Native range
Native plants of South Carolina
179 wild species and 20 plant groups in the BloomsEye library grow wild somewhere in South Carolina, read from Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS. The 140 garden forms of them are listed apart below, each naming its wild parent.
Showing 1 to 60 of 199 plants
How this list is made
Derived from each plant's native-range record, checked against Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS with every decision on a ledger; South Carolina is read off the record's own range, and the order is how many of the state's counties record each plant, as stored in the BloomsEye library, which was written with AI assistance. Of these 199 plants, 183 have been checked against outside sources (6 fully verified); the rest have not been checked yet, and each plant's own page says which. The cards are AI-generated illustrations.
Range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 4.0, adapted) and USDA PLANTS. How the native range is credited.
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Full sunZones 3–92 ftLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Flava (Yellow Trumpet)
Campsis radicans f. flava
Full sunZones 4–926 ftModerate
Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
Full sunZones 4–926 ftModerate
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Part sunZones 6–106 ftModerate
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Full sunZones 3–98.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Coral Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Full sunZones 4–915 ftModerate
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Part shadeZones 5–923 ftModerate
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Full sunZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Full sunZones 5–98.5 ftModerate
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftLow
Carolina Jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens
Full sunZones 6–1015 ftModerate
American Holly
Ilex opaca
Full sunZones 5–935 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Full sunZones 4–93 ftHigh
Common Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Red Chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia
Full sunZones 4–99 ftModerate
White Oak
Quercus alba
Full sunZones 3–965 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
FoliageChristmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Full shadeZones 3–91.5 ftModerate
FoliageRed Maple
Acer rubrum
Full sunZones 3–949 ftModerate
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Part sunZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Hardy Hibiscus
Hibiscus moscheutos
Full sunZones 5–94 ftHigh
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Full sunZones 3–940 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Virginia Sweetspire
Itea virginica
Part sunZones 5–94.5 ftModerate
American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Part shadeZones 3–925 ftModerate
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Full sunZones 5–943 ftModerate
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Part sunZones 4–923 ftModerate
White Fringetree
Chionanthus virginicus
Full sunZones 3–917 ftModerate
Willow Oak
Quercus phellos
Full sunZones 5–957 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
FoliageCinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Part shadeZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
Green and Gold
Chrysogonum virginianum
Part shadeZones 5–98 inModerate
Possumhaw Viburnum
Viburnum nudum
Full sunZones 5–98.5 ftModerate
Swamp Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius
Full sunZones 5–96 ftModerate
Blue Mistflower
Conoclinium coelestinum
Part shadeZones 5–102 ftModerate
Common Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Full sunZones 4–935 ftModerate
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Full sunZones 3–94 ftModerate
FoliageRoyal Fern
Osmunda regalis
Part shadeZones 3–94 ftHigh
Smooth Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum biflorum
Part shadeZones 3–83.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Eastern Bluestar
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
FoliageEastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Full sunZones 2–945 ftModerate
False Solomon's Seal
Maianthemum racemosum
Part shadeZones 3–82.5 ftModerate
Possumhaw Holly
Ilex decidua
Full sunZones 5–912 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans
Full sunZones 4–96 ftModerate
Inkberry Holly
Ilex glabra
Full sunZones 4–97 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Purple Lovegrass
Eragrostis spectabilis
Full sunZones 5–91.5 ftLow
Summersweet
Clethra alnifolia
Part shadeZones 3–96 ftHigh
Sweetbay Magnolia
Magnolia virginiana
Part sunZones 5–1030 ftHigh
White Wild Indigo
Baptisia alba
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftLow
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Full sunZones 4–940 ftModerate
Carolina Rose
Rosa carolina
Full sunZones 4–93.5 ftModerate
Indian Pink
Spigelia marilandica
Part shadeZones 5–91.5 ftModerate
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Full sunZones 5–92.5 ftLow
Silky Dogwood
Cornus amomum
Part shadeZones 4–88.5 ftModerate
Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Full sunZones 5–969 ftModerate
New York Ironweed
Vernonia noveboracensis
Full sunZones 5–96 ftModerate
Southern Wax Myrtle
Myrica cerifera
Full sunZones 7–1117 ftModerate
FoliageHoneylocust
Gleditsia triacanthos
Full sunZones 3–949 ftModerate
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Full sunZones 4–95 ftLow
American Alumroot
Heuchera americana
Part shadeZones 4–92 ftModerate
American Linden
Tilia americana
Full sunZones 3–870 ftModerate
Carolina Allspice
Calycanthus floridus
Part shadeZones 4–97.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Recorded across South Carolina
How many of the state's 46 counties record each wild species growing wild, from USDA PLANTS: a plant recorded in many counties is widespread in South Carolina; one recorded in few may be local, or simply under-recorded. A county's absence is not evidence a plant is absent. 164 of the wild species carry a county record here.
- Butterfly Weed
- Flava (Yellow Trumpet)
- Trumpet Vine
- American Beautyberry
- American Elderberry
- Coral Honeysuckle
- Flowering Dogwood
- New Jersey Tea
- Buttonbush
- Little Bluestem
- Carolina Jessamine
- American Holly
- Soft Rush
- Common Black-Eyed Susan
- Red Chokeberry
- White Oak
- Christmas Fern
- Red Maple
- Cardinal Flower
- Hardy Hibiscus
- Virginia Creeper
- Virginia Sweetspire
- American Hornbeam
- Crossvine
- Eastern Redbud
- White Fringetree
- Willow Oak
- Cinnamon Fern
- Green and Gold
- Possumhaw Viburnum
- Swamp Sunflower
- Blue Mistflower
- Common Persimmon
- Rattlesnake Master
- Royal Fern
- Smooth Solomon's Seal
- Eastern Bluestar
- Eastern Red Cedar
- False Solomon's Seal
- Possumhaw Holly
- Indiangrass
- Inkberry Holly
- Purple Lovegrass
- Summersweet
- Sweetbay Magnolia
- White Wild Indigo
- Black Gum
- Carolina Rose
- Indian Pink
- Mayapple
- Pink Muhly Grass
- Silky Dogwood
- Sweetgum
- New York Ironweed
- Southern Wax Myrtle
- Honeylocust
- Switchgrass
- American Alumroot
- American Linden
- Carolina Allspice
- Common Witch Hazel
- Smooth Sumac
- Tulip Tree
- Coast Leucothoe
- Lady Fern
- Northern Sea Oats
- Red Buckeye
- Southern Blue Flag
- Swamp Azalea
- Whorled Milkweed
- Wild Geranium
- Adam's Needle
- Mountain Laurel
- Live Oak
- Perennial Black-Eyed Susan
- Pinxterbloom Azalea
- Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod
- River Birch
- Arrowwood
- Bald Cypress
- Blackhaw
- American Hophornbeam
- Sensitive Fern
- Common Pawpaw
- Hollow Joe Pye Weed
- Spicebush
- Winterberry
- Annual Phlox
- Cucumbertree Magnolia
- Downy Serviceberry
- Lavender Annual Phlox
- Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
- Peach Annual Phlox
- Purple Annual Phlox
- Red Annual Phlox
- White Annual Phlox
- Shadblow Serviceberry
- Mapleleaf Viburnum
- Common Sneezeweed
- Dense Blazing Star
- Southern Magnolia
- American Hazelnut
- Black Cohosh
- Dwarf Fothergilla
- Heartleaf Foamflower
- Smooth Hydrangea
- White-Tinged Sedge
- Northern Red Oak
- White Wood Aster
- Yaupon Holly
- Golden Alexanders
- Maidenhair Fern
- Sweet Joe Pye Weed
- Bottlebrush Grass
- Drooping Leucothoe
- Rosy Sedge
- Shrubby St. John's Wort
- Blue Wood Sedge
- Brome-Like Sedge
- False Sunflower
- Swamp Milkweed
- Texas Sedge
- White Turtlehead
- Chinkapin Oak
- Silver Maple
- Dwarf Crested Iris
- Eastern Star Sedge
- Fragrant Sumac
- Ninebark
- Roundleaf Ragwort
- Blue Wood Aster
- Eastern Red Columbine
- Eastern White Pine
- Gray's Sedge
- Marginal Wood Fern
- New York Aster
- Pagoda Dogwood
- Smooth Blue Aster
- Swamp White Oak
- Cherokee Sedge
- Creeping Woodland Phlox
- Eastern Hemlock
- Golden Ragwort
- Wild Ginger
- Woodland Stonecrop
- Appalachian Sedge
- Goatsbeard
- Hay Scented Fern
- Large Fothergilla
- Nodding Onion
- Rosebay Rhododendron
- Allegheny Serviceberry
- Allegheny Spurge
- Black Chokeberry
- Bottlebrush Buckeye
- Bristleleaf Sedge
- Culver's Root
- Dutchman's Pipe
- Mountain Stewartia
- Seersucker Sedge
- Staghorn Sumac
- Stiff Goldenrod
- Tropical Sage
- Wild Bee Balm
Garden forms of South Carolina natives
140 garden forms, each a named selection of a species that grows wild in South Carolina and each naming its wild parent. A garden form is not the wild plant, so it is listed here and never counted above.
