SE Coastal Chapter

Photo: Spoon Leaf Sundew (Drosera intermedia)

Our Events

The SE Coastal Chapter meets for field trips and other events. The southeastern region of North Carolina is rich in unusual plants, such as Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, and orchids. Popular destinations include the Green Swamp and the Ghost Savannah. We usually meet monthly on a weekend, Saturday or Sunday, except for the hot months of July and August, but times vary. Contact the Co-Chair, Charley Winterbauer (cewinterbauer39@gmail.com) for up coming walks if not listed on this web site. Find recordings of our online meetings/walks on YouTube.

Post 2024 Native Plant Festival

With the idea of continuing to promote natives, this message is dedicated to that idea. For those that attended this year’s festival, you know that we had a different format. For those that didn’t attend, in summary, the speakers were on three different sequential evenings. The plant vendors DID NOT have tables with plants for sale but we did it differently. We had a map in the handout that showed the location and names of the vendors and promoted a shopping day. Those that attended any part of the festival probably picked up the Native Plant Festival handout.

The handout is the topic of this message. The middle foldout contained a map of the participating vendors scattered around the area. For those that didn’t attend the festival and get the handout, I am including a link to that handout. I previously sent the link but I am doing it again with another purpose. The most common question I get and you probably do too, is OK, I want to plant natives but where do I get them? Well, if you give the handout to that person, neighbor or friend, then the map with vendors answers that question. You can give them a paper copy or forward this email with the link or just copy the link and send it to them. The advantage of this year’s vendor access is that a person that went to the any one or more of the vendors was able to choose from all of the natives that vendor carried. Those that didn’t attend any or all can still visit one or more of the nursery vendors at any time they are open. One request I have is when you go to the vendor, mention that you are there to buy native plants. This “plants” the notion that there is a demand for natives. Of course, you follow up with buying native(s).

Lastly, for those that attended this year’s festival, please let me know your thoughts on this new format. My email is cewinterbauer39@gmail.com. I will pass your comments to the group when we have the post festival meeting or future planning meeting. We may make changes for 2025 based on the feedback.

https://issuu.com/capefearsgoinggreen/docs/2024_native_plant_festival_v16-3

Sponsors are Friends of the Arboretum, NC Cooperative Extension, Extension Master Gardener ^SM Volunteers, Cape Fear’s Going Green, NC Native Plant Society-SE Coastal Chapter.

Doug Tallamy Came to Town

The University of North Carolina Wilmington sponsored (along with others, see below) Douglas W. Tallamy’s visit. The presentation was given at the Lumina theater at UNCW.

Other sponsors: Alliance for Cape Fear Trees, Cape Fear Audubon Society, Cape Fear Garden Club (CFGC), Cape Fear’s Going Green, Extention Master Gardener Volunteer Association, Friends of the NHC Arboretum, Friends of the Library, Gardening for Wildlife (CFGC), Nature at Home, Nature at Work, NC Cooperative Extention-New Hanover, Penderlea Farms and SE Coastal Chapter-NC Native Plant Society.

Doug’s Bio

Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 106 research publications and has taught insect-related courses for 41 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities.

His books include Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, Nature’s Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller, and The Nature of Oaks, winner of the American Horticultural Society’s 2022 book award. In 2021 he cofounded the “Homegrown National Park” program with Michelle Alfandari. Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service.

For more information on the Homegrown National Park, go tohttps://homegrownnationalpark.org

The Presentation

The fun part

Doug’s wife, Cindy insisted that Doug be fed. Here is the proof along with Debbie Winterbauer, Charley Winterbauer, Doug and Jim Nesbit.

Doug wanted to visit the Airlie Oak. That is Doug, dwarfed by the Oak.

The book, “Nature’s Best Hope” can be obtained free. Go to the New Honover Arboretum and pick up a copy of the adult version or the children’s version. One catch, you need to pass it on to another person.

Walks and other Chapter Activities

Fungus Walk, June 21, 2025

Dr. Andrew Methven, a Mycologist let the walk.

Some may wonder why the Native Plant Society is concerned about fungus. As many of you know from me harping on it or just know about fungi, they are important in the ecological process. They are the organisms that return nutrients to the soil so that native plants can survive.

We are fortunate to have Andy Methven, a mycologist, lead a walk at EV Henwood. We did a fungus walk there before and it was super educational. Charley Winterbauer, Co-chair SE Coastal Chapter.

Andy checking out the details of a fungus.

