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Plants of South Carolina

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

115,350
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 115,350 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in South Carolina. The most frequently seen is the American Sweetgum, with 5,740 recorded sightings.

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

Spotted Wintergreen

Most-observed plants in South Carolina

American Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
5,740 observations
Spanish Moss
Tillandsia usneoides
3,549 observations
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
3,522 observations
American Holly
Ilex opaca
3,491 observations
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
3,103 observations
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
3,024 observations
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
3,006 observations
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
2,996 observations
Striped Wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
2,921 observations
Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
2,777 observations
Muscadine
Vitis rotundifolia
2,761 observations · iNaturalist
Partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
2,540 observations
Chinese Privet
Ligustrum sinense
2,522 observations
Yellow Jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens
2,467 observations · iNaturalist
Purple Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
2,430 observations
American Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
2,425 observations
Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
2,381 observations
Little Brown Jugs
Asarum arifolium
2,352 observations · iNaturalist
Shining Sumac
Rhus copallinum
2,345 observations
Eastern Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
2,290 observations
Resurrection Fern
Pleopeltis michauxiana
2,267 observations · iNaturalist
Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
2,216 observations
Cross Vine
Bignonia capreolata
2,207 observations · iNaturalist
Saw Greenbrier
Smilax bona-nox
2,179 observations · iNaturalist
Dogfennel
Eupatorium capillifolium
2,159 observations · iNaturalist
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
2,045 observations
White Clover
Trifolium repens
2,034 observations
American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
2,011 observations
Lyreleaf Sage
Salvia lyrata
1,999 observations
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
1,962 observations
Longleaf Pine
Pinus palustris
1,955 observations
Ebony Spleenwort
Asplenium platyneuron
1,926 observations
Carolina Horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
1,911 observations
Crane-fly Orchid
Tipularia discolor
1,868 observations · iNaturalist
Wax Myrtle
Morella cerifera
1,860 observations
Eastern Redcedar
Juniperus virginiana
1,828 observations
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
1,817 observations
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
1,807 observations
Cabbage Palmetto
Sabal palmetto
1,803 observations
Heavenly Bamboo
Nandina domestica
1,797 observations · iNaturalist
Persian Silk Tree
Albizia julibrissin
1,760 observations · iNaturalist
Common Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum
1,749 observations
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
1,742 observations
Netted Chain Fern
Woodwardia areolata
1,737 observations
Chinese Tallow
Triadica sebifera
1,708 observations · iNaturalist
Strawberry Bush
Euonymus americanus
1,698 observations · iNaturalist
Water Oak
Quercus nigra
1,681 observations
Spurge Nettle
Cnidoscolus stimulosus
1,676 observations · iNaturalist
Southern Dewberry
Rubus trivialis
1,659 observations
Sea Ox-eye
Borrichia frutescens
1,647 observations · iNaturalist

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.

Plants in nearby places

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