magnolia virginiana Native
Native in 51 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 60 ft for sun or part shade, with summer flowers and showy fruit.
Hercules's Club – Aralia spinosa Native
Native in 39 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 20 ft for full sun, with early summer flowers.
Black-Eyed Susan – Rudbeckia hirta Native
Native in 57 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A wildflower for full sun, with summer flowers.
Eastern Gamagrass – Tripsacum dactyloides Native
Native in 56 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
American Elm – Ulmus americana Native
Native in 49 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 120 ft for sun or part shade, with fall colour.
Southern Bayberry – Morella caroliniensis Native
Native in 39 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 7 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil, with showy fruit.
Bristly Buttercup – Ranunculus hispidus Native
Native in 57 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with early spring flowers.
Big Bluestem – Andropogon gerardii Native
Native in 54 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
Pawpaw – Asimina triloba Native
Native in 48 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 25 ft that tolerates shade, with fall colour.
Coast Leucothoe – Leucothoe axillaris Native
Native in 38 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub up to 7 ft that tolerates shade.
Jerusalem Artichoke – Helianthus tuberosus Native
Native in 53 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
Awlfruit Sedge – Carex stipata Native
Native in 51 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Eastern Redbud – Cercis canadensis Native
Native in 45 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 30 ft that tolerates shade, with spring flowers and showy fruit.
Canadian Serviceberry – Amelanchier canadensis Native
Native in 36 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 23 ft for sun or part shade, with mid-spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Lanceleaf Tickseed – Coreopsis lanceolata Native
Native in 53 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun, with late summer flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Switchgrass – Panicum virgatum Native
Native in 51 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
American Linden – Tilia americana Native
Native in 44 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft that tolerates shade, with late spring flowers and fall colour.
Steeplebush – Spiraea tomentosa Native
Native in 35 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 4 ft for full sun, with summer flowers and fall colour.
Blue Mistflower – Conoclinium coelestinum Native
Native in 52 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial that tolerates shade, with fall colour.
Hairawn Muhly – Muhlenbergia capillaris Native
Native in 50 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun, with fall colour.
Red Oak – Quercus rubra Native
Native in 44 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 81 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Bristly Dewberry – Rubus hispidus Native
Native in 33 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 2 ft for full sun, with spring flowers and showy fruit.
Swamp Sunflower – Helianthus angustifolius Native
Native in 52 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
Three-Way Sedge – Dulichium arundinaceum Native
Native in 50 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade.
Willow Oak – Quercus phellos Native
Native in 44 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Bushy St. Johnswort – Hypericum densiflorum Native
Native in 33 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 7 ft that tolerates shade.
Ditch Stonecrop – Penthorum sedoides Native
Native in 48 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for sun or part shade.
Greenwhite Sedge – Carex albolutescens Native
Native in 49 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade.
Bitternut Hickory – Carya cordiformis Native
Native in 43 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 75 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Shining Fetterbush – Lyonia lucida Native
Native in 31 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub up to 7 ft that tolerates shade, with spring flowers.
Pickerelweed – Pontederia cordata Native
Native in 48 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun and wet soil, with late spring flowers.
Sugarcane Plumegrass – Saccharum giganteum Native
Native in 49 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun, with fall colour.
Green Ash – Fraxinus pennsylvanica Native
Native in 43 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 80 ft that tolerates shade, with fall colour.
Large Gallberry – Ilex coriacea Native
Native in 29 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 12 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Canada Germander – Teucrium canadense Native
Native in 43 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade and wet soil, with summer flowers.
Deertongue – Dichanthelium clandestinum Native
Native in 48 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
Loblolly Pine – Pinus taeda Native
Native in 43 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 100 ft for full sun.
Beaked Hazelnut – Corylus cornuta Native
Native in 28 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 15 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit.
Virginia Iris – Iris virginica Native
Native in 42 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade and wet soil, with spring flowers.
Blunt Broom Sedge – Carex tribuloides Native
Native in 47 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Swamp Chestnut Oak – Quercus michauxii Native
Native in 43 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 80 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Stiff Dogwood – Cornus foemina Native
Native in 28 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 16 ft for sun or part shade, with mid-spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Tenangle Pipewort – Eriocaulon decangulare Native
Native in 41 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for full sun, with showy fruit.
Sea Oats – Chasmanthium latifolium Native
Native in 45 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade, with showy fruit.
White Ash – Fraxinus americana Native
Native in 42 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 90 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Smooth Azalea – Rhododendron arborescens Native
Native in 26 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 18 ft that tolerates shade, with late spring flowers and fall colour.
Golden Ragwort – Packera aurea Native
Native in 39 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with early spring flowers.
Nuttall's Reedgrass – Calamagrostis coarctata Native
Native in 44 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun and wet soil.
Box Elder – Acer negundo Native
Native in 39 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 60 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Swamp Loosestrife – Decodon verticillatus Native
Native in 26 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 8 ft for sun or part shade and wet soil, with midsummer flowers.
Purplehead Sneezeweed – Helenium flexuosum Native
Native in 39 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun, with summer flowers.
Green Bulrush – Scirpus atrovirens Native
Native in 43 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for full sun.
Carolina Ash – Fraxinus caroliniana Native
Native in 37 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 39 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil, with fall colour.
Elliott's Blueberry – Vaccinium elliottii Native
Native in 25 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 10 ft for sun or part shade, with early spring flowers and showy fruit.
Bearded Beggarticks – Bidens aristosa Native
Native in 38 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A wildflower for sun or part shade, with late summer flowers and showy fruit.
Oval-Leaf Sedge – Carex cephalophora Native
Native in 42 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade.
Possumhaw – Ilex decidua Native
Native in 37 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 33 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit.
Witherod Viburnum – Viburnum cassinoides Native
Native in 25 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 15 ft that tolerates shade, with early summer flowers.
Golden Tickseed – Coreopsis tinctoria Native
Native in 37 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A wildflower for sun or part shade, with late spring flowers.
Broom Sedge – Carex scoparia Native
Native in 39 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Swamp Tupelo – Nyssa biflora Native
Native in 37 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 115 ft for full sun and wet soil, with fall colour.
American Plum – Prunus americana Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 24 ft for full sun, with mid-spring flowers and showy fruit.
Smooth Phlox – Phlox glaberrima Native
Native in 34 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade and wet soil, with late spring flowers.
Eastern Woodland Sedge – Carex blanda Native
Native in 37 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Hophornbeam – Ostrya virginiana Native
Native in 36 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 45 ft that tolerates shade.
Dwarf Fothergilla – Fothergilla gardenii Native
Native in 21 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 4 ft for sun or part shade and wet soil, with spring flowers.
Sharpwing Monkeyflower – Mimulus alatus Native
Native in 33 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade and wet soil, with summer flowers.
Softstem Bulrush – Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Native
Native in 37 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for full sun and wet soil.
Redbay – Persea borbonia Native
Native in 36 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 70 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil, with late spring flowers and showy fruit.
Bedstraw St. Johnswort – Hypericum galioides Native
Native in 19 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 2.5 ft for full sun, with early summer flowers.
Swamp Smartweed – Polygonum hydropiperoides Native
Native in 33 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for full sun and wet soil.
Canadian Rush – Juncus canadensis Native
Native in 32 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial rush for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Sugarberry – Celtis laevigata Native
Native in 35 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 80 ft that tolerates shade, with fall colour.
Hobblebush – Viburnum lantanoides Native
Native in 14 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 10 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil, with late spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Scarlet Indian Paintbrush – Castilleja coccinea Native
Native in 32 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An annual wildflower that tolerates shade, with mid-spring flowers.
