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Plants of South Carolina

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

117,666
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 117,666 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in South Carolina. The most frequently seen is the American Sweetgum, with 5,868 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
5,868 observations
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
3,770 observations
Spanish Moss
Tillandsia usneoides
3,608 observations
American Holly
Ilex opaca
3,546 observations
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
3,172 observations
Muscadine
Vitis rotundifolia
3,153 observations · iNaturalist
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
3,085 observations
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
3,053 observations
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
3,038 observations
Striped Wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
2,979 observations
Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
2,809 observations
Partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
2,590 observations
Chinese Privet
Ligustrum sinense
2,543 observations
Purple Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
2,477 observations
Yellow Jessamine
Gelsemium sempervirens
2,474 observations · iNaturalist
American Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
2,444 observations
Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
2,401 observations
Shining Sumac
Rhus copallinum
2,400 observations
Little Brown Jugs
Asarum arifolium
2,376 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
2,327 observations
Resurrection Fern
Pleopeltis michauxiana
2,288 observations · iNaturalist
Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
2,240 observations
Cross Vine
Bignonia capreolata
2,218 observations · iNaturalist
Dogfennel
Eupatorium capillifolium
2,212 observations · iNaturalist
Saw Greenbrier
Smilax bona-nox
2,211 observations · iNaturalist
White Clover
Trifolium repens
2,066 observations
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
2,061 observations
American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
2,028 observations
Lyreleaf Sage
Salvia lyrata
2,003 observations
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
1,992 observations
Longleaf Pine
Pinus palustris
1,992 observations
Ebony Spleenwort
Asplenium platyneuron
1,950 observations
Crane-fly Orchid
Tipularia discolor
1,941 observations · iNaturalist
Carolina Horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
1,927 observations
Wax Myrtle
Morella cerifera
1,891 observations
Eastern Redcedar
Juniperus virginiana
1,856 observations
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
1,842 observations
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
1,842 observations
Heavenly Bamboo
Nandina domestica
1,828 observations · iNaturalist
Cabbage Palmetto
Sabal palmetto
1,822 observations
Common Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum
1,790 observations
Persian Silk Tree
Albizia julibrissin
1,777 observations · iNaturalist
Netted Chain Fern
Woodwardia areolata
1,774 observations
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
1,767 observations
Strawberry Bush
Euonymus americanus
1,744 observations · iNaturalist
Chinese Tallow
Triadica sebifera
1,742 observations · iNaturalist
Water Oak
Quercus nigra
1,718 observations
Spurge Nettle
Cnidoscolus stimulosus
1,684 observations · iNaturalist
Sea Ox-eye
Borrichia frutescens
1,678 observations · iNaturalist
Blue Mistflower
Conoclinium coelestinum
1,669 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.

Plants in nearby places

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