Recommended Native Plant List - New Hope Bird Alliance

The New Hope Bird Alliance recommends these native plants for property owners’ landscapes. You can also browse our same recommended list of plants for the Piedmont in a downloadable spreadsheet format. For other special lists of native plants, a list of recommended sources of native plants, and a list of recommended native plant landscapers visit our Native Plants webpage.

Plants native to our area are adapted to the soil and climate conditions of the area. However, it is important to pick the right native plants for the variety of micro-climates on your property such as sun/shade and soil moisture. It is also important to consider deer and drought tolerance and how aggressively plants spread among other factors in siting and choosing plants that bloom at different times of the growing season to support pollinators throughout the growing season.

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Trees Shrubs Perennial Flowers Grasses and Sedges Vines Ferns Table Key

Trees

See below the tables for the key to abbreviations and annotations.

Common name	Scientific name	Height / Width	Sun / soil moisture	Flower dates	Resistant to:	Benefit to Wildlife	# of caterpillars supported	Special Notes
Southern sugar maple	Acer floridanum	40-60′ / 40-60′	s-ps / m	Apr-May		NE,SE, LH	238
Chalk maple	Acer leucoderme (native)	20-30′ / 15-25′	s-ps / m- d	Mar-Apr	drought	NE,SE, LH	238
Red maple	Acer rubrum	40-75′ / 20-50′	s-ps / w-m	Jan-Mar	drought, deer	NE,SE, LH	238
Downy serviceberry	Amelanchier arborea	20-40′ / 8-15′	s-ps / m- d	Mar-May	deer	BE, NE, LH	92	Fruits can be damaged by rust fungus.
Eastern serviceberry	Amelanchier canadensis	10-20′ / 5-10′	s-ps / m	Mar-Apr	deer	BE, NE, LH	92	Fruits can be damaged by rust fungus.
Dwarf pawpaw	Asimina parviflora	3-12′ / 2-6′	s-ps / m-d	Apr–May	deer	BE, LH	12	Species is drought sensitive.
Common pawpaw	Asimina triloba	8-35′ / 6-10′	ps-sh / m	Mar-May	deer	BE, LH	12	Species is drought sensitive.
River birch	Betula nigra	40-80′ / 15-25′	s-ps / w- m	Mar-Apr	drought, deer	LH, SE	284
Ironwood, American hornbeam	Carpinus caroliniana	15-35′ / 12-18′	s-sh / w- m	Mar-Apr		SE, LH	71	Drought sensitive
Bitternut hickory	Carya cordiformis	70-100′ / 25-40′	s-ps / w- m	Apr-May		SE, LH	213
Pignut hickory	Carya glabra	60-80′ / 25-35′	s-ps / m- d	Apr-May		SE, LH	213
Common Shagbark hickory	Carya ovata	70′-100′ / 20-35′	s-ps / m- d	Apr-May		SE, LH	213
Mockernut hickory	Carya tomentosa	60′-80′ / 20-30′	s-ps / m- d	Apr-May		SE, LH	213
Southern hackberry	Celtis laevigata	60-80′ / 40-60′	s-ps / m-d	Apr-May	deer	NE,BE,LH	47	Best for natural areas. Tolerates seasonal flooding
Dwarf hackberry	Celtis tenuifolia	12-25′ / 8-15′	s-ps / w- m- d	Apr–May	deer	NE,BE,LH	47
Eastern redbud	Cercis canadensis	10-25′ / 10-20′	s-ps / m- d	Mar-May	drought, deer	NE, SE, LH	25
Fringe tree	Chionanthus virginicus	10-30′ / 10-20′	s-ps / m-d	Apr–May		BE, LH	12	Needs male pollinator
