Part Of The American Meadows Meadowscaping Learning Center
North Carolina Native Plants, State Flowers & State Bird
Native plants are adaptable, low-maintenance, and beautiful. They are the best choice for habitat-friendly gardens and thriving ecosystems. Find top picks for native plants in your state - and learn about your state bird and state flowers!
Follow Along With More Of Our Guides
Hello native plant enthusiasts! In the list below, you will find popular native plants and wildflower seeds, available from American Meadows, that have a native distribution in your state. You’ll also find information about your state bird, state flower, and state wildflower!
About Our Native Plant Lists For Each State
- The links will take you to a single plant or seed selection for the plant listed -- but in many cases, we offer multiple cultivars for each plant, and we may offer both seeds and potted plants to grow the plant on your list. This list is a work in progress as we expand our native plant educational resources.
- The list for your state is a great place for getting started with native plants - but it is by no means a comprehensive listing of the hundreds of native plants growing in each state.
North Carolina Native Plants
Grow our Native Southeast Wildflower Seed Mix!
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
Cliff Goldenrod (Solidago drummondii)
Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)
Perennial Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Black Eyed Susan or Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta)
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Yellow Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum)
Rose Trillium (Trillium catesbaei)
White Tinged Sedge (Carex albicans)
Appalachian Sedge (Carex appalachia)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox)
Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox)
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
Red Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Bottlebrush Grass (Elymus hystrix)
Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)
Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Yellow Prairie Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Common White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Heliopsis (Heliopsis helianthoides)
North Carolina State Bird, State Flower & State Wildflower
Cardinal ~ Richmondena cardinalis
The male Cardinal zealously guards his territory. He warns off rivals or enemies with fierce cries; if the intruder persists, the Cardinal races out to attack on short, rounded wings. He may even strike at his own image in a window, mirror, or automobile hubcap if he is riled enough. Found virtually everywhere in America except for the extreme north, the Cardinal flits about canals, and nests in bushes along banks. Just as often, the Cardinal’s nest may be hidden in a thicket, or in a sapling.
Flowering Dogwood ~ Cornus florida
To the Flowering Dogwood goes the honor of having been nominated the most beautiful native American flowering tree. Spring finds it covered with four-petaled flowers, each up to four inches across. The most common color of the wild Dogwood is white, but shades of pink to near red have been found. In autumn, the flowers turn flaming red, coinciding with the ripening of the small, berrylike fruits that are also brilliant red. Flowering Dogwoods may grow to forty feet with equal spread, but smaller sizes are more common.
From The Wildflowers of the 50 States U.S. stamps issued July 24, 1992:
About Native Plants
- Native plants are essential for healthy ecosystems and habitat. They have evolved over time with local wildlife and climate conditions. Many pollinators have special relationships with native plants that they rely on for survival. For instance, some bees are specialists and require nectar and pollen from specific native plants to survive; and butterflies and moths often have specific host plants needed to nourish their caterpillars. For example, Asclepias (Milkweed or Butterfly Weed) is the host plant required for Monarch caterpillars to survive and grow into Monarch Butterflies!
- It’s OK to grow native plants in your yard that may not be native to your state or region. Remember – just because a plant is not native, does not necessarily mean that it is invasive or harmful. In fact, growing well-behaved introduced plants that are suited to your growing conditions can still provide many benefits to your yard (especially when compared to a traditional turf lawn).
- Know before you grow – It's always a good idea to learn what plants are native, well-behaved, and invasive or aggressive in your region before digging in.
- Learn More: All About Native Plants
Explore our full selection of native plants and seeds
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