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
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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
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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
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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
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
Baultheria 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 |
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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 |
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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
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Mesic (*) for Shade
back to mesic
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