Native plants · North Carolina

Native plants of Surry County

478 plant species are recorded as native to North Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Surry County by USDA PLANTS. 196 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

Surry County, North Carolina

Native species: 478 Typical North Carolina county: 498 (median of 100 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 196 Typical North Carolina county: 208
Share by type (all 478 native species): Percent of the 478 native species in each growth type

Tree 13% (64)
Shrub 5% (25)
Wildflower (forb) 53% (255)
Grass or grass-like 19% (93)
Vine 4% (21)
Fern 4% (20)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (53%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (19%).

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 7b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 196

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

Garden-ready native plants of Surry County, North Carolina
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American basswood Tilia americana	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
American bur-reed Sparganium americanum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 9b
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
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 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
bog rush Juncus biflorus	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
bottle gentian Gentiana clausa	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	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
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
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 hemlock Tsuga caroliniana	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7b
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
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 blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Low	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 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
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
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
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
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
drooping sedge Carex prasina	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis	Tree	105 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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 rough sedge Carex scabrata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
eastern white pine Pinus strobus	Tree	150 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
flattened oatgrass Danthonia compressa	Grass or grass-like	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
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
great laurel Rhododendron maximum	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
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 bulrush Scirpus atrovirens	Grass or grass-like	5.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2a
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
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
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
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
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina	Shrub	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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
mountain magnolia Magnolia fraseri	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
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
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
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
northern red oak Quercus rubra	Tree	81 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
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
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
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
pitch pine Pinus rigida	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
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
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
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
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
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
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
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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
silky dogwood Cornus amomum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
silky willow Salix sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
silver maple Acer saccharinum	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
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
slippery elm Ulmus rubra	Tree	85 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
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 red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	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
squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	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
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	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
sweet birch Betula lenta	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
sweet fern Comptonia peregrina	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
Table Mountain pine Pinus pungens	Tree	50 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
umbrella-tree Magnolia tripetala	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
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 passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 282

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.

Aaron's rod Thermopsis villosa
Allegheny hawkweed Hieracium paniculatum
amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
American alumroot Heuchera americana
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
Appalachian stitchwort Minuartia glabra
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bear oak Quercus ilicifolia
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
bent sedge Carex styloflexa
biennial beeblossom Oenothera gaura
bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
black baneberry Actaea racemosa
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
Bowman's root Gillenia trifoliata
bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
bristly locust Robinia hispida
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broadleaf ironweed Vernonia glauca
broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian licorice-root Ligusticum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
Carolina bugbane Trautvetteria caroliniensis
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina lily Lilium michauxii
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
chinquapin Castanea pumila
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common dittany Cunila origanoides
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
cream avens Geum virginianum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy carrionflower Smilax pulverulenta
downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
dwarf violet iris Iris verna
early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
earlyleaf brome Bromus latiglumis
earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
fire pink Silene virginica
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
Florida yellow flax Linum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
flypoison Amianthium muscitoxicum
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
fox grape Vitis labrusca
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
gall of the earth Prenanthes trifoliolata
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
halberdleaf yellow violet Viola hastata
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
heartleaf foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
highland doghobble Leucothoe fontanesiana
hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
littleflower alumroot Heuchera parviflora
longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
loosehead beaksedge Rhynchospora chalarocephala
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mountain holly Ilex montana
mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
neckweed Veronica peregrina
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
nodding sedge Carex gynandra
northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
Nuttall's ticktrefoil Desmodium nuttallii
oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
pasture thistle Cirsium pumilum
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
poorjoe Diodia teres
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
red hickory Carya ovalis
red trillium Trillium erectum
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
ribbed sedge Carex virescens
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundleaf yellow violet Viola rotundifolia
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
sand hickory Carya pallida
sand violet Viola affinis
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
showy skullcap Scutellaria serrata
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
small whorled pogonia Isotria medeoloides
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
Swan's sedge Carex swanii
sweet white violet Viola blanda
sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
three-lobe violet Viola triloba
toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
vasevine Clematis viorna
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
white colicroot Aletris farinosa
white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
white wild indigo Baptisia alba
white wood aster Eurybia divaricata
whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
wideflower phlox Phlox latifolia
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
woodland bulrush Scirpus expansus
woodland flax Linum virginianum
woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
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
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides

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, Surry County and North Carolina
Measure	Surry County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	478	498	1,920
Garden-ready natives	196	208	654
Tree	64	—	198
Shrub	25	—	107
Wildflower (forb)	255	—	996
Grass or grass-like	93	—	453
Vine	21	—	80
Fern	20	—	86

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Surry County.

Alleghany County, NC 197 garden-ready
Stokes County, NC 246 garden-ready
Wilkes County, NC 158 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: Surry County (county FIPS 37171), North Carolina. 478 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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