Native North Carolina Wildflowers

Caryophyllaceae

Ranunculaceae

Found throughout the NC mountains and piedmont in rich woods.

Widespread in NC in fairly rich soils, this plant attracts hummingbirds.

Fumariaceae

Crassulaceae

Common in the NC mountains and piedmont in rich (and often rocky) woods.

Saxifragaceae

Common in the NC mountains and piedmont.

Rosaceae

Throughout most of NC, this tasty plant grows in fields and along the edges of woodlands.

Scattered across NC, though rare in the coastal plain. Although it has "strawberry" in the name, unlike the plant above, these fruits are not edible.

Several species of Cinquefoil occur across North Carolina, often in open, "weedy" places.

Fabaceae

Uncommon in the NC coastal plain in open sandy woodlands.

same as above, showing fruits.

This species and other relatives are the caterpillar host plant for several species of sulphurs, including Cloudless Sulphur, Little Yellow, and Sleepy Orange.

Showy yellow flowers blooming from spring to fall, this plant is found in dry woods & clearings statewide in NC.

Wild Indigos are caterpillar host plants for a few butterflies including Frosted Elfin and Wild Indigo Duskywing.

Also known as Oak Ridge Lupine, this plant is found in open woods in the sandhills and southeast coastal plain in NC.

Skyblue Lupine is another caterpillar host plant for Frosted Elfins.

Uncommon in NC, this elegant lupine is found in sandy localities in southeastern NC.

This uncommon native vine, found in the NC coastal plain, is similar to the widespread exotic invasive Chinese Wisteria (often planted in formal gardens), but the inflorescence lacks the sweet aroma and is more compressed.

Oxalidaceae

Several similar species of yellow oxalis are found across the state in NC.

Geraniaceae

Violaceae

Common in wet, sandy habitats in the NC coastal plain.

Cactaceae

Found in NC in open, sandy or rocky habitats. Common in the coastal plain, uncommon in the piedmont, and a few scattered mountain records exist.

Onagraceae

Common in the coastal plain in wet ditches & pond edges.

Gentianaceae

This is a rare plant in NC, known only from a few counties in the sw. portion of the state. Some authorities call it Frasera carolinensis

Normal flower with 4 petals.

Aberrant flower with 5 petals!

Asclepiadaceae

This milkweed is listed by the NC Natural Heritage Program as Significantly Rare in NC (known only from a few counties from the mountains to the western coastal plain).

Widespread in NC

Asclepias longifolia.

Uncommon in the NC coastal plain, this species is on the NC Natural Heritage Program Watch List.

Asclepias longifolia.

Polemoniaceae

This is probably Phlox stolonifera, which is common in deciduous forests in the NC mountains.

Acanthaceae

American water-willow (Justicia americana)

This non-native vine (introduced from east Asia) is uncommon and can be found in disturbed areas statewide.