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Native Deciduous Trees for North Carolina

North Carolina's native deciduous trees, such as the majestic Red Maple, the stately Sweetgum, and the vibrant Tulip Poplar, provide stunning seasonal color and essential habitat for wildlife.

Native Plants, Native Deciduous Trees, North Carolina Native Deciduous Trees,North Carolina Native Trees

From the Atlantic Coastal Plain to the Piedmont region, and to the Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina’s landscape is carpeted with a rich array of wildflowers and native plants. It is home to many species of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. Noted for its short, mild winters and sultry summers, North Carolina can also support many non-native species which 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 it has occurred naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants.

  • First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers, and pesticides or use less water.
  • Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats.
  • Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.

Here is a list of North Carolina native deciduous trees that are well-suited for plantings in gardens.

  • Never collect native plants from the wild as it will deplete natural ecosystems. 
  • When possible, plant species grown straight from local seed sources. These native originals are the best choice, as they co-evolved with specific wildlife, which supports migration, breeding, and other seasonal interdependencies.

Guide Information

Plant Type Trees
Native Plants North Carolina, Southeast, United States

Recommended Native Deciduous Trees for North Carolina

Acer negundo (Box Elder)
Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
Alnus serrulata (Smooth Alder)
Amelanchier arborea (Downy Serviceberry)
Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny Serviceberry)
Asimina triloba (Pawpaw)
Betula nigra (River Birch)
Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam)
Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory)
Chionanthus virginicus (Fringe Tree)
Cladrastis kentukea (Yellowwood)
Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood)
Diospyros virginiana (American Persimmon)
Fagus grandifolia (American Beech)
Fraxinus americana (White Ash)
Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Green Ash)
Gymnocladus dioica (Kentucky Coffeetree)
Hamamelis virginiana (Virginian Witch Hazel)
Juglans nigra (Black Walnut)
Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum)
Liriodendron tulipifera (Tulip Tree)
Magnolia acuminata (Cucumber Tree)
Magnolia macrophylla (Bigleaf Magnolia)
Magnolia tripetala (Umbrella Magnolia)
Malus coronaria (American Crabapple)
Morus rubra (Red Mulberry)
Nyssa aquatica (Water Tupelo)
Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum)
Ostrya virginiana (American Hop Hornbeam)
Oxydendrum arboreum (Sourwood)
Populus deltoides (Eastern Cottonwood)
Prunus serotina (Black Cherry)
Quercus alba (White Oak)
Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak)
Quercus palustris (Pin Oak)
Quercus phellos (Willow Oak)
Quercus rubra (Red Oak)
Quercus shumardii (Shumard Oak)
Quercus stellata (Post Oak)
Salix nigra (Black Willow)
Sassafras albidum (Sassafras)
Taxodium distichum (Bald Cypress)
Tilia americana (American Basswood)
Ulmus alata (Winged Elm)
Ulmus americana (American Elm)

Discover Helpful North Carolina Guides for Further Reading

Discover more beautiful North Carolina native plants

North Carolina native plants

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Plant Type Trees
Native Plants North Carolina, Southeast, United States
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Middle South Lower South

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