Moores Creek Plant Walk June 8, 2025,

Dr. John Taggart led a walk at the National Battlefield

Partial species list: Huge thanks to Bob Roush for compiling this list.

BOTANICAL NAME	COMMON NAME

Abatia (difformis?)	Gentian lance leaf
Ampelopsis arborea	Peppervine
Arundinaria tecta	Switch cane
Betula nigra	River birch
Boehmeria cylindrica	False nettle
Campsis radicans	Trumpetvine aka red
Carpinus caroliniana	Ironwood /musclewood / American hornbeam
Carya tomentosa	Mockernut hickory
Centella asiatica	Centella
Cephalanthus occidentalis	Buttonbush
Cornus stricta	Swamp dogwood
Cyrilla racemiflora	Titi
Drosera sp	Sundew
Eupatorium sp.	Thoroughwort (carrot family
Fraxinus caroliniana	Ash – “probably Pop ash?ß”
Helenium autumnale	Sneezeweed
Hydrocotyl sp	Pennywort
Hypoxis hirsuta	Yellow stargrass
Impatiens capensis	Jewelweed / touch-me-not
Ipomoea indica	Dawn morning glory
Lespedeza sp (not native)	Bush clover
Liquidambar styraciflua	Sweetgum
Lobelia sp	Lobelia
Ludwigia alternifolia	Seedbox
Magnolia virginiana	Sweetbay magnolia
Medicago lupulina	Black medic
Nyssa biflora	Swamp black-gum
Nyssa sylvatica	Black gum
Onoclea sensibilis	Sensitive fern
Passiflora incarnata	Maypop
Phyla nodiflora	Frog fruit aka fog fruit
Pinus taeda	Loblolly pine
Pleopeltis polypodioides	Resurrection fern
Primula sp	Primrose
Quercus coccinea?	Scarlet oak?
Q Laurifolia	Laurel oak
Q lyrata	Overcup oak
Q nigra	Water oak
Q palustris?	Pin oak?
Q stellata	Post oak
Rhexia spp	Meadow beauty
Saccharum giganteum	Plume grass
Saururus cernuus	Lizards tail
Smilacaceae family	Greenbrier – ( a Smilax)
Sorghum halepense	Johnson grass
Stylisma patens	Coastal plain dawnflower
Taxodium ascendens	Pond cypress
Taxodium distichum	Bald cypress
Tillandsia usneoides	Spanish moss
Vaccinium arboreum	Sparkleberry
Woodwardia areolata	Netted chainfern

Butterfly workshop

On May 31, SE Coastal Chapter NC Native Plant Society sponsored Jeff Pippen’s Butterfly Workshop. The purpose was to interest folks to be involved with gathering data on butterfly population. According to Jeff, there are many data bases of butterfly observations. (Also noted in Science Adviser quote below) There is an effort to combine data bases into one to allow researchers one source of data. This effort now spearheaded by Jeff will add to the data base. Our interest is that butterflies are one of many pollinators of native plants

Numerous declines have been documented across insect groups, and the potential consequences of insect losses are dire. Butterflies are the most surveyed insect taxa, yet analyses have been limited in geographic scale or rely on data from a single monitoring program. Using records of 12.6 million individual butterflies from >76,000 surveys across 35 monitoring programs, we characterized overall and species-specific butterfly abundance trends across the contiguous United States. Between 2000 and 2020, total butterfly abundance fell by 22% across the 554 recorded species. Species-level declines were widespread, with 13 times as many species declining as increasing. The prevalence of declines throughout all regions in the United States highlights an urgent need to protect butterflies from further losses. (Source: Science Adviser)

Jeff spent time going over the different classes of butterflies with a lot of images of some very beautiful butterflies. He outlined the method to observe and record butterfly observations. This method is to be used along a determined route at least twice a month. The route used is to be selected by the observer with Jeff’s help and documentation. Details on this procedure of establishing a route and observation plan is outlined in links below.

The group then went outside and conducted a mock observation using the technique Jeff had described. We did see a few butterflies and if it was a real observation, it would have been entered into the data base.

Bottom line, Jeff would like more people to be involved as citizen scientist to thoroughly assess the butterfly situation so efforts can be made to halt the decline of the butterfly

1. If you want to start a route, Email Jeff Pippen,( jeffpippen9@gmail.com) either with your suggestion for where you’d like the route to be, or if you’d like for him to help you find a route near where you live.

2. Visit the CarBMP website to review more of the procedures that was discussed in the workshop

https://www.jeffpippen.com/butterflies/carolinasbmp/carbmp-protocols.htm

3. The Quick ID Guides tab on the CarBMP page has a copy of the butterfly ID Guide if you want to print copies.

https://www.jeffpippen.com/butterflies/carolinasbmp/carbmp-quick-ID-guides.htm

To see more examples of the species including species not on the handout, this page is helpful:

https://www.jeffpippen.com/butterflies/nc-butterflies.htm

4. If you’d like to hear about what other folks around the Carolinas are seeing, check out the CarolinaLeps email list:

https://www.jeffpippen.com/carolinaleps.htm

Picutures of workshop

Silver-spotted skipper, seen during outdoor portion of Jeffrye Pippin’s Butterflu Workshop at the Arboretum in Wilmington

Venus flytrap rescue at Boiling Springs, April 26, 2025

(And Filming of documentary)

Four members of SE Coastal Chapter of NC Native Plant Society participated

**Film Director giving filming instructions (Basically ignore all film people) Notice one of the camera persons** with equipment

**Charley ready for rescue. Flytraps in ditch behind.**

Julie Moore being interviewed for documentary

Plant Walk, April 19, 2025

It was a small group that participated in the walk but 36 species of natives were recorded. This list was created by Bob Roush and he is to be thanked, AGAIN, for his dilligence and excused for some unsure IDs

BOTANICAL NAME COMMON NAME

Aralia spinosa (?)Spiny Aralia / Devils Walking STick (?)

Asimina parviflora-Dwarf pawpaw

Asiminia sp (?)-Pawpaw

baccharis halimifolia-Saltbush / groundseltree

Baptisia sp False indigo –Amarpha?

carya sp-Hickory

Castanea pumila-Chinkapin / DWARF Chestnut

Clematis crispa-swamp leatherflower

Coriopsis sp.-Tickseed

Cornus florida-Flowering Dogwood

elephantopus sp-Elephantsfoot

Eupatorium rotundifolia-roundleaf thoroughwort

Gelsemium sempervirens-Carolina Jessamine

Ilex coriacea-gallberry / baygall bush

Ilex opaca-American holly

ilex vomitoria-Yaupon holly

liquidambar styraciflua-Sweetgum

Lyriodendron tulipifera-Tulip poplar

morella (myrica) cerifera-wax myrtle

Morella (myrica) pusilla?-Wax myrtle (dwarf)

Morus rubra (?)-Mulberry (Red?)

Osmunda cinnamomea-Cinnamon fern

osmunda regalis (?)-Royal Fern (?)

persea borbonia-Redbay

Pinus taeda-Loblolly pine

prunus serotina-Black cherry

prunus virginiana-Cherry laurel

pteridium aquilinum-Bracken fern

Quercus lyrata-Overcup Oak

Quercus marylandica-Blackjack Oak

quercus montana-Chestnut oak

quercus phellos-Willow Oak (?)

Rhododendronpericlymenoides-Azalea (pinxter?)

SALVIA LYRATA-LYRELEAF SAGE

Sassafras albidum-Sassafras

Smilax sp-Greenbrier / catbrier

Plant Walk, November 9, 2024

Fort Fisher Aquarium walk, November 9, 2024

The walk was led by our co-chair, Duane Truscott. Not a lot of folks participated but it was a good walk with interesting observations.

One point along the walk, there is an observation platform overlooking a small pond.

As can be seen, the pond is covered in Duckweed.

Duckweed is an important, high-protein food source for waterfowl and many species of fish. The tiny plants provide cover for the vulnerable fry and tadpoles of many fishes and amphibians. The plants are used as shelter by pond species, such as bullfrogs and newts, and fish such as bluegills.

Despite some of these benefits, because duckweed thrives in high-nutrient wetland environments, the plants can be seen as a nuisance species when conditions favor excessive proliferation in environments that are traditionally low in nutrients

Along the walk path, there is a side trip to a playground

Much of the yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) was exhibiting the beautiful red berries.

