The Durham-Chapel Hill area isn\u2019t just for Tar Heels \u2014 it\u2019s also for green thumbs. And the secret to a green thumb is hardy native plants that naturally stand up to our hot, humid summers and chilly, wet winters.<\/p>
When you live in the Research Triangle, it makes sense to do some research about how to make your lawn as eco-friendly and low-maintenance as possible. Let\u2019s walk through the 11 best native plants that\u2019ll save you time, energy, and money.<\/p>
Advantages of North Carolina native plants:<\/strong><\/p> North Carolina is home to over 3,900 native plant species<\/a>, making us one of the most diverse states for flora in the Southeast. When checking out native plants, look for species that thrive in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b<\/strong><\/a>, where the lowest temperatures are 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p> Also known as coast azaleas, dwarf azaleas<\/a><\/strong> flaunt funnel-shaped white flowers (often tinged with pink) and a delightful musky aroma. They\u2019re low shrubs that make excellent hedges and attract a bounty of butterflies.<\/p> While most deciduous azaleas mature at a height of 2 to 3 feet, some can grow as tall as 6 feet, while others may grow just 1 foot tall. It depends on your soil type and the variety of dwarf azalea you choose.<\/p> Dwarf azaleas require well-draining soil, and \u201cwet feet\u201d will lead to root rot. Here in Durham, we have clay-heavy Ultisol soils<\/a>, so you may want to plant your azaleas in raised beds to keep them disease-free. Plant dwarf azaleas in areas with some shade: Too much full sun can scorch their leaves. <\/p> Note: <\/strong>Do not eat any part of your azalea bush! Azaleas are highly toxic and can be fatal if consumed. <\/p> Craving some holiday cheer? Plant a winterberry holly<\/a><\/strong> for cherry-red berries that arrive just as the leaves fall and last throughout the winter months. Winterberries (AKA black alders) are gorgeous deciduous trees that will provide food and shelter to butterflies and birds in summer and make your neighbors \u201cooh\u201d and \u201caah\u201d in winter. <\/p> Worried winterberry holly won\u2019t grow in that shady spot near your porch? Don\u2019t fret. Winterberries can grow in densely shady conditions (less than two hours of direct sunlight) where turfgrass doesn\u2019t stand a chance. Plus, these gorgeous growers are drought- and heat-tolerant to thrive in our sunny summer months. Just be on the lookout for powdery mildew and leaf spots. <\/p> River birch<\/a><\/strong> (AKA water birch, red birch, and black birch) is the ideal native tree for year-round appeal. It has gorgeous paper-like bark that peels away (exfoliates) to reveal light, reddish-tan inner bark. A fun fact? Prince Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, declared it \u201cthe most beautiful of American trees\u201d when he toured North America in the mid-1800s. <\/p> River birches thrive in wet weather but can stand periods of drought, making them an excellent choice for Durham homeowners who want a fast-growing lawn accent that won\u2019t require much water once established. <\/p> The magic of mulch:<\/strong> Give your birch a healthy 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch<\/a> to conserve soil moisture during dry periods. This will prevent your tree from \u201cshedding\u201d leaves and twigs during drought. Just make sure to always spread mulch 3 to 6 inches away from the base of the trunk to prevent internal rot. <\/p> When to trim your tree:<\/strong> Birches \u201cbleed\u201d sap when trimmed in late winter and early spring, so it\u2019s best to wait until the tree has leafed out in late spring to mid-summer to avoid excess sap. Alternatively, you can wait until early fall when leaves have fallen.<\/p> With eye-catching fall foliage and pretty winter flowers, red maple<\/a><\/strong> (common names include Carolina maple, curled maple, and swamp maple) is a fast-growing stunner and a favorite with North Carolina homeowners. <\/p> Red maple is a tree of firsts. It\u2019s one of the first trees to change color in fall, with leaves turning golden and orange-red in October. In spring, it\u2019s one of the first to flower.<\/p> Love to see helicopter seeds (AKA samaras) fly from the sky? Start growing a red maple! In late spring, you\u2019ll get a helicopter-fest as samaras mature and float down to the ground. <\/p> Red maples are easy to establish as transplants from bare roots or a burlapped ball, and in our acidic soil, they\u2019re not likely to encounter diseases. Keep an eye out for pests like aphids, borers, leafhoppers, and scales.<\/p> As with river birches, it\u2019s a good idea to give your red maple a healthy dose of organic mulch to protect roots and conserve soil moisture. <\/p> American beautyberries<\/a><\/strong> really are beauties, with long, graceful branches and vibrant purple berries that encircle the stems. Growing up to 8 feet tall, beautyberries are hurricane-resistant shrubs that display summer color and fall fruit to make your lawn the star of the neighborhood. <\/p> Humans aren\u2019t the only ones who find beautyberries beautiful: Songbirds and small mammals love to visit these bushes and snack on berries as they fatten up for winter. <\/p> Beautyberries are more than just a pretty face. If you\u2019re sick of mosquitoes buzzing around your lawn, crush up American beautyberry leaves for a natural mosquito repellant. Want to give your neighbors a delicious holiday gift? Boil the berries to make beautyberry jelly<\/a>. <\/p> Beautyberries offer plenty of visual appeal during winter months and are perfect for butterfly and pollinator gardens, children\u2019s gardens, container gardens, and winter gardens. The only caveat? They aren\u2019t exactly shade-tolerant. Beautyberries need full sun to flourish. <\/p> Ready to make your Little House on the Prairie <\/em>dreams come true? Switchgrass<\/a><\/strong> is the ornamental grass for you. It\u2019s a loose, bunch-type grass that grows up to 6 feet tall and sways in the wind, adding height, texture, and vibrant color to your yard.<\/p> In spring and summer, expect bright green sprays of growth. In fall, reddish-purple seed heads add a pop of harvest color and leaves turn bright yellow as winter approaches. That rich yellow color stays until spring, so you don\u2019t have to worry about your lawn losing its appeal during the cold months. <\/p> Switchgrass is highly deer-resistant and attracts lovely butterflies and bees. Birds love munching on switchgrass seeds and using stems as nesting material. <\/p> Want to brighten up your backyard with a vibrant pop of yellow? Tickseed<\/a><\/strong> may just tick-le your fancy. Also known as coreopsis, tickseed is a fast-growing wildflower that when mature reaches about 2 feet and produces eye-catching yellow flowers that attract butterflies, birds, and bees. <\/p> If your yard has dull, bare areas where grass won\u2019t grow, tickseed could be your new best friend: It\u2019s an aggressive self-seeder, which can be a problem in areas where you\u2019re trying to grow other plants, but it\u2019s perfect for places prone to drought and deer. <\/p> Want your flowers to bloom into autumn? Deadhead<\/a> flowers with scissors to encourage additional blooms and keep your tickseed tidy.<\/p> Butterfly weed<\/a><\/strong> is a paradise for \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 butterflies (and hummingbirds, too!). Also known as orange milkweed, butterfly weed is a bushy, sturdy native perennial known for its unique, flat-topped display of flaming orange flowers. The narrow, deep green leaves beneath this \u201cshelf\u201d of flowers provide a striking visual contrast.<\/p> As the only host plant for monarch caterpillars<\/a>, milkweed (both butterfly weed and swamp milkweed) is tremendously important to the health of our ecosystem. However, while butterfly weed is an excellent addition to pollinator gardens, it\u2019s also an aphid magnet. You can leave aphids for ladybugs to eat or get rid of them by spraying foliage with soapy water.<\/p> With dainty purple-blue flower clusters and smooth, arching stems, blue wood asters<\/a> <\/strong>are a woodland showstopper that you\u2019ve probably seen on hikes around Durham. Cool blue flowers bloom in late summer to early fall to complement the changing leaves. <\/p> Worried about deer? You don\u2019t have to be with blue wood asters. They\u2019ll resist deer while attracting butterflies, bees, small mammals, and cheerful songbirds. <\/p> If you don\u2019t have full sun, blue wood asters are a shade-tolerant treasure trove: They grow well in partially shaded areas with moist soil. <\/p> Pro Tip:<\/strong> Want to keep your asters looking tidy? Cut foliage to the ground in fall to avoid self-seeding.<\/p> Popping a perfectly ripe blueberry into your mouth at the peak of summer is pure heaven, and we all know homegrown fruit tastes infinitely better than store-bought produce. With highbush blueberry bushes, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor (literally) and <\/em>get a gorgeous fall show. <\/p> Most highbush blueberries mature at about 8 feet tall \u2014 but they take their own sweet time reaching that point. Expect your blueberry bushes to mature in six to eight years. In the meantime, maximize your harvest by planting multiple cultivars together to encourage higher yields and plumper berries. Remove spent flowers so that your blueberries can focus on root growth.<\/p> Blueberries adore acidic soil (a pH of 5.0 is ideal), so Durham-Chapel Hill soil is perfect for these delicious shrubs. Consider grouping them with other acid-loving plants like azaleas, magnolias, and American hollies.<\/p> For densely shaded areas where grass refuses to grow, green and gold<\/a><\/strong> is a real pot of gold. It\u2019s an evergreen ground cover that\u2019ll keep the darkest parts of your yard looking lush and lovely. Green and gold is a vigorous grower that forms a dense mat and spreads 18 inches wide. <\/p> With golden, daisy-like flowers that bloom in spring and summer, it\u2019s a beautiful addition to your backyard or rain garden<\/a>. <\/p> Green and gold may be the most diminutive plant on our list, but don\u2019t underestimate this mighty ground cover. It\u2019s deer-resistant and tough against diseases, and it\u2019ll crowd out weeds and invasive plants. Just watch out for mildew and remove spent flower stems to keep your plants tidy.<\/p> 1. Dwarf azalea (Rhododendron atlanticum<\/em>)<\/h2>
2. Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata<\/em>)<\/h2>
3. River birch (Betula nigra<\/em>)<\/h2>
4. Red maple (Acer rubrum<\/em>)<\/h2>
5. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana<\/em>)<\/h2>
6. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum<\/em>)<\/h2>
7. Tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata<\/em>)<\/h2>
8. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa<\/em>)<\/h2>
9. Blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium<\/em>)<\/h2>
10. Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum<\/em>)<\/h2>
11. Green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum<\/em>)<\/h2>