Native plants · South Carolina

Native plants of Dorchester County

481 plant species are recorded as native to South Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Dorchester County by USDA PLANTS. 213 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

Dorchester County, South Carolina

Native species: 481 Typical South Carolina county: 445 (median of 46 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 213 Typical South Carolina county: 189
Share by type (all 481 native species): Percent of the 481 native species in each growth type

Tree 18% (85)
Shrub 7% (33)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (243)
Grass or grass-like 16% (77)
Vine 6% (30)
Fern 3% (13)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by trees (18%).

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 8b to 9a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 213

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

Garden-ready native plants of Dorchester County, South Carolina
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American beautyberry Callicarpa americana	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6b
American beech Fagus grandifolia	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American 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 plum Prunus americana	Tree	24 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American snowbell Styrax americanus	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 5b
American wisteria Wisteria frutescens	Vine	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
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
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
bedstraw St. Johnswort Hypericum galioides	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolius	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 4b
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
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
blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa	Wildflower (forb)	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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 ash Fraxinus caroliniana	Tree	39 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7b
Carolina silverbell Halesia carolina	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
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
coastal doghobble Leucothoe axillaris	Shrub	6.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 7b
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
coastal serviceberry Amelanchier obovalis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
coastal sweetpepperbush Clethra alnifolia	Shrub	16 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
comfortroot Hibiscus aculeatus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
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 maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris	Fern	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
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 sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
coppery St. Johnswort Hypericum denticulatum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7b
coral greenbrier Smilax walteri	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
dahoon Ilex cassine	Tree	26 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
dwarf azalea Rhododendron atlanticum	Shrub	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
dwarf witchalder Fothergilla gardenii	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6b
eastern baccharis Baccharis halimifolia	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
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
Elliott's blueberry Vaccinium elliottii	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
fetterbush lyonia Lyonia lucida	Shrub	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7b
field paspalum Paspalum laeve	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
forked rush Juncus dichotomus	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8b
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
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
green hawthorn Crataegus viridis	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
Gulf Sebastian-bush Ditrysinia fruticosa	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
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
halberdleaf rosemallow Hibiscus laevis	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
haspan flatsedge Cyperus haspan	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
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
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
lanceleaf greenbrier Smilax smallii	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
large gallberry Ilex coriacea	Tree	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
laurel oak Quercus laurifolia	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
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 woodoats Chasmanthium sessiliflorum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina	Shrub	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
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
may hawthorn Crataegus aestivalis	Tree	26 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	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 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
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
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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
overcup oak Quercus lyrata	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
peppervine Nekemias arborea	Vine	1 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
pine barren goldenrod Solidago fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
pineland threeawn Aristida stricta	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 8a
planertree Planera aquatica	Tree	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
pond pine Pinus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
possumhaw Ilex decidua	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	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
prairie willow Salix humilis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
pumpkin ash Fraxinus profunda	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
red buckeye Aesculus pavia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
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
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
roundpod St. Johnswort Hypericum cistifolium	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
running oak Quercus pumila	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
shallow sedge Carex lurida	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
small-leaf arrowwood Viburnum obovatum	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 7b
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum	Tree	8 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 5a
southern arrowwood Viburnum recognitum	Tree	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
southern waxy sedge Carex glaucescens	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides	Vine	—	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 9b
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
spruce pine Pinus glabra	Tree	90 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
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
sugarberry Celtis laevigata	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
swamp doghobble Eubotrys racemosus	Shrub	13 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius	Wildflower (forb)	5.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
swamp titi Cyrilla racemiflora	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 6b
swamp tupelo Nyssa biflora	Tree	115 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
thinfruit sedge Carex flaccosperma	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	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
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
turkey oak Quercus laevis	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
umbrella-tree Magnolia tripetala	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	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 dayflower Commelina virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
Virginia iris Iris virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
water hickory Carya aquatica	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
water locust Gleditsia aquatica	Tree	40 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 10a
water oak Quercus nigra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
water tupelo Nyssa aquatica	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
wax myrtle Morella cerifera	Tree	10 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
white avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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
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

Other native species recorded here 268

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
American bluehearts Buchnera americana
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
Appalachian quillwort Isoetes engelmannii
aquatic milkweed Asclepias perennis
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
bent sedge Carex styloflexa
big carpetgrass Axonopus furcatus
bigleaf magnolia Magnolia macrophylla
black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
bulltongue arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia
bunched beaksedge Rhynchospora cephalantha
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
Carolina ponysfoot Dichondra carolinensis
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
chaffweed Anagallis minima
Cherokee sedge Carex cherokeensis
chinquapin Castanea pumila
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
clasping water horehound Lycopus amplectens
climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
coastal plain blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium fuscatum
coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
coastal plain panicgrass Dichanthelium longiligulatum
combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
cylindricfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia glandulosa
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
dwarf wakerobin Trillium pusillum
eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
eastern grasswort Lilaeopsis chinensis
eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
false aloe Manfreda virginica
fewflower beaksedge Rhynchospora rariflora
fewflower milkweed Asclepias lanceolata
fire pink Silene virginica
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
flattened pipewort Eriocaulon compressum
floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
Florida mudmidget Wolffiella gladiata
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
Florida yellow flax Linum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
foxtail clubmoss Lycopodiella alopecuroides
fringed nutrush Scleria ciliata
grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
greenvein lady's tresses Spiranthes praecox
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
hyssopleaf hedgenettle Stachys aspera
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
justiceweed Eupatorium leucolepis
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
lined sedge Carex striatula
littlehip hawthorn Crataegus spathulata
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
longleaf milkweed Asclepias longifolia
low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
marsh rose gentian Sabatia dodecandra
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia linearis
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
neckweed Veronica peregrina
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pineywoods dropseed Sporobolus junceus
pink bogbutton Sclerolepis uniflora
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poorjoe Diodia teres
procession flower Polygala incarnata
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
queen's-delight Stillingia sylvatica
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
red hickory Carya ovalis
red milkweed Asclepias rubra
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rosepink Sabatia angularis
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
roughfruit scaleseed Spermolepis divaricata
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
shaggy crabgrass Digitaria villosa
shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
sharpscale sedge Carex oxylepis
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smallflower thoroughwort Eupatorium semiserratum
smooth elephantsfoot Elephantopus nudatus
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
starry rosinweed Silphium asteriscus
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 thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tenlobe false foxglove Agalinis obtusifolia
thickleaf phlox Phlox carolina
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
three-lobe violet Viola triloba
thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
twisted spikerush Eleocharis tortilis
twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
wand lythrum Lythrum lineare
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
white colicroot Aletris farinosa
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
white wild indigo Baptisia alba
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
Wright's plantain Plantago wrightiana
yankeeweed Eupatorium compositifolium
yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

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.

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, Dorchester County and South Carolina
Measure	Dorchester County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	481	445	1,633
Garden-ready natives	213	189	580
Tree	85	—	180
Shrub	33	—	87
Wildflower (forb)	243	—	845
Grass or grass-like	77	—	387
Vine	30	—	72
Fern	13	—	62

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Dorchester County.

Berkeley County, SC 267 garden-ready
Charleston County, SC 299 garden-ready
Colleton County, SC 211 garden-ready
Orangeburg County, SC 219 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: Dorchester County (county FIPS 45035), South Carolina. 481 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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