South Carolina

Native plants in Charleston

136 plants native to this area with Sow catalog pages.

63 of them need no watering beyond Charleston’s own rainfall

Showing 136 plants

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Trees48

Canopy and structure

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Photo: caymanmatt · CC BY 4.0

Carolina Sweetheart Redbud

Cercis canadensis 'Carolina Sweetheart'

No watering needed

River Birch

Betula nigra

No watering needed Photo: wcmorton · CC0 1.0

Southern Magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora

No watering needed Photo: Carrie Seltzer · CC BY 4.0

Bald Cypress

Taxodium distichum

Photo: Sawyer Baran · CC BY 4.0

Tulip Poplar

Liriodendron tulipifera

Photo: Daniel Atha · CC0 1.0

Worplesdon Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon'

Pink Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Rubra'

No watering needed

Eastern Redcedar

Juniperus virginiana 'Idyllwild'

No watering needed

Black Tupelo

Nyssa sylvatica

Photo: Navin Sasikumar · CC BY 4.0

Southern Live Oak

Quercus virginiana

No watering needed Photo: Alexander Williams · CC0 1.0

Sweetbay Magnolia

Magnolia virginiana

Photo: Matt Berger · CC BY 4.0

White Fringetree

Chionanthus virginicus

No watering needed Photo: Sydney Olsen · CC BY 4.0

Common Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Photo: Ian Wolfe · CC0 1.0

Wax Myrtle

Morella cerifera

No watering needed Photo: Lauren McLaurin · CC BY 4.0

Cabbage Palm

Sabal palmetto

No watering needed Photo: Ryan McMinds · CC BY 4.0

Carolina Cherry-laurel

Prunus caroliniana

No watering needed Photo: samlutfy · CC BY 4.0

White Oak

Quercus alba

Photo: sblumen · CC BY 4.0

Yaupon Holly

Ilex vomitoria

No watering needed Photo: Sophia K · CC BY 4.0

American Hornbeam

Carpinus caroliniana

Photo: Bonnie Isaac · CC0 1.0

American Linden

Tilia americana

Photo: Tom Scavo · CC BY 4.0

Willow Oak

Quercus phellos

Photo: C. · CC0 1.0

American Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

No watering needed Photo: Cody Stricker · CC BY 4.0

American Holly

Ilex opaca

No watering needed Photo: Shannon · CC0 1.0

Red Buckeye

Aesculus pavia

Photo: Jeff Clark · CC BY 4.0

American Beech

Fagus grandifolia

Photo: John Brown · CC0 1.0

Sassafras

Sassafras albidum

Photo: Mark Apgar · CC BY 4.0

Woodville Dwarf Palmetto

Sabal minor 'Woodville'

No watering needed

Overcup Oak

Quercus lyrata

Photo: Nonbinary-Naturalist · CC0 1.0

Spanish Bayonet

Yucca aloifolia

No watering needed Photo: natalie · CC0 1.0

Coralbean

Erythrina herbacea

No watering needed Photo: TJ Butler · CC0 1.0

Shining Sumac

Rhus copallinum

No watering needed

Shrubs35

Backbone planting

Little Henry Sweetspire

Itea virginica 'Sprich'

Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos

Photo: botanygirl · CC BY 4.0

Summersweet

Clethra alnifolia

Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg · CC BY 4.0

Sugar Shack Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis 'Sugar Shack'

American Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Photo: Melanie Gaddy · CC0 1.0

Squeeze Box Inkberry Holly

Ilex glabra 'Squeeze Box'

Sweetbay Magnolia

Magnolia virginiana

Photo: Matt Berger · CC BY 4.0

White Fringetree

Chionanthus virginicus

No watering needed Photo: Sydney Olsen · CC BY 4.0

Cutleaf Coneflower

Rudbeckia laciniata

Photo: Ian Wolfe · CC0 1.0

Common Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Photo: Ian Wolfe · CC0 1.0

Wax Myrtle

Morella cerifera

No watering needed Photo: Lauren McLaurin · CC BY 4.0

Early Amethyst Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana 'Early Amethyst'