Silky dogwood	Cornus amomum	3-10′ / 3-6′	s-ps / w- m	May–Jun	drought	NE, BE, LH	98
Flowering dogwood	Cornus florida	12-20′ / 8-15′	ps / m	Mar-May		NE, BE, LH	98
Washington Hawthorn	Crataegus phaenopyrum	20-35′ / 20-25′	s / m- d	May-Jun	drought, deer	NE, BE, LH	131
American persimmon, Common persimmon	Diospyros virginiana	30′-70′ / 15′-25′	s / m- d	May–Jun	drought	NE, BE, LH	55	Dioecious: male pollinator plant needed for female fruit set. Edible fruit.
American beech	Fagus grandifolia	50-70′ / 25-50′	s / m-d	Mar-May		SE, LH	116	Drought sensitive
American holly (e)	Ilex opaca	to 70′ / 8-15′	s-ps / m	Apr–Jun		BE, NE, LH	44	Needs male pollinator
Eastern red cedar (e)	Juniperus virginiana	15-35′ / 3-12′	s-ps / w- m- d	Jan-Mar	drought, deer	BE, LH	29	needs male pollinator
Sweetgum	Liquidambar styraciflua	60-100′ / 30-70′	s-ps / m- d	Apr–May	deer	NE, SE, LH	37	Fruits messy.
Tulip tree, Yellow poplar	Liriodendron tulipifera	70-130′ / 30-60′	s-ps / m- d	Apr–Jun		SE, NE, LH	18	Drought sensitive.
Sweetbay Magnolia (e)	Magnolia virginiana	20-60′ / 8-20′	s-ps / w- m	Apr-Jul	deer	BE, LH	24	evergreen varieties
Flowering crabapple	Malus angustifolia	10-20′ / 8-15′	s-ps / m	Apr-May		BE, LH	237
Black gum	Nyssa sylvatica	30-100′ / 20-35′	s-ps / w- m- d	Apr-Jun	drought, deer	NE, BE, LH	37
American hop-hornbeam	Ostrya virginiana	20-35′ / 10-18′	s-sh / m	Apr–May		SE, LH	82
Sourwood	Oxydendrum arboreum	15-60′ / 6-12′	s-ps / m- d	Jun–Jul		NE, LH	14	Source of Sourwood honey.
Shortleaf pine (e)	Pinus echinata	50-100′ / 25-30′	s / m- d	Mar-Apr	deer	SE, LH	200
Longleaf pine (e)	Pinus palustris	40-70′ / 25-40′	s / m- d	Mar–Apr	deer	SE, LH	200
Virginia pine (e)	Pinus virginiana	40-70′ / 20-35′	s / m- d	Mar-May	drought, deer	SE, LH	200
American Sycamore	Platanus occidentalis	70-100′ / 40-60′	ps-s / w- m	Apr–May	drought, deer	NE, SE, LH	42	Fast-growing.
Wild plum	Prunus americana	25-30′ / 25-30′	s-ps / m- d	Mar-Apr	drought	LH, BE, NE	340	Fruit edible.
Chickasaw plum	Prunus angustifolia	to 16′ /-10′	s-ps / m- d	Mar-Apr		LH, BE, NE	340	Fruit edible.
Black cherry	Prunus serotina	50-90′ / 20-30′	s-ps / m- d	Apr-May	drought, deer	BE, NE, LH	340
White Oak	Quercus alba	50-100′ / 30-40′	s-ps / m- d	Apr		LH,SE	436
Scarlet Oak	Quercus coccinea	50-80′ / 50-80′	s-ps / m- d	Apr	drought	LH,SE	436
Overcup Oak	Quercus lyrata	60-80′ / 30-45′	s-ps / w- m	Apr		LH,SE	436
Willow Oak	Quercus phellos	60-100′ / 30-60′	s-ps / m	Apr		LH,SE	436
Red Oak	Quercus rubra	60-80′ / 30-45′	s-ps / m	Apr		LH,SE	436
Shumard Oak	Quercus shumardii	80-90′ / 30-60′	s-ps / m- d	Apr		LH,SE	436
Black willow	Salix nigra	80-100′ / 25-40′	s / w	Mar-Apr	drought, deer	LH	289
Sassafras	Sassafras albidum	30-60′ / 12-25′	s-ps / m-d	Mar–Apr	drought, deer	BE, LH	32	needs male pollinator
Winged Elm	Ulmus alata	30-50′ / 20-40′	s-ps / m- d	Feb-Mar		SE, LH	164

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Shrubs

See below the tables for the key to abbreviations and annotations.

