Here are 30 shrubs native to North Carolina. It does sometimes spread by suckers and form thickets. This characteristic becomes positive when you are trying to create a native garden on a budget.
Scientific Name: Castanea pumila. Some botanists have this as Castanea pumila var. pumila to distinguish it from Castanea pumila var. ozarkensis. Others separate these shrubs into several different species.Family: FagaceaeOther Common Names: American chinquapin, Ozark chinkapin, tree chinkapin, dwarf chestnut, chinkapin, common chinkapin, golden chinkapinAlso Native to: Eastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 5-9Size: 6-30’ tall and 6-20’ wideExposure: Full sun
You can only eat a few of the drupes at a time since they are astringent. You can also cook them up to make jelly.
Scientific Name: Callicarpa americanaFamily: LamiaceaeOther Common Names: French mulberry, sowberry, Spanish mulberry, bunchberry, purple beautyberry, Bermuda mulberry, or sourberryAlso Native to: Southeastern United States, Mexico, and the CaribbeanUSDA Zones: 6-10Size: 3-8’ tall and wideExposure: Full sun for best flowering and fruiting
It is not usually too harmful to the host plant, however, so you need not worry about pruning it away unless the infestation is especially severe. You would have to remove all infected branches for the problem to go away and this could prove to be more detrimental than the mistletoe itself. This is a poisonous plant, so use caution when placing it around the house as a decoration. Some botanists classify this as a subshrub.
Scientific Name: Phoradendron leucarpum. You may also see it listed as Phoradendron serotinum.Family: Depending on the source, it is Loranthaceae, Santalaceae, or ViscaceaeOther Common Names: Mistletoe, oak mistletoeAlso Native to: Eastern United StatesUSDA Zones: Size: 1-3’ tall and wideExposure: Light shade that naturally exists from sunlight hitting tree branches
This is another species that can be used to rapidly populate a native garden since it will send out suckers. They may be pruned out if you wish to keep the shrub from spreading.
Scientific Name: Corylus cornutaFamily: BetulaceaeOther Common Names: Beaked hazel, California hazelnut, California filbertAlso Native to: North AmericaUSDA Zones: 4-8Size: 4-12’ tall and wide Exposure: Partial shade is best
Since this is a member of the Ericaceae family, it needs acidic soil for proper growth. The flowers of the black huckleberry are a delight for butterflies, and the fruit serves as food for wildlife. This species is also prone to suckering and can be controlled through pruning.
Scientific Name: Gaylussacia baccataFamily: EricaceaeOther Common Names: HuckleberryAlso Native to: Eastern North AmericaUSDA Zones: 3-7Size: 1-4’ tall and wideExposure: Part sun is best. Lower flower and fruit production may occur in shadier
There are also varieties of this species that will produce yellow fruit.
Scientific Name: Rubus occidentalisFamily: RosaceaeOther Common Names: Scotch cap, black cap raspberry, thimbleberry or wild black raspberryAlso Native to: Eastern North AmericaUSDA Zones: 3-8Size: 3-4’ tall and wideExposure: Full sun to partial shade
Recipes to Try:
Black Raspberry Pastry CreamChambord Raspberry BrowniesRaspberry Fool
You can generally substitute the black raspberry into any recipe that calls for raspberries since they have similar flavors and textures.
Scientific Name: Spiraea latifolia. Some botanists treat this as Spiraea alba var. latifolia.Family: RosaceaeOther Common Names: Meadow sweet, meadowsweet, broad-leaved meadowsweet, northern meadowsweet, white meadowsweetAlso Native to: Eastern North AmericaUSDA Zones: 3-8Size: 1-6’ tall and wideExposure: Full sun to partial shade
This species of rose does tend to spread itself through suckering and would be best suited to an informal native garden. You can also limit the spreading by removing any suckers that appear.
Scientific Name: Rosa carolinaFamily: RosaceaeOther Common Names: Low rose, pasture roseAlso Native to: Eastern North AmericaUSDA Zones: 4-9Size: 1-3’ tall and wideExposure: Full sun is best, though it can handle some shade
Scientific Name: Salix carolinianaFamily: SalicaceaeOther Common Names: Carolina willowAlso Native to: Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and the southeastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 7-10Size: Usually around 15-30’ tall and wideExposure: Full sun to partial shade
It can also serve as a specimen plant to draw attention to a specific location in your garden. The name coral bean is given because of the color of the (poisonous) fruit found in the dark brown pods.
