List of flora of North Carolina explained

This list includes plant species found in the state of North Carolina. Varieties and subspecies link to their parent species.

Introduced species are designated (I).

Polypodiales

Onocleaceae

• Sensitive fern, Onoclea sensibilis

Pinales

Cupressaceae

• Atlantic white cedar, Chamaecyparis thyoides
• Eastern red cedar, Juniperus virginiana
• Baldcypress, Taxodium distichum

Pinaceae

• Fraser fir, Abies fraseri
• Red spruce, Picea rubens
• Shortleaf pine, Pinus echinata
• Longleaf pine, Pinus palustris
• Table mountain pine, Pinus pungens
• Pitch pine, Pinus rigida
• Pond pine, Pinus serotina
• Eastern white pine, Pinus strobus
• Loblolly pine, Pinus taeda
• Virginia pine, Pinus virginiana
• Eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis

Laurales

Lauraceae

• Sassafras, Sassafras albidum

Magnoliales

Magnoliaceae

• Yellow poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera
• Cucumber tree, Magnolia acuminata
• Fraser magnolia, Magnolia fraseri
• Southern magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora
• Sweetbay, Magnolia virginiana

Alismatales

Alismataceae

• Broadleaf arrowhead, Sagittaria latifolia

Araceae

• Jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum
• Eastern skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus

Asparagales

Amaryllidaceae

• Canada onion, Allium canadense
• Ramp, Allium tricoccum

Asparagaceae

• False lily-of-the-valley, Maianthemum canadense
• Smooth Solomon's-seal, Polygonatum biflorum
• Adam's needle, Yucca flaccida

Iridaceae

• Dwarf crested iris, Iris cristata
• Narrow-leaf blue-eyed-grass, Sisyrinchium angustifolium

Orchidaceae

• Dragon's mouth orchid, Arethusa bulbosa
• Tuberous grass pink, Calopogon tuberosus
• Rosebud orchid, Cleistesiopsis divaricata
• Crane-fly orchid, Tipularia discolor

Liliales

Colchicaceae

• Perfoliate bellwort, Uvularia perfoliata

Liliaceae

• Yellow trout lily, Erythronium americanum
• Catesby's lily, Lilium catesbaei
• Carolina lily, Lilium michauxii
• Sandhills lily, Lilium pyrophilum
• Turk's cap lily, Lilium superbum

Melanthiaceae

• Painted trillium, Trillium undulatum

Smilacaceae

• Cat greenbriar, Smilax glauca

Arecales

Arecaceae

• Cabbage palmetto, Sabal palmetto
• Dwarf palmetto, Sabal minor

Commelinales

Commelinaceae

• White mouth dayflower, Commelina erecta

Poales

Poaceae

• Japanese stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum (I)
• Torpedograss, Panicum repens (I)
• Dallis grass, Paspalum dilatatum (I)

Ranunculales

Berberidaceae

• American barberry, Berberis canadensis
• Mayapple, Podophyllum peltatum

Ranunculaceae

• Rue anemone, Thalictrum thalictroides

Proteales

Platanaceae

• American sycamore, Platanus occidentalis

Saxifragales

Altingiaceae

• Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua

Vitales

Vitaceae

• Muscadine, Vitis rotundifolia

Oxalidales

Oxalidaceae

• Great yellow woodsorrel, Oxalis grandis
• Violet wood-sorrel, Oxalis violacea

Malpighiales

Passifloraceae

• Yellow passionflower, Passiflora lutea

Salicaceae

• Eastern cottonwood, Populus deltoides
• Swamp cottonwood, Populus heterophylla
• White Willow, Salix alba (I)
• Weeping willow, Salix babylonica (I)
• Carolina willow, Salix caroliniana
• Black willow, Salix nigra

Violaceae

• American field pansy, Viola bicolor
• Canada violet, Viola canadensis
• Halberd-leaved yellow violet, Viola hastata
• Sweet violet, Viola odorata (I)
• Bird's-foot violet, Viola pedata
• Common blue violet, Viola sororia

Fabales

Fabaceae

• Redbud, Cercis canadensis
• Honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos
• Chinese bushclover, Lespedeza cuneata (I)
• Kudzu, Pueraria montana (I)
• Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia
• Pink fuzzybean, Strophostyles umbellata
• White clover, Trifolium repens (I)
• American wisteria, Wisteria frutescens

Rosales

Cannabaceae

• Sugarberry, Celtis laevigata
• Hackberry, Celtis occidentalis

Moraceae

• Red mulberry, Morus rubra

Rosaceae

• Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea
• Carolina laurelcherry, Prunus caroliniana
• Pin cherry, Prunus pensylvanica
• Black cherry, Prunus serotina
• Carolina rose, Rosa carolina

Ulmaceae

• Winged elm, Ulmus alata
• American elm, Ulmus americana
• Slippery Elm, Ulmus rubra

Fagales

Betulaceae

• Yellow birch, Betula alleghaniensis
• Sweet birch, Betula lenta
• River birch, Betula nigra
• Hornbeam, Carpinus caroliniana
• Eastern hop hornbeam, Ostrya virginiana

