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Plants of North Carolina

The plants most often spotted in North Carolina, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

437,291
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 437,291 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in North Carolina. The most frequently seen is the Christmas Fern, with 18,910 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in North Carolina include Spotted Wintergreen - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Spotted Wintergreen

Most-observed plants in North Carolina

Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
18,910 observations
American Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
15,979 observations
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
15,649 observations
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
13,887 observations
Striped Wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
13,081 observations
Crane-fly Orchid
Tipularia discolor
12,847 observations · iNaturalist
American Holly
Ilex opaca
11,626 observations
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
11,088 observations
White Clover
Trifolium repens
10,798 observations
Little Brown Jugs
Asarum arifolium
10,396 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
10,239 observations
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
9,887 observations
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Goodyera pubescens
9,704 observations
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
9,580 observations
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
9,564 observations
Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
9,027 observations
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
9,001 observations
Partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
8,911 observations
Carolina Horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
8,877 observations
Lyreleaf Sage
Salvia lyrata
8,793 observations
Fan Clubmoss
Diphasiastrum digitatum
8,608 observations
Common Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
8,497 observations
Strawberry Bush
Euonymus americanus
8,442 observations · iNaturalist
Galax
Galax urceolata
8,367 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
8,191 observations
Muscadine
Vitis rotundifolia
8,123 observations · iNaturalist
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
7,981 observations
Chinese Privet
Ligustrum sinense
7,781 observations
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
7,720 observations
Great Rhododendron
Rhododendron maximum
7,650 observations
Mock Strawberry
Potentilla indica
7,586 observations · iNaturalist
American Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
7,581 observations
Common Selfheal
Prunella vulgaris
7,028 observations · iNaturalist
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
6,827 observations
Ghost Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
6,565 observations
Multiflora Rose
Rosa multiflora
6,476 observations
American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
6,277 observations
Ebony Spleenwort
Asplenium platyneuron
6,277 observations
Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
6,255 observations
American Cancer-root
Conopholis americana
6,254 observations
Red Deadnettle
Lamium purpureum
6,250 observations · iNaturalist
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
6,231 observations
Persian Silk Tree
Albizia julibrissin
6,229 observations · iNaturalist
Rue Anemone
Thalictrum thalictroides
6,229 observations
Purple Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
6,217 observations
Kudzu
Pueraria montana
6,197 observations
Solomon's Plume
Maianthemum racemosum
6,045 observations
Ground-ivy
Glechoma hederacea
6,002 observations · iNaturalist
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
5,805 observations
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
5,756 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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