Native plants · North Carolina

Native plants of Dare County

467 plant species are recorded as native to North Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Dare County by USDA PLANTS. 216 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

Dare County, North Carolina

Native species: 467 Typical North Carolina county: 498 (median of 100 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 216 Typical North Carolina county: 208
Share by type (all 467 native species): Percent of the 467 native species in each growth type

Tree 12% (55)
Shrub 7% (32)
Wildflower (forb) 46% (213)
Grass or grass-like 29% (134)
Vine 6% (27)
Fern 1% (6)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (46%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (29%).

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 zones 8b to 9a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 216

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

Garden-ready native plants of Dare County, North Carolina
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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 cupscale Sacciolepis striata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	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 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 spongeplant Limnobium spongia	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
annual wildrice Zizania aquatica	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
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
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
big cordgrass Spartina cynosuroides	Grass or grass-like	8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
bighead rush Juncus megacephalus	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
bitter panicgrass Panicum amarum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica	Tree	95 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
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
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
buckthorn bully Sideroxylon lycioides	Tree	9.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
bushy seaside tansy Borrichia frutescens	Shrub	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
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 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
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
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
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri	Grass or grass-like	6.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
coastal serviceberry Amelanchier obovalis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
coastal sweetpepperbush Clethra alnifolia	Shrub	16 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
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 walkingstick Aralia spinosa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	High	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 palmetto Sabal minor	Tree	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
dwarf spikerush Eleocharis parvula	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum subulatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
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
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
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
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 Coast spikerush Eleocharis cellulosa	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
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
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium	Grass or grass-like	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
inkberry Ilex glabra	Shrub	8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
Jesuit's bark Iva frutescens	Wildflower (forb)	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7b
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
jointleaf rush Juncus articulatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
knotgrass Paspalum distichum	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	High	Zone 6a
lanceleaf greenbrier Smilax smallii	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
large gallberry Ilex coriacea	Tree	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
laurel oak Quercus laurifolia	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
lavender thrift Limonium carolinianum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
lesser creeping rush Juncus repens	Grass or grass-like	6.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
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
longhair sedge Carex comosa	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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 seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
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
needlegrass rush Juncus roemerianus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9a
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
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
northern bayberry Morella pensylvanica	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
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
pond cypress Taxodium ascendens	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 8a
pond pine Pinus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
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 wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
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
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
roundpod St. Johnswort Hypericum cistifolium	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
saltgrass Distichlis spicata	Grass or grass-like	1.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
saltmeadow cordgrass Spartina patens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
saltwater false willow Baccharis angustifolia	Shrub	13 ft	Sun	High	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
seaoats Uniola paniculata	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
silky willow Salix sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
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
smooth beggartick Bidens laevis	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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 bayberry Morella caroliniensis	Tree	7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
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
sturdy bulrush Bolboschoenus robustus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
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 loosestrife Decodon verticillatus	Shrub	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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 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
sweetscent Pluchea odorata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
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
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
turkey tangle fogfruit Phyla nodiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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 glasswort Salicornia depressa	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
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
wax myrtle Morella cerifera	Tree	10 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 7a
willow oak Quercus phellos	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
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 beachheather Hudsonia tomentosa	Shrub	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
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
yaupon Ilex vomitoria	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 251

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
amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American featherfoil Hottonia inflata
American searocket Cakile edentula
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
annual phlox Phlox drummondii
annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
awl-leaf arrowhead Sagittaria subulata
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
blood panicgrass Dichanthelium consanguineum
bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
broadwing sedge Carex alata
bulltongue arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia
bunched beaksedge Rhynchospora cephalantha
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina ponysfoot Dichondra carolinensis
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
chinquapin Castanea pumila
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
claspingleaf pondweed Potamogeton perfoliatus
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
coastal plain panicgrass Dichanthelium longiligulatum
Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
common carpetgrass Axonopus fissifolius
cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
creeping primrose-willow Ludwigia repens
creeping spikerush Eleocharis fallax
crested saltbush Atriplex cristata
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
denseflower knotweed Polygonum glabrum
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
drumheads Polygala cruciata
dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
dwarf violet iris Iris verna
eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
eastern grasswort Lilaeopsis chinensis
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's rush Juncus elliottii
erect centella Centella erecta
fern flatsedge Cyperus filicinus
fewflower milkweed Asclepias lanceolata
field lovegrass Eragrostis elliottii
floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Florida mudmidget Wolffiella gladiata
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
fringed yelloweyed grass Xyris fimbriata
giant bristlegrass Setaria magna
globefruit primrose-willow Ludwigia sphaerocarpa
grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
greenvein lady's tresses Spiranthes praecox
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
hazel dodder Cuscuta coryli
heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
herb of grace Bacopa monnieri
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
husk tomato Physalis pubescens
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
lined sedge Carex striatula
little floating bladderwort Utricularia radiata
longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
longleaf milkweed Asclepias longifolia
loosehead beaksedge Rhynchospora chalarocephala
low nutrush Scleria verticillata
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh fimbry Fimbristylis castanea
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
marsh rose gentian Sabatia dodecandra
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
minute duckweed Lemna perpusilla
Mitchell's sedge Carex mitchelliana
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia linearis
needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
pale dock Rumex altissimus
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
perennial saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium
piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
Plukenet's flatsedge Cyperus plukenetii
poorjoe Diodia teres
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
red hickory Carya ovalis
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
richwoods sedge Carex oligocarpa
rose of Plymouth Sabatia stellaris
rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
rough panicgrass Dichanthelium leucothrix
roughfruit scaleseed Spermolepis divaricata
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
saltmarsh false foxglove Agalinis maritima
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sand hickory Carya pallida
sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
satincurls Clematis catesbyana
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
seawrack Zostera marina
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shaggy crabgrass Digitaria villosa
shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
shortleaf skeletongrass Gymnopogon brevifolius
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
slender seapurslane Sesuvium maritimum
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
smallfruit spikerush Eleocharis microcarpa
smooth elephantsfoot Elephantopus nudatus
smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
snowy orchid Platanthera nivea
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern bladderwort Utricularia juncea
southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
southern cattail Typha domingensis
southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
spineless hornwort Ceratophyllum echinatum
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
spreading sandwort Arenaria lanuginosa
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
squirreltail fescue Vulpia elliotea
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
sticky catchfly Silene caroliniana
stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
three-angle spikerush Eleocharis tricostata
tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
wand lythrum Lythrum lineare
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle prolifera
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
woollysheath threeawn Aristida lanosa
Wright's rosette grass Dichanthelium wrightianum
yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
yellow spikerush Eleocharis flavescens
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata

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.

Native species counts, Dare County and North Carolina
Measure	Dare County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	467	498	1,920
Garden-ready natives	216	208	654
Tree	55	—	198
Shrub	32	—	107
Wildflower (forb)	213	—	996
Grass or grass-like	134	—	453
Vine	27	—	80
Fern	6	—	86

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: Dare County (county FIPS 37055), North Carolina. 467 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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