Common name	Scientific name	Height / Width	Sun / soil moisture	Flower dates	Resistant to:	Benefit to Wildlife	# of caterpillars supported	Special Notes
Red buckeye	Aesculus pavia	12-15′ / 12-15′	s-ps / w- m	Apr-May	deer	LH,NE,SE	38
Painted buckeye	Aesculus sylvatica	5-20′ / 4-10′	s-ps / m	Apr–May	deer	LH,NE,SE	38
Tag alder	Alnus serrulata	8-15′ / 6-15′	s-ps / w- m	Jan–Mar	drought	SE, LH	173	Colonial.
Red chokeberry	Aronia arbutifolia	5-10′ / 4-8′	s-ps / w- m	Mar–May		BE, NE, LH	3	Colonial.
American beautyberry	Callicarpa americana	3-8′ / 3-6′	ps-sh / m	Jun-Jul	deer	BE, NE, LH	2
Carolina allspice, Sweetshrub	Calycanthus floridus	4-10′ / 4-12′	s-sh / m-d	Apr–May	drought, deer	NE, SE. LH	3
New Jersey tea	Ceanothus americanus	2-3′ / 2-3′	s-ps / m- d	May-Jun	drought	LH, NE	37
Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	5-8′ / 3-6′	s-sh / w- m	Jun-Jul	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	24
Sweet pepperbush	Clethra alnifolia	3-8′ / 4-6′	s-ps / w- m	Jun-Aug	deer	NE, SE	1
Strawberry-bush, Hearts-a-burstin’	Euonymus americanus	3-8′ / 3-5′	s-ps / m	May–Jun		BE	1
Indigo bush	Amorpha fruiticosa	4′-15′ / 6′- 15′	s-ps / m-d	Apr-Jun	drought, deer	NE, SE, LH	27	Tolerates poor soil, dry soil, and wet soil. Is weedy.
Common or American witchhazel	Hamamelis virginiana	15-20′ / 12 -15′	s-ps / m	Oct–Dec	deer	SE,LH	68	tolerates seasonal flooding
Deciduous holly	Ilex decidua	15-30′ / 8-15′	s-ps / w-m	Mar-May	drought, deer	BE, NE, LH	44	Need male pollinators.
Inkberry holly (e)	Ilex glabra	6-8′ / 3-6′	s-ps / w	May-Jun		BE, NE, LH	44	Drought sensitive. Need male pollinators.
Winterberry holly	Ilex verticillata	6-15′ / 6-10′	s-ps / w	Apr-Jun	deer	BE, NE, LH	44	Need male pollinator.
Virginia sweetspire	Itea virginica	3-6′ /	s – sh / w- m	May-Jun		NE,SE,LH	1
Mountain laurel (e)	Kalmia latifolia	4-15′ / 4-8′	s-ps / m- d	Apr–Jul	deer	SE,NE,LH	23
Spicebush	Lindera benzoin	8-15′ / 6-15′	ps / w- m	Mar-Apr	deer	BE, LH	11	Needs male pollinator
Wax myrtle (e)	Morella cerifera	8-30′ / 10-25′	s-ps / w- m- d	Apr	deer	BE, LH	2	Needs male pollinator
Ninebark	Physocarpus opulifolius	6-12′ /	s-ps / m- d	May–Jul	drought	NE,LH	29
Sweet azalea	Rhododendron arborescens	5-10′ / 4-8′	s-ps / m	Mar-Jun		NE, LH	53	drought sensitive.
Flame azalea	Rhododendron calendulaceum	3-8′ / 5-8′	s-ps / m	May-Jun		NE, LH	53	drought sensitive.
Pinxterflower	Rhododendron periclymenoides	3-8′ / 3-4′	s-ps / m	Mar-May		NE, LH	53
Swamp azalea	Rhododendron viscosum	8-15′ / 3-5′	s-ps / w	Jun-Jul		NE, LH	53
Shining sumac	Rhus copallinum	5-15′ / 6-12′	s-ps / m- d	May-Jul	drought, deer	BE, NE, LH	53	Colonial, best for natural areas, need male pollinator
Smooth sumac	Rhus glabra	to 20′ / 12-20′	s-ps / m- d	May-Jul	drought, deer	BE, NE, LH	53	Colonial, best for natural areas, need male pollinator
Carolina or Pasture rose	Rosa carolina	2-3′ / 3-4′	s-ps / m- d	May–Jun	drought	BE, NE, LH	102	Have sharp thorns; make a good wildlife thicket.
Swamp Rose	Rosa palustris	3-5′ / 3-6′	s / w- m	May–Jul		BE, NE, LH	102	Have sharp thorns; make a good wildlife thicket.
Elderberry	Sambucus canadensis	6-12′ / 6-12′	s-ps / w- m	Apr-Jul	drought	BE, NE, LH	29	Needs more than one genetic strain for fruit set.
native Blueberries and their cultivars	Vaccinium spp.	3-15′ / 2-10′	s-ps / w- m- d	Apr-Jun		BE, NE, LH	217	Size and growing conditions vary by species. Easist to find cultivars grown for fruit.
Maple-leaf viburnum	Viburnum acerifolium	3-6′ / 3-6′	ps-sh / m- d	May		BE, NE, LH	99	Need more than one genetic strain for fruit set.
Arrowwood viburnum	Viburnum dentatum	6-12′ / 4-10′	s-ps / m- d	Mar-Apr	drought	BE, NE, LH	99	Need more than one genetic strain for fruit set.
Possumhaw viburnum	Viburnum nudum	6-12′ / 4-15′	s-ps / w- m	Apr-May	drought	BE, NE, LH	99	Need more than one genetic strain for fruit set.
Blackhaw viburnum	Viburnum prunifolium	8-18′ / 6 -15′	s-sh / m- d	Mar-Apr	drought	BE, NE, LH	99	Need more than one genetic strain for fruit set.
Downy arrowwood	Viburnum rafinesqueanum	3-5′ / 3′	ps-sh / m	Apr–May	drought	BE, NE, LH	99	Need more than one genetic strain for fruit set.

