Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms May through Aug — an easy fit for North Carolina, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
North Carolina · Zones 6–8
Native Plants for North Carolina
North Carolina gardens sit in the Southeast — a landscape of longleaf pine, oak-hickory woods, and warm humid bottomlands. The plants below evolved with that climate (humid subtropical to montane) and are hardy through zones 6–8, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Southeastthe Mid-Atlantic
Ecoregion: Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Coastal Plain
Collections for North Carolina
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in North Carolina. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
55 native species
For bees
51 native species
Butterflies
48 native species
Hummingbirds
15 native species
For birds
29 native species
Deer-resistant
41 native species
Full sun
51 native species
For shade
17 native species
Drought-tolerant
30 native species
Clay soil
47 native species
Rain garden
26 native species
Groundcovers
11 native species
Flowering shrubs
15 native species
Grasses
7 native species
Low-maintenance
32 native species
Evergreen
5 native species
Fall color
15 native species
Fragrant
10 native species
Notable natives
Plants to know in North Carolina.
A cross-section of the 65 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Native to North Carolina and hardy in zones 3–8; it blooms Sep through Nov and reaches 1.5–2.5 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Aug and Sep — an easy fit for North Carolina, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug — an easy fit for North Carolina, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
A North Carolina native at 3–5 ft tall that flowers in Sep and Oct, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Native to North Carolina and hardy in zones 3–9; it flowers in Jul and Aug and reaches 2–4 ft.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
A North Carolina native at 5–8 ft tall that blooms Jul through Sep, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
A North Carolina native at 6–10 ft tall that flowers in May and Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
3–5 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug — an easy fit for North Carolina, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
A North Carolina native at 15–25 ft tall that flowers in Apr and May, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
A North Carolina native at 2–4 ft tall that flowers in May and Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
3–5 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug — an easy fit for North Carolina, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
A North Carolina native at 25–50 ft tall that flowers in Apr and May, comfortable in zones 6–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A North Carolina native at 1.5–2 ft tall that blooms Apr through Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
A North Carolina native at 5–10 ft tall that flowers in Jun and Jul, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Native to North Carolina and hardy in zones 3–8; it blooms Jul through Sep and reaches 4–7 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Sourcing
Where to buy North Carolina natives
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.