This list was created by Bob Roush and he is to be thanked for his dilligence and excused for some unsure IDs

Plants noted
Boneset (?) Eupatorium spp
Cattail Typha latifolia
Chinese ligustrum aka Chinese privet ligustrum Sinense
Clematis?
Climbing Hempvine Mikania scandens?
Common reed Phragmites australis?
Duckweed Lemna minor
Dwarf Palmetto Sable minor
Eastern Live Oak Quercus virginiana
Frogfruit Phyla nodiflora
Japanese privet ligustrum japonicum
Pennywort (aka dollar weed?) (Hydrocotyle spp)
Peppervine Ampelopsis arborea
Poison Ivy Toxicodendron radicans
Red Cedar, Eastern) Juniperus virginiana
Red Cedar (Southern)? Juniperus sp
Redbay Persea borbonia
Saltbush (aka groundsel tree) Baccharis halimifolia
Wax myrtle Morella/Myrica cerifera)
Winter Aster ? Frost Aster? Symphyotricum pilosum??
Yaupon holly Ilex vomitoria

Plant Walk, October 6, 2024

The SE Coastal Chapter of NCNPS conducted a plant walk at Stanley Rehder’s Carnivorous Park, 3800 Canterbury Rd, adjacent to Alderman Elementary school on October 6th at 9am. The walk was led by the new Co-chair, Duane Truscott. A list of plants seen is listed below

A good turnout. Duane giving the introduction and the 3rd picture is near the carnivous plant bog.

Plants seen

Gelsemium sempervirens…Carolina Jessamine

Magnolia virginiana…Sweet Bay Magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora…Southern Magnolia

Morella/Myrica cerifera…Wax Myrtle

Ilex glabra…Inkberry

Ilex vomitoria…Yaupon

Ilex coriacea…Gallberry

Vitex sp…Grape vine

Aronia arbutifolia…Red Chokeberry

Cyrilla racemiflora…Titi

Liquidambar styraciflua…Sweetgum

Morella/Myrica cerifera var pumila…Dwarf Wax Myrtle

Carphephorus odoratissimus…Vanilla leaf/Dogs Tongue

Pleea tenuifolia…Pleea

Pluchea foetida…Marsh Fleabane

Euthamia tenuifolia…Slender Leaved Goldenrod

Quercus phellos…Willow Oak

Quercus nigra…Water Oak

Quercus geminata…Sand Live Oak

Vaccinium crassifolium…Creeping Blueberry

Carphephorus bellidifolius…Sandhill Chaffhead

Ilex cassine…Dahoon Holly

Ilex opaca…American Holly

Clethra alnifolia…Sweet Pepper Bush

Osmanthus americanus…Osmanthus/Devilwood

Invasives sighted

Ligustrum japonicum…Ligustrum

Ligustrum chinensis…Privet

Triadica sebifera…Popcorn Tree

Lonicera japonica…Japanese Honeysuckle

Plant Walk at Carolina Beach State Park, May 25, 2024

Photos by lara Berkley

John giving orentation at trailhead (Charley’s pup, Mandy, not interested)

Featured Plant at the park, Drosera intermedia (Spoon leaf sundew)

Another sundew, Drosera capillaris

A few of other plants seen

Opuntia humifusa

<–Cuthbertia graminea

Sarracenia flava

Lily Pond seedbank response

Cypress pond Polygala cymosa

Grass pond (dry)

For the birders-Red Headed Woodpecker

Venus Flytrap Rescue, Boiling Springs NC, November 26, 2023

Venus Flytrap rescue in Boiling Springs Lake, NC, November 26, 2023

Two of the principal organizers, Tylor Gramley and Julie Moore.

<– Roger Shew and Friend (Charley Winterbauer)

Estimated to have moved about 500 plants to the new location.

<– Chris Dean & Julie Moore

Thanks to the SE Coastal members that helped out, Chris Dean, Duane Truscott, Kathy Curtis, Virginia Holman (pictures courtesy of Virginia), and special guest, Roger Shew–submitted by Charley Winterbauer

The Fire in the Pines October 28, 2023 at Halyburton Park

The usual Chapter setup

Monster Flytrap on Flytrap

Many families attended

Interesting characters

The SE Coastal chapter had a walk on October 23, 2023 at E-V Henwood. It was walk co-led by Duane Truscott (Plants) and Andy Methven (Fungus).

20 folks participated -Andy describes a fungus -Duane points out a Native

Chris Dean next to “Gus” a 1,000 year old Bald Cypress which is located at E-V Henwood. Gus is 20 feet around.

September 16, 2023 Native Plant Festival held at the New Hanover Arboretum

The Native Plant Table

Ever popular, the Flytrap

Chapter participation in Flytrap rescue in Boiling Springs Lake. August 28, 2023

Retired endangered species biologist Julie Moore talks with Charley Winterbauer, co-chair of the Southeast Chapter of the N.C. Native Plant Society as volunteers replant Venus flytraps on land owned and managed by the city of Boiling Spring Lakes. Photo: Trista Talton To see the entire article go to the following link.

https://coastalreview.org/2023/08/volunteers-help-remove-venus-flytraps-from-harms-way/

1st Pix One of the Flytraps plugs 2nd Pix A few trays of Flytraps 3rd Pix Replant area near pond

June 17, 2023 Moores Creek National Battlefield Plant Walk

The walk was led by Dr. John Taggart shown in 3rd picture talking to the SE Coastal Chapter Co-chair, Charley Winterbauer.

