Native Plants Valuable to Wildlife
TREES – Evergreen 50’ +
American Holly, Ilex opaca - Fruits eaten by bluebird, robin, mockingbird, larvae plant for Henry’s elfin butterfly
Cabbage Palmetto, Sabal palmetto, SC State Tree - Fruits eaten by robins and raccoons
Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis - Fruits eaten by many birds, nesting cover
Eastern Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana - Fruits eaten by cedar waxwing, purple finch, bluebird, nesting for hummingbird, warblers, doves, larvae plant for great purple hairstreak butterflies
Gordonia, Gordonia lasianthus - Songbirds
Live Oak, Quercus virginiana - Warblers’ spring migration, acorns eaten by squirrels, turkeys, brown-headed nuthatch
Longleaf Pine, Pinus - Nesting for red-cockaded woodpecker
Pine, Pinus species - All used extensively; seeds eaten by birds, needles for nesting
Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora - Good nesting, seeds eaten by yellow-bellied sapsucker, red-cockaded woodpecker
TREES – Deciduous 50’ +
American Beech, Fagus grandifolia - Nuts eaten by blue jay, chickadee, titmouse, nesting for pileated woodpecker
Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum - Seeds eaten by ducks
River Birch, Betula nigra - Seeds eaten by chickadee, finch, tanager, grouse, nuthatch, used for nesting
Blackgum Tree, Nyssa sylvatica - Bee tree, seeds eaten by wood duck, bluebirds, finches, opossum, squirrel
Cucumber Tree, Magnolia acuminata - Seeds eaten by yellow-bellied sapsucker, red-eyed vireo, red-cockaded woodpecker plant for tiger and spicebush swallowtail butterflies
Hickory, Carya spp. - Nuts eaten by squirrels, turkey, nuthatch, and wood duck
Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua - Seeds eaten by cardinal, chickadee, finch, mourning dove, used for nesting
Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana - Seeds eaten by yellow-bellied sapsucker, red-eyed vireo, red-cockaded woodpecker, host for swallowtail butterflies
Oaks, Quercus Spp. - Acorns winter staple for titmouse, turkey, woodpecker, squirrel, deer, Carolina wren (SC State Bird), and Northern flicker will eat ants out of acorns on ground. Also a larval plant, nesting, cover.
Red Maple, Southern Sugar, Acer spp. - Sap used by yellow-bellied sapsucker, nesting/food for warblers, chickadee, purple finch, grosbeak, bobwhite quail
Basswood/Linden, Tilia americana - Nectar plant, larval plant for red-spotted purple and mourning cloak butterflies, seeds eaten by squirrels.
Tulip Popular, Liriodendron tulipifera - Flowers visited by hummingbirds and butterflies, orchard orioles. Seeds eaten by cardinals.
White Ash, Fraxinus americana - Great nesting for songbirds, butterfly larvae for tiger swallowtail, seeds eaten by purple finch and grosbeak
SMALL TREES – Evergreen 15’ to 40’
Cherry Laurel, Prunus caroliniana - Fruits eaten by titmouse, grouse, other songbirds and small mammals, nesting
Devilwood Osmanthus, Osmanthus americana - Fruits eaten by birds and small mammals
Redbay, Persea borbonia - Larvae plant for palamedes & spicebush Swallowtail, fruits, eaten by songbirds
Wax Myrtle, Myrica cerifera - Fruits eaten by swallow, bluebird, warbler, 13 other species of birds
Wild Cherry, Prunus serotina - Fruits eaten by many species of birds
Yaupon Holly, Ilex vomitoria - Larval plant for Henry’s elfin butterfly, seeds eaten by cedar waxwing, mockingbird and other songbirds.
SMALL TREES – Deciduous 15’ to 40’
Alder, Alnus serrulata - Fruits eaten by many species of birds
Hawthorn, Crataegus marhallii - Fruits eaten by birds, mammals
Fringe Tree, Chionanthus virginicus - Fruits eaten by bluebird, thrasher, finch, vireo & 75 other species of birds
Fraser Magnolia, Magnolia fraseri - Fruits eaten by birds, butterflies, mammals
Dogwood, Cornus florida - Seeds eaten by yellow-bellied sapsucker, towhee, and vireo
American Plum, Prunus americana - Fruits eaten by cedar waxwing, cardinal, sapsuckers, nectar by hummingbirds and swallowtails, grey hairstreak butterflies
Hophornbeam/ironwood, Ostrya virginiana - Seeds eaten by finch, woodpecker, mockingbird, used for nesting
Musclewood, Carpinus caroliniana - Larval plant for tiger swallowtail, fruits by small mammals and wood duck
Paw Paw, Asimina triloba - Larval plant for zebra swallowtail, fruits by small mammals
Persimmon, Diospyros virginiana - Fruits eaten by many mammals, bees, butterflies
Redbud, Cercis Canadensis - Flowers by honey bees, sees by birds, deer browse
Red Buckeye, Aesculus pavia - Flowers used by hummingbirds, bees
Red Mulberry, Morus rubra - Fruits eaten by many species of birds
Sassafras, Sassafras albidium - Nectar for butterflies
Service Berry, Amelanchier arborea - Nectar for butterflies, fruits eaten by scarlet tanager, bluebird, other birds & mammals
Amelanchier canadensis - Nectar for butterflies fruits eaten by scarlet tanager, bluebird, other birds, and mammals
Sourwood, Oxydendron arboreum - Seed eaten by songbird, turkey, grouse, small mammals, flowers by bees (honey), butterflies, deer browse
Sumac, Rhus spp. - Fruits eaten by mockingbird, robin, thrasher, red-eyed vireo, cardinal; bark eaten by rabbits in winter
Titi/Swamp Cyrilla, Cyrilla racemiflora - Nectar plant, cover
Turkey Oak, Quercus laevis - Acorns eaten by red-cockaded woodpecker
Walters Viburnum, Viburnum obovatum - Nectar, butterflies, fruits, mammals, birds
LARGE SHRUBS – Evergreen 15’
Florida Leucothoe, Agarista populifolia - Cover, butterflies and birds
Florida Anise, Illicium floridanum
Inkberry Holly, Ilex glabra - Fruits eaten by bluebird, thrasher, mockingbirds and other birds.
Wild Rhododendron, Rhododendron maximum - Flowers used by hummingbirds and butterflies
LARGE SHRUBS – Deciduous 15’
Arrowwood Viburnum, Viburnum dentatum - Fruits eaten by fox, chipmunk, bluebird, cedar waxwing, mockingbird, deer browse
Bottlebrush Buckeye, Aesculus parviflora - