Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Native to South Carolina and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms May through Jul and reaches 1.5–2 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
South Carolina · Zones 7–9
Native Plants for South Carolina
South 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) and are hardy through zones 7–9, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Southeast
Ecoregion: Sandhills, Piedmont & Lowcountry
Collections for South Carolina
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in South Carolina. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
54 native species
For bees
50 native species
Butterflies
47 native species
Hummingbirds
15 native species
For birds
27 native species
Deer-resistant
40 native species
Full sun
49 native species
For shade
17 native species
Drought-tolerant
29 native species
Clay soil
46 native species
Rain garden
25 native species
Groundcovers
10 native species
Flowering shrubs
14 native species
Grasses
6 native species
Low-maintenance
31 native species
Evergreen
5 native species
Fall color
14 native species
Fragrant
9 native species
Notable natives
Plants to know in South Carolina.
A cross-section of the 63 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
1.5–2 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Native to South Carolina and hardy in zones 6–10; it flowers in Jun and Jul and reaches 4–7 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Native to South Carolina and hardy in zones 3–8; it flowers in Apr and May and reaches 15–25 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Sep through Nov — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jul through Sep — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
2–3 ft tall and it blooms Jul through Sep — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 4–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
12–18 in tall and it blooms Apr through Aug — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
8–15 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Sep — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 4–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
3–5 ft tall and it flowers in Sep and Oct — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
5–8 ft tall and it blooms Jul through Sep — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
2.5–4 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 4–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
Native to South Carolina and hardy in zones 5–9; it blooms May through Jul and reaches 4–8 ft.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
20–30 ft tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr — an easy fit for South Carolina, hardy in zones 4–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Native to South Carolina and hardy in zones 3–8; it blooms Apr through Jun and reaches 1–2.5 ft.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Sourcing
Where to buy South 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.