Native plants · South Carolina

Native plants of Beaufort County

435 plant species are recorded as native to South Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Beaufort County by USDA PLANTS. 182 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

Beaufort County, South Carolina

Native species: 435 Typical South Carolina county: 445 (median of 46 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 182 Typical South Carolina county: 189
Share by type (all 435 native species): Percent of the 435 native species in each growth type

Tree 12% (54)
Shrub 5% (22)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (222)
Grass or grass-like 23% (98)
Vine 7% (32)
Fern 2% (7)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), 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 9a to 9b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 182

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

Garden-ready native plants of Beaufort County, South Carolina
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
aloe yucca Yucca aloifolia	Tree	15 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 7a
American basswood Tilia americana	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
American beautyberry Callicarpa americana	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6b
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
American holly Ilex opaca	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
American spongeplant Limnobium spongia	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
American wisteria Wisteria frutescens	Vine	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
annual wildrice Zizania aquatica	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
bald cypress Taxodium distichum	Tree	130 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
bedstraw St. Johnswort Hypericum galioides	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
bighead rush Juncus megacephalus	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
bitter panicgrass Panicum amarum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
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
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
broadleaf signalgrass Urochloa platyphylla	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
brownseed paspalum Paspalum plicatulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
bushy seaside tansy Borrichia frutescens	Shrub	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
butterweed Packera glabella	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
cabbage palmetto Sabal palmetto	Tree	90 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 9a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
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 foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
Carolina redroot Lachnanthes caroliana	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri	Grass or grass-like	6.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
coastal sweetpepperbush Clethra alnifolia	Shrub	16 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
comfortroot Hibiscus aculeatus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common 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 sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
coppery St. Johnswort Hypericum denticulatum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7b
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
cucumberleaf sunflower Helianthus debilis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 9b
dahoon Ilex cassine	Tree	26 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
dense blazing star Liatris spicata	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
dwarf palmetto Sabal minor	Tree	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
eastern baccharis Baccharis halimifolia	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	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 swampprivet Forestiera acuminata	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
field 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
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
giant cutgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
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
haspan flatsedge Cyperus haspan	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
lanceleaf greenbrier Smilax smallii	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	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
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
longleaf pine Pinus palustris	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
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
mountain azalea Rhododendron canescens	Shrub	14 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
needleleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium aciculare	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 7b
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
Ogeechee tupelo Nyssa ogeche	Tree	50 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
pond pine Pinus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
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
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
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
red buckeye Aesculus pavia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
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
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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
running oak Quercus pumila	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
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 cordgrass Spartina bakeri	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9a
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
saw palmetto Serenoa repens	Tree	7 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
seaoats Uniola paniculata	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
seashore dropseed Sporobolus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9a
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
slash pine Pinus elliottii	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum	Tree	8 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 5a
southern arrowwood Viburnum recognitum	Tree	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides	Vine	—	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 9b
St. Augustine grass Stenotaphrum secundatum	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7b
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
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
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus	Shrub	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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 smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius	Wildflower (forb)	5.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
swamp tupelo Nyssa biflora	Tree	115 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
sweetbay Magnolia virginiana	Tree	60 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 9a
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
turtleweed Batis maritima	Shrub	1 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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 glasswort Salicornia depressa	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	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 oak Quercus nigra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
waterpod Hydrolea quadrivalvis	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
wax myrtle Morella cerifera	Tree	10 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
white doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
white edge sedge Carex debilis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 7a
willow oak Quercus phellos	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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
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

Other native species recorded here 253

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.

Adam's needle Yucca filamentosa
Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
American bluehearts Buchnera americana
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American searocket Cakile edentula
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
anglestem primrose-willow Ludwigia leptocarpa
angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
annual phlox Phlox drummondii
annual ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia
annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bluestem pricklypoppy Argemone albiflora
bog white violet Viola lanceolata
bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
bulltongue arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
Carolina clover Trifolium carolinianum
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
Carolina ponysfoot Dichondra carolinensis
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
chaffseed Schwalbea americana
chaffweed Anagallis minima
chinquapin Castanea pumila
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
claspingleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum gymnanthum
climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common carpetgrass Axonopus fissifolius
creeping burhead Echinodorus cordifolius
creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
creeping primrose-willow Ludwigia repens
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
cylindricfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia glandulosa
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
downy ragged goldenrod Solidago petiolaris
dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
dwarf sundew Drosera brevifolia
dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's fanpetals Sida elliottii
erect centella Centella erecta
erect spiderling Boerhavia erecta
fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
false aloe Manfreda virginica
false flowering spurge Euphorbia pubentissima
fescue sedge Carex festucacea
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
Florida mudmidget Wolffiella gladiata
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
flypoison Amianthium muscitoxicum
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
fragrant spikesedge Kyllinga odorata
fringed nutrush Scleria ciliata
gaping grass Steinchisma hians
giant bristlegrass Setaria magna
globefruit primrose-willow Ludwigia sphaerocarpa
goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy clustervine Jacquemontia tamnifolia
hairy lettuce Lactuca hirsuta
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
herb of grace Bacopa monnieri
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
hogwort Croton capitatus
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
husk tomato Physalis pubescens
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
lined sedge Carex striatula
littlehead nutrush Scleria oligantha
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
longleaf milkweed Asclepias longifolia
low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
maroon Carolina milkvine Matelea carolinensis
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh fimbry Fimbristylis castanea
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
narrowleaf lespedeza Lespedeza angustifolia
narrowleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia linearis
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pink sundew Drosera capillaris
plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
rose of Plymouth Sabatia stellaris
rough Mexican clover Richardia scabra
roughfruit scaleseed Spermolepis divaricata
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand violet Viola affinis
sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
sharpscale sedge Carex oxylepis
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
smallflower thoroughwort Eupatorium semiserratum
smooth elephantsfoot Elephantopus nudatus
smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern cattail Typha domingensis
southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
southern sandbur Cenchrus echinatus
southern twayblade Listera australis
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading sandwort Arenaria lanuginosa
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
starry rosinweed Silphium asteriscus
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
swamp leather flower Clematis crispa
tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
thickleaf phlox Phlox carolina
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
three-lobe violet Viola triloba
tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
whisk fern Psilotum nudum
white colicroot Aletris farinosa
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
wild Job's tears Onosmodium virginianum
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
woollysheath threeawn Aristida lanosa
Wright's plantain Plantago wrightiana
Wright's rosette grass Dichanthelium wrightianum
yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens

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.

hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides
switchcaneArundinaria tecta

Compared with South Carolina

The typical county is the median of the 46 South 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, Beaufort County and South Carolina
Measure	Beaufort County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	435	445	1,633
Garden-ready natives	182	189	580
Tree	54	—	180
Shrub	22	—	87
Wildflower (forb)	222	—	845
Grass or grass-like	98	—	387
Vine	32	—	72
Fern	7	—	62

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Beaufort County.

Colleton County, SC 211 garden-ready
Jasper County, SC 220 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: Beaufort County (county FIPS 45013), South Carolina. 435 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

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.