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Perennials

See below the tables for the key to abbreviations and annotations.

Common name	Scientific name	Height / Width	Sun / soil moisture	Flower dates	Resistant to:	Benefit to Wildlife	# of caterpillars supported	Special Notes
Eastern bluestar	Amsonia tabernaemontana	3′ / to 3′	s-ps / w- m	Apr	deer	NE, LH	1
Wild columbine	Aquilegia canadensis	1-3′ / 8-12″	ps / m	Mar-May		NE,SE, LH	10	Self-sows readily
Eastern swamp milkweed	Asclepias incarnata	2-4′ / to 2′	s-ps / w- m	Jul–Sep	deer	NE, LH	13
Butterfly-weed	Asclepias tuberosa	1-3′ / to 2′	s-ps / m- d	May–Aug	drought, deer	NE, LH	13
Wild indigos	Baptisia spp.	2-3′ / 2′	s-ps / m- d	May-Jul	drought, deer	NE, LH	20	Blue wild indigo, B. australis, in 1992 Spiked wild indigo, B. albescens, in 2011
Downy woodmint	Blephilia ciliata	1-2.5′ / 1-1.5′	s-ps / m-d	Apr-Aug	drought, deer	NE
Green and gold	Chrysogonum virginianum	6-12″ / 12-18″	ps-sh / m-d	Mar-Jun	deer	NE, SE
Maryland golden-aster	Chrysopsis mariana	1-2′ / 1-2′	s-ps / m	Aug-Oct	drought, deer	NE, LH	5	self-seeds; short-lived
Blue mistflower, Wild ageratum	Conoclinium coelestinum	1-3′ / 3′	s-ps / m	Jul-Oct	deer	SE, NE		Colonial; spreads rapidly
Lobed tickseed	Coreopsis auriculata	3-18″ / 12-16″	s -ps / m- d	Apr-Jul	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	7
Greater tickseed	Coreopsis major	2-3′ / 1-2′	s / m- d	May-Aug	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	7	Will naturalize
Star tickseed	Coreopsis pubescens	2-4′ / 1-2′	s -ps / m- d	Jun-Sep	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	7
Threadleaf coreopsis	Coreopsis verticillata	1-2′ / to 12″	s -ps / m- d	May–Jul	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	7
Purple coneflower	Echinacea purpurea	2-4′ / 18-24″	s / m- d	Jun-Aug	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	1
Northern rattlesnake master	Eryngium yuccifolium	2-3′ / 1-1.5′	s / m- d	Jun-Aug	drought, deer	NE, LH	3	has thorns
Common boneset	Eupatorium perfoliatum	3-6′ / 3-4′	s-ps / w- m	Jul-Sep	deer	NE, LH	33
White wood aster	Eurybia divaricata	1-2′ / 12-18″	ps-sh / m- d	Aug-Oct	deer	SE, NE, LH
Three-nerved or Coastal Joe-pye-weed	Eutrochium dubium	3′-6′ / 2′-4′	s-ps / m-w	Jul–Oct	deer	NE, SE, LH	2	Shorter cultivars available
Joe-Pye-weed	Eutrochium fistulosum	5-10′ / 3-4′	s-ps / w- m	Jul-Oct	deer	SE, NE, LH	2