Frank's Sedge – Carex frankii Native
Native in 32 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Bald Cypress – Taxodium distichum Native
Native in 34 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 130 ft for sun or part shade and wet soil, with fall colour.
Dwarf Palmetto – Sabal minor Native
Native in 12 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 9 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Wild Bergamot – Monarda fistulosa Native
Native in 31 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade and wet soil, with summer flowers.
Thinfruit Sedge – Carex flaccosperma Native
Native in 29 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Cherrybark Oak – Quercus pagoda Native
Native in 34 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 120 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
White Meadowsweet – Spiraea alba Native
Native in 11 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 3 ft for sun or part shade, with late spring flowers.
Nodding Lady's Tresses – Spiranthes cernua Native
Native in 29 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun and wet soil, with late summer flowers.
Cattail Sedge – Carex typhina Native
Native in 28 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Overcup Oak – Quercus lyrata Native
Native in 33 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 80 ft for sun or part shade and wet soil, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Leatherleaf – Chamaedaphne calyculata Native
Native in 10 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub up to 4 ft for sun or part shade.
American Water-Willow – Justicia americana Native
Native in 27 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade and wet soil, with late spring flowers.
Toad Rush – Juncus bufonius Native
Native in 27 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An annual rush for full sun and wet soil.
Coastal Plain Willow – Salix caroliniana Native
Native in 32 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 33 ft for sun or part shade, with fall colour.
Bushy Seaside Tansy – Borrichia frutescens Native
Native in 9 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 2.6 ft for full sun.
Canadian Milkvetch – Astragalus canadensis Native
Native in 24 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun, with midsummer flowers.
Knotgrass – Paspalum distichum Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun and wet soil.
Great Laurel – Rhododendron maximum Native
Native in 32 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 25 ft that tolerates shade, with mid-spring flowers and fall colour.
Sarvis Holly – Ilex amelanchier Native
Native in 6 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 16 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit.
Purpleleaf Willowherb – Epilobium coloratum Native
Native in 24 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade and wet soil, with summer flowers.
Squarrose Sedge – Carex squarrosa Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Honey Locust – Gleditsia triacanthos Native
Native in 30 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 70 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Mountain Azalea – Rhododendron canescens Native
Native in 4 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 14 ft that tolerates shade, with spring flowers.
Common Duckmeat – Spirodela polyrrhiza Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade and wet soil, with late summer flowers.
Thicket Sedge – Carex abscondita Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Cucumber Tree – Magnolia acuminata Native
Native in 29 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for sun or part shade, with mid-spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Bayberry – Myrica pensylvanica Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 12 ft for full sun, with showy fruit.
Roundleaf Goldenrod – Solidago patula Native
Native in 22 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade and wet soil, with fall flowers and fall colour.
Upright Sedge – Carex stricta Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade.
Eastern Cottonwood – Populus deltoides Native
Native in 29 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 190 ft for full sun and wet soil, with showy fruit.
Common Juniper – Juniperus communis Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 10 ft for full sun, with showy fruit.
Carolina Redroot – Lachnanthes caroliana Native
Native in 20 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for full sun and wet soil.
Haspan Flatsedge – Cyperus haspan Native
Native in 22 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for full sun, with showy fruit.
Eastern White Pine – Pinus strobus Native
Native in 27 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 150 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit.
Northern Bayberry – Morella pensylvanica Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 12 ft for full sun, with showy fruit.
Pale Touch-Me-Not – Impatiens pallida Native
Native in 20 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An annual that tolerates shade.
Graceful Sedge – Carex gracillima Native
Native in 20 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade.
Laurel Oak – Quercus laurifolia Native
Native in 26 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 70 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Spanish Bayonet – Yucca aloifolia Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen shrub or small tree up to 15 ft for sun or part shade, with early summer flowers and showy fruit.
Philadelphia Daisy – Erigeron philadelphicus Native
Native in 20 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A wildflower for sun or part shade, with mid-spring flowers.
Longhair Sedge – Carex comosa Native
Native in 20 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Pond Pine – Pinus serotina Native
Native in 26 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 80 ft for full sun.
Woolly Beachheather – Hudsonia tomentosa Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 1 ft for full sun, with late spring flowers and fall colour.
Hairy Chaffhead – Carphephorus paniculatus Native
Native in 19 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
Giant Cutgrass – Zizaniopsis miliacea Native
Native in 19 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun and wet soil, with fall colour.
Parsley Hawthorn – Crataegus marshallii Native
Native in 25 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 25 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil, with mid-spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Gray Dogwood – Cornus racemosa Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 10 ft that tolerates shade, with late spring flowers and showy fruit.
American Water Plantain – Alisma subcordatum Native
Native in 18 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun and wet soil, with late spring flowers.
Drooping Sedge – Carex prasina Native
Native in 18 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade.
Pumpkin Ash – Fraxinus profunda Native
Native in 25 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 120 ft for sun or part shade, with fall colour.
Mountain Alder – Alnus viridis subsp. crispa Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub or small tree up to 10 ft for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Gay Feather – Liatris spicata Native
Native in 18 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with late summer flowers.
Greater Straw Sedge – Carex normalis Native
Native in 18 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Canadian Hemlock – Tsuga canadensis Native
Native in 24 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 105 ft that tolerates shade.
Sweetgale – Myrica gale Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A shrub up to 6 ft that tolerates shade.
Bur Marigold – Bidens laevis Native
Native in 17 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A wildflower for sun or part shade, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
Squarestem Spikerush – Eleocharis quadrangulata Native
Native in 17 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for full sun and wet soil.
Green Hawthorn – Crataegus viridis Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 30 ft for full sun, with early spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Maryland Senna – Senna marilandica Native
Native in 16 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with summer flowers.
Twisted Sedge – Carex torta Native
Native in 17 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Pitch Pine – Pinus rigida Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 80 ft for full sun, with showy fruit.
Bigleaf Aster – Eurybia macrophylla Native
Native in 14 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
Fragrant Flatsedge – Cyperus odoratus Native
Native in 16 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A sedge for full sun.
Shagbark Hickory – Carya ovata Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 75 ft for sun or part shade, with late spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Halberdleaf Rosemallow – Hibiscus laevis Native
Native in 14 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade and wet soil, with midsummer flowers.
Bitter Panicgrass – Panicum amarum Native
Native in 14 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
Slippery Elm – Ulmus rubra Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 85 ft that tolerates shade.
Coon's Tail – Ceratophyllum demersum Native
Native in 13 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Gray's Sedge – Carex grayi Native
Native in 14 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Water Hickory – Carya aquatica Native
Native in 23 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 85 ft for sun or part shade.
Indian Blanket – Gaillardia pulchella Native
Native in 12 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A wildflower for full sun, with showy flowers.
Whiteroot Rush – Juncus brachycarpus Native
Native in 14 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial rush for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Cockspur Hawthorn – Crataegus crus-galli Native
Native in 21 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 30 ft for full sun, with late spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Bottle Gentian – Gentiana clausa Native
Native in 11 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
Jamaica Swamp Sawgrass – Cladium mariscus subsp. jamaicense Native
Native in 13 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for full sun and wet soil.
Washington Hawthorn – Crataegus phaenopyrum Native
Native in 20 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 30 ft for full sun, with mid-spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
American Lotus – Nelumbo lutea Native
Native in 10 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun and wet soil, with midsummer flowers and showy fruit.
Melic Mannagrass – Glyceria melicaria Native
Native in 12 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
Lob Lolly Bay – Gordonia lasianthus Native
Native in 19 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 65 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil, with early summer flowers.
