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THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE PLANTS

Native plants are those defined as species that have evolved and adapted to a specific geographic region or ecosystem over thousands of years, occurring naturally without direct human introduction. They benefit local soils, ecosystems, and wildlife, but can often be outcompeted by non-natives which can be worse for our ecosystems, soils, and water, and sometimes invasive like Kudzu, Chinese privet, or Bradford pear. 

So, what's the difference between natives and non-natives?

Native plants:

  • Benefit soil health through deeper root systems and symbiotic microbe relations
  • Benefit native ecosystems and pollinators by providing seasonal flowers and fruits, and habitat for native wildlife
  • Need fewer fertilizers and other additives to thrive, as they are already adapted to native soil conditions
  • Are key in Riparian Buffers and streambank stabilizations!

Non-natives:

  • Can be invasive, outcompeting native plants and creating monotonous landscapes such as fields covered in kudzu
  • Poorly adapted to local conditions
  • Require more work and maintenance to keep alive
  • Do not support native ecosystems

What Plants Are Native to South Carolina?

There are thousands of native plant species in South Carolina! From commonly seen ones like the southern magnolia or eastern redbud that grow all along the Southeast, to rare, local, and endangered species like the Oconee bell and bunched arrowhead (which grows in only two counties: Greenville County in SC and Henderson County in NC), natives are everywhere if you just know how to look. Some examples are:

Magnolia grandiflora, commonly called Southern magnolia or Bull bay, is a medium to large evergreen tree, growing to 10-30meters high. Native to Southeastern United States, it is now widely cultivated in warm areas around the world. Flagrant white flowers bloom in early summer (June-July), which turn into cone-like fruiting clusters that mature in late summer to early fall, releasing seeds at maturity.

Southern magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora

Carolina jasmine flowers. Springtime.

Carolina Jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens

Callicarpa Americana in early morning sun. It is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the family Lamiaceae. The seeds and berries are Callifoods for many species of birds, including Northern Bobwhite.

American beautyberry
Callicarpa americana

This image shows a single entire plant of Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) with a dark background.

Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris

Fruits of the Amelanchier, (also known as shadbush, shadwood or shadblow, serviceberry or sarvisberry, or just sarvis, juneberry, saskatoon, sugarplum or wild-plum, and chuckley pear), is a genus of about 20 species of deciduous-leaved shrubs and small trees in the Rose family (Rosaceae).

Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea

Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)

Swamp Sunflower
Helianthus angustifolius

Learn more:

South Carolina Native Plant Society

Books as Resources:

  • Gardening With Native Plants of the South, by Sally Wasowski with Andy Wasowski
  • Life at the Water's Edge: A Shoreline Resident's Guide to Natural Lakeshore and Streamside Buffers for Water Quality Protection in South Carolina, published by Clemson University
  • Aquatic and Wetland Plants of South Carolina, by Cynthia A. Aulbach-Smith and Steven J. de Kozlowski
  • Native Plants of the Southeast, by Larry Mellichamp

Download PDF lists of plants: