Growing Native!
Recommended Native Species
Common names are linked to plant gallery portraits where available.
Trees
Small Trees (up to 25 ft)
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Type |
Light |
Soil Moisture (*) |
| Serviceberry |
Amelanchier arborea |
deciduous |
full / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Devil's walkingstick |
Aralia spinosa (2) |
deciduous |
full / part-sun |
hydric / xeric |
| Paw paw |
Asimina triloba |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| American hornbeam |
Carpinus carolina |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Chinquapin |
Castanea pumila |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| Eastern Redbud |
Cercis canadensis |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / xeric |
| Fringe Tree |
Chionanthus virginicus |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
| Pagoda dogwood |
Cornus alternifolia |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Flowering dogwood |
Cornus florida |
deciduous |
sun / shade |
mesic / xeric |
| Washington hawthorn |
Crataegus phaenopyrum |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
| Persimmon |
Diospyros virginiana |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Carolina silverbell |
Halesia carolina |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Common witch-hazel |
Hamamelis virginiana |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| American holly |
Ilex opaca |
evergreen |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Red cedar |
Juniperus virginiana |
evergreen |
full-sun / part-sun |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| Umbrella tree |
Magnolia tripetela |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Hop-hornbeam |
Ostrya virginiana |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Sourwood |
Oxydendrum arboreum |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| Hoptree |
Ptelea trifoliata |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| American plum |
Prunus americana |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| Pin cherry |
Prunus pensylvanica |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Common Sassafras |
Sassafras albidum (2) |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Blackhaw Viburnum |
Viburnum rufidulum |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / xeric |
back to trees
back to top
Large Trees (over 25 ft)
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Type |
Light |
Soil Moisture (*) |
| Red maple |
Acer rubrum |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
hydric / xeric |
| Sugar maple |
Acer saccharum |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Yellow buckeye |
Aesculus flava |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Yellow birch |
Betula alleghanienses |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Sweet birch |
Betula lenta |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| River birch |
Betula nigra |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
hydric / sub-xeric |
| Bitternut hickory |
Carya cordiformis |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Pignut hickory |
Carya glabra |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| Yellowwood |
Cladrastis kentuckea |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Beech |
Fagus grandifolia |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Tulip tree |
Liriodendron tulipifera |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Cucumber tree |
Magnolia acuminata |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Black tupelo |
Nyssa sylvatica |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / xeric |
| Sycamore |
Platanus occidentalis |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
hydric / mesic |
| Red spruce |
Picea rubens |
evergreen |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Black cherry |
Prunus serotina (2) |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
| White oak |
Quercus alba |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
| Chestnut oak |
Quercus montana |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
| Red oak |
Quercus rubra |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Post oak |
Quercus stellata |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| American linden |
Tilia americana |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Canadian hemlock |
Tsuga canadensis |
evergreen |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Carolina hemlock |
Tsuga caroliniana |
evergreen |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
back to trees
back to top
Shrubs:
Low Shrubs (under 4 ft)
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Type |
Light |
Soil Moisture (*) |
| New Jersey tea |
Ceanothus americanus |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
| Sweetfern |
Comptonia peregrina |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| Snowhill Hydrangea |