American Water Horehound – Lycopus americanus Native
Native in 10 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Big Cordgrass – Spartina cynosuroides Native
Native in 11 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun and wet soil.
Atlantic White Cedar – Chamaecyparis thyoides Native
Native in 18 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 50 ft for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Common Cowparsnip – Heracleum maximum Native
Native in 10 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun, with early summer flowers.
Limestone Meadow Sedge – Carex granularis Native
Native in 11 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Table Mountain Pine – Pinus pungens Native
Native in 18 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 50 ft for full sun.
Jesuit's Bark – Iva frutescens Native
Native in 10 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun and wet soil, with late summer flowers.
Needle Spikerush – Eleocharis acicularis Native
Native in 11 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A sedge for full sun.
Sugar Maple – Acer saccharum Native
Native in 17 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft that tolerates shade, with fall colour.
American Eelgrass – Vallisneria americana Native
Native in 9 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for full sun and wet soil.
Needlegrass Rush – Juncus roemerianus Native
Native in 10 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial rush for full sun and wet soil.
Shumard Red Oak – Quercus shumardii Native
Native in 16 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Nodding Beggartick – Bidens cernua Native
Native in 9 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An annual wildflower for sun or part shade, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
Salt Grass – Distichlis spicata Native
Native in 10 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun and wet soil.
Silver Maple – Acer saccharinum Native
Native in 16 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 90 ft for sun or part shade and wet soil, with early spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Skunk Cabbage – Symplocarpus foetidus Native
Native in 8 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with summer flowers.
Annual Wildrice – Zizania aquatica Native
Native in 9 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An annual grass for full sun and wet soil.
Water Tupelo – Nyssa aquatica Native
Native in 14 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for full sun and wet soil, with fall colour.
Wild Blue Phlox – Phlox divaricata Native
Native in 8 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with midsummer flowers.
Atlantic Mannagrass – Glyceria obtusa Native
Native in 9 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Pin Cherry – Prunus pensylvanica Native
Native in 13 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 30 ft for full sun, with mid-spring flowers and showy fruit.
Kurapia – Phyla nodiflora Native
Native in 7 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for sun or part shade.
Seashore Paspalum – Paspalum vaginatum Native
Native in 7 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun and wet soil.
Pond Cypress – Taxodium ascendens Native
Native in 13 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for sun or part shade and wet soil, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Foxglove Beardtongue – Penstemon digitalis Native
Native in 6 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with late spring flowers.
Dwarf Spikerush – Eleocharis parvula Native
Native in 6 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A sedge for full sun and wet soil.
American Mountain Ash – Sorbus americana Native
Native in 12 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 40 ft for sun or part shade, with early summer flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Longleaf Pondweed – Potamogeton nodosus Native
Native in 5 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for full sun and wet soil.
Seaoats – Uniola paniculata Native
Native in 6 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Butternut – Juglans cinerea Native
Native in 12 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 80 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Marsh Marigold – Caltha palustris Native
Native in 5 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun and wet soil, with mid-spring flowers.
Jointed Spikesedge – Eleocharis equisetoides Native
Native in 5 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for full sun and wet soil.
Southern Live Oak – Quercus virginiana Native
Native in 12 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 50 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit.
Purple Coneflower – Echinacea purpurea Native
Native in 5 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun, with early summer flowers.
Prairie Cordgrass – Spartina pectinata Native
Native in 5 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun and wet soil.
Red Spruce – Picea rubens Native
Native in 11 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 110 ft that tolerates shade.
American Speedwell – Veronica americana Native
Native in 4 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with midsummer flowers.
Riverbank Wildrye – Elymus riparius Native
Native in 5 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade.
Yaupon – Ilex vomitoria Native
Native in 10 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 25 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Crowned Beggarticks – Bidens coronata Native
Native in 4 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An annual wildflower for sun or part shade, with late summer flowers and fall colour.
American Beachgrass – Ammophila breviligulata Native
Native in 4 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
Fraser Fir – Abies fraseri Native
Native in 9 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 55 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit.
California Poppy – Eschscholzia californica Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A wildflower for sun or part shade, with late spring flowers.
Ravenfoot Sedge – Carex crus-corvi Native
Native in 4 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade.
Pin Oak – Quercus palustris Native
Native in 9 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for full sun, with fall colour.
Largeleaf Pondweed – Potamogeton amplifolius Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for full sun and wet soil.
Bluejoint – Calamagrostis canadensis Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun and wet soil.
Swamp White Oak – Quercus bicolor Native
Native in 8 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft for sun or part shade, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Moss Pink – Phlox subulata Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with early spring flowers and fall colour.
Fowl Bluegrass – Poa palustris Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for sun or part shade.
Western Catalpa – Catalpa speciosa Native
Native in 8 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 60 ft for full sun, with early summer flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Pale Purple Coneflower – Echinacea pallida Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for full sun, with early summer flowers.
Mexican Muhly – Muhlenbergia mexicana Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for sun or part shade.
Bean Tree – Catalpa bignonioides Native
Native in 7 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 66 ft for sun or part shade, with mid-spring flowers and showy fruit.
Water Knotweed – Polygonum amphibium Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for full sun and wet soil.
Necklace Sedge – Carex projecta Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Yellow Wood – Cladrastis kentukea Native
Native in 7 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 40 ft for sun or part shade, with early summer flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
White Doll's Daisy – Boltonia asteroides Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with midsummer flowers.
St. Augustine Grass – Stenotaphrum secundatum Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade.
Common Hackberry – Celtis occidentalis Native
Native in 6 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 60 ft that tolerates shade, with fall colour.
Common Duckweed – Lemna minor Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial for full sun and wet soil.
Canada Wildrye – Elymus canadensis Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade.
Osage-Orange – Maclura pomifera Native
Native in 5 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 35 ft for full sun, with showy fruit.
Rough Avens – Geum laciniatum Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with late spring flowers.
Crested Sedge – Carex cristatella Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Planertree – Planera aquatica Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 50 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil.
Virginia Bluebells – Mertensia virginica Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower that tolerates shade, with spring flowers.
Hairyfruit Sedge – Carex trichocarpa Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Southern Magnolia – Magnolia grandiflora Native
Native in 3 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 100 ft that tolerates shade, with mid-spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Wild Mint – Mentha arvensis Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial wildflower for sun or part shade, with spring flowers.
Common Spikerush – Eleocharis palustris Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for full sun and wet soil.
Bigtooth Aspen – Populus grandidentata Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 65 ft for full sun.
Fringed Brome – Bromus ciliatus Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass that tolerates shade.
Chokecherry – Prunus virginiana Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 25 ft for full sun, with mid-spring flowers, showy fruit and fall colour.
Gulf Coast Spikerush – Eleocharis cellulosa Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for full sun and wet soil.
Dahoon – Ilex cassine Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. An evergreen tree up to 26 ft that tolerates shade and wet soil, with showy fruit.
Jointleaf Rush – Juncus articulatus Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial rush for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Gray Birch – Betula populifolia Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 25 ft for sun or part shade, with fall colour.
Prairie Dropseed – Sporobolus heterolepis Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for sun or part shade.
Pecan – Carya illinoinensis Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 120 ft for full sun, with showy fruit.
Seashore Dropseed – Sporobolus virginicus Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for sun or part shade.
Shellbark Hickory – Carya laciniosa Native
Native in 2 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 100 ft that tolerates shade, with showy fruit.
Sideoats Grama – Bouteloua curtipendula Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
May Hawthorn – Crataegus aestivalis Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 26 ft for full sun, with mid-spring flowers and showy fruit.
Silvery Sedge – Carex canescens Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial sedge for sun or part shade and wet soil.
Nutmeg Hickory – Carya myristiciformis Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 95 ft for full sun, with showy fruit and fall colour.
Slender Wheatgrass – Elymus trachycaulus trachycaulus Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for full sun.
Paper Birch – Betula papyrifera Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 70 ft for full sun, with mid-spring flowers and fall colour.
Spike Trisetum – Trisetum spicatum Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for sun or part shade.
Quaking Aspen – Populus tremuloides Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A tree up to 65 ft for full sun.
Spiked Muhly – Muhlenbergia glomerata Native
Native in 1 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. A perennial grass for sun or part shade and wet soil.
No plant on this page matches that.
USDA records 249 of these 365 plants as native in fewer than half of North Carolina’s counties. The map on each card shows where. A county with no record may never have been surveyed for that plant, so look at the counties around yours too, or use the county checker for an address-level answer.
North Carolina’s own list regulates 15 plants. None of them is on this page. North Carolina noxious weeds has each one, with the rule cited.
Want to check a plant by photo or county?
Use our “Is it native” tool for free.Compiled from USDA PLANTS, retrieved June 13, 2026. If you spot a plant we have wrong, tell us at [email protected].
The same list as a table
| Plant | Scientific name | Type | Light | Native counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Beachgrass | Ammophila breviligulata | Grass | Full sun | 4 of 100 |
| American Beautyberry | Callicarpa americana | Shrub | Sun or part shade | 55 of 100 |
| American Beech | Fagus grandifolia | Tree | Tolerates shade | 67 of 100 |
| American Bittersweet | Celastrus scandens | Vine | Tolerates shade | 9 of 100 |
| American Black Elderberry | Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 90 of 100 |
| American Bur-Reed | Sparganium americanum | Perennial | Sun or part shade | 57 of 100 |
| American Eelgrass | Vallisneria americana | Perennial | Full sun | 9 of 100 |
| American Elm | Ulmus americana | Tree | Sun or part shade | 49 of 100 |
| American Hazelnut | Corylus americana | Shrub | Sun or part shade | 48 of 100 |
| American Holly | Ilex opaca | Tree | Tolerates shade | 83 of 100 |
| American Hornbeam | Carpinus caroliniana | Tree | Tolerates shade | 82 of 100 |
| American Linden | Tilia americana | Tree | Tolerates shade | 44 of 100 |
| American Lotus | Nelumbo lutea | Wildflower | Full sun | 10 of 100 |
| American Mountain Ash | Sorbus americana | Tree | Sun or part shade | 12 of 100 |
| American Persimmon | Diospyros virginiana | Tree | Tolerates shade | 62 of 100 |
| American Plum | Prunus americana | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 23 of 100 |
| American Speedwell | Veronica americana | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 4 of 100 |
| American Water Horehound | Lycopus americanus | Perennial | Tolerates shade | 10 of 100 |
| American Water Plantain | Alisma subcordatum | Wildflower | Full sun | 18 of 100 |
| American Water-Willow | Justicia americana | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 27 of 100 |
| American Wisteria | Wisteria frutescens | Vine | Tolerates shade | 20 of 100 |
| Annual Wildrice | Zizania aquatica | Grass | Full sun | 9 of 100 |
| Arrowleaf Tearthumb | Polygonum sagittatum | Vine | Full sun | 73 of 100 |
| Atlantic Mannagrass | Glyceria obtusa | Grass | Tolerates shade | 9 of 100 |
| Atlantic White Cedar | Chamaecyparis thyoides | Tree | Sun or part shade | 18 of 100 |
| Awlfruit Sedge | Carex stipata | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 51 of 100 |
| Bald Cypress | Taxodium distichum | Tree | Sun or part shade | 34 of 100 |
| Bayberry | Myrica pensylvanica | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 2 of 100 |
| Beaked Hazelnut | Corylus cornuta | Shrub or small tree | Tolerates shade | 28 of 100 |
| Bean Tree | Catalpa bignonioides | Tree | Sun or part shade | 7 of 100 |
| Bearded Beggarticks | Bidens aristosa | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 38 of 100 |
| Bedstraw St. Johnswort | Hypericum galioides | Shrub | Full sun | 19 of 100 |
| Big Bluestem | Andropogon gerardii | Grass | Full sun | 54 of 100 |
| Big Cordgrass | Spartina cynosuroides | Grass | Full sun | 11 of 100 |
| Bigleaf Aster | Eurybia macrophylla | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 14 of 100 |
| Bigtooth Aspen | Populus grandidentata | Tree | Full sun | 2 of 100 |
| Bitter Panicgrass | Panicum amarum | Grass | Full sun | 14 of 100 |
| Bitternut Hickory | Carya cordiformis | Tree | Full sun | 43 of 100 |
| Black Cherry | Prunus serotina | Tree | Full sun | 87 of 100 |
| Black Oak | Quercus velutina | Tree | Sun or part shade | 52 of 100 |
| Black Raspberry | Rubus occidentalis | Shrub | Sun or part shade | 39 of 100 |
| Black Willow | Salix nigra | Tree | Full sun | 65 of 100 |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | Wildflower | Full sun | 57 of 100 |
| Blackhaw | Viburnum prunifolium | Shrub or small tree | Tolerates shade | 53 of 100 |
| Blackjack Oak | Quercus marilandica | Tree | Full sun | 66 of 100 |
| Blue Eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium angustifolium | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 59 of 100 |
| Blue Mistflower | Conoclinium coelestinum | Perennial | Tolerates shade | 52 of 100 |
| Bluejoint | Calamagrostis canadensis | Grass | Full sun | 3 of 100 |
| Blunt Broom Sedge | Carex tribuloides | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 47 of 100 |
| Blunt Spikerush | Eleocharis obtusa | Sedge | Full sun | 91 of 100 |
| Bottle Gentian | Gentiana clausa | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 11 of 100 |
| Box Elder | Acer negundo | Tree | Tolerates shade | 39 of 100 |
| Bristly Buttercup | Ranunculus hispidus | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 57 of 100 |
| Bristly Dewberry | Rubus hispidus | Shrub | Full sun | 33 of 100 |
| Broadleaf Arrowhead | Sagittaria latifolia | Wildflower | Full sun | 65 of 100 |
| Broadleaf Cattail | Typha latifolia | Perennial | Sun or part shade | 82 of 100 |
| Broom Sedge | Carex scoparia | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 39 of 100 |
| Bur Marigold | Bidens laevis | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 17 of 100 |
| Bushy Seaside Tansy | Borrichia frutescens | Shrub | Full sun | 9 of 100 |
| Bushy St. Johnswort | Hypericum densiflorum | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 33 of 100 |
| Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa | Wildflower | Full sun | 93 of 100 |
| Butternut | Juglans cinerea | Tree | Full sun | 12 of 100 |
| Button Bush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | Shrub or small tree | Tolerates shade | 71 of 100 |
| California Poppy | Eschscholzia californica | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 3 of 100 |
| Canada Germander | Teucrium canadense | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 43 of 100 |
| Canada Wildrye | Elymus canadensis | Grass | Tolerates shade | 2 of 100 |
| Canadian Hemlock | Tsuga canadensis | Tree | Tolerates shade | 24 of 100 |
| Canadian Milkvetch | Astragalus canadensis | Wildflower | Full sun | 24 of 100 |
| Canadian Rush | Juncus canadensis | Rush | Sun or part shade | 32 of 100 |
