15 Best Native Plants for North Carolina Landscaping
Mostly humid and subtropical, North Carolina supports a diverse array of native plant species, giving homeowners an abundance of options for their landscaping projects. A majority of North Carolina lies within plant hardiness zone 8. However, sections of the western side of the state fall within zones 6 or 7.
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While choosing plant species for your landscaping needs ultimately depends on your specific location, there are a good number of native plants that thrive in all areas of the state.
Why Choose Native Plants?
Designing landscapes with well-adapted, native plants offers extraordinary benefits for North Carolina homeowners:
Minimizes watering & maintenance requirements
Creates a more durable, hardy landscape
Reduces stormwater runoff & land erosion
Promotes the local ecosystem
Plant Selection Criteria
When choosing plants for your outdoor space, there are six main factors to consider:
Climate Adaptability: You’ll have the most success with plants that thrive in North Carolina’s extreme heat and humidity, but can tolerate the occasional cold snap.
Soil Considerations: Depending where you live in North Carolina, you may have soil that is more sandy, loamy, or organic. Skilled landscapers should have a working knowledge of your area’s soil type, drainage, and acidity—all of which have a big impact on plant choice.
Water Requirements: While certain plants can’t get enough water, others are considered “drought-tolerant.” With North Carolina’s prolonged warm season, it’s essential to pick species that suit your unique watering capabilities.
Sunlight Preferences: As you’re deciding on plants, think about placement. Some plants are content in full sun 24/7, but many others prefer at least partial shade.
Maintenance: How much time do you have to get out and prune or examine plants for fungus or insect damage? If you’re short on time, go with a low-maintenance variety.
Aesthetics: Last but not least, design and visual preferences should play a role in your decision. Consider factors like flower color, plant size, foliage texture, and the overall visual impact.
Read on for our list of top-performing plants suitable for various North Carolina gardens.
Best Plants for NC Landscaping: From Coast to Mountains
1. Blanket Flower
Gaillardia
Growing 1 to 3 feet tall and wide, Blanket Flowers produce daisy-like blooms in bright red, orange, and yellow. The plant has a mounding growth habit with lance-shaped leaves.
Special Features:
Extremely drought-tolerant
Deer-resistant
Attracts butterflies and bees
Long blooming season from early summer through fall
Requirements: Full sun and well-drained soil.
2. Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
An evergreen fern, this lush species grows 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. With dark green, leathery fronds, the Christmas Fern is one of the most adaptable and reliable native ferns.
Special Features:
Deer-resistant
Excellent erosion control
Tolerates dry shade once established
Extremely low maintenance
Requirements: Partial to full shade and a humid environment
3. Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
Available as a shrub or small tree reaching 15 to 25 feet tall, this evergreen plant features small flowers and bright red berries on female plants. Not only that, but you can actually make tea from its leaves.
Special Features:
Extremely adaptable
Salt-tolerant
Drought-resistant once established
Native to southeastern U.S.
Can be used for screening or hedging
Requirements: Full sun to partial shade and a wide range of soil conditions.
4. Coral Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
A climbing vine reaching 10 to 15 feet, coral honeysuckle produces tubular coral-red flowers with yellow throats, blooming spring through fall.
Special Features:
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
Less aggressive than Japanese honeysuckle
Ideal for trellises, fences, and arbors
Works well in wildlife gardens
Requirements: Full sun to partial shade and adequate drainage.
5. Fountaingrass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
A clumping ornamental grass, Fountaingrass varieties grow 2 to 5 feet tall and produce soft, arching plumes in white, pink, or purple shades.
Special Features:
Drought-tolerant
Provides winter interest
Very low maintenance
Excellent as an accent plant
Requirements: Full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.
6. Rose Mallow (a.k.a. Hibiscus)
Hibiscus moscheutos
A popular perennial flower, Hibiscus reaches about 4 to 6 feet tall and produces stunning dinner-plate-sized flowers in white, pink, or red with dark centers.
Special Features:
Attracts pollinators
Tolerates wet soils
Creates a dramatic summer display
Requirements: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter.
7. Coral Bells
Heuchera micrantha
Lingering between 12 and 18 inches tall, this low-growing perennial features colorful foliage in purple, bronze, silver, or green. It gets its name from small bell-shaped flowers that emerge on tall stems in late spring.
Special Features:
Evergreen in many zones
Drought-tolerant once established
Deer-resistant
Suitable for ground or containers
Requirements: Partial shade to full sun and rich, well-drained soil.
8. Lamb’s Ear
Stachys byzantina
Growing 12 to 18 inches tall, this unique ground-covering perennial has soft, silvery-gray fuzzy leaves reminiscent of lamb’s ears.
Special Features:
Drought-tolerant
Tactile interest
Deer-resistant
Children's garden favorite
Requirements: Full sun to partial shade and well-drained dry to medium soil.
9. Daylily
Hemerocallis
A popular clumping perennial with strap-like leaves, Daylilies feature beautiful flowers in nearly every color except blue.
Special Features:
Extremely hardy
Drought-tolerant
Long blooming season with proper selection
Requirements: Full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
10. Sage
Salvia officinalis
Most commonly known for its use in the kitchen, this delightful herb produces spiky flower stalks in vibrant blues, purples, reds, or whites and typically grows about 2 to 3 feet tall.
Special Features:
Drought-tolerant
Aromatic
Attracts pollinators
Deer-resistant
Requirements: Full sun and well-drained loamy soil.
11. Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia fulgida
This classic upright perennial grows 2 to 3 feet tall and produces an abundance of golden-yellow daisy-like flowers with dark centers.
Special Features:
Long blooming season
Drought-tolerant
Excellent cut flower
Requirements: Full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.
12. Camellia
Camellia japonica or sasanqua
A large evergreen shrub, Camellia varieties reach between 6 and 12 feet tall and boast beautiful rose-like blooms in white, pink, or red.
Special Features:
Winter blooming
Glossy evergreen foliage
Long lifespan
Requirements: Partial shade and well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
13. Candytuft
Iberis sempervirens
Known for its plentiful, pure-white flower clusters in spring, this low-growing evergreen perennial is a sweet addition to your garden.
Special Features:
Deer-resistant
Drought-tolerant
Good ground cover
Requirements: Full sun and well-drained, slightly alkaline soil.
14. Lemon Thyme
Thymus pulegioides
Another low-growing herb, this aromatic plant grows only about 3 to 6 inches tall and produces small purple flowers and lemon-scented foliage.
Special Features:
Lovely scent
Drought-tolerant
Edible leaves
Attracts pollinators
Requirements: Full sun and dry to medium, well-drained soil.
15. Star Jasmine
Trachelospermum jasminoides
A rich evergreen vine capable of climbing a whopping 15 to 20 feet, this lush native species produces fragrant white star-shaped flowers in spring and summer.
Special Features:
Intensely fragrant
Glossy evergreen foliage
Suitable for trellises, walls, and arbors
Can be used as ground cover in frost-free areas
Requirements: Full sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil.
Thorpe Landscapes: North Carolina’s Landscaper of Choice
Ready to bring the natural beauty of North Carolina into your outdoor space? As local landscaping professionals who've transformed countless gardens across the state, we've seen firsthand how these 15 native plants can create stunning, sustainable landscapes that thrive in our unique climate.
Whether you're looking to establish a pollinator garden in Wilmington, create a low-maintenance yard in Raleigh, or design a drought-resistant landscape in Asheville, these native plants are proven performers in our North Carolina soils and conditions.
Ready to start designing your beautiful landscape? Contact us today to get started!