Native plants · South Carolina
Native plants of Chester County
300 plant species are recorded as native to South Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Chester County by USDA PLANTS. 127 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Chester County, South Carolina
- Native species
- 300 Typical South Carolina county: 445 (median of 46 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 127 Typical South Carolina county: 189
- Share by type (all 300 native species)
-
Percent of the 300 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (57%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (16%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 127
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 pokeweed Phytolacca americana | Wildflower (forb) | 7.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolius | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | — | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 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 |
| butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| butterweed Packera glabella | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 10b |
| Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana | Tree | 20 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 4b |
| Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.7 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| Carolina rose Rosa carolina | Shrub | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| Carolina silverbell Halesia carolina | Tree | 30 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 |
| climbing hempvine Mikania scandens | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| coastal serviceberry Amelanchier obovalis | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis | Tree | 15 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| common evening primrose Oenothera biennis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| common 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 sneezeweed Helenium autumnale | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos | Wildflower (forb) | 6.6 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| deerberry Vaccinium stamineum | Shrub | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12a |
| dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| eastern baccharis Baccharis halimifolia | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 7a |
| eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides | Tree | 190 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana | Tree | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| Elliott's blueberry Vaccinium elliottii | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum | Tree | 28 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Frank's sedge Carex frankii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| golden ragwort Packera aurea | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12b |
| gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Tree | 80 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| 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 |
| hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana | Tree | 45 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| Illinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| 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 |
| jewelweed Impatiens capensis | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 10b |
| knotgrass Paspalum distichum | Grass or grass-like | 11 in | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6b |
| late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| little barley Hordeum pusillum | Grass or grass-like | 1.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| loblolly pine Pinus taeda | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6b |
| marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 8a |
| 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 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum | Fern | 1.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 12a |
| painted buckeye Aesculus sylvatica | Tree | 65 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 8a |
| partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| pawpaw Asimina triloba | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis | Grass or grass-like | 11 in | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| river birch Betula nigra | Tree | 70 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| shallow sedge Carex lurida | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| shortleaf pine Pinus echinata | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum | Tree | 35 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| southern arrowwood Viburnum recognitum | Tree | 9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| trumpet creeper Campsis radicans | Vine | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens | Vine | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| 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 sweetspire Itea virginica | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| water oak Quercus nigra | Tree | 90 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| white avens Geum canadense | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| white oak Quercus alba | Tree | 100 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| willow oak Quercus phellos | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| winged elm Ulmus alata | Tree | 65 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| winged sumac Rhus copallinum | Tree | 8 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens | Wildflower (forb) | 4.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 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 |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 173
PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
- American alumroot Heuchera americana
- American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
- American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
- American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
- American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
- annual ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia
- Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
- azure blue sage Salvia azurea
- beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
- bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
- black baneberry Actaea racemosa
- black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
- blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
- bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
- Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
- bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
- Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
- bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
- camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
- camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
- Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
- Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
- Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
- Canadian licorice-root Ligusticum canadense
- cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
- Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
- Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
- Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
- Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
- Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
- Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
- chinquapin Castanea pumila
- Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
- clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
- coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
- common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
- common dittany Cunila origanoides
- cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
- creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
- creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
- crossvine Bignonia capreolata
- cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
- dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
- downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
- downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
- dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
- dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
- early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
- eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
- eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
- eastern showy aster Eurybia spectabilis
- eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
- eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
- fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
- false aloe Manfreda virginica
- false flowering spurge Euphorbia pubentissima
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fescue sedge Carex festucacea
- Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
- flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
- forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
- globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
- great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
- greater tickseed Coreopsis major
- green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
- hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
- hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
- hairy lettuce Lactuca hirsuta
- hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
- hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
- hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
- hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
- heartleaf foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
- heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
- hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
- Heller's cudweed Pseudognaphalium helleri
- Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
- herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
- hirsute sedge Carex complanata
- largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
- lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
- Leavenworth's sedge Carex leavenworthii
- lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
- littlehip hawthorn Crataegus spathulata
- low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
- lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
- man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
- maroon Carolina milkvine Matelea carolinensis
- marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
- Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
- mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
- meadow garlic Allium canadense
- meadow zizia Zizia aptera
- nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
- narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
- narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
- openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
- perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
- potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
- prostrate blue violet Viola walteri
- prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
- purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
- purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
- queendevil Hieracium gronovii
- rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
- rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
- Reznicek's sedge Carex reznicekii
- rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
- robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
- roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
- rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
- scentless mock orange Philadelphus inodorus
- sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
- sharpleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum virgatum
- showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
- sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
- silvery everlasting Gamochaeta argyrinea
- sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
- slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
- slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
- slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
- Small's blacksnakeroot Sanicula smallii
- Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
- smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
- smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
- sneezeweed Helenium amarum
- spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
- spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
- spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
- spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
- spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
- St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
- starry rosinweed Silphium asteriscus
- starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
- sticky catchfly Silene caroliniana
- swamp leather flower Clematis crispa
- toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
- trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
- trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
- twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
- twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
- vasevine Clematis viorna
- violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
- Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
- Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
- Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
- Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
- Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
- warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
- wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
- waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
- whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
- whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
- whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
- widowsfrill Silene stellata
- wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
- wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
- wild yam Dioscorea villosa
- woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
- woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
- yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
- yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
- yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
Also listed as native and introduced here 2
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.
- Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
- 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.
| Measure | Chester County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 300 | 445 | 1,633 |
| Garden-ready natives | 127 | 189 | 580 |
| Tree | 44 | — | 180 |
| Shrub | 16 | — | 87 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 170 | — | 845 |
| Grass or grass-like | 47 | — | 387 |
| Vine | 17 | — | 72 |
| Fern | 6 | — | 62 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Chester County.
- Fairfield County, SC 147 garden-ready
- Union County, SC 124 garden-ready
- York County, SC 161 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
- Chester County (county FIPS 45023), South Carolina. 300 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