Carolina flora

A native registry of North Carolina.

Tap a region of the state to see its native plants, when to put them in the ground, and notes from members who have grown them well. The calendar below covers the Piedmont gardening year, where most of our beds live.

Native Registry of North Carolina

Tap a region

Piedmont

Zone 7a–7b

Our home corridor. Clay soils, hot humid summers, long shoulder seasons — ideal for heritage perennials.

Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida
State flower. Plant on north or east exposure.
Tree
Plant Oct–Mar
Blooms Apr
Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis
Tolerant of clay; gorgeous edge-of-woods specimen.
Tree
Plant Oct–Mar
Blooms Mar–Apr
Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
Leave seed heads for goldfinches through winter.
Perennial
Plant Mar–May or Sept
Blooms Jun–Aug
Carolina Phlox Phlox carolina
Mildew-resistant native phlox; loves morning sun.
Wildflower
Plant Mar–Apr
Blooms May–Jul
Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
Cut back in late February before new growth.
Grass
Plant Apr–May
Blooms Aug–Oct

Piedmont planting calendar

Adjust dates ~2 weeks later for the Mountains and ~2 weeks earlier for the Coastal Plain.

Jan

Prune dormant fruit trees and grapes. Sharpen tools. Order seed.

Feb

Cut back ornamental grasses. Sow cool-season greens under cover.

Mar

Direct sow peas, lettuce, carrots. Divide perennials.

Apr

Plant warm-season annuals after last frost (~Apr 15 Piedmont).

May

Mulch beds. Set tomatoes, peppers, basil. Stake before they need it.

Jun

Deadhead spring bloomers. Deep-water weekly, not daily.

Jul

Sow fall brassicas indoors. Side-dress heavy feeders.

Aug

Plant fall garden — kale, collards, turnips. Re-mulch.

Sept

Best month for planting trees and shrubs. Sow cover crops.

Oct

Plant spring bulbs. Collect and label seed.

Nov

Final leaf cleanup into compost. Plant garlic.

Dec

Wrap tender shrubs. Review the year's journal. Rest.