The Participants were:

John Taggart, leader (UNCW prof + Coastal Reserve etc.),Charley Winterbauer, (co-chair), Jeff Pierce, from Pollocksville, retired doctor, Lara Berkeley, Chris Dean, mycologist, Wild Meadow Farm, Diane Butzin, Lee Butzin, Karen Sorenson, Robert Roush

A list of plants seen as noted by Bob Roush, Note, not all Identified exactly as the walk was busy.

Yellow sneezeweed
Fleabane
Coastal dawn flower
Fleabane (“junky”)
Hoary pea? aka go through, red flower. Tephrosia spicata ? Tiny red flower
Eupatorium
Sundown?
Fowl mannagrass
Red root
Narrowleaf cattail “may not be native”
Plumegrass (plume grass?)
Stinking fleabane
Royal fern
Bluestem
Crotalaria (rattlebox)
Mockernut hickory
Frogfruit
Button bush
Lizards tail
Buttonbush (buttonweed?) (like sparkleberry?)
Switch cane (same as Arundinaria gigantea, in book)
Yellow stargrass (Hypoxis)
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens)
Resurrection fern (Pleopeltispolypodioides)
Ironwood ”two things named that” this one in Betulaceae family; another is Cyrillaceae
Jewelweed. “Shimmers underwater, and beads when water applied to leaf.” AKA touch-me-not. (Balsaminaceae)

Water ash = pop ash (Fraxinus carolinia)
Titi tree. Cyrillaceae. Cyrilla racemiflora is on species. White cylindrical flowers – racemes.
Johnson grass – invasive
Fetterbush
Cypress knobs – still much debate
Swamp dogwood
Peltamara?
Lady’s bedstraw (aka Yellow bedstraw, Gallium verum)
False nettle
Sensitive ferm
Overcup oak (Quercus lyrate), in white oak group. Rarely seen
Bluejack oak (Quercus incana)
Horse sugar (aka sweetleaf) Simplocos tinctoria
Sparkleberry (large on at end of boardwalk)
Lespedeza bliflora or Lespedeza bicolor?) NOT native
Post oak
Alder (like elm
Centella asiatica (good for brain stem?) (aka Asiatic pennywort)
Carex (sedge)
Red oak
Railroad vine (Ipomea?)
(smilax?) with few spines (this is railroad vine too?)
Bracken fern
Devils walking stick (Aralia spinosa) family Araliaceae (Genseng family, includes ivies)
Silver grass (NOT grass)

June 11, 2023, NCNPS Annual Meeting

Ken Bridle, President, Awarding Karen Lineman the William Lanier Hunt Award shown in the right hand photo. Also participating in the award ceremony is Tom Harville, Awards Chairman.

Please visit our Facebook page for the latest field trip photo albums and more!

May 21, 2023 Wild Meadow Farm plant walk

We were hosted by owner of the farm, Chris Dean who is describing the history of the farm.

June 19, 2022 Shelton Herb Farm

SE Coastal Chapter members in the picnic area at Shelton Herb Farm

We visited Shelton Herb Farm, which propagates many native plants. Margaret Shelton talked to our small but interested group about the history of the farm, which has been in her family for over 200 years.

May 21, 2022 Ghost Savannah Walk

Dr. John Taggart led our Ghost Savannah walk about 45 minutes north of Wilmington North Carolina. This wet pine savannah has been described as one of the Southeast’s most rare and unique natural gardens. It was an overcast day which made the walk pleasant. Since we have not had any rain, it was quite dry. Pitcher plants were not blooming because of lack of rain.

Other Activity

Other Plant Walks

Hutaff Island with Dr. Paul Hosier
(October 2021)

UNCW Bluethenthal Wildlflower Preserve with Dr. Darrin Penneys (June 2021)

Carolina State Park with Dr. John Taggart (February 2019)

EV-Henwood Nature Preserve with Dr. Larry Mellichamp (October 2017)

Picture Albums

For information on local habitats and the plant species associated with them, please see the photo albums below. For instance, information on beach plants can be found in the Bald Head Island and Fort Fisher albums; pine savanna plants can be found in the Green Swamp and Shaken Creek albums.