Plant Lists

Common Landscape Plants and Their Native Alternatives
Drought Tolerant Native Plants
Theresa's Top 10 Native Plants for Sun/Shade
Invasive Plants we Advise Against



Common Landscape Plants and Their Native Alternatives

Common Landscape Plants

Native Alternatives

Privet* and
Eleagnus*

Inkberry (Ilex glabra) ev
Southern Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) ev
Hollies (Ilex opaca, I. vomitoria) ev
Wild Olive (Osmanthus americanus ) ev
Anise (Illicium floridatum & I. parviflorum) evLeucothoe (Agarista populifolia) ev
Carolina Cherry Laurel (Prunus caroliniana) ev

Japanese Honeysuckle*

Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) ev
Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) ev
Cross Vine (Bignonia capreolata) ev

Japanese Wisteria*
Chinese Wisteria*

American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)
Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora incaranata)

Boxwood

Ti-Ti (Cyrilla racemiflora) ev
Blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii) ev
Blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites) ev
Inkberry (Ilex glabra) ev
Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria ‘nana’) ev

Nandina*

Deciduous Holly (Ilex decidua)
Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

English Ivy*

Cross Vine (Bignonia capreolata) ev
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Galax (Galax aphylla) ev
Smilax smallii  ev
Laurel Leaf Smilax (Smilax laurifolia) ev
Gingers (Asarum spp., Hexastylis spp.) ev
Foam Flower (Tiarella coridfolia, T. wherryi) ev

Burning Bush

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Fothergilla (Fothergilla major ‘Mt. Airy’)

Evergreen Azaleas

Azaleas (Rhododendron canescens, R. arborescens)
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) ev
Rhododendron maximum ev
Rhododendron minus ev
Mountain fetterbush (Pieris floribunda) - ev

Crape Myrtles

Sumacs
Viburnums
Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
Sourwood Tree (Oxydendrum arboreum)
Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovata)

Butterfly Bush

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

Red Tip Photinia

American Holly (Ilex opaca) ev
Anise (Illicium floridatum & I. parviflorum) ev
Leucothoe (Agarista populifolia) ev
Carolina Cherry Laurel (Prunus caroliniana) ev

Leyland Cypress

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) ev
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) ev
Eastern Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) ev

Bradford Pear

Dogwood (Cornus florida)
White Redbud (Cercis Canadensis ‘Texas White’)
Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)

Japanese Pachysandra

Alleghany Pachysandra (Pachysandra procumbens)

Ornamental Miscanthus Grass

Switch grass (Panicum virgatum)
Pink Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

Sweet Autumn Clematis*

Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana) - white
Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora incarnata) - purple

* Invasive plant disturbing native plant habitats                  ev  Evergreen

Drought Tolerant Native Plants
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Even though these plants are listed as drought tolerant, their tolerance for drought is dependent upon being properly sited, being established and the condition of the soil.  Many other factors may also contribute to a plant's drought tolerance. This list is by no means comprehensive.  There are many other native plants that are drought tolerant.

Trees & Shrubs for Dry Sun:

Amelanchier spp. - Serviceberry
Aronia arbutifolia - Chokecherry
Calamintha georgiana - Georgia Basil
Callicarpa americana - Beauty Berry
Carya spp. - Hickories
Chionanthus virginicus - Grancy Gray Beard
Conradina canescens - Wild Rosemary
Cyrilla racemiflora - Titi
Diospyros virginiana - Eastern Persimmon
Fothergilla spp. - Fothergilla
Gaylussacia dumosa - Dwarf Huckleberry
Ilex decidua - Possumhaw
Ilex opaca - American Holly
Ilex vomitoria - Yaupon Holly
Juniperus virginiana - Red Cedar
Myrica cerifera - Wax Myrtle
Nyssa sylvatica - Black Gum
Osmanthus americanus - Wild Olive
Ostrya virginiana - Ironwood
Oxydendrum arboreum - Sourwood
Persea borbonia - Redbay
Pinus spp. - Pines
Quercus spp. - Oaks
Rhus spp. - Sumacs
Sabal palmetto - Palmetto
Sassafras albidum - Sassafras
Vaccinium spp. - Deerberry, Sparkleberry
Yucca aloifolia - Yucca

Trees & Shrubs for Dry Partial Shade:

Aesculus pavia - Red Buckeye
Amelanchier arborea - Serviceberry
Calamintha georgiana - Georgia Basil
Callicarpa americana - Beauty Berry
Calycanthus floridus - Sweet shrub
Cercis canadensis - Redbud
Ceanothus americanus - New Jersey Tea
Chionanthus virginicus - Grancy Gray Beard
Conradina canescens - Wild Rosemary
Cornus florida - Dogwood
Crataegus spp. - Hawthorns
Cyrilla racemiflora - Titi
Diospyros virginiana - Eastern Persimmon
Fothergilla spp. - Fothergilla
Gaylussacia dumosa - Dwarf Huckleberry
Hamamelis virginiana - Witchhazel
Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hypericum spp. - St. John's Wort
Ilex decidua - Possumhaw
Ilex opaca - American Holly
Ilex vomitoria - Yaupon Holly
Kalmia latifolia - Mountain Laurel
Malvaviscus arboreus - Sleeping hibiscus
Morella cerifera - Wax Myrtle
Nyssa sylvatica - Black Gum
Osmanthus americanus - Wild Olive
Ostrya virginiana - Ironwood
Oxydendrum arboreum - Sourwood
Persea borbonia - Redbay
Pinus spp. - Pines
Prunus caroliniana - Cherry Laurel
Sabal palmetto - Palmetto
Sassafras albidum - Sassafras
Stewartia malachodenron - Silky Camellia
Symplocos tinctoria - Horsesugar
Vaccinium spp. - Deerberry, Sparkleberry
Viburnum acerifolium - Mapleleaf Viburnum
Yucca alnifolia - Yucca

Trees & Shrubs for Dry Shade:

Amelanchier arborea - Serviceberry
Cornus florida - Dogwood
Hamamelis virginiana - Witchhazel
Ilex opaca - American Holly
Ilex vomitoria - Yaupon Holly
Ostrya virginiana - Ironwood
Symplocos tinctoria - Horsesugar
Vaccinium arboreum - Sparkleberry

Perennials for Dry Sun:

Amsonia spp. - Bluestar
Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly weed
Aster spp. - Asters
Baptisia spp. - Wild Indigo
Bignonia capreolata - Crossvine
Boltonia asteriodes - Boltonia
Coreopsis spp.
Echinacea spp. - Coneflowers
Eryngium yuccifolium - Rattlesnake Master
Eupatorium seotinum
Eupatorium coelestinum - Mistflower
Helianthus mollis - Downy sunflower
Liatris spicata - Spiked Gayfeather
Monarda fistulosa - Beebalm
Oenothera spp. - Sundrops, Evening/Missouri Primrose
Opuntia spp. - prickly pear cactus
Penstemon spp. - Penstemon
Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia Creeper
Passiflora incarnata - Passion Flower Vine
Phlox pilosa - Downy Phlox
Physostegia virginiana - Obedient Plant
Pityopsis graminifolia - Golden Aster
Pycnanthemum incanum - Mountain mint
Rudbeckia spp. - Black-eyed Susans
Ruellia spp. - Wild petunia
Scutellaria incana - Downy Skullcap
Salvia lyrata - Lyreleaf Sage
Smilax smallii - Jacksonbrier
Solidago spp. - Goldenrods
Tradescantia virginiana - Virginia Spiderwort
Verbena canadensis - Verbena 'Homestead'

Grasses for Dry Sun:

Andropogon ternarius - Splitbeard Bluestem
Andropogon virginicus - Broomsedge
Muhlenbergia spp. - Purple Muhly Grass
Poa spp. - Poa grasses
Sorghastrum nutans - Indiangrass

Perennials for Dry Partial Shade:

Amsonia spp - Bluestar
Anemone virginiana - Thimbleweed
Antennarria plantaginifolia - Pussy toes
Aquilegia canadensis - Columbine
Asplenium platyneuron - Ebony Spleenwort fern
Aster spp. - Asters
Blephilia hirsuta - Woodmint
Bignonia capreolata - Crossvine
Chrysogonum virginianum - Green and Gold
Coreopsis major
Erythronium albidum - Dogtooth Violet
Conoclinium coelestinum - Mistflower
Galax aphylla (urceolata) - Galax
Gelsemium sempervirens - Carolina Jessamine
Hepatica americana - Hepatica
Hexastylis arifolia - Ginger
Heuchera americana - Alumroot
Lycopodium digitatum - Running Cedar
Oenothera spp. - Sundrops, Evening/Missouri Primrose
Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia Creeper
Passiflora incarnata - Passion Flower Vine, Maypop
Penstemon spp. - Penstemon
Phlox pilosa - Downy Phlox
Physostegia virginiana - Obedient Plant
Pityopsis graminifolia - Golden Aster
Podophyllum peltatum - Mayapple
Polystichum acrostichoides - Christmas Fern
Pteridium aquilinum - Bracken fern
Salvia lyrata - Lyreleaf Sage
Scutellaria incana - Downy Skullcap
Senecio aureus - Golden Groundsel
Silene virginica - Firepink
Smilax smallii - Jacksonbrier
Tradescantia virginiana - Virginia Spiderwort

Perennials for Dry Shade:

Aquilegia canadensis - Columbine
Asplenium platyneuron - Ebony Spleenwort fern
Erythronium albidum - Dogtooth Violet
Galax aphylla (urceolata) - Galax
Hepatica americana - Hepatica
Heuchera americana - Alumroot
Hexastylis arifolia - Ginger
Lycopodium digitatum - Running Cedar
Podophyllum peltatum - Mayapple
Polystichum acrostichoides - Christmas Fern
Pteridium aquilinum - Bracken fern
Salvia lyrata - Lyreleaf Sage
Senecio aureus - Golden Groundsel
Silene virginica - Firepink


 Theresa's Top 10 Native Plants for Sun/Shade
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Theresa's Top 10 Native Trees:

1. Quercus spp. - Oaks
2. Oxydendrum arboreum - Sourwood
3. Taxodium distichum - Bald Cypress
4. Acer rubrum - Red Maple
5. Aesculus pavia - Red Buckeye
6. Cercis canadensis - Redbud
7. Amelanchier spp. - Serviceberry
8. Halesia spp. - Silverbell
9. Acer leucoderme - Chalk Maple
10. Carpinus caroliniana - American Hornbeam

Theresa's Top 10 Native Trees & Shrubs:

1. Chionanthus virginicus - Grancy Graybeard
2. Lindera benzoin - Spicebush
3. Leucothoe fontanesiana - Mtn. Doghobble
4. Aesculus parviflora - Bottlebrush Buckeye
5. Rhododendron spp. - Native Azaleas
6. Itea virginica - Virginia Sweetspire
7. Calycanthus floridus - Sweetshrub
8. Callicarpa americana - Beautyberry
9. Kalmia latifolia - Mountain Laurel
10. Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf Hydrangea

Theresa's Top 10 Native Perennials for Full Sun:

1. Verbena canadensis - Creeping verbena
2. Phlox paniculata - Summer phlox
3. Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly weed
4. Monarda spp. - Bee Balm
5. Coreopsis spp.
6. Rudbeckia spp. - Black-eyed Susans
7. Echinacea purpurea - Purple coneflower
8. Baptisia australis - Wild Blue Indigo
9. Phlox subulata - Creeping Phlox
10. Solidago 'Fireworks' or other cultivars of Goldenrod
Theresa's Top 10 Native Perennials for Shade:

1. Aquilegia canadensis - Wild Red Columbine
2. Tiarella spp. - Foam Flower
3. Polystichum acrostichoides - Christmas Fern
4. Chrysogonum virginianum - Green 'n Gold
5. Conoclinium coelestinum - Hardy Ageratum; Mistflower
6. Phlox stolonifera - Woodland Phlox
7. Sanguinaria canadensis - Bloodroot
8. Spigelia marilandica - Indian Pink
9. Amianthium muscaetoxicum - Fly Poison
10. Iris cristata - Crested Iris

Theresa's Top 10 Native Vines:

1. Wisteria frutescens - American Wisteria
2. Lonicera sempervirens - Coral Honeysuckle
3. Gelsemium sempervirens - Carolina Jessamine
4. Bignonia capreolata - Crossvine
5. Passiflora incarnata - Passionflower Vine
6. Campsis radicans - Trumpet Vine
7. Decumaria barbara - Climbing Hydrangea
8. Clematis virginiana - Virgin's Bower
9. Cocculus carolinus - Carolina Moonseed
10. Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia Creeper


Invasive Plants We Advise Against
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Plants we will not use because of their invasion into natural areas:

Lonicera japonica: Japanese Honeysuckle
Ligustrum spp.: Privet
Elaeagnus umbellate: Eleagnus
Paulownia tomentosa: Empress Tree
Albizia julibrissin: Mimosa
Wisteria sinense: Chinese Wisteria
Wisteria  floribunda : Japanese Wisteria
Sapium sebiferum: Chinese Tallow Tree
Tamarix gallica: French Tamarix (salt cedar)
Lygodium japonicum: Japanese climbing fern
Daucus carota: Queen Anne’s Lace
Verbena bonariensis: Tall Vervain
Lythrum salicaria: Purple Loosestrife

Plants we strongly advise against:

Bradford Pears – Short-lived and weak wooded
Leyland Cypress – Disease, Pest Problems
Ornamental Cherries – Poorly adapted to soil/climate, Pests and
Diseases
Photinia – Fungal Disease Problems
Canadian Hemlocks – Poorly adapted to climate
Morning Glories - Invasive
Bamboo – Invasive (controllable with proper planting barricades)
Hedera helix: English Ivy - Invasive (controllable with proper
planting barricades)
Nandina domestica: Nandina – Invasive (controllable with proper
berry management)
Euonymus fortunei: Wintercreeper – Invasive
Vinca - Invasive

Plants we advise caution in using:

Weeping willow – Invasive root systems into pipes seeking water
Japanese Pachysandra - Invasive

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