| Canadian Serviceberry | Amelanchier canadensis | Shrub or small tree | Sun or part shade | 36 of 100 |
| Cane Reed | Arundinaria gigantea | Shrub | Full sun | 66 of 100 |
| Cardinalflower | Lobelia cardinalis | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 79 of 100 |
| Carolina Ash | Fraxinus caroliniana | Tree | Tolerates shade | 37 of 100 |
| Carolina Redroot | Lachnanthes caroliana | Perennial | Full sun | 20 of 100 |
| Cattail Sedge | Carex typhina | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 28 of 100 |
| Cherrybark Oak | Quercus pagoda | Tree | Full sun | 34 of 100 |
| Chickasaw Plum | Prunus angustifolia | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 41 of 100 |
| Chokecherry | Prunus virginiana | Tree | Full sun | 2 of 100 |
| Cinnamon Fern | Osmunda cinnamomea | Fern | Tolerates shade | 66 of 100 |
| Coast Leucothoe | Leucothoe axillaris | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 38 of 100 |
| Coastal Plain Willow | Salix caroliniana | Tree | Sun or part shade | 32 of 100 |
| Cockspur Hawthorn | Crataegus crus-galli | Tree | Full sun | 21 of 100 |
| Common Blue Violet | Viola sororia | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 79 of 100 |
| Common Cowparsnip | Heracleum maximum | Wildflower | Full sun | 10 of 100 |
| Common Duckmeat | Spirodela polyrrhiza | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 23 of 100 |
| Common Duckweed | Lemna minor | Perennial | Full sun | 1 of 100 |
| Common Goldstar | Hypoxis hirsuta | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 82 of 100 |
| Common Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | Tree | Tolerates shade | 6 of 100 |
| Common Juniper | Juniperus communis | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 2 of 100 |
| Common Maidenhair | Adiantum capillus-veneris | Fern | Tolerates shade | 2 of 100 |
| Common Rush | Juncus effusus | Rush | Full sun | 91 of 100 |
| Common Selfheal | Prunella vulgaris | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 78 of 100 |
| Common Sneeze Weed | Helenium autumnale | Wildflower | Full sun | 63 of 100 |
| Common Spikerush | Eleocharis palustris | Sedge | Full sun | 1 of 100 |
| Common Winterberry | Ilex verticillata | Shrub or small tree | Sun or part shade | 56 of 100 |
| Common Witch Hazel | Hamamelis virginiana | Shrub or small tree | Sun or part shade | 70 of 100 |
| Coon's Tail | Ceratophyllum demersum | Perennial | Sun or part shade | 13 of 100 |
| Coral Greenbrier | Smilax walteri | Vine | Tolerates shade | 28 of 100 |
| Crested Sedge | Carex cristatella | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 2 of 100 |
| Crested Woodfern | Dryopteris cristata | Fern | Tolerates shade | 10 of 100 |
| Crimsoneyed Rosemallow | Hibiscus moscheutos | Wildflower | Full sun | 67 of 100 |
| Crowned Beggarticks | Bidens coronata | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 4 of 100 |
| Cucumber Tree | Magnolia acuminata | Tree | Sun or part shade | 29 of 100 |
| Cutleaf Coneflower | Rudbeckia laciniata | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 63 of 100 |
| Dahoon | Ilex cassine | Tree | Tolerates shade | 2 of 100 |
| Deertongue | Dichanthelium clandestinum | Grass | Full sun | 48 of 100 |
| Devil's Beggartick | Bidens frondosa | Annual | Sun or part shade | 69 of 100 |
| Ditch Stonecrop | Penthorum sedoides | Perennial | Sun or part shade | 48 of 100 |
| Dotted Smartweed | Polygonum punctatum | Wildflower | Full sun | 76 of 100 |
| Drooping Sedge | Carex prasina | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 18 of 100 |
| Dwarf Fothergilla | Fothergilla gardenii | Shrub | Sun or part shade | 21 of 100 |
| Dwarf Palmetto | Sabal minor | Shrub or small tree | Tolerates shade | 12 of 100 |
| Dwarf Spikerush | Eleocharis parvula | Sedge | Full sun | 6 of 100 |
| Eastern Baccharis | Baccharis halimifolia | Shrub or small tree | Sun or part shade | 56 of 100 |
| Eastern Black Walnut | Juglans nigra | Tree | Full sun | 51 of 100 |
| Eastern Cottonwood | Populus deltoides | Tree | Full sun | 29 of 100 |
| Eastern Dogwood | Cornus florida | Tree | Tolerates shade | 90 of 100 |
| Eastern Gamagrass | Tripsacum dactyloides | Grass | Full sun | 56 of 100 |
| Eastern Redbud | Cercis canadensis | Tree | Tolerates shade | 45 of 100 |
| Eastern Redcedar | Juniperus virginiana | Tree | Sun or part shade | 67 of 100 |
| Eastern White Oak | Quercus alba | Tree | Sun or part shade | 74 of 100 |
| Eastern White Pine | Pinus strobus | Tree | Sun or part shade | 27 of 100 |
| Eastern Woodland Sedge | Carex blanda | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 37 of 100 |
| Elliott's Blueberry | Vaccinium elliottii | Shrub | Sun or part shade | 25 of 100 |
| Fall Panicgrass | Panicum dichotomiflorum | Grass | Full sun | 77 of 100 |
| Field Horsetail | Equisetum arvense | Horsetail | Sun or part shade | 25 of 100 |
| Forked Rush | Juncus dichotomus | Rush | Sun or part shade | 59 of 100 |
| Fowl Bluegrass | Poa palustris | Grass | Sun or part shade | 3 of 100 |
| Fowl Mannagrass | Glyceria striata | Grass | Tolerates shade | 68 of 100 |
| Fox Sedge | Carex vulpinoidea | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 75 of 100 |
| Foxglove Beardtongue | Penstemon digitalis | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 6 of 100 |
| Fragrant Flatsedge | Cyperus odoratus | Sedge | Full sun | 16 of 100 |
| Frank's Sedge | Carex frankii | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 32 of 100 |
| Fraser Fir | Abies fraseri | Tree | Tolerates shade | 9 of 100 |
| Fringed Brome | Bromus ciliatus | Grass | Tolerates shade | 1 of 100 |
| Fringed Sedge | Carex crinita | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 60 of 100 |
| Gay Feather | Liatris spicata | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 18 of 100 |
| Giant Cutgrass | Zizaniopsis miliacea | Grass | Full sun | 19 of 100 |
| Giant Goldenrod | Solidago gigantea | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 76 of 100 |
| Golden Ragwort | Packera aurea | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 39 of 100 |
| Golden Tickseed | Coreopsis tinctoria | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 37 of 100 |
| Graceful Sedge | Carex gracillima | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 20 of 100 |
| Grassleaf Rush | Juncus marginatus | Rush | Sun or part shade | 61 of 100 |
| Gray Birch | Betula populifolia | Tree | Sun or part shade | 2 of 100 |
| Gray Dogwood | Cornus racemosa | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 1 of 100 |
| Gray's Sedge | Carex grayi | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 14 of 100 |
| Great Laurel | Rhododendron maximum | Tree | Tolerates shade | 32 of 100 |
| Greater Bladder Sedge | Carex intumescens | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 77 of 100 |
| Greater Straw Sedge | Carex normalis | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 18 of 100 |
| Green Arrow Arum | Peltandra virginica | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 62 of 100 |
| Green Ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Tree | Tolerates shade | 43 of 100 |
| Green Bulrush | Scirpus atrovirens | Sedge | Full sun | 43 of 100 |
| Green Hawthorn | Crataegus viridis | Tree | Full sun | 23 of 100 |
| Greenwhite Sedge | Carex albolutescens | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 49 of 100 |
