Native plants · South Carolina

Native plants of McCormick County

475 plant species are recorded as native to South Carolina in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in McCormick County by USDA PLANTS. 172 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 1 more species is listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

McCormick County, South Carolina

Native species: 475 Typical South Carolina county: 445 (median of 46 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 172 Typical South Carolina county: 189
Share by type (all 475 native species): Percent of the 475 native species in each growth type

Tree 11% (54)
Shrub 4% (19)
Wildflower (forb) 55% (263)
Grass or grass-like 21% (102)
Vine 5% (26)
Fern 2% (11)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (55%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).

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 8a to 8b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 172

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

Garden-ready native plants of McCormick 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 bellflower Campanulastrum americanum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 12b
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
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
Appalachian blazing star Liatris squarrulosa	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
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
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium	Tree	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
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
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
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 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
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
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
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 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 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
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
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
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	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 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 narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
Elliott's blueberry Vaccinium elliottii	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
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
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
forked rush Juncus dichotomus	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata	Grass or grass-like	5.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
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
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens	Grass or grass-like	5.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2a
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
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
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata	Vine	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	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
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
lanceleaf greenbrier Smilax smallii	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
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
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
loblolly pine Pinus taeda	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
longleaf woodoats Chasmanthium sessiliflorum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
longspike tridens Tridens strictus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 2a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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
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
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
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
northern red oak Quercus rubra	Tree	81 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
painted buckeye Aesculus sylvatica	Tree	65 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 8a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
peppervine Nekemias arborea	Vine	1 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
pignut hickory Carya glabra	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
possumhaw Ilex decidua	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
pride of Ohio Dodecatheon meadia	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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
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 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
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
shaggy blazing star Liatris pilosa	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
silky dogwood Cornus amomum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
small beggarticks Bidens discoidea	Wildflower (forb)	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
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
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
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
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
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
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 iris Iris virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
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
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	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 oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
willow oak Quercus phellos	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
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
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 fumewort Corydalis flavula	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 303

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.

American alumroot Heuchera americana
American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
annual ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
black baneberry Actaea racemosa
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
branched foldwing Dicliptera brachiata
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
broadleaf ironweed Vernonia glauca
bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian licorice-root Ligusticum canadense
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
Carolina lily Lilium michauxii
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clammy locust Robinia viscosa
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
common carpetgrass Axonopus fissifolius
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
cylindricfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia glandulosa
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy ragged goldenrod Solidago petiolaris
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
early St. Johnswort Hypericum nudiflorum
eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
erect spiderling Boerhavia erecta
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
false aloe Manfreda virginica
false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
false flowering spurge Euphorbia pubentissima
false spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum pseudomaculatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
field pansy Viola bicolor
fire pink Silene virginica
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
gaping grass Steinchisma hians
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy clustervine Jacquemontia tamnifolia
hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
heartleaf foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
heartleaf nettle Urtica chamaedryoides
heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
husk tomato Physalis pubescens
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
kidneyleaf mudplantain Heteranthera reniformis
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeflower tickseed Coreopsis grandiflora
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
littlehip hawthorn Crataegus spathulata
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
mountain holly Ilex montana
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf bluecurls Trichostema setaceum
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
nodding beaksedge Rhynchospora inexpansa
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pineywoods dropseed Sporobolus junceus
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poorjoe Diodia teres
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
procession flower Polygala incarnata
prostrate blue violet Viola walteri
purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
purple spikerush Eleocharis atropurpurea
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
Ravenel's rosette grass Dichanthelium ravenelii
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
richweed Collinsonia canadensis
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rose mock vervain Glandularia canadensis
rosepink Sabatia angularis
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
scentless mock orange Philadelphus inodorus
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
sharpleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum virgatum
sharpscale sedge Carex oxylepis
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silvery everlasting Gamochaeta argyrinea
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender looseflower sedge Carex gracilescens
slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slender toothwort Cardamine angustata
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's blacksnakeroot Sanicula smallii
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smallflower baby blue eyes Nemophila aphylla
smallflower phacelia Phacelia dubia
smallfruit agrimony Agrimonia microcarpa
smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
southern sandbur Cenchrus echinatus
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
sticky catchfly Silene caroliniana
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
thickleaf phlox Phlox carolina
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
tinted woodland spurge Euphorbia commutata
toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tuberous stoneseed Lithospermum tuberosum
twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
vasevine Clematis viorna
velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white wild indigo Baptisia alba
white wood aster Eurybia divaricata
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
Wright's plantain Plantago wrightiana
yankeeweed Eupatorium compositifolium
yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
zigzag spiderwort Tradescantia subaspera

Also listed as native and introduced here 1

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

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, McCormick County and South Carolina
Measure	McCormick County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	475	445	1,633
Garden-ready natives	172	189	580
Tree	54	—	180
Shrub	19	—	87
Wildflower (forb)	263	—	845
Grass or grass-like	102	—	387
Vine	26	—	72
Fern	11	—	62

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with McCormick County.

Abbeville County, SC 156 garden-ready
Edgefield County, SC 164 garden-ready
Greenwood County, SC 155 garden-ready
Saluda County, SC 170 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: McCormick County (county FIPS 45065), South Carolina. 475 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.