Native Plant FAQs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines native plants as the indigenous terrestrial and aquatic species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat. Species native to North America are generally recognized as those occurring on the continent prior to European settlement. Native plants include conifer trees, hardwood trees and shrubs, grasses, forbs, and others.

The North Carolina Native Plant Society has created a Recommended Native Species searchable database. It offers a searchable database broken down into categories.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture states that native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur. These important plant species provide nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, insects, birds and other animals. Unlike natives, common horticultural plants do not provide energetic rewards for their visitors and often require insect pest control to survive (USFS).

As per Executive Order 13112 (Section 1. Definitions) an “invasive species” is a species that is (USDA):
1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and,
2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

Native plants generally are defined as those that occurred in North America before European settlement. Non-native plants are those not native to an area. In North Carolina, non-natives usually come from Asia or western Europe, regions that have similar climate and environmental conditions to those in this state. Some non-natives are planted intentionally as lawn or garden ornamentals or as plants to attract wildlife, but other non-native plants were introduced accidentally. Many non-native species become naturalized, which means they are able to survive, spread, and reproduce on their own. Approximately 25 percent of the plants growing wild in the United States are naturalized non-natives, some of which have become invasive, that is, they grow unabatedly where native plants otherwise would occur.

Native plants serve as food and habitat for pollinators, insects, and wildlife. They have positive environmental outcomes, such as helping to maintain biodiversity, decreasing unwanted pests, helping save water, and require less maintenance.

NC Cooperative Extension Resources:
Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants
Fire-Resistant Landscaping in North Carolina
Top 25 Pollinator Plants for North Carolina

The term “naturalized plant” refers to a non-native species that is growing on its own in nature. It differs from “native plant” in that it may have originated as a garden escape, an agricultural escape, or an accidentally introduced weed. Becoming naturalized does not make an introduced species native (Florida Native Plant Society, 2021).

Natural Heritage Program: List of Rare Plant Species of North Carolina, North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

List of NC Invasive Plants by Region (NC Invasive Plant Council)

List of nurseries (inclusion of a nursery does not mean a business is endorsed by RRS or NC DNCR)

See the main Native Plants (NEED NEW LINK HERE) page for the CEU searchable Plant Toolbox by NC geographic region.

A: See our Native Plants Grants (NEED NEW LINK HERE) page – let us know if you have additional sources to share

The North Carolina Wildlife Federation features a table with 12 common alternatives (e.g., Bradford Pear can be replaces with a Shadblow Serviceberry)

No, funding must be used to purchase plants or seeds native to the southeastern U.S.

As part of the site inspections and closeout process, the grantee will submit a planting plan with a plant list.

The following non-native plants shall be exempted from this policy:

a) Non-native plants on property allocated to DNCR or incorporated as part of a PARTF-funded project that are already existing at the time of the effective date of this policy;
b) Non-native turf grass; and
c) Non-native seeds and plants where the primary purpose is:
i. crop cultivation,
ii. scientific research,
iii. botanical or historical gardens,
iv. plantings for wildlife, or
v. plantings for exhibits or for animal consumption at museums, zoos, and aquariums.

Grantees are required to submit a certified native plant list at closeout.

If a grantee is unable to meet the native plant requirement, this must be cleared with DNCR prior to an application being submitted.

Yes, for athletic fields and as safety surfaces in play areas.

Native plants are required regardless of project scope. All PARTF grantees must use native plantings now and in the future, even if landscaping is not included in your project scope.

The Native Plants Policy applies to all grantees moving forward from the policy launch date of July 1, 2023.

An invasive plants management plan must be included with all PARTF proposals.

The following non-native plants shall be exempted from this policy:
a) Non-native plants on property allocated to DNCR or incorporated as part of a PARTF-funded project that are already existing at the time of the effective date of this policy;
b) Non-native turf grass; and
c) Non-native seeds and plants where the primary purpose is:
i. crop cultivation,
ii. scientific research,
iii. botanical or historical gardens,
iv. plantings for wildlife, or
v. plantings for exhibits or for animal consumption at museums, zoos, and aquariums.
If a grantee is unable to meet the native plant requirement, this must be approved by DNCR prior to an application being submitted.

No, funding must be used to purchase plants or seeds native to the southeastern U.S. with preference given to NC identified native plants.

Native plants are required at all DNCR departmental locations and at local government sites receiving grants from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. See the policy exemptions listed above.

North Carolina’s native plants provide well-adapted food and cover for North Carolina’s native animals, and a well-planned landscape of native plants can help you attract a diversity of wildlife to your property. North Carolina’s native wildlife has become adapted to using native plants over thousands of years. Therefore, native plants meet the needs, including food and cover, of North Carolina’s native wildlife without causing long-term damage to local plant communities.
Many native plants produce showy flowers, abundant fruits and seeds, and brilliant fall foliage. A diversity of native plants in an urban landscape provides:
– Protective cover for most animals.
– Seeds, nuts, and fruits for squirrels and other mammals.
– Seeds, fruits, and insects for birds.
– Nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies.
– Larval host plants for butterfly caterpillars (many caterpillars are adapted to eat the foliage of specific plants, called their host plants).
NCSU Extension: Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants

No, but if you take something out, it must be replaced with a native plant.

Yes. If you take something out, it must be replaced with a native plant. The goal is for native plants to be the standard in park landscapes.

Native plants include conifer trees, hardwood trees and shrubs, grasses, forbs, and others.