Recommended Native Species

Below are some recommended native plants and trees. We have broken them down into categories. If you are interested in a particular category, click on the tab to see the plants. There is a search field at the top of each table. Also, the table can be sorted by any column.

If a plant’s name is in green, clicking on it will take you to the plant’s listing in our Plant Gallery. The Plant Gallery has additional information on the plant. If we have them, it will also have photos.

After compiling a list of plants that might work in your landscape, head over to our Nurseries page to locate nurseries in your area that might be able to supply you with those plants.

Our Native Plant Handouts page has easy to print PDFs for some of the categories. You might want to take them with you when you go shopping.

Small Trees (up to 25 feet)

Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Light	Soil Moisture
Amelanchier arborea	Serviceberry	deciduous	full / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Aralia spinosa	Devil’s walkingstick	deciduous	full / part-sun	hydric / xeric
Asimina triloba	Paw paw	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Carpinus caroliniana	American hornbeam	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Castanea pumila	Chinquapin	deciduous	full-sun / shade	sub-xeric / xeric
Cercis canadensis	Eastern Redbud	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / xeric
Chionanthus virginicus	Fringe Tree	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric
Cornus alternifolia	Pagoda dogwood	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Cornus florida	Flowering dogwood	deciduous	sun / shade	mesic / xeric
Crataegus phaenopyrum	Washington hawthorn	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric
Diospyros virginiana	Persimmon	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Halesia carolina	Carolina silverbell	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Hamamelis virginiana	Common witch-hazel	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Ilex opaca	American holly	evergreen	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Juniperus virginiana	Red cedar	evergreen	full-sun / part-sun	sub-xeric / xeric
Magnolia tripetela	Umbrella tree	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Ostrya virginiana	Hop-hornbeam	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
<a href='https://plants.ncwildflower.org/plant_galleries/details/oxydendrum-arboreum	' target='blank'>Oxydendrum Arboreum	Sourwood	deciduous	full-sun / shade	sub-xeric / xeric
Ptelea trifoliata	Hoptree	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Prunus americana	American plum	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	sub-xeric / xeric
Prunus pensylvanica	Pin cherry	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Sassafras albidum	Common Sassafras	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Viburnum rufidulum	Blackhaw Viburnum	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / xeric

Large Trees (over 25 feet)

Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Light	Soil Moisture
Acer rubrum	Red maple	deciduous	full-sun / shade	hydric / xeric
Acer saccharum	Sugar maple	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Aesculus flava	Yellow buckeye	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Betula alleghaniensis	Yellow birch	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Betula lenta	Sweet birch	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Betula nigra	River birch	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	hydric / sub-xeric
Carya cordiformis	Bitternut hickory	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Carya glabra	Pignut hickory	deciduous	full-sun / shade	sub-xeric / xeric
Cladrastis kentukea	Yellowwood	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Fagus grandifolia	Beech	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Liriodendron tulipifera	Tulip tree	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Magnolia acuminata	Cucumber tree	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Nyssa sylvatica	Black tupelo	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / xeric
Platanus occidentalis	Sycamore	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	hydric / mesic
Picea rubens	Red spruce	evergreen	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Prunus serotina	Black cherry	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric
Quercus alba	White oak	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric
Quercus montana	Chestnut oak	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric
Quercus rubra	Red oak	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Quercus stellata	Post oak	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	sub-xeric / xeric
Tilia americana	American linden	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Tsuga canadensis	Canadian hemlock	evergreen	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Tsuga caroliniana	Carolina hemlock	evergreen	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric

Low Shrubs (under 4 feet)

Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Light	Soil Moisture
Ceanothus americanus	New Jersey tea	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric
Comptonia peregrina	Sweetfern	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	sub-xeric / xeric
Hydrangea aborescens	Snowhill Hydrangea	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Hypericum prolificum	Shrubby St. John’s Wort	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	hydric / xeric
Leucothoe fontanesiana	Drooping leucothoe	evergreen	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Rosa carolina	Carolina rose	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Rosa palustris	Swamp rose	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	hydric / mesic
Vaccinium macrocarpon	Cranberry	evergreen	full-sun / part-sun	hydric / mesic
Vaccinium pallidum	Lowbush blueberry	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric
Viburnum acerifolium	Maple-leaf Viburnum	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric

Med-size Shrubs (4 to 10 feet)

Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Light	Soil Moisture
Aronia arbutifolia	Red chokeberry	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	hydric / sub-xeric
Aronia melanocarpa	Black chokeberry	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	hydric / sub-xeric
Calycanthus floridus	Sweetshrub	deciduous	part-sun / shade	hydric / sub-xeric
Clethra acuminata	Cinnamonbark	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	sub-xeric / xeric
Cornus amomum	Silky dogwood	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	hydric / sub-xeric
Corylus americana	Hazelnut	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Diervilla sessilifolia	Bush-honeysuckle	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / xeric
Euonymus americanus	Hearts-a-bustin	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Fothergilla major	Large Fothergilla	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Hypericum densiflorum	Dense Hypericum	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric
Ilex verticillata	Common winterberry	deciduous	full-sun / shade	hydric / mesic
Itea virginica	Virginia sweetspire	deciduous	full-sun / shade	hydric / sub-xeric
Kalmia latifolia	Mountain laurel	evergreen	full-sun / part-sun	sub-xeric / xeric
Lindera benzoin	Spicebush	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic
Rhododendron arborescens	Sweet azalea	deciduous	full-sun / shade	hydric / mesic
Rhododendron calendulaceum	Flame azalea	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Rhododendron carolinianum	Carolina Rhododendron	evergreen	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Rhododendron catawbiense	Mountain rosebay	evergreen	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Rhododendron periclymenoides	Wild or Pinxter azalea	deciduous	part-sun / shade	hydric / sub-xeric
Rhododendron vaseyi	Pinkshell azalea	evergreen	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Sambucus canadensis	Elderberry	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Coral berry	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / xeric
Viburnum alnifolium	Hobblebush	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic
Vaccinium corymbosum	Highbush blueberry	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	sub-xeric / xeric
Vaccinium stamineum	Deerberry	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric
Viburnum cassinoides	Witherod Vibernum	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric

Large Shrubs (over 10 feet)

Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Light	Soil Moisture
Alnum serrulata	Tag alder	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	hydric / mesic
Ilex montana	Mountain winterberry	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Philadelphus inodorus	Mock orange	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Rhododendron maximum	Rosebay Rhododendron	evergreen	part-sun / shade	mesic / sub-xeric
Rhus glabra	Smooth sumac	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Salix sericea	Silky willow	deciduous	full-sun / shade	hydric / sub-xeric
Viburnum Dentatum	Arrowwood	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric

Vines

Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Light	Soil Moisture
Aristolochia macrophylla	Dutchman’s pipe	deciduous	part-sun / shade	mesic / xeric
Bignonia capreolata	Crossvine	evergreen	full-sun / shade	hydric / sub-xeric
Campsis radicans	Trumpet creeper	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	sub-xeric / xeric
Clematis virginiana	Virgin’s bower	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / xeric
Decumaria barbara	Climbing hydrangea	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Lonicera sempervirens	Coral honeysuckle	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric
Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Virginia creeper	deciduous	full-sun / shade	mesic / xeric
Passiflora incarnata	Passion flower	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / xeric
Vitis labrusca	Fox grape	deciduous	full-sun / part-sun	mesic / sub-xeric

Ferns

Scientific name	Common name
Adiantum pedatum	Maidenhair fern
Asplenium platyneuron	Ebony spleenwort
Athyrium felix-feimina	Lady fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula	Hay-scented fern
Dryopteris marginalis	Wood fern
Onoclea sensibilis	Sensitive fern
Osmunda cinnamomea	Cinnamon fern
Osmunda claytoniana	Interrupted fern
Osmunda spectablilis	Royal fern
Polystichum acrostichoides	Christmas fern
Thelypteris novaboracensis	New York fern
Woodwardia areolata	Netted chain fern
Woodsia obtusa	Common woodsia

Grasses and Sedges

Scientific name	Common name
Andropogon gerardii	Big bluestem
Andropogon virginicus	Broomsedge
Arundinaria gigantea	River cane
Carex pensylvanica	Pennsylvania sedge
Carex plantaginea	Plantain-leaved sedge
Chasmanthium latifolium	River Oats
Danthonia compressa	Oat grass
Elymus hystrix	Bottle brush
Panicum virgatum	Switch-grass
Schizachyrium scoparium	Little bluestem
Sorghastrum nutans	Indian grass
Tripsacum dactyloides	Eastern gammagrass

Groundcovers

Scientific name	Common name
Antennaria plantaginifolia	Pussy’s toes
Asarum canadense	Wild ginger
Chrysogonum virginianum	Green-and-gold
Coreopsis auriculata	Mouse-eared coreopsis
Fragaria virginiana	Wild strawberry
Gaultheria procumbens	Wintergreen
Hexastylis arifolia	Little brown jugs
Iris cristata	Dwarf crested iris
Mitchella repens	Partridge Berry
Pachysandra procumbens	Allegheny spurge
Phacelia bipinnatifida	Phacelia
Phlox amoena	Chalice Phlox
Phlox divaricata	Wild blue phlox
Phlox stolonifera	Creeping phlox
Pityopis graminifolia	Golden aster
Polystichum acrostichoides	Christmas fern
Shortia galacifolia	Oconee bells
Sisyrinchium mucronatum	Blue-eyed grass
Tiarella cordifolia	Foamflower
Xanthorhiza simplicissima	Yellow-root

Wildflowers

Scientific name	Common name
Actaea Pachypoda	Doll’s eyes
Actaea racemosa	Black cohosh
Amsonia tabernaemontana	Blue star
Anemone acutiloba	Sharp-lobed hepatica
Anemone virginiana	Thimbleweed
Aquilegia canadensis	Wild columbine
Arisaema dracontium	Green dragon
Arisaema triphyllum	Jack-in-the-pulpit
Aruncus dioicus	Goat’s-beard
Asclepias incarnata	Swamp milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa	Butterfly-weed
Astilbe biternata	False goatsbeard
Baptisia tinctoria	Wild indigo
Caulophyllum thalictroides	Blue cohosh
Chelone lyonii	Pink turtlehead
Coreopsis pubescens	Coreopsis
Dicentra eximia	Bleeding heart
Eurybia divaricata	White wood aster
Eutrochium fistulosum	Joe-Pye weed
Geranium maculatum	Wild geranium
Helianthus resinosus	Sunflower
Heuchera americana	Alumroot
Impatiens capensis	Jewelweed
Liatris spicata	Blazing star
Lilium superbum	Turk’s cap lily
Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal flower
Lobelia puberula	Downy Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica	Great Blue lobelia
Lysimachia ciliata	Fringed loostrife
Mitella diphylla	Bishop’s cap
Monarda didyma	Bee-balm
Phlox carolina	Carolina phlox
Phlox paniculata	Garden phlox
Polygonatum biflorum	Solomon’s seal
Primula meadia	Shooting star
Rudbeckia hirta	Blackeyed susan
Sanguinaria canadensis	Bloodroot
Silene virginica	Fire pink
Solidago rugosa	Winkle-leaf goldenrod
Symphyotrichum patens	Late purple aster
Thermopsis villosa	Bushpea
Vernonia noveboracensis	New York ironweed

Mesic for Full Sun

Scientific name	Common name
Aster novea angliae	New England aster
Coreopsis pubescens	Hairy coreopsis
Eutrochium fistulosum	Joe-Pye weed
Liatris spicata	Blazing star
Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal flower
Monarda didyma	Bee-balmox
Phlox carolina	Carolina phlox
Rudbeckia hirta	Blackeyed susan
Symphyotrichum retroflexum	Curtis aster

Mesic for Shade

Scientific name	Common name
Anemone acutiloba	Sharp-lobed hepatica
Arisaema triphyllum	Jack-in-the-pulpit
Asarum canadense	Wild ginger
Erythronium umbilicatum	Trout Lily
Heuchera americana	Alumroot
Mitchella repens	Partridge Berry
Osmunda cinnomonea	Cinnamon fern
Polygonatum biflorum	Solomon’s seal
Polystichum acrostichoides	Christmas fern
Shortia galacifolia	Oconee bells
Tiarella cordifolia	Foamflower

Soil Moisture Definitions

Hydric: Wet, plants periodically or often inundated by water. Water removed so slowly that water table is at or above soil surface all year; gleyed mineral or organic soils.
Sub-hydric: Water removed slowly enough to keep water table at or near surface for most of year; gleyed mineral or organic soils; permanent seepage < 30 cm below surface.
Hygric: Water removed slowly enough to keep soil wet for most of growing season; permanent seepage and mottling; gleyed (greenish-blue-grey) colors common.
Sub-hygric: Water removed slowly enough to keep soil wet for a significant part of growing season; some temporary seepage and possibly mottling below 20 cm.
Mesic: Moist, adequate soil moisture retention year-round. Water removed somewhat slowly in relation to supply; soil may remain moist for a significant, but sometimes short period of the year. Available soil moisture reflects climatic.
Sub-mesic: Water removed readily in relation to supply; water available for moderately short periods following precipitation.
Sub-xeric: Moist to dry, seasonally moist, periodically dry. Water removed rapidly in relation to supply; soil is moist for short periods following precipitation.
Xeric: Dry and drought resistant, little moisture retention, excessively drained — May have multiple assignments. Water removed very rapidly in relation to supply; soil is moist for brief periods following precipitation.
Very xeric: Water removed extremely rapidly in relation to supply; soil is moist for a negligible time after precipitation.