Fagaceae

• American chestnut, Castanea dentata
• Chinkapin, Castanea pumila
• American beech, Fagus grandifolia
• White oak, Quercus alba
• Scarlet oak, Quercus coccinea
• Southern red oak, Quercus falcata
• Turkey oak, Quercus laevis
• Overcup oak, Quercus lyrata
• Blackjack oak, Quercus marilandica
• Swamp chestnut oak, Quercus michauxii
• Chestnut oak, Quercus montana
• Water oak, Quercus nigra
• Cherrybark oak, Quercus pagoda
• Pin oak, Quercus palustris
• Willow oak, Quercus phellos
• Northern red oak, Quercus rubra
• Post oak, Quercus stellata
• Black oak, Quercus velutina
• Live oak, Quercus virginiana

Juglandaceae

• Bitternut hickory, Carya cordiformis
• Pignut hickory, Carya glabra
• Pecan, Carya illinoinensis (I)
• Shagbark hickory, Carya ovata
• Mockernut hickory, Carya tomentosa
• Black walnut, Juglans nigra

Myricaceae

• Southern wax myrtle, Myrica cerifera

Myrtales

Onagraceae

• Pinkladies, Oenothera speciosa

Sapindales

Anacardiaceae

• Staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina
• Poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans
• Poison sumac, Toxicodendron vernix

Sapindaceae

• Boxelder, Acer negundo
• Red maple, Acer rubrum
• Sugar maple, Acer saccharum
• Yellow buckeye, Aesculus flava

Malvales

Malvaceae

• Seashore mallow, Kosteletzkya virginica
• American basswood, Tilia americana

Brassicales

Brassicaceae

• Virginia pepperweed, Lepidium virginicum

Caryophyllales

Cactaceae

• Eastern prickly pear, Opuntia humifusa

Droseraceae

• Venus flytrap, Dionaea muscipula

Montiaceae

• Carolina springbeauty, Claytonia carolinian
• Virginia springbeauty, Claytonia virginica

Phytolaccaceae

• American pokeweed, Phytolacca americana

Portulacaceae

• Kiss-me-quick, Portulaca pilosa

Cornales

Cornaceae

• Silky dogwood, Cornus amomum
• Flowering dogwood, Cornus florida
• Stiff dogwood, Cornus foemina

Hydrangeaceae

• Smooth hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens
• Silverleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea radiata

Nyssaceae

• Water tupelo, Nyssa aquatica
• Blackgum, Nyssa sylvatica

Ericales

Ebenaceae

• Common persimmon, Diospyros virginiana

Ericaceae

• Whitewicky, Kalmia cuneata
• Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia
• Indian pipe, Monotropa uniflora
• Sourwood, Oxydendrum arboreum
• Flame azalea, Rhododendron calendulaceum
• Pinxter flower, Rhododendron periclymenoides
• Northern highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum
• Creeping blueberry, Vaccinium crassifolium
• Deerberry, Vaccinium stamineum
• Honeycup, Zenobia pulverulenta

Primulaceae

• Shooting star, Primula meadia

Theaceae

• Loblolly-bay, Gordonia lasianthus

Sarraceniaceae

• Yellow pitcherplant, Sarracenia flava
• Hooded pitcherplant, Sarracenia minor
• Purple pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea
• Sweet pitcherplant, Sarracenia rubra

Styracaceae

• Carolina silverbell, Halesia carolina

Gentianales

Apocynaceae

• Hemp dogbane, Apocynum cannabinum
• Butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa

Asclepiadaceae

• Common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca

Gelsemiaceae

• Yellow jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens

Gentianaceae

• Rosepink, Sabatia angularis

Rubiaceae

• Azure bluet, Houstonia caerulea

Solanales

Solanaceae

• Jimsonweed, Datura stramonium

Convolvulaceae

• Common morning-glory, Ipomoea purpurea (I)

Lamiales

Acanthaceae

• American water-willow, Justicia americana
• Carolina wild petunia, Ruellia caroliniensis

Bignoniaceae

• Trumpet vine, Campsis radicans

Lamiaceae

• Ground-ivy, Glechoma hederacea (I)
• Lyre-leaf sage, Salvia lyrata

Lentibulariaceae

• Southern bladderwort, Utricularia juncea

Oleaceae

• White ash, Fraxinus americana
• Carolina ash, Fraxinus caroliniana
• Green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Orobanchaceae

• Scarlet painted-cup, Castilleja coccinea

Phrymaceae

• Allegheny monkeyflower, Mimulus ringens

Scrophulariaceae

• Common mullein, Verbascum thapsus (I)

Aquifoliales

Aquifoliaceae

• American holly, Ilex opaca

Asterales

Asteraceae

• Giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida
• Common daisy, Bellis perennis (I)
• Woolly elephant's foot, Elephantopus tomentosus
• Dogfennel, Eupatorium capillifolium
• Sweetscented joe pye weed, Eutrochium purpureum
• Ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare (I)
• Tall goldenrod, Solidago gigantea

Campanulaceae

• Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis
• Indian tobacco, Lobelia inflata

Apiales

Apiaceae

• Queen Anne's lace, Daucus carota (I)
• Golden alexanders, Zizia aurea

Dipsacales

Caprifoliaceae

• Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica (I)

References

• USDA PLANTS Database