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Plants of North Carolina

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

434,786
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 434,786 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in North Carolina. The most frequently seen is the Christmas Fern, with 18,799 recorded sightings.

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

Spotted Wintergreen

Most-observed plants in North Carolina

Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
18,799 observations
American Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
15,862 observations
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
15,598 observations
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
13,814 observations
Striped Wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
13,030 observations
Crane-fly Orchid
Tipularia discolor
12,749 observations · iNaturalist
American Holly
Ilex opaca
11,569 observations
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
11,045 observations
White Clover
Trifolium repens
10,775 observations
Little Brown Jugs
Asarum arifolium
10,370 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
10,185 observations
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
9,849 observations
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Goodyera pubescens
9,648 observations
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
9,578 observations
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
9,527 observations
Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
9,003 observations
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
8,994 observations
Partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
8,870 observations
Carolina Horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
8,845 observations
Lyreleaf Sage
Salvia lyrata
8,790 observations
Fan Clubmoss
Diphasiastrum digitatum
8,573 observations
Common Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
8,489 observations
Strawberry Bush
Euonymus americanus
8,404 observations · iNaturalist
Galax
Galax urceolata
8,340 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
8,170 observations
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
7,954 observations
Chinese Privet
Ligustrum sinense
7,756 observations
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
7,678 observations
Great Rhododendron
Rhododendron maximum
7,627 observations
Mock Strawberry
Potentilla indica
7,576 observations · iNaturalist
American Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
7,554 observations
Muscadine
Vitis rotundifolia
7,523 observations · iNaturalist
Common Selfheal
Prunella vulgaris
6,999 observations · iNaturalist
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
6,763 observations
Ghost Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
6,559 observations
Multiflora Rose
Rosa multiflora
6,466 observations
American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
6,250 observations
American Cancer-root
Conopholis americana
6,249 observations
Red Deadnettle
Lamium purpureum
6,243 observations · iNaturalist
Ebony Spleenwort
Asplenium platyneuron
6,234 observations
Rue Anemone
Thalictrum thalictroides
6,228 observations
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
6,207 observations
Purple Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
6,200 observations
Persian Silk Tree
Albizia julibrissin
6,195 observations · iNaturalist
Kudzu
Pueraria montana
6,094 observations
Solomon's Plume
Maianthemum racemosum
6,032 observations
Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
6,025 observations
Ground-ivy
Glechoma hederacea
5,991 observations · iNaturalist
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
5,763 observations
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
5,744 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.

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