| Groundnut | Apios americana | Vine | Tolerates shade | 71 of 100 |
| Gulf Coast Spikerush | Eleocharis cellulosa | Sedge | Full sun | 1 of 100 |
| Hairawn Muhly | Muhlenbergia capillaris | Grass | Full sun | 50 of 100 |
| Hairy Chaffhead | Carphephorus paniculatus | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 19 of 100 |
| Hairyfruit Sedge | Carex trichocarpa | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 2 of 100 |
| Halberdleaf Rosemallow | Hibiscus laevis | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 14 of 100 |
| Haspan Flatsedge | Cyperus haspan | Sedge | Full sun | 22 of 100 |
| Hazel Alder | Alnus serrulata | Tree | Full sun | 81 of 100 |
| Hercules's Club | Aralia spinosa | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 39 of 100 |
| Highbush Blueberry | Vaccinium corymbosum | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 42 of 100 |
| Hobblebush | Viburnum lantanoides | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 14 of 100 |
| Honey Locust | Gleditsia triacanthos | Tree | Full sun | 30 of 100 |
| Hop Sedge | Carex lupulina | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 64 of 100 |
| Hophornbeam | Ostrya virginiana | Tree | Tolerates shade | 36 of 100 |
| Indian Blanket | Gaillardia pulchella | Wildflower | Full sun | 12 of 100 |
| Inkberry | Ilex glabra | Shrub | Full sun | 44 of 100 |
| Interrupted Fern | Osmunda claytoniana | Fern | Tolerates shade | 19 of 100 |
| Jack in the Pulpit | Arisaema triphyllum | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 60 of 100 |
| Jamaica Swamp Sawgrass | Cladium mariscus subsp. jamaicense | Sedge | Full sun | 13 of 100 |
| Jerusalem Artichoke | Helianthus tuberosus | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 53 of 100 |
| Jesuit's Bark | Iva frutescens | Wildflower | Full sun | 10 of 100 |
| Jointed Spikesedge | Eleocharis equisetoides | Sedge | Full sun | 5 of 100 |
| Jointleaf Rush | Juncus articulatus | Rush | Sun or part shade | 1 of 100 |
| Knotgrass | Paspalum distichum | Grass | Full sun | 23 of 100 |
| Kurapia | Phyla nodiflora | Perennial | Sun or part shade | 7 of 100 |
| Lanceleaf Tickseed | Coreopsis lanceolata | Wildflower | Full sun | 53 of 100 |
| Large Gallberry | Ilex coriacea | Shrub or small tree | Tolerates shade | 29 of 100 |
| Largeleaf Pondweed | Potamogeton amplifolius | Perennial | Full sun | 3 of 100 |
| Laurel Oak | Quercus laurifolia | Tree | Tolerates shade | 26 of 100 |
| Leatherleaf | Chamaedaphne calyculata | Shrub | Sun or part shade | 10 of 100 |
| Limestone Meadow Sedge | Carex granularis | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 11 of 100 |
| Little Bluestem | Schizachyrium scoparium | Grass | Full sun | 80 of 100 |
| Littleleaf Buttercup | Ranunculus abortivus | Plant | Tolerates shade | 67 of 100 |
| Lob Lolly Bay | Gordonia lasianthus | Tree | Tolerates shade | 19 of 100 |
| Loblolly Pine | Pinus taeda | Tree | Full sun | 43 of 100 |
| Longhair Sedge | Carex comosa | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 20 of 100 |
| Longleaf Pondweed | Potamogeton nodosus | Perennial | Full sun | 5 of 100 |
| Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris | Wildflower | Full sun | 5 of 100 |
| Maryland Senna | Senna marilandica | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 16 of 100 |
| May Hawthorn | Crataegus aestivalis | Tree | Full sun | 1 of 100 |
| Melic Mannagrass | Glyceria melicaria | Grass | Full sun | 12 of 100 |
| Mexican Cardinal Flower | Lobelia fulgens | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 79 of 100 |
| Mexican Muhly | Muhlenbergia mexicana | Grass | Sun or part shade | 3 of 100 |
| Moss Pink | Phlox subulata | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 3 of 100 |
| Mountain Alder | Alnus viridis subsp. crispa | Shrub or small tree | Sun or part shade | 1 of 100 |
| Mountain Azalea | Rhododendron canescens | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 4 of 100 |
| Mountain Laurel | Kalmia latifolia | Shrub or small tree | Tolerates shade | 69 of 100 |
| Muscadine | Vitis rotundifolia | Vine | Sun or part shade | 69 of 100 |
| Necklace Sedge | Carex projecta | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 3 of 100 |
| Needle Spikerush | Eleocharis acicularis | Sedge | Full sun | 11 of 100 |
| Needlegrass Rush | Juncus roemerianus | Rush | Full sun | 10 of 100 |
| Needlepod Rush | Juncus scirpoides | Rush | Tolerates shade | 59 of 100 |
| New Jersey Tea | Ceanothus americanus | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 81 of 100 |
| New York Fern | Thelypteris noveboracensis | Fern | Tolerates shade | 48 of 100 |
| New York Ironweed | Vernonia noveboracensis | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 75 of 100 |
| Nodding Beggartick | Bidens cernua | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 9 of 100 |
| Nodding Lady's Tresses | Spiranthes cernua | Wildflower | Full sun | 29 of 100 |
| Northern Bayberry | Morella pensylvanica | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 2 of 100 |
| Northern Spicebush | Lindera benzoin | Shrub or small tree | Sun or part shade | 54 of 100 |
| Nutmeg Hickory | Carya myristiciformis | Tree | Full sun | 1 of 100 |
| Nuttall's Reedgrass | Calamagrostis coarctata | Grass | Full sun | 44 of 100 |
| Osage-Orange | Maclura pomifera | Tree | Full sun | 5 of 100 |
| Oval-Leaf Sedge | Carex cephalophora | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 42 of 100 |
| Overcup Oak | Quercus lyrata | Tree | Sun or part shade | 33 of 100 |
| Pale Purple Coneflower | Echinacea pallida | Wildflower | Full sun | 3 of 100 |
| Pale Touch-Me-Not | Impatiens pallida | Annual | Tolerates shade | 20 of 100 |
| Paper Birch | Betula papyrifera | Tree | Full sun | 1 of 100 |
| Parsley Hawthorn | Crataegus marshallii | Tree | Tolerates shade | 25 of 100 |
| Partridge Pea | Chamaecrista fasciculata | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 75 of 100 |
| Pawpaw | Asimina triloba | Tree | Tolerates shade | 48 of 100 |
| Pecan | Carya illinoinensis | Tree | Full sun | 2 of 100 |
| Pennsylvania Smartweed | Polygonum pensylvanicum | Wildflower | Full sun | 87 of 100 |
| Philadelphia Daisy | Erigeron philadelphicus | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 20 of 100 |
| Pickerelweed | Pontederia cordata | Wildflower | Full sun | 48 of 100 |
| Pin Cherry | Prunus pensylvanica | Tree | Full sun | 13 of 100 |
| Pin Oak | Quercus palustris | Tree | Full sun | 9 of 100 |
| Pitch Pine | Pinus rigida | Tree | Full sun | 23 of 100 |
| Planertree | Planera aquatica | Tree | Tolerates shade | 3 of 100 |
| Pond Cypress | Taxodium ascendens | Tree | Sun or part shade | 13 of 100 |
| Pond Pine | Pinus serotina | Tree | Full sun | 26 of 100 |
| Possumhaw | Ilex decidua | Tree | Tolerates shade | 37 of 100 |
| Post Oak | Quercus stellata | Tree | Full sun | 68 of 100 |
| Poverty Rush | Juncus tenuis | Rush | Sun or part shade | 74 of 100 |
| Prairie Cordgrass | Spartina pectinata | Grass | Full sun | 5 of 100 |
| Prairie Dropseed | Sporobolus heterolepis | Grass | Sun or part shade | 1 of 100 |
| Prickly Bog Sedge | Carex atlantica | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 60 of 100 |
| Pumpkin Ash | Fraxinus profunda | Tree | Sun or part shade | 25 of 100 |
| Purple Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea | Wildflower | Full sun | 5 of 100 |
