Native plants · North Carolina
Native plants of Chowan County
475 plant species are recorded as native to North Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Chowan County by USDA PLANTS. 218 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 5 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Chowan County, North Carolina
- Native species
- 475 Typical North Carolina county: 498 (median of 100 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 218 Typical North Carolina county: 208
- Share by type (all 475 native species)
-
Percent of the 475 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (25%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 218
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American beautyberry Callicarpa americana | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6b |
| American beech Fagus grandifolia | Tree | 80 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| American bur-reed Sparganium americanum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| American holly Ilex opaca | Tree | 40 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| American pokeweed Phytolacca americana | Wildflower (forb) | 7.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana | Tree | 20 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| annual wildrice Zizania aquatica | Grass or grass-like | 9.8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 10b |
| arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum | Vine | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| Atlantic white cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides | Tree | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6b |
| awlfruit sedge Carex stipata | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| bald cypress Taxodium distichum | Tree | 130 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12b |
| bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolius | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 4b |
| black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| black locust Robinia pseudoacacia | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa | Grass or grass-like | 1.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11a |
| bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| bog rush Juncus biflorus | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| bursting-heart Euonymus americanus | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Canadian rush Juncus canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis | Tree | 23 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis | Wildflower (forb) | 5.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.7 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus | Grass or grass-like | 1.7 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| cat greenbrier Smilax glauca | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda | Tree | 120 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6b |
| Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea | Fern | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| climbing hempvine Mikania scandens | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| coastal doghobble Leucothoe axillaris | Shrub | 6.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 7b |
| coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana | Tree | 33 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 7b |
| coastal sweetpepperbush Clethra alnifolia | Shrub | 16 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| common blue violet Viola sororia | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis | Tree | 15 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| common evening primrose Oenothera biennis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| common rush Juncus effusus | Grass or grass-like | 6.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| common selfheal Prunella vulgaris | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| common serviceberry Amelanchier arborea | Tree | 36 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| common sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria | Tree | 20 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 5a |
| common winterberry Ilex verticillata | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| coppery St. Johnswort Hypericum denticulatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7b |
| crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos | Wildflower (forb) | 6.6 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 12b |
| deerberry Vaccinium stamineum | Shrub | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12a |
| devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa | Tree | 20 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides | Wildflower (forb) | 2.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| dwarf azalea Rhododendron atlanticum | Shrub | 2.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| dwarf huckleberry Gaylussacia dumosa | Shrub | 1.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5a |
| eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| eastern redbud Cercis canadensis | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens | Shrub | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| false daisy Eclipta prostrata | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 10b |
| farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum | Tree | 28 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| fetterbush lyonia Lyonia lucida | Shrub | 6.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7b |
| field paspalum Paspalum laeve | Grass or grass-like | 2.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6a |
| flowering dogwood Cornus florida | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| forked rush Juncus dichotomus | Grass or grass-like | 2.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 8b |
| fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata | Grass or grass-like | 5.7 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11b |
| fringed sedge Carex crinita | Grass or grass-like | 5.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| giant cane Arundinaria gigantea | Shrub | 25 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| giant cutgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea | Grass or grass-like | 9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 8b |
| giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5a |
| gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| graybark grape Vitis cinerea | Vine | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6b |
| greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| green arrow arum Peltandra virginica | Wildflower (forb) | 2.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens | Grass or grass-like | 3.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| groundnut Apios americana | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| honeycup Zenobia pulverulenta | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 7b |
| hop sedge Carex lupulina | Grass or grass-like | 4.3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana | Tree | 45 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| inkberry Ilex glabra | Shrub | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| jewelweed Impatiens capensis | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 10b |
| lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6b |
| large gallberry Ilex coriacea | Tree | 12 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 6b |
| leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| little barley Hordeum pusillum | Grass or grass-like | 1.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| loblolly pine Pinus taeda | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6b |
| longhair sedge Carex comosa | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| maleberry Lyonia ligustrina | Shrub | 9 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 5a |
| manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos | Grass or grass-like | 1.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12a |
| marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 8a |
| marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris | Wildflower (forb) | 2 in | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| muscadine Vitis rotundifolia | Vine | 30 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5b |
| narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| needleleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium aciculare | Grass or grass-like | 1.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 7b |
| needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 7a |
| New York aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis | Wildflower (forb) | 6.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| Nuttall's reedgrass Calamagrostis coarctata | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 12a |
| oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora | Grass or grass-like | 2.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| pickerelweed Pontederia cordata | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| pignut hickory Carya glabra | Tree | 80 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| pine barren goldenrod Solidago fistulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 6.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| poorland flatsedge Cyperus compressus | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11a |
| post oak Quercus stellata | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| poverty rush Juncus tenuis | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata | Grass or grass-like | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica | Grass or grass-like | 1.8 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis | Grass or grass-like | 11 in | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| purpletop tridens Tridens flavus | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia | Shrub | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5b |
| red maple Acer rubrum | Tree | 68 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 2b |
