YardNatives

Native plants for Greenville County, South Carolina

478 native plants recorded in Greenville County, South Carolina

The USDA plant database has 648 plants recorded growing wild in Greenville County. 478 of them are native to the lower 48, and 55 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 259 wildflowers and herbs, 83 grasses and sedges, 31 shrubs, 24 low woody plants, 61 trees, 20 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 143 of them (30%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Bride's feathers (Aruncus dioicus) and 7 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Greenville County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1430335
Half shade9647335
Under trees4994335
Heavy clay9647335
Sandy, drains fast9746335
Never watered6677335
Stays soggy6578335

Sun all day in Greenville County: 143 rated natives

48 trees, 39 wildflowers and herbs, 36 grasses and sedges, 12 shrubs, 6 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Greenville County: 96 rated natives

31 trees, 27 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 3 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  2. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  5. California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Greenville County: 49 rated natives

18 trees, 16 grasses and sedges, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
  6. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Purpletop tridens (Tridens flavus) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Greenville County: 96 rated natives

32 grasses and sedges, 28 wildflowers and herbs, 22 trees, 8 shrubs, 5 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Greenville County: 97 rated natives

42 trees, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 22 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Greenville County: 66 rated natives

25 trees, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  4. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  5. California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Greenville County: 65 rated natives

27 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 13 trees, 5 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. Crimsoneyed rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Virginia iris (Iris virginica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Natives Greenville County has that most of South Carolina does not

51 natives here are on file in no more than 2 of South Carolina's 46 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Greenville County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Greenville County gives you the most rated choice (143 plants), and Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 49 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 335 unrated natives too.