- Alba Gayfeather
- Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea
- Alma Pötschke
- Alpine Carpet Juniper
- Amber Jubilee
- Amethyst Falls Wisteria
- Annabelle
- Appalachian Red
- Aquavita Juniper
- Athena Gold False Sunflower
- Autumn Bride Coral Bells
- Autumn Colors
- Baby Joe Dwarf Joe Pye Weed
- Barbara Ann Climbing Hydrangea
- Bayside Bonito Southern Wax Myrtle
- Berry Heavy
- Berry Poppins
- Berry Scape Aronia
- Blackhawks Big Bluestem
- Blaze
- Blue Blaze Viburnum
- Blue Moon Wisteria
- Blue Moon Woodland Phlox
- Blue Muffin Viburnum
- Blue Paradise
- Bordeaux Dwarf Yaupon Holly
- Brandywine Viburnum
- Bridesmaid Mountain Laurel
- Bright Eyes
- Bronze Wave Coral Bells
- Bubblegum Pink Garden Phlox
- Bunny Blue Sedge
- Caramel
- Carol Mountain Laurel
- Carousel Mountain Laurel
- Cherokee Brave
- Cherokee Chief
- Cherokee Princess
- Cherry Berries Wintergreen
- Cherry Brandy
- Citronelle
- Claire Grace
- Cloud Nine
- Coconut Lime
- Color Guard Yucca
- Columnar White Pine
- Coppertina
- Coral Flame
- Crème Brûlée
- Crimson Comet Buttonbush
- Crimson Trumpet
- David
- Densa Inkberry
- Denver Daisy
- Designer Threads Golden Needles Coreopsis
- Designer Threads Heartstrings Coreopsis
- Designer Threads Scarlet Ribbons Coreopsis
- Diabolo
- DreamScape Hydrangea
- Dressed To Thrill Crossvine
- Dwarf White Pine
- Early Sunrise
- Elf Mountain Laurel
- Falling Waters
- Fireworks Goldenrod
- Flame Thrower
- Forest Pansy
- Gentsch White
- Goldilocks
- Goldsturm
- Green Jewel
- Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac
- Hearts of Gold
- Heavy Metal
- Henry's Garnet Sweetspire
- Hummingbird
- Incrediball Hydrangea
- Indian Summer
- Invincibelle Spirit II Hydrangea
- Jeana
- Jeddeloh Hemlock
- Laura
- Lavender Twist
- Little Devil
- Little Gem Magnolia
- Little Henry Sweetspire
- Luminary Ultraviolet
- Luna Pink Swirl
- Luna White
- Magnus
- Major Wheeler
- Moonbeam
- New England Aster 'Barr's Pink'
- New England Aster 'Harrington's Pink'
- Nicky
- Northwind
- Nugget
- Orange Perfection
- Patricia Ballard
- Peve Minaret
- Pink Double Delight
- Pink Spire
- PowWow Wild Berry
- Prairie Sun
- Professor Kippenberg
- Purple Dome
- Purple Phlox
- Rainbow Leucothoe
- Rainbow Pillar
- Red Sprite
- River Mist
- Robert Poore
- Route 66
- Royal White Redbud
- Ruby Falls
- Ruby Spice
- Sarah Mountain Laurel
- Scarletta Leucothoe
- Shamrock Inkberry Holly
- Shawnee Brave
- Shenandoah
- Sienna Sunset
- Sixteen Candles
- Snowcicle Hydrangea
- Starfire
- Sugar Shack Buttonbush
- Summer Wine
- The Rising Sun
- Tiger Eyes Sumac
- Tiny Wine
- Toto Gold
- Twilight Zone
- Vanilla Spice
- Weeping Hemlock
- Weeping White Pine
- White Flame
- White Swan
- Winter Gold
- Winter Red
- Zagreb
Plant groups native to South Carolina
20 plant groups sold under one name whose wild species grow in South Carolina; the count beside each is how many of its wild species the record finds in the state.
Keep exploring
Native to your own county
This page is the whole state. In the free garden planner, enter your ZIP and Garden Check lists these same plants for your location, marks the ones recorded growing wild in your county, and places any of them in your plan; its Browse tab answers for any of the 65 states, provinces and territories with no account.
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