| redbay Persea borbonia | Tree | 70 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11a |
| redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| ridged yellow flax Linum striatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia | Vine | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| sand blackberry Rubus cuneifolius | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6a |
| sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus | Shrub | 8.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| shagbark hickory Carya ovata | Tree | 75 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| shallow sedge Carex lurida | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| shortbeard plumegrass Saccharum brevibarbe | Grass or grass-like | 6.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6b |
| shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata | Grass or grass-like | 6.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| silky dogwood Cornus amomum | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| small beggarticks Bidens discoidea | Wildflower (forb) | 5.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12b |
| smallfruit beggarticks Bidens mitis | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12b |
| smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani | Grass or grass-like | 9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum | Tree | 35 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum | Tree | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 5a |
| southern arrowwood Viburnum recognitum | Tree | 9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| southern waxy sedge Carex glaucescens | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 6a |
| Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides | Vine | — | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 9b |
| splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius | Grass or grass-like | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5b |
| spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6b |
| steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| stiff dogwood Cornus foemina | Tree | 16 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum | Grass or grass-like | 9.8 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum | Shrub | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus | Shrub | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| swamp rose Rosa palustris | Shrub | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| swamp sawgrass Cladium mariscus | Grass or grass-like | 8.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8b |
| swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 5.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| swamp titi Cyrilla racemiflora | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 6b |
| swamp tupelo Nyssa biflora | Tree | 115 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5b |
| sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| sweetbay Magnolia virginiana | Tree | 60 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 9a |
| sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides | Grass or grass-like | 4 in | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| thinfruit sedge Carex flaccosperma | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 6b |
| tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus | Wildflower (forb) | 5 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12b |
| toad rush Juncus bufonius | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12a |
| trumpet creeper Campsis radicans | Vine | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens | Vine | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera | Tree | 120 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| turkey oak Quercus laevis | Tree | 40 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 7a |
| twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| upright sedge Carex stricta | Grass or grass-like | 4.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana | Wildflower (forb) | 1 in | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium | Grass or grass-like | 4.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Vine | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| Virginia dayflower Commelina virginica | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| Virginia iris Iris virginica | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8b |
| Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Washington hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum | Tree | 30 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| water oak Quercus nigra | Tree | 90 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| water tupelo Nyssa aquatica | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| wax myrtle Morella cerifera | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | High | Zone 7a |
| whitegrass Leersia virginica | Grass or grass-like | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| winged sumac Rhus copallinum | Tree | 8 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens | Wildflower (forb) | 4.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| woolly rosette grass Dichanthelium scabriusculum | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea | Vine | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 257
PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
- Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
- amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
- American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
- American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
- anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
- annual phlox Phlox drummondii
- arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
- Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
- Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
- beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
- bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
- beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
- big carpetgrass Axonopus furcatus
- blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
- blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
- blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
- Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
- bog white violet Viola lanceolata
- bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
- bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
- bulltongue arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia
- camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
- Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
- Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
- Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
- Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
- Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
- Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
- Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
- Carolina ponysfoot Dichondra carolinensis
- Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
- Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
- chinquapin Castanea pumila
- clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
- clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
- claspingleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum gymnanthum
- climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
- clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
- clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
- coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
- coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
- common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
- common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
- compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
- cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
- creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
- crossvine Bignonia capreolata
- crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
- cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
- cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
- cylindricfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia glandulosa
- cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
- darkgreen sedge Carex venusta
- denseflower knotweed Polygonum glabrum
- densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
- devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
- downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
- downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
- downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
- downy phlox Phlox pilosa
- downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
- dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
- dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
- dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
- earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
- eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
- eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
- eastern showy aster Eurybia spectabilis
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
- Elliott's goldenrod Solidago latissimifolia
- erect centella Centella erecta
- fall phlox Phlox paniculata
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fewflower milkweed Asclepias lanceolata
- fewflower ticktrefoil Desmodium pauciflorum
- fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
- floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
- floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
- forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
- foxtail clubmoss Lycopodiella alopecuroides
- globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
- globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
- goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
- Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
- greater marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum walteri
- green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
- Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
- hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