Hydrangea aborescens |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Shrubby St. John's Wort |
Hypericum prolificum |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
hydric / xeric |
| Drooping leucothoe |
Leucothoe fontanesiana |
evergreen |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Carolina rose |
Rosa carolina |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Swamp rose |
Rosa palustris |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
hydric / mesic |
| Cranberry |
Vaccinium macrocarpon |
evergreen |
full-sun / part-sun |
hydric / mesic |
| Lowbush blueberry |
Vaccinium pallidum |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
| Maple-leaf Viburnum |
Viburnum acerifolium |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
back to shrubs
back to top
Mid-size Shrubs (4 to 10 ft)
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Type |
Light |
Soil Moisture (*) |
| Red chokeberry |
Aronia arbutifolia |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
hydric / sub-xeric |
| Black chokeberry |
Aronia melanocarpa |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
hydric / sub-xeric |
| Sweetshrub |
Calycanthus floridus |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
hydric / sub-xeric |
| Cinnamonbark |
Clethra acuminata |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| Silky dogwood |
Cornus amomum |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
hydric / sub-xeric |
| Hazelnut |
Corylus americana |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Bush-honeysuckle |
Diervilla sessilifolia |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / xeric |
| Hearts-a-bustin |
Euonymus americanus |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Large Fothergilla |
Fothergilla major |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Dense Hypericum |
Hypericum densiflorum |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
| Common winterberry |
Ilex verticillata |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
hydric / mesic |
| Virginia sweetspire |
Itea virginica |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
hydric / sub-xeric |
| Mountain laurel |
Kalmia latifolia |
evergreen |
full-sun / part-sun |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| Spicebush |
Lindera benzoin |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic |
| Sweet azalea |
Rhododendron aborescens |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
hydric / mesic |
| Flame azalea |
Rhododendron calendulaceum |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Carolina Rhododendron |
Rhododendron carolinianum |
evergreen |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Mountain rosebay |
Rhododendron catawbiense |
evergreen |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Wild or Pinxter azalea |
Rhododendron periclymenoides |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
hydric / sub-xeric |
| Pinkshell azalea |
Rhododendron vaseyi |
evergreen |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Elderberry |
Sambucus canadensis (2) |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic |
| Coral berry |
Symphoricarpus orbiculatus (2) |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / xeric |
| Hobblebush |
Viburnum alnifolium |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic |
| Highbush blueberry |
Vaccinium corymbosum (2) |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| Deerberry |
Vaccinium stamineum |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
| Witherod Vibernum |
Vibernum cassinoides |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
back to shrubs
back to top
Large Shrubs (over 10 feet)
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Type |
Light |
Soil Moisture (*) |
| Tag alder |
Alnum serrulata (2) |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
hydric / mesic |
| Mountain winterberry |
Ilex montana |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Mock orange |
Philadelphus inodorus |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Rosebay Rhododendron |
Rhododendron maximum |
evergreen |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Smooth sumac |
Rhus glabra (2) |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Silky willow |
Salix sericea (2) |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
hydric / sub-xeric |
| Arrowwood |
Viburnum dentatum (2) |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
back to shrubs
back to top
Vines:
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Type |
Light |
Soil Moisture (*) |
| Dutchman's pipe |
Aristolochia macrophylla |
deciduous |
part-sun / shade |
mesic / xeric |
| Crossvine |
Bignonia capreolata |
evergreen |
full-sun / shade |
hydric / sub-xeric |
| Trumpet creeper |
Campsis radicans |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
sub-xeric / xeric |
| Virgin's bower |
Clematis virginiana |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / xeric |
| Climbing hydrangea |
