Tag: sustainability

From the Mountains to Sea: Identifying & Protecting Endemic Plants of North Carolina

On By durhammastergardenersIn carnivorous plant, coastal goldenrod, conservation, Durham NC, ecological sustanability, ecology, endemic plants, fall blooming plants, gardening, Gardening information, gardening NC, goldenrod, Heller's blazing star, native azaela, native plant list, native plant list for Piedmont NC, native plants, Native plants of NC, Natives, NC, NC biodiversity, NC conservation, NC Native Plants, NC Venus fly trap, near-endemic plants, North Carolina endemic plants, Perennial, Pink-shell azaela, protect endemic plants, protect NC endemic plants, protecting native plants, sustainability, sustainable gardening, sustanability, Uncategorized, Venus flytap

By Ariyah Chambers April, North Carolina Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County

North Carolina’s newest specialty license plate celebrates one of the state’s most iconic plants, the Venus flytrap, native only to a 80-mile radius around the Wilmington area. Beautiful vistas from Grandfather Mountain and Emerald Isle illustrate the state’s diverse ecosystems. (Image credit: Melinda Heigel)

One thing I love most about North Carolina is its natural wonders. Stretching from Appalachia to the Atlantic, our state is teeming with biodiversity. More incredible is that some of our natural flora–like the world-famous Venus flytrap–are found nowhere else on earth. Called “endemic,” these plant species are native to a specific region and are found naturally only in that region.

Remarkable Plants that Call NC Home

North Carolina’s endemic plants are integral to our state’s ecological identity. These rare species evolved over many millennia by adapting to our region’s climates, soils, and elevations—creating unique ecosystems that are both fragile and fascinating.

Endemic plants are the building blocks of their habitats. They provide food and shelter to a range of wildlife, including essential pollinators. They also contribute to soil health and water retention, helping maintain ecological balance. The importance of biodiversity can’t be overstated. 

So… which species are endemic to the Tarheel State, you ask? Let’s dig in! 

In 2022, the NC Natural Heritage Program published this list of all plant taxa1 (including subspecies) that naturally exist within our state’s borders: 31 taxon in all. Take a look.

Plants, of course, don’t recognize state borders like humans do. “Near-endemic” refers to species that thrive mainly in North Carolina while brushing another Southern state or two. In 2014, ncpedia.org assembled a list of North Carolina’s 42 endemic and near-endemic plants that’s worth a read. 

A Few Fine Examples of NC Endemics

(Left) You can spot Heller’s blazing star (Liatris helleri) on ledges of precipitous cliffs in northwestern North Carolina, especially Grandfather Mountain’s southeastern slopes. (Right) The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is one of the most well-known carnivorous plants. The NC Heritage Program names the primary threats to Venus flytraps as loss of habitat, fire suppression and lack of appropriate habitat management, and poaching. (Image credit: Keith Bradley/NC Botanical Garden; Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0)

I hope these endemic and near-endemic species give you an idea of how enamoring North Carolina’s rare, native flora can be:

Heller’s Blazing Star (Liatris helleri s.s.) – one of about 40 species in the genus Liatris
  • Description: A perennial wildflower that blooms striking purple flowers in late summer to early fall.
  • Range: Found primarily in the southern Appalachians. Only eleven known populations, all occurring in North Carolina’s Burke, Caldwell, Mitchell, Avery, Watauga and Ashe counties. 
  • Habitat: Shallow acidic soils on high elevation rock outcrops and ledges.
  • Fun Fact: Heller’s blazing star is considered fire-adapted, meaning that it does not benefit from the suppression of natural fire. (This makes sense for a native plant that acclimates to its natural environment.)
  • Conservation: Listed as NC Status T (Threatened). The NC Botanical Garden conserves this rare species. Learn more on The Center for Plant Conservation site and see the US Fish & Wildlife’s recovery plan.
  • Info source (search for species name) or this source for what’s written above
    • T means Threatened. A taxon that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range (Public Law 93-205 87 Stat. 884) source
Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) – near-endemic to North Carolina
  • Description: World-famous carnivorous plant that supplements its diet with insects and arachnids. Its “trap” consists of two hinged lobes at the tip of each leaf. Hair-like structures (trichomes) trigger the lobes to close when they sense prey.
  • Range: Endemic to an area in about an 80-mile arc around Wilmington, NC, which stretches into two counties in South Carolina.
  • Habitat: Acidic, sandy soil that seems very dry but the water table is not far below the plant.
  • Fun Fact: While illegal to collect from the wild, Venus flytraps can be ethically purchased from The NC Botanical Garden and other conservation organizations.
  • Conservation: Listed as NC Status T (Threatened). Read about the NC Heritage Program’s conservation efforts, as well as the “story map” created with NASA, a “remote sensing” project that identifies sustainable habitats for the Venus flytrap.
  • Info source: NC Plant Toolbox or this source (search for species name) 

