Native plants · North Carolina
Native plants of Durham County
757 plant species are recorded as native to North Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Durham County by USDA PLANTS. 268 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 3 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Durham County, North Carolina
- Native species
- 757 Typical North Carolina county: 498 (median of 100 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 268 Typical North Carolina county: 208
- Share by type (all 757 native species)
-
Percent of the 757 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (53%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (23%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 268
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 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 plum Prunus americana | Tree | 24 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| American pokeweed Phytolacca americana | Wildflower (forb) | 7.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| American sycamore Platanus occidentalis | Tree | 100 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| American water-willow Justicia americana | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| American wisteria Wisteria frutescens | Vine | 50 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| Appalachian blazing star Liatris squarrulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum | Vine | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| 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 |
| bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12b |
| big bluestem Andropogon gerardii | Grass or grass-like | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2b |
| bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolius | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 4b |
| bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis | Tree | 75 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 2b |
| black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata | Shrub | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| black locust Robinia pseudoacacia | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| black oak Quercus velutina | Tree | 80 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| black raspberry Rubus occidentalis | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| black walnut Juglans nigra | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| black willow Salix nigra | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 1b |
| blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium | Tree | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| blackjack oak Quercus marilandica | Tree | 25 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| broom sedge Carex scoparia | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | 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 lousewort Pedicularis canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| cattail sedge Carex typhina | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda | Tree | 120 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6b |
| chestnut oak Quercus montana | Tree | 73 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli | Tree | 30 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 duckweed Lemna minor | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Low | 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 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 winterberry Ilex verticillata | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| coral greenbrier Smilax walteri | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 6b |
| coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata | Fern | 1.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos | Wildflower (forb) | 6.6 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| deerberry Vaccinium stamineum | Shrub | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12a |
| 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 |
| downy arrowwood Viburnum rafinesqueanum | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3a |
| downy yellow violet Viola pubescens | Wildflower (forb) | 1.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| drooping sedge Carex prasina | Grass or grass-like | 2.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 cottonwood Populus deltoides | Tree | 190 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| 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 redbud Cercis canadensis | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana | Tree | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| field horsetail Equisetum arvense | Fern | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 goldenrod Solidago gigantea | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| graceful sedge Carex gracillima | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| greater straw sedge Carex normalis | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Tree | 80 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens | Grass or grass-like | 5.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 2a |
| 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 |
| harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| hazel alder Alnus serrulata | Tree | 30 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 7b |
| Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium | Grass or grass-like | 4.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus | Wildflower (forb) | 9.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| jewelweed Impatiens capensis | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 10b |
| knotgrass Paspalum distichum | Grass or grass-like | 11 in | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| limestone bittercress Cardamine douglassii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| little barley Hordeum pusillum | Grass or grass-like | 1.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| 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 |
| Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| maleberry Lyonia ligustrina | Shrub | 9 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 5a |
| manyflower flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis | Grass or grass-like | 3.1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos | Grass or grass-like | 1.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12a |
| mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa | Tree | 85 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia | Tree | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| 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 fern Thelypteris noveboracensis | Fern | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum | Fern | 1.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora | Grass or grass-like | 2.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| overcup oak Quercus lyrata | Tree | 80 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| painted buckeye Aesculus sylvatica | Tree | 65 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 8a |
| panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| parsley hawthorn Crataegus marshallii | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| pawpaw Asimina triloba | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| perplexed ticktrefoil Desmodium perplexum | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| pignut hickory Carya glabra | Tree | 80 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| pin oak Quercus palustris | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5b |
| pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| possumhaw Ilex decidua | Tree | 33 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| 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 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 |
| purplestem aster Symphyotrichum puniceum | Wildflower (forb) | 8.1 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| purpletop tridens Tridens flavus | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| quill sedge Carex tenera | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum | Fern | 1.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia | Vine | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| scarlet oak Quercus coccinea | Tree | 70 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| shagbark hickory Carya ovata | Tree | 75 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| shaggy blazing star Liatris pilosa | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| 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 |
| shortleaf pine Pinus echinata | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| silky dogwood Cornus amomum | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| smooth sumac Rhus glabra | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum | Tree | 35 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum | Tree | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 5a |
| southern red oak Quercus falcata | Tree | 75 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6a |
| southern sugar maple Acer floridanum | Tree | 50 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| sugarberry Celtis laevigata | Tree | 80 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum | Grass or grass-like | 9.8 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 sunflower Helianthus angustifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 5.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| thinfruit sedge Carex flaccosperma | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 6b |
| threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12a |
| 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 |
| trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera | Tree | 120 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| umbrella-tree Magnolia tripetala | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| upright sedge Carex stricta | Grass or grass-like | 4.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 pine Pinus virginiana | Tree | 70 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 10b |
| 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 |
| wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa | Grass or grass-like | 2.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white ash Fraxinus americana | Tree | 90 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| white avens Geum canadense | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5a |
| wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| wild sweetwilliam Phlox maculata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| winged elm Ulmus alata | Tree | 65 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| 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 |
| wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| woodland muhly Muhlenbergia sylvatica | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 flatsedge Cyperus flavescens | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11b |
| yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5b |
| 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 489
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.
- Adam and Eve Aplectrum hyemale
- Adam's needle Yucca filamentosa
- American alumroot Heuchera americana
- American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
- American bluehearts Buchnera americana
- American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
- American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
- American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
- American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
- American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
- American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
- American senna Senna hebecarpa
- American wintergreen Pyrola americana
- angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
- anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
- annual marsh elder Iva annua
- Appalachian barren strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides
- arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
- arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
- arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
- ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
- Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
- Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
- Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
- autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
- axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
- Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
- balsam groundsel Packera paupercula
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
- beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
- bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
- bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
- bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
- bent sedge Carex styloflexa
- bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
- black baneberry Actaea racemosa
- black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
- black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
- blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
- blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
- blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
- blood panicgrass Dichanthelium consanguineum
- bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
- Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
- blue waxweed Cuphea viscosissima
- blue wild indigo Baptisia australis
- bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
- bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
- Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
- Bowman's root Gillenia trifoliata
- branched foldwing Dicliptera brachiata
- Brazilian watermeal Wolffia brasiliensis
- bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
- bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
- bristly locust Robinia hispida
- broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
- broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
- broadleaf ironweed Vernonia glauca
- brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
- brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
- buffalo clover Trifolium reflexum
- bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
- button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
- camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
- Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
- Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
- Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
- Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
- Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
- Canadian licorice-root Ligusticum canadense
- Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
- Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
- cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
- Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
- Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
- Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
- Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
- Carolina lily Lilium michauxii
- Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
- Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
- Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
- carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
- Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
- chinquapin Castanea pumila
- Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
- clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
- clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
- clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
- climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
- clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
- clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
- coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
- coastal plain sedge Carex crebriflora
- common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
- common dittany Cunila origanoides
- common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- common moonseed Menispermum canadense
- common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
- compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
- cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
- cream avens Geum virginianum
- creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
- crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
- crossvine Bignonia capreolata
- crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
- Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
- Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
- cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
- cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
- cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
- cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
- densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
- devil's bite Liatris scariosa
- devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
- Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
- dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
- dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
- downy carrionflower Smilax pulverulenta
- downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
- downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
- downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
- downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
- downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
- dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
- dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
- dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
- dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
- dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
- dwarf sundew Drosera brevifolia
- dwarf violet iris Iris verna
- early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
- early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
- early St. Johnswort Hypericum nudiflorum
- earlyleaf brome Bromus latiglumis
- eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
- eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
- eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
- eastern featherbells Stenanthium gramineum
- eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
- eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
- eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
- eastern showy aster Eurybia spectabilis
- eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
- eastern star sedge Carex radiata
- eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
- Eaton's rosette grass Dichanthelium spretum
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
- Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
- Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
- fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
- false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
- false flowering spurge Euphorbia pubentissima
- fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fescue sedge Carex festucacea
- fewflower beaksedge Rhynchospora rariflora
- fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
- field pansy Viola bicolor
- fire pink Silene virginica
- fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
- floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
- Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
- flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
- flypoison Amianthium muscitoxicum
- forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
- fox grape Vitis labrusca
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
- fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
- gaping grass Steinchisma hians
- giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
- glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
- globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
- globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
- golden zizia Zizia aurea
- great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
- greater tickseed Coreopsis major
- green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
- green and gold Chrysogonum virginianum
- green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
- green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
- green dragon Arisaema dracontium
- hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
- hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
- hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
- hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
- hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
- hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
- hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
- hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
- hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
- hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
- harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
- heartleaf foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
- Heller's cudweed Pseudognaphalium helleri
- herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
- hirsute sedge Carex complanata
- hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
- hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
- hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
- hornleaf riverweed Podostemum ceratophyllum
- hyssopleaf hedgenettle Stachys aspera
- hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
- Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
- Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
- intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
- jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
- juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
- keeled bulrush Isolepis carinata
- kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
- lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
- large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
- largebract ticktrefoil Desmodium cuspidatum
- largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
- lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
- leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
- Leavenworth's sedge Carex leavenworthii
- lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
- lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
- licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
- lined sedge Carex striatula
- little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
- littlehead nutrush Scleria oligantha
- lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
- longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
- longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
- Louisiana sedge Carex louisianica
- low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
- low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
- man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
- mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
- marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
- maroon Carolina milkvine Matelea carolinensis
- marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
- marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
- Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
- Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
- Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
- mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
- Mead's sedge Carex meadii
- meadow garlic Allium canadense
- meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
- meadow zizia Zizia aptera
- moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
- mountain holly Ilex montana
- mountain silverbell Halesia tetraptera
- mucronate sprangletop Leptochloa panicea
- Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
- nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
- narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
- narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
- narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
- narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
- netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
- nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
- northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
- northern panicgrass Dichanthelium boreale
- northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
- Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
- Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
- Nuttall's milkwort Polygala nuttallii
- oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
- obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
- October lady's tresses Spiranthes ovalis
- oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
- openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
- orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
- pale dock Rumex altissimus
- pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
- paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
- palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
- Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
- partridgeberry Mitchella repens
- pasture thistle Cirsium pumilum
- Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
- perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
- Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
- piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
- pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
- pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
- pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
- pineywoods dropseed Sporobolus junceus
- pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
- pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
- Plukenet's flatsedge Cyperus plukenetii
- poorjoe Diodia teres
- potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
- poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
- poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
- prairie rosinweed Silphium terebinthinaceum
- prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
- procession flower Polygala incarnata
- prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
- purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
- purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
- purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
- queendevil Hieracium gronovii
- rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
- ram's horn Proboscidea louisianica
- rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
- rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
- Ravenel's rosette grass Dichanthelium ravenelii
- red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
- reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
- rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
- richweed Collinsonia canadensis
- robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
- rock buttercup Ranunculus micranthus
- rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
- rosepink Sabatia angularis
- rosy sedge Carex rosea
- rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
- roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
- roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
- roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
- rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
- rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
- Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
- sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
- sand hickory Carya pallida
- sand violet Viola affinis
- scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
- scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa
- seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
- Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
- sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
- sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
- Sesquehana sandcherry Prunus susquehanae
- sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
- shaggy crabgrass Digitaria villosa
- shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
- sharpleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum virgatum
- sharpscale sedge Carex oxylepis
- shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
- shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
- Short's hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula
- shortleaf skeletongrass Gymnopogon brevifolius
- shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
- showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
- showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa
- showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
- showy skullcap Scutellaria serrata
- shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
- sicklepod Arabis canadensis
- sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
- silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
- silvery everlasting Gamochaeta argyrinea
- singlehead pussytoes Antennaria solitaria
- sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
- sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
- slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
- slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
- slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
- slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
- slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
- slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
- slender toothwort Cardamine angustata
- slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
- slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
- slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
- slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
- slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
- slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
- slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
- small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
- small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
- small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
- Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
- smallfruit agrimony Agrimonia microcarpa
- smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
- smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
- smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
- smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
- smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
- smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
- smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
- sneezeweed Helenium amarum
- soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
- southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
- southern blue monkshood Aconitum uncinatum
- southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
- Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
- sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
- spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
- spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
- spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
- spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
- spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
- spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
- spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
- spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
- spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
- spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
- St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
- star chickweed Stellaria pubera
- starry rosinweed Silphium asteriscus
- starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
- stiff yellow flax Linum medium
- striped cream violet Viola striata
- striped gentian Gentiana villosa
- striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
- swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
- tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
- tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
- tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
- tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
- tenlobe false foxglove Agalinis obtusifolia
- terrestrial water-starwort Callitriche terrestris
- thickleaf phlox Phlox carolina
- thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
- thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
- three-lobe violet Viola triloba
- toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
- trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
- trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
- twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
- twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
- upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
- vasevine Clematis viorna
- veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
- velvet sedge Carex vestita
- velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
- Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
- Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
- violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
- violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
- Virginia bunchflower Veratrum virginicum
- Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
- Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
- Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
- Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
- Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
- Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
- Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
- Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
- Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
- Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
- walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
- warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
- wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
- waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
- weak rush Juncus debilis
- whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
- white colicroot Aletris farinosa
- white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
- white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
- white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
- white turtlehead Chelone glabra
- white vervain Verbena urticifolia
- whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
- whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
- whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
- whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
- whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
- whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
- whorled tickseed Coreopsis verticillata
- whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
- wideflower phlox Phlox latifolia
- wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
- wild Job's tears Onosmodium virginianum
- wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
- wild yam Dioscorea villosa
- Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
- wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
- wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
- witchgrass Panicum capillare
- woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
- woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
- woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
- woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
- woolly lipfern Cheilanthes tomentosa
- yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
- yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
- yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
- yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
- yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
- yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
- yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens
- yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima
- yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
Also listed as native and introduced here 3
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
- 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 | Durham County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 757 | 498 | 1,920 |
| Garden-ready natives | 268 | 208 | 654 |
| Tree | 79 | — | 198 |
| Shrub | 38 | — | 107 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 401 | — | 996 |
| Grass or grass-like | 173 | — | 453 |
| Vine | 38 | — | 80 |
| Fern | 28 | — | 86 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Durham County.
- Chatham County, NC 278 garden-ready
- Orange County, NC 324 garden-ready
- Person County, NC 198 garden-ready
- Wake County, NC 331 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
- Durham County (county FIPS 37063), North Carolina. 757 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