Decumaria barbara |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Coral honeysuckle |
Lonicera sempervirens |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
| Virginia creeper |
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (2) |
deciduous |
full-sun / shade |
mesic / xeric |
| Passion flower |
Passivlora incarnata |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / xeric |
| Fox grape |
Vitis labrusca |
deciduous |
full-sun / part-sun |
mesic / sub-xeric |
back to top
Ferns:
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common name |
Scientific name |
| Maidenhair fern |
Adiantum pedatum |
| Ebony spleenwort |
Asplenium platyneuron |
| Lady fern |
Athyrium felix-feimina ssp.asplenoides |
| Hay-scented fern |
Dennstaedtia punctiloba |
| Wood fern |
Dryopteris marginalis |
| Sensitive fern |
Onoclea sensibilis |
| Cinnamon fern |
Osmunda cinnamomea |
| Interrupted fern |
Osmunda claytoniana |
| Royal fern |
Osmunch regalis |
| Christmas fern |
Polystichum acrostichoides |
| New York fern |
Thelypteris novaboracensis |
| Chain fern |
Woodwardia areolata |
| Common woodsia |
Woodsia obtusa |
back to top
Grasses & Sedges:
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common name |
Scientific name |
| Big bluestem |
Andropogon gerardii |
| Broomsedge |
Andropogon virginicus |
| River cane |
Arundinaria gigantea ssp. gigantea |
| Pennsylvania sedge |
Carex pennsylvanica |
| Plantain-leaved sedge |
Carex plantaginea |
| River oats |
Chasmanthium latifolium |
| Oat grass |
Danthonia compressa |
| Bottle brush |
Elymus bystrix |
| Switch-grass |
Panicum virgatum |
| Little bluestem |
Schizachyrium scoparium |
| Indian grass |
Sorghastrum nutans |
| Eastern gamma grass |
Tripsacum dactyloides |
back to top
Ground Covers:
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common name |
Scientific name |
| Pussy's toes |
Antennaria plantaginifolia |
| Wild ginger |
Asarum canadense |
| Green-and-gold |
Chrysogonum virginianum |
| Mouse-eared coreopsis |
Coreopsis auriculata |
| Wild strawberry |
Fragaria virginiana |
| Wintergreen |
Gaultheria procumbens |
| Little brown jugs |
Hexastylis arifolia |
| Dwarf crested iris |
Iris cristata |
| Partridge Berry |
Mitchella repens |
| Allegheny spurge |
Pachysandra procumbens |
| Phacelia |
Phacelia bipinnatifida |
| Chalice Phlox |
Phlox amoena |
| Wild blue phlox |
Phlox divaricata |
| Creeping phlox |
Phlox stolonifera |
| Golden aster |
Pityopis graminifolia |
| Christmas fern |
Polystichum acrostichoides |
| Oconee bells |
Shortia galacifolia |
| Blue-eyed grass |
Sisyrinchium mucronatum |
| Foamflower |
Tiarella cordifolia |
| Yellow-root |
Xanthorhiza simplicissima |
back to top
Wildflowers:
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common name |
Scientific name |
| Doll's eyes |
Actaea Pachypoda |
| Carolina phlox |
Phlox carolina |
| Blue star |
Amsonia tabernaemontana |
| Thimbleweed |
Anemone virginiana |
| Wild columbine |
Aquilegia canadensis |
| Green dragon |
Arisaema dracontium |
| Jack-in-the-pulpit |
Arisaema triphyllum |
| Goat's-beard |
Aruncus dioicus |
| Swamp milkweed |
Asclepias incarnata |
| Butterfly-weed |
Asclepias tuberosa |
| White wood aster |
Aster divaricatus |
| Late purple aster |
Aster patens |
| False goatsbeard |
Astilbe biternata |
| Wild indigo |
Baptisia tinctoria |
| Blue cohosh |
Caulophyllum thalictroides |
| Pink turtlehead |
Chelone lyonii |
| Black cohosh |
Cimicifuga racemosa |
| Coreopsis |
Coreopsis pubescens |
| Bleeding heart |
Dicentra eximia |
| Shooting star |
Dodecatheon meadia |
| Joe-Pye weed |
Eupatorium fistulosum |
| Wild geranium |
Geranium maculatum |
| Sunflower |
Helianthus resinosus |
| Sharp-lobed hepatica |
Hepatica acutiloba |
| Alumroot |
Heuchera americana |
| Jewelweed |
Impatiens capensis |
| Blazing star |
Liatris spicata |
| Turk's cap lily |
Lilium superbum |
| Cardinal flower |
Lobelia cardinalis |
| Lobelia |
Lobelia puberula |
| Great lobelia |
Lobelia siphilitica |
| Fringed loostrife |
Lysimachia ciliata |
| Bishop's cap |
Mitella diphylla |
| Bee balm |
Monarda didyma |
| Carolina phlox |
Phlox carolina |
| Garden phlox |
Phlox paniculata |
| Solomon's seal |
Polygonatum biflorum |
| Blackeyed susan |
Rudbeckia hirta |
| Bloodroot |
Sanguinaria canadensis |
| Fire pink |
Silene virginica |
| Winkle-leaf goldenrod |
Solidago rugosa |
| Bush pea |
Thermopsis villosa |
| New York ironweed |
Vernonia noveboracensis |
back to top
Mesic:
Mesic (*) for Full Sun
Plants listed alphabetically by scientific name
| Common name |
Scientific name |
| New England aster |
Aster novea angliae |
| Curtis aster |
Aster curtisii |
| Hairy coreopsis |
Coreopsis pubescens |
| Joe-Pye weed |
Eupatorium fistulosum |
| Blazing star |
Liatris spicata |
| Cardinal flower |
Lobelia cardinalis |
| Bee balm |
Monarda didyma |
| Wild blue phlox |
Phlox carolina |
| Blackeyed susan |
Rudbeckia hirta |
back to mesic
back to top
Mesic (*) for Shade
back to mesic
back to top
