North Carolina

Native plants in Wilmington

122 plants native to this area with Sow catalog pages.

95 of them need no watering beyond Wilmington’s own rainfall

Showing 122 plants

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Trees44

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

No watering needed Photo: Sawyer Baran · CC BY 4.0

Tulip Poplar

Liriodendron tulipifera

No watering needed Photo: Daniel Atha · CC0 1.0

Worplesdon Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon'

No watering needed

Pink Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Rubra'

No watering needed

Eastern Redcedar

Juniperus virginiana 'Idyllwild'

No watering needed

Southern Live Oak

Quercus virginiana

No watering needed Photo: Alexander Williams · CC0 1.0

Sweetbay Magnolia

Magnolia virginiana

No watering needed 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

No watering needed 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

Pawpaw

Asimina triloba

No watering needed Photo: Farren Dell Rossman · CC BY 4.0

Yaupon Holly

Ilex vomitoria

No watering needed Photo: Sophia K · CC BY 4.0

American Linden

Tilia americana

No watering needed 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

No watering needed Photo: Jeff Clark · CC BY 4.0

Sassafras

Sassafras albidum

No watering needed Photo: Mark Apgar · CC BY 4.0

Glauca Pendula Weeping Cedar

Chamaecyparis thyoides 'Glauca Pendula'

Woodville Dwarf Palmetto

Sabal minor 'Woodville'

No watering needed

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

Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

No watering needed Photo: Михайло Жук · CC0 1.0

Washington Hawthorn

Crataegus phaenopyrum

No watering needed Photo: Rochelle Davis · CC BY 4.0

Shrubs35

Backbone planting

Little Henry Sweetspire

Itea virginica 'Sprich'

No watering needed

Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos

No watering needed Photo: botanygirl · CC BY 4.0

Summersweet

Clethra alnifolia

Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg · CC BY 4.0

Sugar Shack Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis 'Sugar Shack'

No watering needed

American Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

No watering needed Photo: Melanie Gaddy · CC0 1.0

Squeeze Box Inkberry Holly

Ilex glabra 'Squeeze Box'

Sweetbay Magnolia

Magnolia virginiana

No watering needed 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

No watering needed Photo: Ian Wolfe · CC0 1.0

Wax Myrtle

Morella cerifera

No watering needed Photo: Lauren McLaurin · CC BY 4.0

Dwarf Fothergilla

Fothergilla gardenii

No watering needed Photo: lclair1344 · 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

Red Chokeberry

Aronia arbutifolia

Photo: Jeff Clark · CC BY 4.0

Pawpaw

Asimina triloba

No watering needed Photo: Farren Dell Rossman · CC BY 4.0

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

No watering needed Photo: Jeff Clark · CC BY 4.0

Sassafras

Sassafras albidum

No watering needed Photo: Mark Apgar · CC BY 4.0

Swamp Azalea

Rhododendron viscosum

Photo: harrier · CC BY 4.0

Woodville Dwarf Palmetto

Sabal minor 'Woodville'