(Left) Pink-shell azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi) was discovered in 1878 in western North Carolina by G. R. Vasey, the plant’s namesake. (Right) Coastal goldenrod (Solidago villosicarpa) was first collected in 1949, misidentified for several decades, and described as a new species in 2000. (Image credit: Tim Waters CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; CHarrier CC BY)

Pink-shell Azalea (Rhododendron vaseyi) – member of the heath family
  • Description: Deciduous shrub that shows pink flowers in spring. Typically grows 3 to 6 feet tall and has narrow, lance-shaped leaves.
  • Range: Endemic to the Appalachian highlands of North Carolina with a main center of distribution west of Asheville.
  • Habitat: Prefers moist, acidic soils in forested areas, often near streams and in the understory of hardwood forests.
  • Fun Fact: Pink-shell azalea was found growing in the wild in Massachusetts. While it’s not native to that state, it naturalized on the site of an abandoned nursery.
  • Conservation: Listed as NC Status SR-L (Significantly Rare–Limited), which means that “their fate depends largely on conservation here” in North Carolina.
  • Info Source: Center for Plant Conservation and Natural Heritage Program (use search)
Coastal Goldenrod (Solidago villosicarpa) – always found within 1,000 feet of an estuary
  • Description: This perennial plant has hairy stems and narrow leaves, producing bright yellow flower heads in late summer to fall.
  • Range: Only four known populations in Onslow and Pender counties of North Carolina; between 100 and 1400 individual plants comprise each population.
  • Habitat: Grows in wet, sandy soils, often in salt marshes, coastal grasslands, and disturbed areas.
  • Fun Fact: coastal goldenrod is currently found on sites that were previously logged. Three of the four known populations are located on the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in Onslow County, NC.
  • Conservation: Listed as NC Status S1 (Critically Imperiled), at very high risk of extirpation in North Carolina. Read more about conservation efforts on the Center for Plant Conservation site.
  • Info source: Natural Heritage Program (use search function), Center for Plant Conservation, NC Botanical Garden

Conservation of NC’s Endemic Plants

Endemic taxa are resilient, having adapted to their specialized environments over time. But because they’re rare–some species presenting only a few individuals or small populations–they can easily be wiped out. Threats to our native plants include:

  • Habitat loss to recreational and residential development
  • Trampling by hikers, climbers, and sightseers
  • Natural succession to invasive species
  • Collection and illegal poaching
  • Acid precipitation and other forms of atmospheric pollution that have been found to be concentrated at higher elevations in the southern Appalachians
  • Climate change

Here in North Carolina, we don’t yet know the damage incurred to our endemic plants (or animals) in October 2024 by Hurricane Helene. Some populations might have been devastated by storm damage or flood water. Other populations might spring back stronger; coastal goldenrod, for example, is documented to thrive where trees have been knocked down by hurricanes.

Conservation efforts are critical to preserving these unique plants. By protecting their habitats and raising awareness, we can help ensure that North Carolina’s endemic flora continues to flourish. Through conservation initiatives, botanical gardens, and community engagement, we can foster a deeper appreciation for these remarkable plants and the ecosystems they inhabit.

These organizations are just some that are active in conservation and education efforts:

North Carolina Plant Conservation Program (NCPCP), part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, works with partners like the NC Natural Heritage Program to protect rare and endangered plant species, including many endemic plants.

North Carolina Botanical Garden, located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, emphasizes the conservation of native and endemic plants through education, research, and horticultural practices. NCBG partners with The Center for Plant Conservation, whose plant database incudes many of our state’s rare endemic taxon.

US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) collaborates with state and local agencies to protect endangered species, including endemic plants in North Carolina.

Conservation alliances like the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy work on broader conservation that includes endemic plants.

Citizen science initiative programs like the North Carolina Native Plant Society engage the public in monitoring and documenting plant species can help conservation practices.

Research and educational programs at universities and research institutions like Duke, the University of North Carolina, and NC State University, conduct studies focused on endemic plants and how to increase the sustainability of their ecosystems.

How You Can Help Protect NC’s Endemic Plants

Your individual efforts can make a difference. Here’s a list of actionable to-dos for local gardeners and plant lovers:

  1. Educate Yourself
    • Research our region’s endemic flora to understand their characteristics, habitats, and conservation status.
    • Attend workshops or seminars focused on native and endemic plants.
    • Use the NC Botanical Garden’s “Flora App” to identify species in the wild.2
  2. Incorporate Native Plants in Your Garden
    • When and where possible, choose an endemic plant like Heller’s blazing star for your garden to support local biodiversity.
    • Create a design that mimics natural ecosystems, combining various native species for a balanced environment.
    • Consider these Recommended Native Plant Species from the NC Native Plant Society. Remember to choose the right plant for the right place in your landscape.
  3. Create a Pollinator-Friendly Space
    • Plant a variety of native flowering plants to attract and support pollinators, essential for the reproduction of many endemic species.
    • Provide nesting sites and water sources for pollinators in your garden.
  4. Participate in Local Conservation Efforts
    • Join local organizations (like the ones named above) or volunteer for projects aimed at restoring native habitats.
    • Participate in plant rescues or reforestation efforts organized by conservation groups.
  5. Promote Native Plant Awareness
    • Share information about endemic plants with friends, family, and neighbors through social media or community events.
    • Organize or participate in local gardening clubs (like the Durham Garden Forum) that focus on native and endemic plants.
  6. Create Educational Signage
    • Label endemic species in your garden with informational signs to educate visitors about their importance and ecological roles.
    • Provide facts about their rarity, uses, and conservation needs.
  7. Practice Sustainable Gardening
    • Avoid the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers that can harm native plants and wildlife.
    • Use organic gardening practices to maintain soil health and biodiversity.
  8. Monitor and Document Plant Growth
    • Keep records of the endemic plants you grow, noting their growth patterns, challenges, and successes.
    • Share your observations with local conservation groups to contribute to broader studies on plant health. 
    • Contribute photos and notes from your wilderness hikes to iNaturalist.
  9. Host Workshops or Community Events
    • Organize events to teach about the importance of endemic plants, including gardening tips and plant identification workshops.
    • Collaborate with local schools to create educational programs focusing on native flora.
  10. Support Local Nurseries and Plant Sales
    • Buy endemic plants from local nurseries that prioritize sustainable practices and conservation; confirm that the plants were not collected from the wild.
    • Advocate for more native plant sales in your community.

Conclusion

North Carolina’s endemic plants are ecological treasures. They are rare, increasingly at risk, and worth protecting. Let’s ensure these plant species thrive for generations to come.

Notes

1–A taxon (plural is taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism scientists called taxononmists define as a unit. These organisms usually share characteristics.

2–Editor’s note: When this article was first published, this app was free. It is now fee-based.

