Native plants · North Carolina

Native plants of Columbus County

461 plant species are recorded as native to North Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Columbus County by USDA PLANTS. 209 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 4 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Columbus County, North Carolina

Native species: 461 Typical North Carolina county: 498 (median of 100 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 209 Typical North Carolina county: 208
Share by type (all 461 native species): Percent of the 461 native species in each growth type

Tree 11% (53)
Shrub 8% (37)
Wildflower (forb) 48% (219)
Grass or grass-like 26% (120)
Vine 5% (21)
Fern 2% (11)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (48%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (26%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 209

Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.

Garden-ready native plants of Columbus County, North Carolina
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American basswood Tilia americana	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
American beautyberry Callicarpa americana	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6b
American bur-reed Sparganium americanum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American holly Ilex opaca	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
American lotus Nelumbo lutea	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American snowbell Styrax americanus	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 5b
American wisteria Wisteria frutescens	Vine	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
Atlantic white cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
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
bedstraw St. Johnswort Hypericum galioides	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
bighead rush Juncus megacephalus	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
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 spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
bog rush Juncus biflorus	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
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
buckthorn bully Sideroxylon lycioides	Tree	9.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
bushy St. Johnswort Hypericum densiflorum	Shrub	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8a
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 lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian rush Juncus canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Carolina ash Fraxinus caroliniana	Tree	39 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7b
Carolina fanwort Cabomba caroliniana	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
Carolina redroot Lachnanthes caroliana	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
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 goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris	Fern	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
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 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
coppery St. Johnswort Hypericum denticulatum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7b
coral greenbrier Smilax walteri	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
cucumberleaf sunflower Helianthus debilis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 9b
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
dense blazing star Liatris spicata	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
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
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
dwarf witchalder Fothergilla gardenii	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6b
eggleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium ovale	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
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
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
Frank's sedge Carex frankii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
Gulf Sebastian-bush Ditrysinia fruticosa	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
hairy chaffhead Carphephorus paniculatus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 8a
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
haspan flatsedge Cyperus haspan	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum	Shrub	12 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
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7b
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Medium	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
knotgrass Paspalum distichum	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	High	Zone 6a
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
large gallberry Ilex coriacea	Tree	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
lesser creeping rush Juncus repens	Grass or grass-like	6.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
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
live oak Quercus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8a
loblolly bay Gordonia lasianthus	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
loblolly pine Pinus taeda	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
longleaf pine Pinus palustris	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
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
mountain azalea Rhododendron canescens	Shrub	14 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
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 evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
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 Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
New York aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
peelbark St. Johnswort Hypericum fasciculatum	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	—	Zone 7b
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
peppervine Nekemias arborea	Vine	1 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
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
planertree Planera aquatica	Tree	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
pond pine Pinus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
poorland flatsedge Cyperus compressus	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	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
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
ravenfoot sedge Carex crus-corvi	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
red buckeye Aesculus pavia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	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
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
redbay Persea borbonia	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
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
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
roundpod St. Johnswort Hypericum cistifolium	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
running oak Quercus pumila	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
sand blackberry Rubus cuneifolius	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
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
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
smooth beggartick Bidens laevis	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
southern arrowwood Viburnum recognitum	Tree	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
southern bayberry Morella caroliniensis	Tree	7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
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
St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
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
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
swamp doghobble Eubotrys racemosus	Shrub	13 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp rose Rosa palustris	Shrub	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
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
sweetbay Magnolia virginiana	Tree	60 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 9a
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
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
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
turkey oak Quercus laevis	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla	Wildflower (forb)	—	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 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
water oak Quercus nigra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
water tupelo Nyssa aquatica	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
wax myrtle Morella cerifera	Tree	10 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
white doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
white edge sedge Carex debilis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a

Other native species recorded here 252

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.

Adam's needle Yucca filamentosa
Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
American bluehearts Buchnera americana
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
annual phlox Phlox drummondii
Appalachian quillwort Isoetes engelmannii
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
big carpetgrass Axonopus furcatus
bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
blood panicgrass Dichanthelium consanguineum
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
bristly locust Robinia hispida
broadwing sedge Carex alata
bunched beaksedge Rhynchospora cephalantha
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina mosquitofern Azolla caroliniana
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
coastal plain blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium fuscatum
coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
coastal plain panicgrass Dichanthelium longiligulatum
combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common carpetgrass Axonopus fissifolius
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
crested yellow orchid Platanthera cristata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
cylindricfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia glandulosa
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
drumheads Polygala cruciata
dwarf sundew Drosera brevifolia
dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
dwarf violet iris Iris verna
eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's rush Juncus elliottii
erect centella Centella erecta
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
fewflower beaksedge Rhynchospora rariflora
fewflower milkweed Asclepias lanceolata
fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
flattened pipewort Eriocaulon compressum
floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
Florida yellow flax Linum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
foxtail clubmoss Lycopodiella alopecuroides
fringed nutrush Scleria ciliata
giant sedge Carex gigantea
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
greater marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum walteri
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
greenvein lady's tresses Spiranthes praecox
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
justiceweed Eupatorium leucolepis
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
lined sedge Carex striatula
little floating bladderwort Utricularia radiata
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
longbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora scirpoides
longleaf milkweed Asclepias longifolia
loosehead beaksedge Rhynchospora chalarocephala
low nutrush Scleria verticillata
low woodland sedge Carex socialis
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
maidencane Panicum hemitomon
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh fimbry Fimbristylis castanea
marsh lady's tresses Spiranthes odorata
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
minute duckweed Lemna perpusilla
narrow plumegrass Saccharum baldwinii
narrowleaf lespedeza Lespedeza angustifolia
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia linearis
neckweed Veronica peregrina
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
nodding beaksedge Rhynchospora inexpansa
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pink bogbutton Sclerolepis uniflora
pink sundew Drosera capillaris
procession flower Polygala incarnata
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
rough Mexican clover Richardia scabra
rough panicgrass Dichanthelium leucothrix
roughfruit scaleseed Spermolepis divaricata
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand hickory Carya pallida
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
Short's hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula
shortbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora nitens
showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silvery everlasting Gamochaeta argyrinea
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
slender clubmoss Lycopodiella caroliniana
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
smallflower thoroughwort Eupatorium semiserratum
smallfruit spikerush Eleocharis microcarpa
smooth elephantsfoot Elephantopus nudatus
smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
snowy orchid Platanthera nivea
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern bladderwort Utricularia juncea
southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
southern cutgrass Leersia hexandra
spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
swamp leather flower Clematis crispa
tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
tenlobe false foxglove Agalinis obtusifolia
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
twoleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum
Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
Virginia bunchflower Veratrum virginicum
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
Walter's sedge Carex striata
warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
watershield Brasenia schreberi
weak rush Juncus debilis
weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
white colicroot Aletris farinosa
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
Wright's plantain Plantago wrightiana
yankeeweed Eupatorium compositifolium
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata

Also listed as native and introduced here 4

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
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.

Native species counts, Columbus County and North Carolina
Measure	Columbus County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	461	498	1,920
Garden-ready natives	209	208	654
Tree	53	—	198
Shrub	37	—	107
Wildflower (forb)	219	—	996
Grass or grass-like	120	—	453
Vine	21	—	80
Fern	11	—	86

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Columbus County.

Bladen County, NC 252 garden-ready
Brunswick County, NC 303 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: Columbus County (county FIPS 37047), North Carolina. 461 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

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