| Purplehead Sneezeweed | Helenium flexuosum | Wildflower | Full sun | 39 of 100 |
| Purpleleaf Willowherb | Epilobium coloratum | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 24 of 100 |
| Quaking Aspen | Populus tremuloides | Tree | Full sun | 1 of 100 |
| Ravenfoot Sedge | Carex crus-corvi | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 4 of 100 |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum | Tree | Sun or part shade | 85 of 100 |
| Red Mulberry | Morus rubra | Tree | Tolerates shade | 63 of 100 |
| Red Oak | Quercus rubra | Tree | Sun or part shade | 44 of 100 |
| Red Spruce | Picea rubens | Tree | Tolerates shade | 11 of 100 |
| Redbay | Persea borbonia | Tree | Tolerates shade | 36 of 100 |
| Rice Cutgrass | Leersia oryzoides | Grass | Full sun | 77 of 100 |
| River/Red Birch | Betula nigra | Tree | Full sun | 59 of 100 |
| Riverbank Wildrye | Elymus riparius | Grass | Tolerates shade | 5 of 100 |
| Rough Avens | Geum laciniatum | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 1 of 100 |
| Roundleaf Goldenrod | Solidago patula | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 22 of 100 |
| Royal/Flowering Fern | Osmunda regalis | Fern | Tolerates shade | 66 of 100 |
| Salt Grass | Distichlis spicata | Grass | Full sun | 10 of 100 |
| Sarvis Holly | Ilex amelanchier | Shrub or small tree | Tolerates shade | 6 of 100 |
| Sassafras | Sassafras albidum | Tree | Full sun | 79 of 100 |
| Scarlet Indian Paintbrush | Castilleja coccinea | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 32 of 100 |
| Sea Oats | Chasmanthium latifolium | Grass | Tolerates shade | 45 of 100 |
| Seaoats | Uniola paniculata | Grass | Full sun | 6 of 100 |
| Seashore Dropseed | Sporobolus virginicus | Grass | Sun or part shade | 1 of 100 |
| Seashore Paspalum | Paspalum vaginatum | Grass | Full sun | 7 of 100 |
| Shagbark Hickory | Carya ovata | Tree | Sun or part shade | 23 of 100 |
| Shallow Sedge | Carex lurida | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 89 of 100 |
| Sharpwing Monkeyflower | Mimulus alatus | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 33 of 100 |
| Shellbark Hickory | Carya laciniosa | Tree | Tolerates shade | 2 of 100 |
| Shining Fetterbush | Lyonia lucida | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 31 of 100 |
| Shortleaf Pine | Pinus echinata | Tree | Full sun | 61 of 100 |
| Shumard Red Oak | Quercus shumardii | Tree | Full sun | 16 of 100 |
| Sideoats Grama | Bouteloua curtipendula | Grass | Full sun | 1 of 100 |
| Silky Dogwood | Cornus amomum | Shrub | Sun or part shade | 60 of 100 |
| Silky Willow | Salix sericea | Shrub or small tree | Sun or part shade | 55 of 100 |
| Silver Maple | Acer saccharinum | Tree | Sun or part shade | 16 of 100 |
| Silvery Sedge | Carex canescens | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 1 of 100 |
| Skunk Cabbage | Symplocarpus foetidus | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 8 of 100 |
| Slender Wheatgrass | Elymus trachycaulus trachycaulus | Grass | Full sun | 1 of 100 |
| Slender Woodoats | Chasmanthium laxum | Grass | Tolerates shade | 57 of 100 |
| Slippery Elm | Ulmus rubra | Tree | Tolerates shade | 23 of 100 |
| Smooth Azalea | Rhododendron arborescens | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 26 of 100 |
| Smooth Phlox | Phlox glaberrima | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 34 of 100 |
| Smooth Sumac | Rhus glabra | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 57 of 100 |
| Softstem Bulrush | Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani | Sedge | Full sun | 37 of 100 |
| Sour Gum/Tupelo | Nyssa sylvatica | Tree | Tolerates shade | 53 of 100 |
| Sourwood Tree | Oxydendrum arboreum | Tree | Tolerates shade | 83 of 100 |
| Southern Bayberry | Morella caroliniensis | Shrub or small tree | Tolerates shade | 39 of 100 |
| Southern Live Oak | Quercus virginiana | Tree | Sun or part shade | 12 of 100 |
| Southern Magnolia | Magnolia grandiflora | Tree | Tolerates shade | 3 of 100 |
| Southern Red Oak | Quercus falcata | Tree | Sun or part shade | 65 of 100 |
| Southern Wax Myrtle | Myrica cerifera | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 44 of 100 |
| Spanish Bayonet | Yucca aloifolia | Shrub or small tree | Sun or part shade | 2 of 100 |
| Spike Trisetum | Trisetum spicatum | Grass | Sun or part shade | 1 of 100 |
| Spiked Muhly | Muhlenbergia glomerata | Grass | Sun or part shade | 1 of 100 |
| Squarestem Spikerush | Eleocharis quadrangulata | Sedge | Full sun | 17 of 100 |
| Squarrose Sedge | Carex squarrosa | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 23 of 100 |
| St. Augustine Grass | Stenotaphrum secundatum | Grass | Tolerates shade | 3 of 100 |
| Steeplebush | Spiraea tomentosa | Shrub | Full sun | 35 of 100 |
| Stiff Dogwood | Cornus foemina | Shrub or small tree | Sun or part shade | 28 of 100 |
| Strawcolored Flatsedge | Cyperus strigosus | Sedge | Full sun | 86 of 100 |
| Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum | Tree | Tolerates shade | 17 of 100 |
| Sugarberry | Celtis laevigata | Tree | Tolerates shade | 35 of 100 |
| Sugarcane Plumegrass | Saccharum giganteum | Grass | Full sun | 49 of 100 |
| Summersweet | Clethra alnifolia | Shrub | Sun or part shade | 43 of 100 |
| Swamp Azalea | Rhododendron viscosum | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 48 of 100 |
| Swamp Chestnut Oak | Quercus michauxii | Tree | Full sun | 43 of 100 |
| Swamp Loosestrife | Decodon verticillatus | Shrub | Sun or part shade | 26 of 100 |
| Swamp Milkweed | Asclepias incarnata | Wildflower | Full sun | 60 of 100 |
| Swamp Rose | Rosa palustris | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 77 of 100 |
| Swamp Smartweed | Polygonum hydropiperoides | Perennial | Full sun | 33 of 100 |
| Swamp Sunflower | Helianthus angustifolius | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 52 of 100 |
| Swamp Tupelo | Nyssa biflora | Tree | Full sun | 37 of 100 |
| Swamp White Oak | Quercus bicolor | Tree | Sun or part shade | 8 of 100 |
| Sweet Bay Magnolia | Magnolia virginiana | Tree | Sun or part shade | 51 of 100 |
| Sweet Gum | Liquidambar styraciflua | Tree | Full sun | 70 of 100 |
| Sweet Woodreed | Cinna arundinacea | Grass | Tolerates shade | 62 of 100 |
| Sweetgale | Myrica gale | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 1 of 100 |
| Switchgrass | Panicum virgatum | Grass | Full sun | 51 of 100 |
| Table Mountain Pine | Pinus pungens | Tree | Full sun | 18 of 100 |
| Tapertip Rush | Juncus acuminatus | Rush | Sun or part shade | 88 of 100 |
| Tenangle Pipewort | Eriocaulon decangulare | Perennial | Full sun | 41 of 100 |
| Thicket Sedge | Carex abscondita | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 23 of 100 |
| Thinfruit Sedge | Carex flaccosperma | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 29 of 100 |
| Three-Way Sedge | Dulichium arundinaceum | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 50 of 100 |
| Toad Rush | Juncus bufonius | Rush | Full sun | 27 of 100 |
| Trumpet Vine | Campsis radicans | Vine | Full sun | 73 of 100 |
| Tulip Tree | Liriodendron tulipifera | Tree | Full sun | 65 of 100 |
| Twisted Sedge | Carex torta | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 17 of 100 |
| Upright Sedge | Carex stricta | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 23 of 100 |
