Native plants · North Carolina
Native plants of Wilkes County
417 plant species are recorded as native to North Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Wilkes County by USDA PLANTS. 158 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
Wilkes County, North Carolina
- Native species
- 417 Typical North Carolina county: 498 (median of 100 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 158 Typical North Carolina county: 208
- Share by type (all 417 native species)
-
Percent of the 417 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (54%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (18%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 158
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 basswood Tilia americana | Tree | 100 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| American bellflower Campanulastrum americanum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 12b |
| 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 witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana | Tree | 20 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata | Shrub | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| black raspberry Rubus occidentalis | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| bushy St. Johnswort Hypericum densiflorum | Shrub | 6.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 8a |
| butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis | Wildflower (forb) | 5.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| cat greenbrier Smilax glauca | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| chestnut oak Quercus montana | Tree | 73 ft | Sun–part shade | 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 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 sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria | Tree | 20 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 5a |
| 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 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 |
| 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 |
| eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens | Shrub | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| field paspalum Paspalum laeve | Grass or grass-like | 2.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6a |
| flattened oatgrass Danthonia compressa | Grass or grass-like | 2.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| flowering dogwood Cornus florida | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| golden ragwort Packera aurea | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| hazel alder Alnus serrulata | Tree | 30 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 7b |
| Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana | Fern | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| jewelweed Impatiens capensis | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 10b |
| 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 |
| little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| maleberry Lyonia ligustrina | Shrub | 9 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 5a |
| mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia | Shrub | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5b |
| red maple Acer rubrum | Tree | 68 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 2b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| shallow sedge Carex lurida | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| shingle oak Quercus imbricaria | Tree | 45 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| shortleaf pine Pinus echinata | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum | Shrub | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| 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 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| staghorn sumac Rhus typhina | Tree | 30 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| star sedge Carex echinata | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Low | 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 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 |
| sweet birch Betula lenta | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| sweet fern Comptonia peregrina | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| 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 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 |
| waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| whitegrass Leersia virginica | Grass or grass-like | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| winged sumac Rhus copallinum | Tree | 8 ft | Sun | Low | 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 buckeye Aesculus flava | Tree | 65 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11b |
| yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea | Vine | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 259
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
- agueweed Gentianella quinquefolia
- Allegheny hawkweed Hieracium paniculatum
- Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
- Allegheny stonecrop Hylotelephium telephioides
- alpine violet Viola labradorica
- American alumroot Heuchera americana
- American cancer-root Conopholis americana
- American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
- American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
- American senna Senna hebecarpa
- American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
- anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
- Appalachian stitchwort Minuartia glabra
- arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
- arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
- Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
- Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
- beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
- bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
- birdfoot violet Viola pedata
- black baneberry Actaea racemosa
- black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
- blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
- blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
- bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
- Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
- bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
- bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
- Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
- Bowman's root Gillenia trifoliata
- bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
- bristly locust Robinia hispida
- broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
- broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
- brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
- Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
- Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
- Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
- Carolina bugbane Trautvetteria caroliniensis
- Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
- Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
- Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
- Carolina lily Lilium michauxii
- Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
- Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
- Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
- clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
- climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
- clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
- common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
- cream avens Geum virginianum
- creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
- creeping phlox Phlox stolonifera
- crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
- cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
- deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
- densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
- Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
- dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
- downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
- downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
- downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
- downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
- dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
- dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
- dwarf violet iris Iris verna
- early blue violet Viola ×palmata
- early goldenrod Solidago juncea
- early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
- earlyleaf brome Bromus latiglumis
- eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
- eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
- eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
- eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
- eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
- eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
- Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
- fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
- false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
- field pansy Viola bicolor
- fire pink Silene virginica
- fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
- Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
- flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
- flypoison Amianthium muscitoxicum
- fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
- Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
- greater tickseed Coreopsis major
- green and gold Chrysogonum virginianum
- green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
- hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
- hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
- hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
- hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
- hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
- halberdleaf yellow violet Viola hastata
- handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
- heartleaf foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
- hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
- highland doghobble Leucothoe fontanesiana
- hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
- hornleaf riverweed Podostemum ceratophyllum
- Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
- Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
- jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
- largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
- lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
- leafy bulrush Scirpus polyphyllus
- lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
- lined sedge Carex striatula
- lobed spleenwort Asplenium pinnatifidum
- longbeak arrowhead Sagittaria australis
- longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
- lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
- lyrate rockcress Arabis lyrata
- maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
- man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
- marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
- maroon Carolina milkvine Matelea carolinensis
- marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
- Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
- Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
- mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
- meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
- meadow zizia Zizia aptera
- Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
- mountain holly Ilex montana
- mountain silverbell Halesia tetraptera
- mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
- nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
- narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
- nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
- northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
- northern long sedge Carex folliculata
- northern panicgrass Dichanthelium boreale
- northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
- Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
- oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
- openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
- pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
- paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
- palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
- partridgeberry Mitchella repens
- Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
- pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
- poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
- poorjoe Diodia teres
- procession flower Polygala incarnata
- purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
- purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
- rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
- red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- red trillium Trillium erectum
- ribbed sedge Carex virescens
- richweed Collinsonia canadensis
- robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
- rock harlequin Corydalis sempervirens
- rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
- rosepink Sabatia angularis
- rosy sedge Carex rosea
- rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
- roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
- roundleaf yellow violet Viola rotundifolia
- roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
- sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
- scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
- seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
- sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
- sharpleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum virgatum
- shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
- Short's hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula
- showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
- showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
- sicklepod Arabis canadensis
- sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
- silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
- silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
- singlehead pussytoes Antennaria solitaria
- sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
- slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
- slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
- slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
- slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
- small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
- Small's blacksnakeroot Sanicula smallii
- Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
- smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
- smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
- smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
- smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
- smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
- soft thistle Cirsium carolinianum
- southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
- spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
- spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
- spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
- spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
- spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
- spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
- spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
- St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
- star chickweed Stellaria pubera
- star tickseed Coreopsis pubescens
- starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
- striped cream violet Viola striata
- striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
- sweet white violet Viola blanda
- sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
- tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
- tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
- tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
- thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
- toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
- trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
- turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
- upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
- vasevine Clematis viorna
- veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
- Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
- Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
- violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
- Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
- Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
- wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
- weak rush Juncus debilis
- weakstalk bulrush Schoenoplectiella purshiana
- whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
- white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
- white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
- white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
- white vervain Verbena urticifolia
- white wood aster Eurybia divaricata
- whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
- whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
- whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
- whorled mountainmint Pycnanthemum verticillatum
- whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
- whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
- wideflower phlox Phlox latifolia
- widowsfrill Silene stellata
- wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
- wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
- wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
- woodland bulrush Scirpus expansus
- woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
- woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
- woolly lipfern Cheilanthes tomentosa
- yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
- yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
- yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima
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
- 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 | Wilkes County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 417 | 498 | 1,920 |
| Garden-ready natives | 158 | 208 | 654 |
| Tree | 47 | — | 198 |
| Shrub | 28 | — | 107 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 226 | — | 996 |
| Grass or grass-like | 73 | — | 453 |
| Vine | 23 | — | 80 |
| Fern | 20 | — | 86 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Wilkes County.
- Alexander County, NC 170 garden-ready
- Alleghany County, NC 197 garden-ready
- Ashe County, NC 223 garden-ready
- Caldwell County, NC 170 garden-ready
- Iredell County, NC 221 garden-ready
- Surry County, NC 196 garden-ready
- Watauga County, NC 218 garden-ready
- Yadkin County, NC 109 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
- Wilkes County (county FIPS 37193), North Carolina. 417 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