Native plants · North Carolina

Native plants of Lincoln County

303 plant species are recorded as native to North Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Lincoln County by USDA PLANTS. 130 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

Lincoln County, North Carolina

Native species: 303 Typical North Carolina county: 498 (median of 100 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 130 Typical North Carolina county: 208
Share by type (all 303 native species): Percent of the 303 native species in each growth type

Tree 14% (41)
Shrub 7% (21)
Wildflower (forb) 57% (174)
Grass or grass-like 14% (43)
Vine 5% (16)
Fern 3% (8)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (57%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (14%).

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 8a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 130

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

Garden-ready native plants of Lincoln County, North Carolina
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American beech Fagus grandifolia	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American holly Ilex opaca	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica	Tree	95 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium	Tree	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
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
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 rose Rosa carolina	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
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
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 rush Juncus effusus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
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
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana	Vine	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
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
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata	Grass or grass-like	5.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
golden ragwort Packera aurea	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
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
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
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina	Shrub	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
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
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	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
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
pignut hickory Carya glabra	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
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
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
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
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
silky dogwood Cornus amomum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
southern bayberry Morella caroliniensis	Tree	7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
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
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
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
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Low	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
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
wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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

Other native species recorded here 173

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.

Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
American alumroot Heuchera americana
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American senna Senna hebecarpa
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
bigleaf magnolia Magnolia macrophylla
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
black baneberry Actaea racemosa
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
bristly locust Robinia hispida
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina draba Draba reptans
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common dittany Cunila origanoides
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy ragged goldenrod Solidago petiolaris
dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
dwarf violet iris Iris verna
eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
false flowering spurge Euphorbia pubentissima
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
field pansy Viola bicolor
fire pink Silene virginica
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
Florida yellow flax Linum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
green and gold Chrysogonum virginianum
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
meadow garlic Allium canadense
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
procession flower Polygala incarnata
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
sand violet Viola affinis
scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
Short's hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silvery everlasting Gamochaeta argyrinea
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smallfruit spikerush Eleocharis microcarpa
smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern bladderwort Utricularia juncea
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
vasevine Clematis viorna
Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
white colicroot Aletris farinosa
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima

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, Lincoln County and North Carolina
Measure	Lincoln County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	303	498	1,920
Garden-ready natives	130	208	654
Tree	41	—	198
Shrub	21	—	107
Wildflower (forb)	174	—	996
Grass or grass-like	43	—	453
Vine	16	—	80
Fern	8	—	86

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Lincoln County.

Burke County, NC 189 garden-ready
Catawba County, NC 180 garden-ready
Cleveland County, NC 138 garden-ready
Gaston County, NC 168 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: Lincoln County (county FIPS 37109), North Carolina. 303 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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