Resources and Additional Information

2022 “PLANT TAXA ENDEMIC TO NORTH CAROLINA,”  NC Natural Heritage Program, https://ncnhp.org/documents/2022-rare-plant-list-endemic-species-table/open 

2014 “North Carolina Endemic and Near-endemic Plants,” https://ncpedia.org/environment/endemic-and-near

Regarding an endemic species’ conservation status: if you want to better understand what a conservation code, like T or E, stands for: 2022 “EXPLANATION OF STATUS AND RANK CODES: North Carolina Natural Heritage Program List of Rare Plant Species of North Carolina,” https://ncnhp.org/documents/2022-rare-plant-list-status-and-rank-codes/open 

Species Database Search of the NC Natural Heritage Program, https://ncnhp.org/data/speciescommunity-search – comprehensive database for finding the counties, conservation status, etc. of each plant

Flora of the Southeastern United States, created by Alan S. Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team (NC Botanical Garden) – excellent plant database https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=index.php 

The Native Plant Trust’s database https://plantfinder.nativeplanttrust.org/Plant-Search 

2016 “Venus Flytraps Need Protection From Poachers in North Carolina,” NYT https://nytimes.com/2016/11/28/us/venus-flytraps-poaching-north-carolina.html 2020 “An ‘Extinction Hotspot’ in Appalachia,” Scientific American – The discovery of a lost plant species highlights the need to protect other endangered species in one of the most biodiverse regions in the US https://scientificamerican.com/article/an-extinction-hotspot-in-appalachia

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5kI

Editor’s Note: We’ll be taking next week off for Thanksgiving. We’ll see you again in December with more gardening goodness!

Bringing Plants of the Piedmont back to Downtown Durham

On By durhammastergardenersIn bees, beneficial insects, birds, cover crops, CPTED, crime prevention through environmental design, Downtown Durham, NC, drought tolerant plants, Durham NC, garden design, gardening, Gardening calendar, Gardening information, gardening NC, green mulch, ground covers, ground covers for living mulch, how to improve soil, insects, landscaping for wildlife, living mulch, native plant list, native plant list for Piedmont NC, native plants, Natives, NC Native Plants, Perennial, phenology calendar, Piedmont Prairie Garden at Rotary Plaza, pollinator gardening, polyculture, renewable gardening, soil, soil health, sustainability, sustainable garden design, sustainable watering, sustanability, Uncategorized, urban challenges in landscaping, urban garden, urban gardening, urban heat islands, urban planning, urban prairie garden, urban wildlife, uuban service benefits in landscapes, water wise plants, wildlife

By Eric Wiebe, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County

A once neglected site, Rotary Plaza in downtown Durham comes alive in July 2021 with sunflowers that produce seeds for wildlife. Millet, a grain used here in the design and novel to many urban dwellers, also serves as a great food source for gold finches and other birds. (Image credit: Ben Bergmann)

Have you noticed changes to the plantings in downtown Durham over the past few years? If not, you need to head on down, walk around, and appreciate the transformation of the many of the city-owned green spaces. This transformation, and the strategies behind it, point to a new way of thinking about our relationship to the landscape, both in urban settings like downtown, but also in our own yards. 

I had the pleasure of both walking around downtown Durham with and then sitting down and talking to Ben Bergmann, the architect of this transformation. Ben was hired by City of Durham in September 2020 and charged with re-envisioning and elevating horticulture in downtown Durham, including creating a Downtown Horticulture Crew within Landscape Services. Ben brought a widely varied background to this position, trained with BS, MS, and PhD degrees in plant sciences, and working as everything from small business owner and farmer to tropical agroecologist and research scientist. One thing all this work has in common is plants and his great love of them. Ben feels this broad range of experiences has helped prepare him for a job that has him applying both the art and science horticulture to a municipal government position with its many constraints and opportunities and multitude of stakeholders. 

“When I started, I realized I needed a mission statement to clearly and concisely communicate to my supervisors and the public what I and my unit in government is doing.” He stated that his landscape design and management are guided by the goal of enhancing

  • Environmental sustainability
  • Programmatic stability
  • Aesthetic appeal
  • Service benefits

He notes that it is important to recognize that these categories are not mutually exclusive, but each has a role to play in his horticultural work supporting the living landscape in downtown Durham. 

