About 25 percent of the plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.
North Carolina has three ecological regions: the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and the Mountains. Each region provides a rich variety of ecological habitats, supporting over 4,000 native plant species.
The Coastal Plain is characterized by flat land to gently rolling hills and valleys. It is divided into two sections: the tidewater area (lower Coastal Plain), which is largely flat and swampy, and the interior portion (upper Coastal Plain), which is made up of gently sloping elevations and is better drained. The upper Coastal Plain encompasses the Sandhills ecoregion, characterized by rolling hills capped by deep coarse sands. The Coastal Plain covers about 45% of the area of the state.
The Coastal Plain is home to many species of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. Noted for its short, mild winters and sultry summers, it can also support many non-native species that are beginning to make their way across the landscape. Regrettably, some of these exotic immigrants are invasive and are threatening the native flora and ecology of the state.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.
The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.
A plant is considered native if naturally occurring in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants.
Here is a list of North Carolina native annuals and perennials that are well-suited for plantings in the Coastal Plain Region.
| Plant Type | Annuals, Perennials |
|---|---|
| Native Plants | North Carolina, Southeast, United States |
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| Plant Type | Annuals, Perennials |
|---|---|
| Native Plants | North Carolina, Southeast, United States |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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