The Sandhills is one of the most biodiverse eco-systems in the World. It supports 40% of the biodiversity in NC in just over 1 million acres.
- The Sandhills is characterized by rolling topography, sand covered clay soils (different levels) and thousands of stream heads and this ecoregion is not usually included on maps of the state’s ecoregions (Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain).
- When most folks, even professional biologists, think of “Coastal Plain”, they think of the eastern portion, near to the estuaries and to Outer Banks. But the Sandhills is usually overlooked as a distinct part of the Coastal Plain.
- There are a good number of plant species endemic (restricted) to the Sandhills of NC-SC-GA, and others that in NC occur only in the Sandhills. Soils are different here than on the flat portion of the Coastal Plain.
- Moreover, there is a longer history of controlled burning here than elsewhere in NC because of the Longleaf Pine and wiregrass ecosystem that requires fire.
Chapter Events
Sandhills Counties
- Anson
- Cumberland
- Harnett
- Hoke
- Lee
- Montgomery
- Moore
- Richmond
- Scotland
*This map uses the US Forest Service/Bailey’s Ecoregions definition
Contact Us
UPCOMING FIELDTRIPS
Sandhill’s Gamelands Guided Tour with Bruce Sorrie Saturday May 16th, 2026 10am-2pm
– More Information to come –
UPCOMING MEETINGS
CELEBRATE NCNPS 75TH ANNIVERSERY! August 4, 2026 Moore Co Ag Center 5:30-7:30pm
SPECIAL SPEAKER ECOLOGIST DR. CARRIE DEJACO – NATIVE POLLINATORS AND PLANT RESCUE / SPECIAL SPEAKER CURRENT NCNPS PRESIDENT KEN BRIDLE – NCNPS HISTORY / CAKE! 🎂
EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS
The National Extension Native Plant Initiative (NENPI) will be hosting a free weekly webinar every Tuesday in April from 12:00 – 1:00 pm (Eastern) to kick off the spring season. Topics will be geared toward natural resource extension professionals and those in related fields with an interest in native plants in the landscape, seed collection and processing, and the role of seed banks for local ecotypes. The webinars are open to both ANREP members and non-members.
Webinar topics
Native Plants: Teaching Tips and Tools for Adoption – Tuesday, April 7
Native Plants: Local Ecotypes and the Role of Seed Banks – Tuesday, April 14
Native Plants: Small Scale Seed Collection and Storage – Tuesday, April 21
Native Plants: Community Collaboration for Seed Conservation – Tuesday, April 28
These webinars are free and geared toward extension and conservation professionals, and stewardship groups who are interested in native plants.
REGISTRATION LINK: https://member.anrep.org/Calendar/moreinfo.php?eventid=206560&org_id=ANRE
One registration link will be used for all four webinars. Webinars will be recorded and posted on the ANREP website.
EDUCATIONAL EXCURSIONS
Pyxie Moss Lighting Up the Sandhills
PYXIE MOSS POP UP March 9th, 2026
A nature walk to find the rare blooming pyxie moss
We went on a “pop-up” nature walk to find the rare blooming Pyxie Moss. It’s not actually moss, but it is magical!
Where: Pyxie Moss Trail /Paint Hill Tract of the Weymouth Woods Sandhillls Nature Preserve led by Bruce Sorrie.
What: Sandhills pyxie-moss (Pyxidanthera brevifolia), which blooms in winter, grows beneath the longleaf pine forests.
History of the North Carolina Native Plant Society & Pyxie Moss
The early history of the North Carolina Native Plant Society was marked by strong efforts in conservation and the creation of native plant gardens across the state. One of its primary goals was protecting habitat for Pyxie Moss in the Sandhills and supporting the Daniel Boone Botanical Garden in Boone. A major reason the organization chose to become incorporated was to gain the ability to acquire land to protect the endangered Pyxie Moss. However, by 1958, the effort to secure land for its protection had fallen through. Pyxie Moss is a rare, tiny flowering plant—despite its name, it is not a true moss. It is found almost exclusively in the Sandhills region, primarily in Moore, Harnett, Hoke, and Cumberland counties, and has not been recorded in the southern Sandhills counties of Richmond or Scotland. This narrow endemic species occurs only in North Carolina and adjacent South Carolina. Although its range is very restricted, it is relatively common on Fort Bragg. The plant grows in sandy soils over clay hardpans, typically on ridges and hilltops. Blooming from February into March, Pyxie Moss is a small evergreen sub-shrub that grows flat along the ground in dense mats that can spread several feet across. Its needle-like leaves are tiny—barely one-eighth of an inch long—and densely cover the stems. In bloom, the plants are covered with small white flowers about a quarter inch wide, so abundant that the patches can resemble snow on the forest floor. Because of its small size, spotting Pyxie Moss requires careful observation—often kneeling or even lying down to fully appreciate it.
–BOOTHS-GUEST SPEAKER at LOCAL EVENTS and FESTIVALS–
2026 WILD FOODS COOK OFF TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2026 @ THE SANDHILLS ROD AND GUN CLUB
Cami Gregg, Chairwoman and Namaste Arey, Co-chair of the Sandhills Chapter will be guest speakers with an intro to the Sandhills Chapter and edible NC native plants.
FOR MORE INFO click: https://richmond.ces.ncsu.edu/news/2026-wild-foods-cook-off-coming-soon
CLENNY CREEK HERITAGE DAY 2026 APRIL 18TH @ 10AM-4PM Free Event
The Historic 1820’s Bryant House and 1760’s McLendon Cabin – Oldest dwelling in Moore County Location: 3361 Mount Carmel Road, Carthage, North Carolina
PARTY FOR THE PINE / FIRE FOR THE FOREST APRIL 18TH 10am-3pm
The oldest known living longleaf pine in the world resides here, dating back to 1548
Free event -Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities 555 East Connecticut Avenue Southern Pines, NC
https://friendsofwewo.org/party-for-pine-2026
MEETINGS
MARCH 11TH, 2026 INAUGURAL MEETING 707 PINEHURST AVENUE CARTHAGE, NC 28327
SPECIAL SPEAKER BRUCE SORRIE, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE WITH THE UNC CHAPEL HILL HERBARIUM, BOTANIST AND AUTHOR – PRESENTED “AN INTRODUCTION TO PLANTS OF THE SANDHILLS”
Our first meeting exceeded our wildest expectations. We had more than 120 people attend, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. It was a complete success! Chairwoman Cami Gregg introduced the Sandhill’s chapter with warmth and enthusiasm. Our special guest speaker and mentor, Bruce Sorrie guided the group through a slideshow of NC native plants and shared insights about the incredibly diverse region we call home. We wrapped up with a plant raffle, and Bruce Sorrie signed copies of his books for sale. Attendees and the Sandhill’s Chapter committee also had time to mingle and chat.
PLANT RESTORATION PROJECTS
MARCH 28TH, 2026 ABERDEEN PUBLIC LIBRARY – Volunteers installed longleaf pine trees, dogwood trees, redbud trees and an american snowbell tree. This was the first project since the Sandhills Chapter has formed. It was a beautiful morning, with the high of 55 degrees! Perfect. We had fantastic volunteers who arrived smiling and left just as happy!