Designing Sustainably

Ben explains that a crucial re-orientation is to start planning a landscape by thinking about how it can best align with the ecosystem, and that means starting with native plants that can be used. “For urban contexts some people would say that there is nothing native to these downtown spaces, and they will use this as an ‘out’ to plant whatever they want. I don’t embrace this–something was native, originally, in these spots. Many times these native plants can and will grow and thrive in these spaces.”

When Ben thinks about which native species to use, he first looks for plants native to the North Carolina Piedmont and secondarily to the larger Piedmont of eastern U.S. He notes, however, that it is very important to select plants with a long-range vision. That is, when accounting for global climate change, plants that are going to be here in 20 years may very well be in an environment that looks more like the southern Piedmont, our coastal plains, or South Carolina.

(Left to right) By selecting plants that can cope with a warming environment, Bergmann installed dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor), a plant typically associated with climates in the native ranges east and south of Durham, NC, and shown in green on the USDA’s zone map. (Image credit: Ben Bergmann; https://plants.usda.gov)

While native species take the lead when planning bed renovations, Ben states that non-native plants can still play a role. Returning to his guiding principles, non-natives can help fill functional gaps that might be hard to resolve in the short run with native species. Similarly, there are times that a spot planting of a non-native will help achieve a particular aesthetic goal by providing highlight color, texture, or architecture.

(Left to right) Before, a non-imaginative flag pole bed at Durham Parks and Recreation building included a highly invasive and exotic species: Nandina domestica. After a re-imagining, the same bed demonstrates there is a place for non-native plants alongside natives, especially during transition phases. (Image credit: Ben Bergmann1

Because the legacy plantings downtown were almost 100% non-native, it means that during a bed’s transition period, some non-natives may be left to help visually and functionally stabilize the bed until new, native plants can get established and then take over. Among other things, the non-native plants retained just for the transition can provide shelter from the sun and wind during establishment.

(Left) The process of establishing an urban prairie at the Rotary Plaza began in September 2020 with beds filled with weeds and remnants of long past garden attempts. (Middle) In March 2020, the the beds are full of cover crops: crimson clover, a nitrogen fixer that is great for pollinators in early spring, and winter rye, which has high biomass production and deeply penetrating roots. The intricate planting pattern reflects intentionality and provides visual interest. (Right) By July 2022 the Piedmont Prairie Garden at Rotary Plaza is realized and chock-full of sustainable native plants. (Image credit: Ben Bergmann)2

Even given how much he has achieved is such a short time, Ben still takes the long view when planning and planting. For example, cover crops have been used in very purposeful ways in areas such as the Rotary Garden. During the initial transition of this space, cover crops were planted and maintained in ways that not only helped build the soil, but created visual interest. Over time, the cover crops matured and eventually replaced with native perennials, creating an evolving horticultural narrative in this space. As Ben said, “Some [landscape] designers shy away from transitions–they want to ‘put a tarp over it’ until it has reached its final phase. I don’t shy away from transitions; they are an important part of my plans.”

Ben notes that using select non-native plants, cover crops, and other annuals allows him to more easily use seeds, plugs, and small plants in the beds. In the case of herbaceous perennials and woody plants, besides being less expensive, younger, smaller plants will typically develop more robust root systems and quickly outgrow their bigger counterparts.

Addressing Urban Challenges

Ben was quick to remind me of the many contextual limitations and challenges the Downtown Horticulture Crew faces daily that home suburban gardeners rarely have to contend with. For example, CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), is an important set of guiding heuristics that often preempts other design considerations. In addition to making sure plantings do not screen illicit activities, it also disallows designs that interfere with security cameras or impair pedestrian safety, including driver site lines at street crossings. 

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The center of the Chapel Hill Street parking lot is a perfect example of an urban heat island with even hotter microclimates where landscapes are needed. (1) In January of 2022, the lot was cleared of weeds and other unhealthy, dated, and non-native landscape plants. (2-5) The view in 2024, after Bergmann and his team revitalized the area with an assortment of heat-tolerant natives. (Image credit: Ben Bergmann)3

Most of the beds Ben and his crew manage are surrounded by heat absorbing asphalt and concrete and buildings with glass that intensify solar radiation by reflecting light onto them. This creates heat islands much hotter than in surrounding communities. In addition, tall buildings funnel wind through these spaces and block rain, further desiccating plants. 

