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South Carolina Native Grasses

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.

Native Plants, Native Grasses, South Carolina Native Grasses, South Carolina Native Ornamental Grasses

From the Appalachian Mountains in the west to the central Piedmont region, and east to the Atlantic Coastal Plain, South 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 pleasant spring and fall seasons, long hot summers, and short mild winters, South 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 South Carolina native grasses 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 Ornamental Grasses
Native Plants United States, Southeast, South Carolina

South Carolina Native Grasses

Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem)
Andropogon glomeratus (Bushy Bluestem)
Andropogon ternarius (Splitbeard Bluestem)
Andropogon virginicus (Broom Sedge)
Bouteloua curtipendula (Side-Oats Grama)
Carex grayi (Mace Sedge)
Carex stricta (Tussock Sedge)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats)
Elymus hystrix (Bottlebrush Grass)
Equisetum hyemale (Horsetail)
Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple Love Grass)
Juncus effusus (Common Rush)
Muhlenbergia capillaris (Pink Muhly Grass)
Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass)
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem)
Scirpus cyperinus (Wool Grass)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indian Grass)
Tripsacum dactyloides (Eastern Gamma Grass)

More on Gardenia

Monarch Nectar Plants for South Carolina
Great Pollinator Plants for South Carolina
Invasive Plant Species in South Carolina
South Carolina Native Deciduous Trees
South Carolina Native Evergreen Trees
South Carolina Sun-Loving Native Shrubs
South Carolina Shade-Loving Native Shrubs
South Carolina Native Ferns
South Carolina Native Vines
South Carolina Shade-Loving Native Annuals and Perennials
South Carolina Sun-Loving Native Annuals and Perennials

Discover more beautiful South Carolina native plants

South Carolina native plants

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Lower South Coastal South
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 Ornamental Grasses
Native Plants United States, Southeast, South Carolina
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Lower South Coastal South

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