No watering needed

Partridgeberry

Mitchella repens

No watering needed 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

No watering needed Photo: Becky Dill · CC0 1.0

Coastal Leucothoe

Leucothoe axillaris

No watering needed Photo: Will McFarland · CC BY 4.0

Washington Hawthorn

Crataegus phaenopyrum

No watering needed Photo: Rochelle Davis · CC BY 4.0

Dahoon Holly

Ilex cassine

No watering needed Photo: Claire Herzog · CC BY 4.0

Strawberry Bush

Euonymus americanus

No watering needed 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

Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

No watering needed Photo: Erin Snyder · CC BY 4.0

Splitbeard Bluestem

Andropogon ternarius

No watering needed

Blue Wood Sedge

Carex flaccosperma

Photo: Will McFarland · CC BY 4.0

Virginia Wild Rye

Elymus virginicus

No watering needed Photo: Jason Leduc · CC0 1.0

Eastern Gamagrass

Tripsacum dactyloides

No watering needed Photo: Rich Sommer · CC BY 4.0

Fringed Sedge

Carex crinita

Photo: Trix Niernberger · CC0 1.0

Fox Sedge

Carex vulpinoidea

Photo: Brandon Corder · CC BY 4.0

Bushy Bluestem

Andropogon glomeratus

No watering needed

Broomsedge Bluestem

Andropogon virginicus

No watering needed Photo: Annika Lindqvist · CC BY 4.0

Woolgrass

Scirpus cyperinus

Photo: Alan Weakley · CC0 1.0

Bottlebrush Sedge

Carex lurida

Photo: Steven Lamonde · CC BY 4.0

Perennials34

Seasonal colour

Blazing Star Gayfeather

Liatris spicata

No watering needed 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'

No watering needed

Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos

No watering needed Photo: botanygirl · CC BY 4.0

Lanceleaf Tickseed

Coreopsis lanceolata

No watering needed Photo: Silvia Cova · CC0 1.0

Common Sneezeweed

Helenium autumnale

No watering needed Photo: Thomas Koffel · CC BY 4.0

Virginia Iris

Iris virginica 'Carl Amason'

No watering needed

Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod

Solidago rugosa

No watering needed Photo: Becky Dill · CC0 1.0

Virginia Spiderwort

Tradescantia virginiana

No watering needed Photo: Cazody · CC0 1.0

Goldenstar

Chrysogonum virginianum

No watering needed Photo: TERRI MEWBORN · CC0 1.0

Wild Lupine

Lupinus perennis

No watering needed Photo: Bonnie Isaac · CC0 1.0

Common Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

No watering needed Photo: rappman · CC BY 4.0

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Photo: Etienne Falquet · 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

Pickerel Rush

Pontederia cordata

Photo: Andrea Gantzer · CC BY 4.0

Jack-in-the-pulpit

Arisaema triphyllum

Photo: jogarton · CC0 1.0

Swamp Sunflower

Helianthus angustifolius 'First Light'

No watering needed

Partridgeberry

Mitchella repens

No watering needed Photo: Joe Hastings · CC BY 4.0

Bama Superstar Aster

Symphyotrichum dumosum 'Bama Superstar'

No watering needed

Purple Pitcher Plant

Sarracenia purpurea

Photo: Rose Zappa · CC BY 4.0

Hooded Pitcher Plant

Sarracenia minor

No watering needed Photo: Leila Dasher · CC BY 4.0

Scouring Rush

Equisetum hyemale

No watering needed Photo: GBIF contributor · CC BY 4.0

Lizard's Tail

Saururus cernuus 'Hertford Streaker'

Evening Primrose

Oenothera biennis

No watering needed Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg · CC BY 4.0

Robin's Plantain 'Meadow Muffin'

Erigeron pulchellus 'Meadow Muffin'

No watering needed

Arrow Arum

Peltandra virginica

Photo: Dillon James Dalton · CC BY 4.0

Canada Onion

Allium canadense 'White Flag'

No watering needed

Carolina goldenrod

Euthamia caroliniana

No watering needed Photo: Becky Dill · CC0 1.0

Virginia Meadowbeauty

Rhexia virginica

Photo: Ryan · CC0 1.0

Mariana Meadowbeauty

Rhexia mariana 'White Flower Form'

No watering needed

Wand Goldenrod

Solidago stricta

No watering needed Photo: er-birds · CC BY 4.0

Vines7

Verticals and screens

Trumpet Honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens

No watering needed Photo: Carrie Seltzer · CC BY 4.0

Crossvine

Bignonia capreolata 'Tangerine Beauty'

No watering needed

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

No watering needed Photo: Terry Woodward · CC BY 4.0

Ferns5

Shade and damp

Cinnamon Fern

Osmundastrum cinnamomeum

No watering needed Photo: Erik · CC BY 4.0

Sensitive Fern

Onoclea sensibilis

Photo: laurawies · CC BY 4.0

Brunswick Giant Ebony Spleenwort

Asplenium platyneuron 'Brunswick Giant'

No watering needed

Meadow Spikemoss

Selaginella apoda

Photo: orionid · CC0 1.0

Cinnamon Fern

Osmunda cinnamomea

No watering needed 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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