Scientific Name: Erythrina herbaceaFamily: FabaceaeOther Common Names: Mamou plant, cardinal spear, Cherokee bean, red cardinalAlso Native to: Mexico and the southeastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 7-10Size: Anywhere from 3-20’ tall and wide, with the larger shrubs usually occurring in the warmer zones.Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
The leaves of this shrub used to be processed to make wintergreen oil. You will need to have acid soil present for this plant to grow properly. If the pH level is not too much higher than neutral (7.0), you can try making your soil more acidic. You may need to repeat the process if tests at a later time show that the pH levels have shifted back.
Latin Name: Gaultheria procumbensFamily: EricaceaeOther Common Names: Boxberry, spreading wintergreen, checkerberry, wintergreen, American wintergreen or eastern teaberryAlso Native to: Northeastern North AmericaUSDA Zones: 3-8Size: 3-6" tall and up to 1’ wideExposure: Part shade to full shade
The large fruit is edible and as the name deerberry suggests, they are a favorite food for this animal.
Scientific Name: Vaccinium stamineumFamily: EricaceaeOther Common Names: Buckberry, tall deerberry, southern gooseberry, highbush huckleberry, Also Native to: North AmericaUSDA Zones: 5-9Size: 6-15’ tall and wideExposure: Some light shade is best, though it can also grow in full sun
One beautiful cultivar is ‘Rainbow’ It features leaves that are variegated with pink and white.
Scientific Name: Leucothoe fontanesianaFamily: EricaceaeOther Common Names: Fetterbush, mountain doghobble, dog hobble, switch ivy, highland dog hobble, or fetter bushAlso Native to: Southeastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 5-8Size: 3-6’ tall and wideExposure: Partial to full shade is best
Scientific Name: Sabal minorFamily: ArecaceaeOther Common Names: Bush palmetto, bluestem palmetto, swamp palm, swamp palmetto, blue palm, dwarf palm, blue-stem palm, blue palmettoAlso Native to: Southeastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 7-11. Check your variety to make sure it can withstand 7 if you live in that zone as not all do. They may be able to live in even colder zones if mulched well.Size: 2-10; wide and 3-10’ tallExposure: Full sun to partial shade, with partial shade being best
This species does not usually cross with other related species to form a hybrid since it is a tetraploid that has extra chromosomes. Take care when planting if you have pets or small children as this is a poisonous plant.
Scientific Name: Rhododendron calendulaceumFamily: EricaceaeAlso Native to: the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 5-7Size: 4-12’ tall and wideExposure: Partial shade is best. It can also tolerate full sun or full shade depending on the location.
You may need to prune away suckers as they form if you wish to not have this shrub spread itself. It is also somewhat poisonous if a lot is eaten.
Scientific Name: Euonymus americanusFamily: CelastraceaeOther Common Names: Wahoo, hearts-a-burstin’, arrow-wood, American strawberry bush, Brook euonymus, bursting-heart, strawberry bushAlso Native to: Eastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 6-10Size: 4-6’ tall and wideExposure: Partial to full shade
The leaves can be either deciduous or semi-evergreen and are powdery gray-green or a little blue in hue. Once fall arrives, the foliage shifts to reds, yellows, and oranges before dropping. If you like leaves that are bluish, look for the ‘Blue Sky’ or ‘Woodlander’s Blue’ cultivars.
Scientific Name: Zenobia pulverulentaFamily: EricaceaeOther Common Names: Dusty zenobia, honey-cup, zenobiaAlso Native to: Southeastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 5-8. 9 is possible, though it may sometimes struggle a little in the warmer weather found in that zone.Size: 3-6’ tall and wideExposure: Full sun to partial shade. Ideally, try to find a location with full sun to get the best possible fall leaf colors.
You need to choose a spot where the soil is acidic so that this species can grow properly. Maintenance may be needed to curb suckers if you do not want the shrub to clone itself and spread.
Scientific Name: Fothergilla majorFamily: HamamelidaceaeOther Common Names: Witch-alder, mountain witchalder, large witch-alder or mountain witch alderAlso Native to: Allegheny Mountains of the southeastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 4-8Size: 6-10’ tall and wideExposure: Full sun to partial shade. Shade is best for hotter zones.
It is the only species to be classified within the Chamaedaphne genus. Some butterfly larvae will feed on the leaves.
Scientific Name: Chamaedaphne calyculataFamily: EricaceaeOther Common Names: CassandraAlso Native to: Northern HemisphereUSDA Zones: 3-7Size: Up to 5’ tall and wideExposure: Full sun to partial shade
Even though it contains arbutus in one of its common names, it is not part of the Arbutus genus.
Scientific Name: Epigaea repensFamily: EricaceaeOther Common Names: Trailing arbutus, ground laurelAlso Native to: Eastern North AmericaUSDA Zones: 3-9Size: Usually under 6" tall and wideExposure: Part shade to full shade
Scientific Name: Pieris floribundaFamily: EricaceaeOther Common Names: Fetterbush, mountain fetterbush, mountain pierisAlso Native to: Eastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 4-6Size: 3-6’ tall and wideExposure: Full sun to partial shade
This shrub is considered to be poisonous, so take that into account if you are thinking about adding it to your garden.
Latin Name: Kalmia latifolia Family: Ericaceae Other Common Names: Spoonwood, calico bush, lambkill, ivybush, clamoun or sheep laurel Also Native to: Eastern United States USDA Zones: 5-9 Height: Normally anywhere from 5-15’ tall, but can be over 40’. Exposure: Full sun to full shade, though for best results plant in at least part shade.
It can be a bit poisonous if someone managed to eat a lot of this.
Scientific Name: Hydrangea quercifoliaFamily: HydrangaceaeOther Common Names: Oak-leaved hydrangea, oakleaf hydrangeaAlso Native to: Southeastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 5-9Size: 3-10’ tall and 4-10’ wideExposure: Full sun to partial shade
Scientific Name: Philadelphus inodorusFamily: HydrangaceaeOther Common Names: Mockorange, Appalachian mock-orangeAlso Native to: Eastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 6-9Size: 6-10’ tall and 6-8’ wideExposure: Full sun to partial shade
Scientific Name: Borrichia frutescensFamily: AsteraceaeOther Common Names: Bushy seaside tansy, sea oxeye daisy, silver sea-oxeye-daisy or sea-marigoldAlso Native to: United States and MexicoUSDA Zones: 7-11. The plant may die back yearly in cooler areasSize: 2-3’ tall and 2-4’ wideExposure: Full sun
You can prune it to form a hedge. As long as you give it regular watering after planting to give it a chance to anchor down the roots, it can tolerate periods of drought.
Scientific Name: Hypericum prolificumFamily: HypericaceaeOther Common Names: Cinnamon stick, shrubby St. Johnswort, St. John’s WortAlso Native to: Central and eastern North AmericaUSDA Zones: 4-8, may be able to be grown in 3Size: 1-6’ tall and 1-4’ wideExposure: Full sun to part shade
This is the only species that many botanists have placed within the Cyrilla genus, though others have divided it into several different species.
Scientific Name: Cyrilla racemifloraFamily: CyrillaceaeOther Common Names: He huckleberry, cyrilla, red titi, littleleaf cyrilla, swamp cyrilla, ironwood, swamp ironwood, black titi, leatherwood, myrtle, swamp leatherwood, littleleaf titi or white titieAlso Native to: Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Mexico, and the Southeastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 5-10Size: Usually 4-15’ tall and wide, but can get up to 30’ tallExposure: Full sun is best, though it can grow in partial shade if needed
One interesting feature of this plant is that it is able to fix nitrogen, meaning it is able to harness the element from the atmosphere for use. There are not many other nitrogen-fixing species like this outside of the Fabaceae family.
Scientific Name: Comptonia peregrinaFamily: MyricaceaeOther Common Names: Sweet-fernAlso Native to: Eastern North AmericaUSDA Zones: 2-6Size: 2-4’ tall and can be twice as wide from spreading by rhizomesExposure: Full sun to partial shade
Long drooping clusters of white flowers are a beautiful feature of this species. One cultivar is ‘Henry’s Garnet’, which is so named because the leaves change to that color in the fall before they drop.
Scientific Name: Itea virginicaFamily: IteaceaeOther Common Names: Virginia sweetspire, tassel-white, Virginia sweet spire, iteaAlso Native to: Southeastern United StatesUSDA Zones: 5-9Size: 3-6’ tallExposure: Full sun to partial shade
Scientific Name: Viburnum cassinoides. Some botanists classify this as Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides.Family: AdoxaceaeOther Common Names: Witherod viburnum, northern witherod, Appalachian tea, swamp haw, wild raisin, blue haw, shawneehaw, or possum hawAlso Native to: Eastern North AmericaUSDA Zones: 3-8Size: 5-12’ tall and wideExposure: Full sun to partial shade