Humans also are unhelpful, by walking on, driving over, or otherwise physically challenging plantings. Some soils are more like landfill or construction sites, and many have the negative impact of overuse by dogs on their walks. Even with these challenges, Ben has identified quite a few native species that are up for environmental extremes while still fulfilling functional and aesthetic goals. Not surprisingly, he is currently exploring the possibility of a demonstration xeriscape-inspired bed. This one may very well include some non-native plants more typically found in desert environments.

Educating the Community

Ben understands that an important part of his job is educating not only the workers and residents of downtown Durham but all city residents and visitors as to a new way of envisioning landscapes. Landscapes that, while they exist in a human-built environment, much more clearly reflect real ecosystems of the NC Piedmont. This means not only planting predominantly native species but planting them in soil nourished by natural mulches created by the plants themselves rather than imported, dyed wood chips. He also allows the plants to go through full cycles, creating visual landscapes that sometimes predominate in browns, grays, and blacks, as much as greens, yellows, and reds. 

(Left to right) The Piedmont Prairie Garden at Rotary Plaza in early January with the last vibrant colors and in late February, when the remaining plants still create an almost black-and-white picture. (Image credit: Ben Bergmann)4 (Below) By designing a phenology calendar for his plantings, Bergmann pays careful attention to nature’s timing. This tool helps gardeners know when to plant, specific bloom times, and when colors, textures, and other elements are present throughout the seasons. For a closer view, click on the link for an electronic version of the calendar in our Resources and Additional Information section below.

He is heartened that there is a growing critical mass of professionals helping him in this educational work. The City of Raleigh and Wake County has been hard at work creating plantings that reflect this same vision. He also has strong allies at Duke Gardens, where Annabel Renwick, has provided both inspiration and plants for some of the bed designs. Ben recognizes that it will take a while both for his beds to reach the final stages of their design vision and for Durham residents to embrace this new look, but he has already received lots of positive feedback for his renovated beds. It will also be up to Durham Master Gardeners, and committed gardeners everywhere, to help continue to educate the public and support this work.

Plant lists for featured Downtown Durham Sites

1–The planting design at the Parks and Recreation administration site include a mix of natives (*) and non-native plants: threadleaf coreopsis* (Coreopsis verticillata), creeping phlox* (Phlox subulata), eastern ninebark* (Physocarpus opulifolius), panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), lantana (Lantana camara), coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides).

2–Plants in the Piedmont Prairie Garden at Rotary Plaza include swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium fistulosum), Spotted Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum), common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus), larger blue flag iris (Iris versicolor), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), switch grass (Panicum virgatum), garden phlox (Phlox paniculata), hoary mountain mint (Pycnanthemum incanum), brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba).

3–Center of Chapel Hill Street parking lot showcases the following native plants: sedge (Carex bicknellii), purple love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis), Elliott’s lovegrass (Eragrostis elliottii), scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus), swamp rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta).

4–The Piedmont Prairie Garden at Rotary Plaza in late February still offers color, texture, and winter interest. They include climbing aster (Ampleaster carolinianus), scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus), switch grass (Panicum virgatum), hoary mountain mint (Pycnanthemum incanum), white goldenrod (Solidago bicolor), showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)–with touches of hopeful green, beardtounge (Penstemon digitalis), eastern beardtounge (Penstemon laevigatus), stoke’s aster (Stokesia laevis), adam’s needle yucca (Yucca filamentosa).

5– See below for Bergmann’s list of natives that are tried-and-true performers for Durham and central North Carolina.

Resources and Additional Information

Piedmont Prairie Garden at Rotary Plaza Bloom Time / Color Calendar (electronic version)

https://go.ncsu.edu/piedmontprairiecalendar

NC State Extension on landscaping for wildlife with native plants in urban environments

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/landscaping-for-wildlife-with-native-plants

North Carolina Native Plant Society’s list of recommended native species

Recommended Native Species

NC State Extension on all things native plants

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