| Virginia Bluebells | Mertensia virginica | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 1 of 100 |
| Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Vine | Sun or part shade | 60 of 100 |
| Virginia Iris | Iris virginica | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 42 of 100 |
| Virginia Pine | Pinus virginiana | Tree | Full sun | 53 of 100 |
| Virginia Sweetspire | Itea virginica | Shrub | Tolerates shade | 63 of 100 |
| Virginia Water Horehound | Lycopus virginicus | Wildflower | Tolerates shade | 81 of 100 |
| Virginia Wildrye | Elymus virginicus | Grass | Tolerates shade | 84 of 100 |
| Washington Hawthorn | Crataegus phaenopyrum | Tree | Full sun | 20 of 100 |
| Water Hickory | Carya aquatica | Tree | Sun or part shade | 23 of 100 |
| Water Knotweed | Polygonum amphibium | Perennial | Full sun | 3 of 100 |
| Water Oak | Quercus nigra | Tree | Full sun | 55 of 100 |
| Water Tupelo | Nyssa aquatica | Tree | Full sun | 14 of 100 |
| Wax Myrtle | Morella cerifera | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 44 of 100 |
| Western Brackenfern | Pteridium aquilinum | Fern | Tolerates shade | 88 of 100 |
| Western Catalpa | Catalpa speciosa | Tree | Full sun | 8 of 100 |
| White Ash | Fraxinus americana | Tree | Full sun | 42 of 100 |
| White Doll's Daisy | Boltonia asteroides | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 2 of 100 |
| White Edge Sedge | Carex debilis | Sedge | Tolerates shade | 63 of 100 |
| White Meadowsweet | Spiraea alba | Shrub | Sun or part shade | 11 of 100 |
| Whitegrass | Leersia virginica | Grass | Tolerates shade | 62 of 100 |
| Whiteroot Rush | Juncus brachycarpus | Rush | Sun or part shade | 14 of 100 |
| Wild Bergamot | Monarda fistulosa | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 31 of 100 |
| Wild Blue Phlox | Phlox divaricata | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 8 of 100 |
| Wild Mint | Mentha arvensis | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 1 of 100 |
| Willow Oak | Quercus phellos | Tree | Full sun | 44 of 100 |
| Winged Sumac | Rhus copallinum | Shrub or small tree | Full sun | 83 of 100 |
| Winter Bentgrass | Agrostis hyemalis | Grass | Sun or part shade | 64 of 100 |
| Witherod Viburnum | Viburnum cassinoides | Shrub or small tree | Tolerates shade | 25 of 100 |
| Woolgrass | Scirpus cyperinus | Sedge | Sun or part shade | 76 of 100 |
| Woolly Beachheather | Hudsonia tomentosa | Shrub | Full sun | 2 of 100 |
| Woolly Yarrow | Achillea tomentosa | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 88 of 100 |
| Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod | Solidago rugosa | Wildflower | Sun or part shade | 83 of 100 |
| Yaupon | Ilex vomitoria | Tree | Sun or part shade | 10 of 100 |
| Yellow Indian Grass | Sorghastrum nutans | Grass | Full sun | 73 of 100 |
| Yellow Wood | Cladrastis kentukea | Tree | Sun or part shade | 7 of 100 |
Where this comes from
- Native range
- USDA PLANTS county distribution layer, the same records behind the county checker.
- Sold by nurseries
- USDA PLANTS plant characteristics, Commercial Availability “Routinely Available”. It is a national flag, so a plant here can still be hard to find at a garden centre near you.
- Plant details
- USDA PLANTS: growth habit and duration from the plant profile; shade and wet-soil tolerance, bloom period, mature height and showy flowers, fruit or fall colour from the plant characteristics.
- Left out
- Any plant a state regulates as invasive or noxious, or that GRIIS flags as invasive in the lower 48, even where it is native. So is any species USDA records as both native and introduced in the lower 48, because the form nurseries sell is usually the introduced one.
- Photos
- Public domain, CC0, CC BY and CC BY-SA, credited under each photo.
- Citation
- USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov), retrieved June 13, 2026. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.
Questions
What plants are native to North Carolina?
This page lists the 365 plants that USDA PLANTS records as native to North Carolina and routinely available from nurseries: 100 trees, 59 shrubs, 90 wildflowers, 100 grasses and sedges, 8 ferns and 8 vines. They are a small part of North Carolina's native flora, chosen because you can buy them. Each one carries a map of the North Carolina counties where USDA records it growing wild.
What trees are native to North Carolina?
This page lists 100 trees native to North Carolina that nurseries routinely sell. The most widespread include Eastern Dogwood, Black Cherry and Red Maple, each recorded as native in at least 85 of North Carolina's 100 counties.
What shrubs are native to North Carolina?
This page lists 59 shrubs native to North Carolina that nurseries routinely sell. The most widespread include American Black Elderberry, Winged Sumac and New Jersey Tea, each recorded as native in at least 81 of North Carolina's 100 counties.
What wildflowers are native to North Carolina?
This page lists 90 wildflowers native to North Carolina that nurseries routinely sell. The most widespread include Butterfly Weed, Woolly Yarrow and Pennsylvania Smartweed, each recorded as native in at least 87 of North Carolina's 100 counties.
Is my plant native to North Carolina?
Search this page by common or scientific name. A plant missing from it can still be native to North Carolina: the page lists only natives that nurseries routinely sell, and it leaves out any plant a state regulates as invasive. For a county-level answer on any plant, enter its name in Ezina's checker. Every answer links the record it came from.
Is a plant native to North Carolina native everywhere in North Carolina?
Not necessarily. USDA records nativity county by county, and 249 of the 365 plants on this page are recorded as native in fewer than half of North Carolina's 100 counties. A county with no record may simply never have been surveyed for that plant, so read each card's map as where the plant is known to grow wild rather than as a boundary.
Grow natives easily with Ezina
How it works
We provide the tools you need to succeed.
010.1Identify
Add a plant
Snap a photo or type the name. Ezina matches it to a library of about 40,000 species and starts a care plan tailored to your zone, the local weather, and the time of year.
010.2Care
Get a care plan
A schedule built from local rain, temperature, and sun, not a fixed weekly cadence. You get a single notification when a plant actually needs water. Easily add treatments for diseases and pests.
010.3Plan
Explore new options
Our garden planner Dig helps you understand what works best for your location and makes suggestions based off your long term goals.
Add a plant
Snap a photo or type the name. Ezina matches it to a library of about 40,000 species and starts a care plan tailored to your zone, the local weather, and the time of year.
Get a care plan
A schedule built from local rain, temperature, and sun, not a fixed weekly cadence. You get a single notification when a plant actually needs water. Easily add treatments for diseases and pests.
Explore new options
Our garden planner Dig helps you understand what works best for your location and makes suggestions based off your long term goals.
Compiled from peer-reviewed research, USDA documentation,
and direct scientific observation across the United States.