- hairy lettuce Lactuca hirsuta
- hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
- hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
- hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
- halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
- handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
- heartleaf groundcherry Physalis cordata
- hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
- herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
- humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
- hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
- Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
- jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
- juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
- kidneyleaf mudplantain Heteranthera reniformis
- lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
- largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
- leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
- lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
- littlehead nutrush Scleria oligantha
- lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
- longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
- low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
- low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
- lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
- manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
- marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
- marsh lady's tresses Spiranthes odorata
- marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
- marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
- Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
- Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
- Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
- mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
- meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
- moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
- Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
- nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
- narrowleaf lespedeza Lespedeza angustifolia
- narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
- narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
- northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
- Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
- Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
- Nuttall's ticktrefoil Desmodium nuttallii
- obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
- pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
- Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
- Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
- piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
- pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
- poorjoe Diodia teres
- potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
- poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
- prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
- procession flower Polygala incarnata
- prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
- purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
- purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
- purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
- queendevil Hieracium gronovii
- rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
- rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
- red milkweed Asclepias rubra
- redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
- rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
- rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
- rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
- rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
- roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
- roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
- roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
- sand hickory Carya pallida
- sand violet Viola affinis
- sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
- sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
- seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
- sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
- shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
- shortleaf skeletongrass Gymnopogon brevifolius
- shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
- showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
- sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
- silvery everlasting Gamochaeta argyrinea
- sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
- sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
- slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
- slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
- slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
- slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
- slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
- slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
- slender waternymph Najas gracillima
- slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
- slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
- slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
- small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
- small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
- Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
- smallflower phacelia Phacelia dubia
- smallfruit spikerush Eleocharis microcarpa
- smooth elephantsfoot Elephantopus nudatus
- smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
- smooth winterberry Ilex laevigata
- smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
- sneezeweed Helenium amarum
- southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
- southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
- sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
- spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
- spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
- spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
- spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
- spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
- spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
- spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
- St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
- stiff ticktrefoil Desmodium obtusum
- stiff yellow flax Linum medium
- stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
- sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
- swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
- swamp leather flower Clematis crispa
- swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
- Swan's sedge Carex swanii
- tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
- tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
- tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
- thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
- three-lobe violet Viola triloba
- toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
- trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
- trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
- twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
- velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
- Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
- Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
- Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
- Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
- Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
- Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
- Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
- warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
- waterpurslane Didiplis diandra
- wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
- weak rush Juncus debilis
- weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
- whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
- white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
- white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
- white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
- white vervain Verbena urticifolia
- whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
- whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
- whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle prolifera
- whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
- wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
- woolly ragwort Packera tomentosa
- yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
- yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
- yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
Also listed as native and introduced here 5
PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.
- annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
- hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
- Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
- Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides
- switchcaneArundinaria tecta
Compared with North Carolina
The typical county is the median of the 100 North Carolina counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.
| Measure | Chowan County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 475 | 498 | 1,920 |
| Garden-ready natives | 218 | 208 | 654 |
| Tree | 49 | — | 198 |
| Shrub | 30 | — | 107 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 243 | — | 996 |
| Grass or grass-like | 117 | — | 453 |
| Vine | 28 | — | 80 |
| Fern | 8 | — | 86 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Chowan County.
- Gates County, NC 213 garden-ready
- Perquimans County, NC 109 garden-ready
Source & data date
- Source
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).
- Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.
- USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
- Citation
- USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.
- Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
- Data date
- Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
- Zones
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
- Scope
- Chowan County (county FIPS 37041), North Carolina. 475 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
- Method
- A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources