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Native plants · North Carolina

Native plants of Onslow County

566 plant species are recorded as native to North Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Onslow County by USDA PLANTS. 256 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

Onslow County, North Carolina

Native species
566 Typical North Carolina county: 498 (median of 100 counties)
Garden-ready natives
256 Typical North Carolina county: 208
Share by type (all 566 native species)
Percent of the 566 native species in each growth type
Tree 13% (71)
Shrub 8% (45)
Wildflower (forb) 48% (271)
Grass or grass-like 23% (132)
Vine 6% (36)
Fern 2% (11)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (48%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (23%).

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 8a to 8b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Cold hardiness is estimated from each plant’s PLANTS minimum temperature. How we estimate it.

Garden-ready natives 256

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

Garden-ready native plants of Onslow County, North Carolina
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy 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 bur-reed Sparganium americanum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5b
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 wisteria Wisteria frutescens Vine 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
bald cypress Taxodium distichum Tree 130 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
bedstraw St. Johnswort Hypericum galioides Shrub 2.5 ft Sun High Zone 7a
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Grass or grass-like 6 ft Sun Low Zone 2b
bighead rush Juncus megacephalus Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolius Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 4b
bitter panicgrass Panicum amarum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis Tree 75 ft Sun Medium Zone 2b
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 willow Salix nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica Tree 95 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica Tree 25 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
bog rush Juncus biflorus Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus Shrub 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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
butterweed Packera glabella Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 10b
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis Tree 23 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
Carolina redroot Lachnanthes caroliana Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
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 doghobble Leucothoe axillaris Shrub 6.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 7b
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana Tree 33 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7b
coastal serviceberry Amelanchier obovalis Shrub 10 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
coastal sweetpepperbush Clethra alnifolia Shrub 16 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
common blue violet Viola sororia Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
common rush Juncus effusus Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
common sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria Tree 20 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 5a
cucumberleaf sunflower Helianthus debilis Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Medium Zone 9b
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
dense blazing star Liatris spicata Wildflower (forb) 4.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12a
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana Vine 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa Tree 20 ft Sun High Zone 4b
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
dwarf azalea Rhododendron atlanticum Shrub 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
dwarf huckleberry Gaylussacia dumosa Shrub 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
dwarf palmetto Sabal minor Tree 9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
dwarf witchalder Fothergilla gardenii Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6b
eastern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum subulatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
Elliott's blueberry Vaccinium elliottii Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum Tree 28 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
fetterbush lyonia Lyonia lucida Shrub 6.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7b
field paspalum Paspalum laeve Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
forked rush Juncus dichotomus Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata Grass or grass-like 5.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea Shrub 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
groundnut Apios americana Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun High Zone 8a
hairy chaffhead Carphephorus paniculatus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 8a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
haspan flatsedge Cyperus haspan Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata Tree 30 ft Sun High Zone 5a
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Shrub 12 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
honeycup Zenobia pulverulenta Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 7b
hop sedge Carex lupulina Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 7b
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans Grass or grass-like 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
inkberry Ilex glabra Shrub 8 ft Sun High Zone 6a
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
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
lanceleaf greenbrier Smilax smallii Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant 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 barley Hordeum pusillum Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
live oak Quercus virginiana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8a
loblolly bay Gordonia lasianthus Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 7a
loblolly pine Pinus taeda Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 6b
longleaf pine Pinus palustris Tree 120 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina Shrub 9 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 5a
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
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 Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
Nuttall's reedgrass Calamagrostis coarctata Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 12a
overcup oak Quercus lyrata Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata Wildflower (forb) 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
peelbark St. Johnswort Hypericum fasciculatum Shrub 5 ft Sun — Zone 7b
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
peppervine Nekemias arborea Vine 1 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
perplexed ticktrefoil Desmodium perplexum Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
pineland threeawn Aristida stricta Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 8a
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
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
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
pumpkin ash Fraxinus profunda Tree 120 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun Low Zone 3a
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Fern 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
red buckeye Aesculus pavia Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia Shrub 5 ft Sun High Zone 5b
red maple Acer rubrum Tree 68 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra Tree 70 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
redbay Persea borbonia Tree 70 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
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
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
roundhead rush Juncus validus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
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
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
seaoats Uniola paniculata Grass or grass-like 6 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
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
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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 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 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
southern waxy sedge Carex glaucescens Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6a
Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides Vine — Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 9b
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
stiff dogwood Cornus foemina Tree 16 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium Wildflower (forb) 10 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
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
summer grape Vitis aestivalis Vine 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum Shrub 16 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
swamp doghobble Eubotrys racemosus Shrub 13 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
swamp rose Rosa palustris Shrub 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
swamp sawgrass Cladium mariscus Grass or grass-like 8.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius Wildflower (forb) 5.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
swamp titi Cyrilla racemiflora Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 6b
swamp tupelo Nyssa biflora Tree 115 ft Sun High Zone 5b
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
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 6b
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
toad rush Juncus bufonius Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
trumpet 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
umbrella-tree Magnolia tripetala Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia dayflower Commelina virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
Virginia iris Iris virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
water hickory Carya aquatica Tree 85 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
water oak Quercus nigra Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 5a
wax myrtle Morella cerifera Tree 10 ft Sun High Zone 7a
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
willow oak Quercus phellos Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
winged sumac Rhus copallinum Tree 8 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens Wildflower (forb) 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
woolly rosette grass Dichanthelium scabriusculum Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
yaupon Ilex vomitoria Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8a
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 310

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.

  • Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
  • Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
  • amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American searocket Cakile edentula
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
  • anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
  • annual phlox Phlox drummondii
  • annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
  • Appalachian quillwort Isoetes engelmannii
  • arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
  • arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
  • Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
  • Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
  • Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
  • Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
  • beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
  • beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
  • bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
  • beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
  • bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
  • birdfoot violet Viola pedata
  • 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
  • bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
  • bluestem pricklypoppy Argemone albiflora
  • bog white violet Viola lanceolata
  • bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
  • bristly locust Robinia hispida
  • broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
  • bunched beaksedge Rhynchospora cephalantha
  • button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
  • camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
  • Carolina clover Trifolium carolinianum
  • Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
  • Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
  • Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • chinquapin Castanea pumila
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
  • climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
  • clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
  • clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
  • coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
  • coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
  • coastal plain panicgrass Dichanthelium longiligulatum
  • combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • common carpetgrass Axonopus fissifolius
  • common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
  • cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
  • cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
  • creeping primrose-willow Ludwigia repens
  • crested yellow orchid Platanthera cristata
  • crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
  • crossvine Bignonia capreolata
  • crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
  • cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
  • cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
  • dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
  • downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
  • downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
  • downy ragged goldenrod Solidago petiolaris
  • downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
  • drumheads Polygala cruciata
  • dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
  • dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
  • dwarf sundew Drosera brevifolia
  • dwarf violet iris Iris verna
  • eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
  • eastern featherbells Stenanthium gramineum
  • eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern showy aster Eurybia spectabilis
  • eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
  • eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • Elliott's goldenrod Solidago latissimifolia
  • Elliott's rush Juncus elliottii
  • erect centella Centella erecta
  • fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
  • fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
  • fern flatsedge Cyperus filicinus
  • fewflower beaksedge Rhynchospora rariflora
  • fewflower milkweed Asclepias lanceolata
  • fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • flattened pipewort Eriocaulon compressum
  • Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
  • forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
  • foxtail clubmoss Lycopodiella alopecuroides
  • fragrant spikesedge Kyllinga odorata
  • fringed nutrush Scleria ciliata
  • fringed yelloweyed grass Xyris fimbriata
  • giant bristlegrass Setaria magna
  • goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
  • grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
  • green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • greenvein lady's tresses Spiranthes praecox
  • Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
  • hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
  • hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
  • hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
  • hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
  • hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
  • hazel dodder Cuscuta coryli
  • heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
  • Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
  • hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
  • herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
  • hirsute sedge Carex complanata
  • hoary verbena Verbena stricta
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
  • juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
  • justiceweed Eupatorium leucolepis
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
  • lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
  • leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
  • Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
  • lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
  • lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
  • licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
  • lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
  • longleaf milkweed Asclepias longifolia
  • loosehead beaksedge Rhynchospora chalarocephala
  • Louisiana sedge Carex louisianica
  • low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
  • manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
  • marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
  • marsh fimbry Fimbristylis castanea
  • Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
  • Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
  • Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • meadow garlic Allium canadense
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
  • narrowleaf lespedeza Lespedeza angustifolia
  • narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
  • nodding beaksedge Rhynchospora inexpansa
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
  • oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
  • openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
  • Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
  • 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
  • pink sundew Drosera capillaris
  • Plukenet's flatsedge Cyperus plukenetii
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • procession flower Polygala incarnata
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
  • purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
  • purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • red lovegrass Eragrostis secundiflora
  • red milkweed Asclepias rubra
  • redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
  • rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
  • Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
  • rose of Plymouth Sabatia stellaris
  • rosepink Sabatia angularis
  • rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
  • rough panicgrass Dichanthelium leucothrix
  • roughfruit scaleseed Spermolepis divaricata
  • roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
  • roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
  • running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
  • rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
  • Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
  • sand hickory Carya pallida
  • sand violet Viola affinis
  • sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
  • sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
  • seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
  • shortleaf skeletongrass Gymnopogon brevifolius
  • sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
  • silvery everlasting Gamochaeta argyrinea
  • sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
  • slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
  • slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
  • slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
  • slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
  • slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
  • slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
  • slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
  • slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • Small's blacksnakeroot Sanicula smallii
  • Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
  • smallfruit spikerush Eleocharis microcarpa
  • smooth elephantsfoot Elephantopus nudatus
  • smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
  • snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
  • sneezeweed Helenium amarum
  • southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
  • southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
  • southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
  • southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
  • Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
  • spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
  • spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
  • spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
  • spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
  • spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading sandwort Arenaria lanuginosa
  • spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
  • St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
  • stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
  • stiff ticktrefoil Desmodium obtusum
  • stiff yellow flax Linum medium
  • stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
  • striped bladderwort Utricularia striata
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
  • swamp leather flower Clematis crispa
  • swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
  • tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
  • tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
  • tenlobe false foxglove Agalinis obtusifolia
  • thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
  • three-lobe violet Viola triloba
  • tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
  • toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
  • twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
  • twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
  • vasevine Clematis viorna
  • velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
  • Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
  • Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
  • Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
  • Walter's sedge Carex striata
  • wand lythrum Lythrum lineare
  • warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
  • weak rush Juncus debilis
  • whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
  • white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
  • white colicroot Aletris farinosa
  • white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
  • white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
  • whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
  • whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
  • whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
  • whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
  • yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
  • yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
  • yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
  • yellow spikerush Eleocharis flavescens
  • yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
  • yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima
  • zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata
Also listed as native and introduced here 4

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

  • annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
  • hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
  • 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, Onslow County and North Carolina
MeasureOnslow CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 566 498 1,920
Garden-ready natives 256 208 654
Tree 71 — 198
Shrub 45 — 107
Wildflower (forb) 271 — 996
Grass or grass-like 132 — 453
Vine 36 — 80
Fern 11 — 86

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Onslow County.

Look up another ZIP

Matches your ZIP to the county it mostly lies in, then lists the plants recorded as native to your state (Kew’s World Checklist and USDA PLANTS) and recorded in that county by USDA PLANTS.

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
Onslow County (county FIPS 37133), North Carolina. 566 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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