Native Plants in South Carolina
The native plants that belong in South Carolina gardens — grouped by sun, soil, and wildlife value.
33 native plants suit South Carolina's ecoregions and USDA zones 7–9. Below they're grouped by how you'd use them — full sun, shade, wet soil and rain gardens, dry, drought-prone ground, deer-resistant picks, groundcovers, pollinators, birds and hummingbirds — with a species table and when to plant.
Data updated: August 2026Sources & method · Corrections
When to plant natives in South Carolina
Plant after your last spring frost — roughly February 20 in the milder south to April 8 in the colder north. Fall is often even better for perennials and shrubs — the soil is still warm and roots settle before winter, ahead of the first frost around October 29 in the north to December 5 in the south.
For full sun
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
- Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
For shade
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- Wild Ginger Asarum canadense
- Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- Smooth Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
- Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia
- Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
For wet soil & rain gardens
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis
- Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra
For dry, drought-prone spots
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
- Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana
- New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
- Crossvine Bignonia capreolata
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Deer-resistant
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- Wild Ginger Asarum canadense
- Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
Groundcovers
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- Wild Ginger Asarum canadense
- Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
For pollinators
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- Wild Ginger Asarum canadense
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
For birds
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans
- Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana
- American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis
- Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra
- Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida
- Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens
For hummingbirds
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
- Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens
- Crossvine Bignonia capreolata
Identify South Carolina wildflowers by color
| Bloom color | Native wildflowers (typical U.S. bloom) |
|---|---|
| Blue | Wild Lupine — Blue-violet (Apr–Jun) |
| Gold | Black-Eyed Susan — Golden yellow (Jun–Sep), Lanceleaf Coreopsis — Bright gold (May–Jul) |
| Magenta | Dense Blazing Star — Magenta (Jul–Aug) |
| Orange | Butterfly Weed — Vivid orange (Jun–Aug) |
| Pink | Obedient Plant — Pink (Aug–Sep), Wild Geranium — Lavender-pink (Apr–Jun), Creeping Phlox — Pink to lavender (Apr–May) |
| Red | Cardinal Flower — Electric scarlet (Jul–Sep), Wild Ginger — Hidden maroon (Apr–May) |
| White | Common Boneset — Foamy white (Aug–Sep), Rattlesnake Master — Greenish-white (Jun–Aug), Foamflower — Foamy white (Apr–May) |
Bloom months are a typical window across the species' U.S. range, not a local calendar — the same plant opens weeks later in the north and at altitude than it does in the south. Use it for ordering the season, and let the plants in front of you set the dates.
All 33 native plants for South Carolina
| Plant | Type | Sun | Soil moisture | Height | Typical bloom (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–2.5 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Full sun | Wet / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 1–2 ft | Apr–Jun |
| Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Medium / Wet | 2–4 ft | Jul–Aug |
| Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–5 ft | Aug–Sep |
| Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 3–5 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 2–4 ft | Aug–Sep |
| Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 1.5–2 ft | Apr–Jun |
| Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 6–12 in | Apr–May |
| Wild Ginger Asarum canadense | Groundcover | Shade / Part sun | Medium | 4–8 in | Apr–May |
| Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides | Fern | Shade / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 1–2 ft | — |
| Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum | Fern | Part sun / Shade | Wet / Medium | 2–4 ft | — |
| Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata | Groundcover | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 4–8 in | Apr–May |
| Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | — |
| Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 4–7 ft | — |
| Switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Ornamental grass | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 3–6 ft | — |
| Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 4–7 ft | — |
| Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia capillaris | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–3 ft | Sep–Oct |
| Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–2 ft | May–Jul |
| Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 5–10 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Medium / Wet | 6–10 ft | May–Jun |
| American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 4–7 ft | Jun–Jul |
| American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 6–12 ft | Jun–Jul |
| New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 2–3.5 ft | May–Jul |
| Smooth Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens | Shrub | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 3–5 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia | Shrub | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 4–8 ft | May–Jul |
| Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra | Evergreen shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 4–8 ft | May–Jun |
| Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis | Small tree | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 20–30 ft | Mar–Apr |
| Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida | Small tree | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 15–25 ft | Apr–May |
| Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens | Vine | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 8–15 ft | Apr–Sep |
| Crossvine Bignonia capreolata | Vine | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 25–50 ft | Apr–May |
| Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Vine | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Dry / Medium | 30–50 ft | Jun |
Bloom months are a typical window across the species' U.S. range, not a local calendar — the same plant opens weeks later in the north and at altitude than it does in the south. Use it for ordering the season, and let the plants in front of you set the dates.
Confirm any plant is native to your county with your state Native Plant Society before planting.
The South Carolina natives worth asking for
The natives worth asking for in South Carolina — with the botanical name to say at the counter, so you get the plant that feeds something.
The complete Native Plants of South Carolina
The native plants that belong in your yard — what to plant for pollinators, by zone, with bloom timing and a species table.
Want it on paper? See the printable Native Plants of South Carolina.