No watering needed

Carolina Cherry-laurel

Prunus caroliniana

No watering needed Photo: samlutfy · CC BY 4.0

Diamond Frost Euphorbia

Euphorbia hypericifolia 'Diamond Frost'

No watering needed

Highbush Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

Photo: Daniel Atha · CC0 1.0

Yaupon Holly

Ilex vomitoria

No watering needed Photo: Sophia K · CC BY 4.0

Spotted Beebalm Monarda punctata

Monarda punctata

No watering needed Photo: Reid Hardin · CC BY 4.0

Prickly Pear Cactus

Opuntia humifusa

No watering needed Photo: Lexi Destria · CC BY 4.0

American Holly

Ilex opaca

No watering needed Photo: Shannon · CC0 1.0

Red Buckeye

Aesculus pavia

Photo: Jeff Clark · CC BY 4.0

Silky Dogwood

Cornus amomum

Photo: Elizabeth Axley · CC BY 4.0

Sassafras

Sassafras albidum

Photo: Mark Apgar · CC BY 4.0

Woodville Dwarf Palmetto

Sabal minor 'Woodville'

No watering needed

Saw Palmetto

Serenoa repens

No watering needed Photo: Jody Shugart · CC BY 4.0

Partridgeberry

Mitchella repens

Photo: Joe Hastings · CC BY 4.0

Spanish Bayonet

Yucca aloifolia

No watering needed Photo: natalie · CC0 1.0

Coralbean

Erythrina herbacea

No watering needed Photo: TJ Butler · CC0 1.0

Shining Sumac

Rhus copallinum

No watering needed

Coastal Azalea

Rhododendron atlanticum

Photo: Becky Dill · CC0 1.0

Coastal Leucothoe

Leucothoe axillaris

No watering needed Photo: Will McFarland · CC BY 4.0

Dahoon Holly

Ilex cassine

No watering needed Photo: Claire Herzog · CC BY 4.0

Strawberry Bush

Euonymus americanus

Photo: Sam Kieschnick · CC BY 4.0

Grasses14

Movement and texture

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

No watering needed Photo: Matt Berger · CC BY 4.0

Northern Sea Oats

Chasmanthium latifolium

No watering needed Photo: Gold eagle Kroll · CC BY 4.0

Pink Muhly Grass

Muhlenbergia capillaris

No watering needed Photo: Brandon Corder · CC BY 4.0

Golden Sunset Yellow Indiangrass

Sorghastrum nutans 'Golden Sunset Yellow'

No watering needed

Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

No watering needed Photo: Erin Snyder · CC BY 4.0

Blue Wood Sedge

Carex flaccosperma

Photo: Will McFarland · CC BY 4.0

Blue Arrows Soft Rush

Juncus effusus 'Blue Arrows'

Virginia Wild Rye

Elymus virginicus

Photo: Jason Leduc · CC0 1.0

Eastern Gamagrass

Tripsacum dactyloides

No watering needed Photo: Rich Sommer · CC BY 4.0

Whitetinge Sedge

Carex albicans

Photo: hr_dragonfly · CC BY 4.0

Fox Sedge

Carex vulpinoidea

Photo: Brandon Corder · CC BY 4.0

Ravenfoot Sedge

Carex crus-corvi

Photo: Sarah Fitz · CC0 1.0

Broomsedge Bluestem

Andropogon virginicus

No watering needed Photo: Annika Lindqvist · CC BY 4.0

Bottlebrush Sedge

Carex lurida

Photo: Steven Lamonde · CC BY 4.0

Perennials45

Seasonal colour

Blazing Star Gayfeather

Liatris spicata

Photo: worldbird · CC BY 4.0

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

No watering needed Photo: k2018lena · CC0 1.0

Obedient Plant Miss Manners

Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners'

Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos

Photo: botanygirl · CC BY 4.0

Lanceleaf Tickseed

Coreopsis lanceolata

No watering needed Photo: Silvia Cova · CC0 1.0

Cutleaf Coneflower

Rudbeckia laciniata

Photo: Ian Wolfe · CC0 1.0

Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum

No watering needed Photo: sophia_herrmeyer · CC BY 4.0

Virginia Iris

Iris virginica 'Carl Amason'

Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod

Solidago rugosa

Photo: Becky Dill · CC0 1.0

Virginia Spiderwort

Tradescantia virginiana

Photo: Cazody · CC0 1.0

White Wild Indigo

Baptisia alba

No watering needed Photo: sblumen · CC BY 4.0

Indian Pink

Spigelia marilandica

Photo: Courtney Alley · CC0 1.0

Goldenstar

Chrysogonum virginianum

No watering needed Photo: TERRI MEWBORN · CC0 1.0

Diamond Frost Euphorbia

Euphorbia hypericifolia 'Diamond Frost'

No watering needed

Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

No watering needed Photo: rappman · CC BY 4.0

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Photo: Etienne Falquet · CC0 1.0

Stokes' aster

Stokesia laevis

Photo: erinsuzanne · CC0 1.0

Narrow-leaved Blue-eyed Grass

Sisyrinchium angustifolium

Photo: Allen Browne · CC0 1.0

Spotted Beebalm Monarda punctata

Monarda punctata

No watering needed Photo: Reid Hardin · CC BY 4.0

Lady in Black Calico Aster

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum 'Lady in Black'

Bloodroot

Sanguinaria canadensis

No watering needed Photo: Larry Jensen · CC BY 4.0

Pickerel Rush

Pontederia cordata

Photo: Andrea Gantzer · CC BY 4.0

Jack-in-the-pulpit

Arisaema triphyllum

Photo: jogarton · CC0 1.0

Common Blue Violet

Viola sororia

Photo: Ryan Donnelly · CC BY 4.0

Ohio Spiderwort Mrs Loewer

Tradescantia ohiensis 'Mrs Loewer'

No watering needed

Snowbank Boltonia

Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank'

No watering needed

Broadleaf Arrowhead

Sagittaria latifolia

Photo: M. Whitson · CC BY 4.0

Swamp Sunflower

Helianthus angustifolius 'First Light'

Partridgeberry

Mitchella repens

Photo: Joe Hastings · CC BY 4.0

Seaside Goldenrod

Solidago sempervirens

Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg · CC BY 4.0

Bama Superstar Aster

Symphyotrichum dumosum 'Bama Superstar'

Powdery Thalia

Thalia dealbata

Photo: capacoscar · CC BY 4.0

Vines7

Verticals and screens

Trumpet Honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens

Photo: Carrie Seltzer · CC BY 4.0

Crossvine

Bignonia capreolata 'Tangerine Beauty'

Carolina Jessamine

Gelsemium sempervirens

No watering needed Photo: novvictan · CC BY 4.0

Trumpet Creeper

Campsis radicans

No watering needed Photo: Bryant Brumbill-Corral · CC BY 4.0

Virginia Creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

No watering needed Photo: Tyler Cannon · CC BY 4.0

Purple Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

No watering needed Photo: snail_hiker · CC BY 4.0

Swamp Leather Flower

Clematis crispa

Photo: Terry Woodward · CC BY 4.0

Ferns5

Shade and damp

Cinnamon Fern

Osmundastrum cinnamomeum

Photo: Erik · CC BY 4.0

Sensitive Fern

Onoclea sensibilis

Photo: laurawies · CC BY 4.0

Southern Wood Fern

Dryopteris ludoviciana

Photo: Laura Gaudette · CC BY 4.0

Brunswick Giant Ebony Spleenwort

Asplenium platyneuron 'Brunswick Giant'

No watering needed

Cinnamon Fern

Osmunda cinnamomea

Photo: Alan Weakley · CC0 1.0

Succulents4

Dry and architectural

Adam's Needle

Yucca filamentosa

No watering needed Photo: Tom Field · CC BY 4.0

Prickly Pear Cactus

Opuntia humifusa

No watering needed Photo: Lexi Destria · CC BY 4.0

Spanish Dagger

Yucca gloriosa

No watering needed Photo: alfo · CC BY 4.0

Spanish Bayonet

Yucca aloifolia

No watering needed Photo: natalie · CC0 1.0

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