Purple-node Joe-Pye-weed	Eutrochium purpureum	2′-5′ / 3′-5′	s-ps / w-m	Jul–Oct	deer	NE, SE, LH	2	Can tolerate somewhat drier soils than most Joe-Pye-weeds. Cultivars available
Swamp sunflower	Helianthus angustifolius	5-9′ / 3-4′	s / w-m	Sep-Oct	deer	SE, NE, LH	66
Appalachian sunflower	Helianthus atrorubens	1.5-6′ / 1-3′	s-ps / m- d	Jul–Oct	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	66
Woodland sunflower	Helianthus divaricatus	3-6′ / 1-3′	ps / m- d	Jun-Sep	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	66
Oxeye sunflower, False sunflower	Heliopsis helianthoides	3-6′ / 3′	s-ps / m-d	May-Oct	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	5
American alumroot	Heuchera americana	1-2′ / 12-16″	ps / m- d	Apr–Aug		NE
Crimson-eyed rose-mallow	Hibiscus moscheutos	4-7′ / 3-4′	s / w- m	Jun–Sep	deer	NE, LH	28
Flaxleaf whitetop aster	Ionactis linariifolius	1-2′ / 6-12″	s-ps / m- d	Aug-Oct	drought	NE
Dwarf Crested Iris	Iris cristata	4″-8″ / 3″-12″	ps-sh / m	Apr–May	deer	NE, LH	6	Colonial. Good deciduous groundcover.
Blazing star	Liatris spp.	1.5-4′ /	s-ps / w- m- d	Jul-Oct	deer	NE, SE, LH	5	Size and growing conditions vary by species
Cardinal flower	Lobelia cardinalis	2-3′ / 1′	s-ps / w- m	Jul-Oct	deer	NE, SE, LH	6
Great blue lobelia	Lobelia siphilitica	2-3′ / 1′	s-ps / m	Jul-Oct	deer	NE, SE, LH	6
Eastern Solomon’s-plume, False Solomon’s-seal	Maianthemum racemosum	1-2′ / 3-4′	ps-sh / m	Apr–Jun		BE, NE	2
Piedmont Barbara’s buttons	Marshallia obovata	0.5-1.5′ / 1′	ps / m	Apr-May		SE, NE
Virginia bluebells	Mertensia virginica	1-2′ / 12-16″	ps-sh / m	Mar–May		SE		Seeds readily. Goes dormant in the summer.
Scarlet beebalm	Monarda didyma	2-4′ / 2-3′	s-ps / m- w	Jul-Aug	deer	NE, LH	12
Wild bergamot	Monarda fistulosa	2-5′ / 2-3′	s-ps / m-d	Jul-Sep	drought, deer	NE, LH	12
Spotted horsemint	Monarda punctata	2-3′ / 2′	s-ps / m-d	Jun-Jul	drought	NE, LH	12
Southern Sundrops	Oenothera fruticosa	16-30″ / to 3′	s-ps / m- d	Apr–Oct		NE, SE, LH	17
Wild quinine	Parthenium integrifolium	2-4′ / 2-3′	s / m-d	May-Aug	drought, deer	NE, LH	15
Eastern Smooth Beardtongue	Penstemon laevigatus	1-3′ / 1-2′	s-ps / m- d	May-Jul	drought, deer	NE, LH	7
Eastern blue phlox	Phlox divaricata	9-12″ / 10-20″	ps-sh / m	Apr-May		NE, LH	7
Trailing phlox	Phlox nivalis	6-8″ /12-15″	s-ps / m- d	Mar-May	drought, deer	NE, LH	7	Spreading, can use as groundcover
Obedient-plant	Physostegia virginiana	2′-5′ / 3′-4′	s-ps / m-d	Jul–Oct		NE, SE, LH	6	Colonial, very aggressive, self-sows readily.
Silverleaf Mountain-mint	Pycnanthemum incanum	3-4′ / 2-3′	s-ps / m- d	Jun–Aug	drought, deer	NE, LH	4
Short-toothed Mountain-mint	Pycnanthemum muticum	2-3′ / 2-3′	s-ps / m	Jul-Aug	drought, deer	NE, LH	4
Narrow-leaf Mountain-mint	Pycnanthemum tenuifolium	1-1.5′ / 2-3′	s-ps / m- d	Jun–Aug	drought, deer	NE, LH	4
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia fulgida	2-3′ / 12-16″	s / m- d	Jun-Oct		NE, SE, LH
Green-headed coneflower	Rudbeckia laciniata	4-8′ / 3-6′	s-ps / m	Jul–Oct	deer	NE, SE, LH		spreads rampantly by underground stems
Lyre-leaf sage	Salvia lyrata	1-2′ / 1′	s-ps / w- m- d	Apr–May	deer	NE, LH	8
Bloodroot, Red Puccoon	Sanguinaria canadensis	5-12″ / to 16″	ps-sh / m	Mar–Apr		NE, BE, LH	2
Downy skullcap	Scutellaria incana	1-3′ / 1-2′	s-ps / m- d	Jul-Aug	deer	NE, SE
Fire pink	Silene virginica	12-18″ / to 12″	s-ps / m-d	Apr–Jul		SE, NE, LH	4	Short-lived
Rosinweed	Silphium asteriscus	3-5′ / 2-3′	ps-sh / m	Jun–Sep	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	6
Common Cup-plant	Silphium perfoliatum	4-8′ / 2-4′	s-ps / m	Jun–Aug	drought	SE, NE, LH	6	colonial, self-seeds
Blue-eyed grass	Sisyrinchium angustifolium	6-20″ / 6-8″	s-ps / m-d	Mar–Jun		SE
Wreath goldenrod	Solidago caesia	1-4′ / 16-20″	ps / m- d	Aug-Oct	drought, deer	NE,SE, LH	104
Rough goldenrod	Solidago rugosa	2-6′ / 1-3′	s-ps / m-w	Aug-Oct	drought, deer	NE,SE, LH	104	“Fireworks” is good cultivar
Eastern silvery aster	Symphyotrichum concolor	1-3′ / 1′	s / d	Sep-Oct	drought	SE, NE, LH	100
Largeflower aster	Symphyotrichum grandiflorum	1-1.5′ / 1′	s-ps / m- d	Sep-Oct		SE, NE, LH	100
Smooth blue aster	Symphyotrichum laeve	1-3′ / 1′	s-ps / m- d	Sep-Oct		SE, NE, LH	100
Eastern aromatic aster	Symphyotrichum oblongifolium	1-3′ / to 3′	s / m- d	Sep-Oct	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	100
Foamflower	Tiarella cordifolia	5-12″ / 12-18″	ps-sh / m	Apr–Jun		NE, LH
Ironweed	Vernonia noveboracensis	4-8′ / 3-4′	s / w- m	Jul-Oct	deer	NE, LH	21
Atamasco lily	Zephyranthes atamasca	1′ / <1'	s-ps / m- w	Mar-Jun		NE, SE
Golden alexander	Zizia aurea	1-3′ / 12-16″	s-ps / w-m	Apr-May	drought, deer	NE, LH	1

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Grasses and Sedges

See below the tables for the key to abbreviations and annotations.

Common name	Scientific name	Height / Width	Sun / soil moisture	Flower dates	Resistant to:	Benefit to Wildlife	# of caterpillars supported	Special Notes
Splitbeard Bluestem	Anatherum ternarium	3-5′ / 2′	s-ps / m, d	Sep-Nov	drought, deer	SE, LH	19
Eastern narrowleaf sedge (e)	Carex amphibola	1′ / 1′	ps-sh / w, m	May	deer	SE, NE, LH	36
Bottlebrush sedge	Carex comosa	2′ / 1′-2′	s-ps / w, m	May	deer	SE, NE, LH	36
Fringed sedge	Carex crinita	3′ / 1-2′	s-ps / w, m	May	deer	SE, NE, LH	36	forms colonies
Meadow sedge	Carex flaccosperma	6-12″ / 6-12″	ps-sh / m, w	May	deer	SE, NE, LH	36	tolerates dry or wet shade
Frank’s sedge	Carex frankii	1-2′ / 1-2′	s-ps / w, m	May	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	36	tolerates temporary flooding
Gray’s sedge (e)	Carex grayi	2′ / 1.5-2′	s-ps / m, w	May	deer	SE, NE, LH	36	can tolerate drier conditions
Spreading sedge	Carex laxiculmis	6-12″ / 6-12″	ps-sh / m	April	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	36
Hop sedge	Carex lupulina	2-3′ / 1-2′	s-ps / w, m	May	deer	SE, NE, LH	36
Sallow sedge	Carex lurida	1-3′ / 1-2′	s-ps / w, m	May	deer	SE, NE, LH	36
Rosy sedge	Carex rosea	1′ / 1′	ps-sh / d, m	May	drought, deer	SE, NE, LH	36
Squarrose sedge	Carex squarrosa	2-3′ / 1-2′	s-sh / m, w	May	deer	SE, NE, LH	36
Tussock sedge (e)	Carex stricta	3′ / 2′	s-ps / m, w	May	deer	SE, NE, LH	36	tolerates flooding
Fox sedge	Carex vulpinoidea	1-3′ / 1-2′	s-ps / m, w	May	deer	SE, NE, LH	36	can spread rapidly
River oats	Chasmanthium latifolium	2-4′ / 20-30″	s-ps / w, m	Jun-Oct	drought, deer	SE, LH	7	Aggresively self sows
Pink muhly	Muhlenbergia capillaris	1-3′ / 16-32″	s / m,d	Aug–Oct	drought, deer	SE, LH	3
Switchgrass	Panicum virgatum	4-8 ‘ / 2-5’	s / w, m, d	Sep-Oct	drought, deer	SE, LH	31
Little bluestem	Schizachyrium scoparium	2-4′ / 6-24″	s / m,d	Jun-Oct	drought, deer	SE, LH	9
Yellow Indian grass	Sorghastrum nutans	3-7′ / 2-3′	s / m,d	Aug-Oct	drought, deer	SE, LH	8

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Vines

See below the tables for the key to abbreviations and annotations.

Common name	Scientific name	Height / Width	Sun / soil moisture	Flower dates	Resistant to:	Benefit to Wildlife	# of caterpillars supported	Special Notes
Trumpet creeper	Campsis radicans	6-80′ /	s-ps / m,d	Jun–Oct	drought, deer	NE, LH	7
Cross-vine (e)	Bignonia capreolata	36-50′ /	s-ps / m, d	Apr-May	drought, deer	NE,LH	2
Butterfly pea	Centrosema virginianum	6-12′ /	ps-sh / m, d	Jul-Aug	drought, deer	NE, LH	2
Coral honeysuckle	Lonicera sempervirens	4-15′ /	s-ps / m	Mar-Jul	drought, deer	NE, BE, LH	31
Virginia creeper	Parthenocissus quinquefolia	4-70′ /	s-ps / w, m, d	May-Jul	drought, deer	BE, LH	29
Muscadine grapes	Muscadinia rotundifolia (Vitis rotundifolia)	8-60′ /	s-ps / m	spring	drought	NE, BE, LH	67	Edible fruit
Carolina jessamine (e)	Gelsemium sempervirens	5-20′ /	s-ps / m, d	Mar-May	deer	NE
Yellow passionflower	Passiflora lutea	15′ /	s-ps / m, d	Jun–Sep	deer	NE, BE, LH	5
Purple passionflower, Maypop	Passiflora incarnata	25′ /	s / m, d	May-Jul	deer	NE, BE, LH	5	colonial, aggressive spreader, climbs or sprawls
Pipevine	Isotrema macrophylla	15-30′ /	s-ps / m	May-Jun	deer	NE, LH	1
Lanceleaf greenbrier, Jacksonbrier (e)	Smilax smallii	6-12′ /	s-ps / w, m	Jun–Jul		NE, BE, LH	19	Needs male pollinator

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Ferns

See below the tables for the key to abbreviations and annotations.

Common name	Scientific name	Height / Width	Sun / soil moisture	Flower dates	Resistant to:	Benefit to Wildlife	# of caterpillars supported	Special Notes
Northern Maidenhair	Adiantum pedatum	1′-2′ / 2′	ps-sh / m	N/A	deer	see Notes column	N/A	Clump-forming. Used for shelter.
Southern Lady Fern	Athyrium asplenioides	20″-36″ / 2′-3′	ps-sh / m	N/A	deer	see Notes column	N/A	Clump-forming. Used as shelter.
Marginal Wood-fern (e)	Dryopteris marginalis	16″-24″ / 18″-24″	ps-sh / m	N/A	deer	see Notes column	N/A	Clump-forming. Used for shelter for toads and lizards.
Sensitive Fern, Bead Fern	Onoclea sensibilis	1′-2′ / 2′-3′	s-ps / w, m	N/A	deer	see Notes column	N/A	Colonial; spreads rapidly. Used for shelter.
Cinnamon Fern	Osmundastrum cinnamomeum	2′-5′ / 3′-5′	s-sh / w, m	N/A	deer	see Notes column	N/A	Clump-forming. Tolerates seasonal drought. Used for shelter and nesting material.
Christmas Fern (e)	Polystichum acrostichoides	1′-2′ / 1′-2′	ps-sh / m, d	N/A	deer	see Notes column	N/A	Clump-forming. Used for shelter.

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Table Key

Evergreen:	Marked with “(e)” next to plant name
Soil moisture:	w = wet, m = moist or moderate, d = dry
Sun requirements:	s = full sun, ps = part sun or part shade, sh = shade
Benefit to Wildlife:	LH = larval host, SE = seeds/nuts, BE = berries/fruits, NE = nectar and pollen
Deer Resistance:	No plant is deer proof but the plants marked yes are considered least likely to be damaged. Some new plants may need protection from “sampling” until established. New growth on perennials may need protection in spring with a spray if there’s damage from browsing. All new trees need protection from browsing until branches are above browsing line and from buck rub until trunk diameter is at least 3 inches.
# of Caterpillars supported	This is for the entire genus rather than each species. It relates to Doug Tallamy’s concept of keystone species where he recommends planting species from the genera hosting the most caterpillars to provide food for the birds to raise their nestlings.

Sources

Plants and growing conditions:

NC Extension Service (primary source) – https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/
Audubon NC – (primary source) – https://nc.audubon.org/birdfriendlynativeplantslists
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – www.wildflower.org

Deer resistance:

NC Extension Service (primary source) –https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – https://www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?collection=deer
Also from the experience of members of the New Hope Bird Alliance’s Bird Friendly Habitat Committee

# of caterpillars supported and # of pollen specialist bees supported

National Wildlife Federation – https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/About
https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native/Why-Native/Keystone-Plants-by-Ecoregion

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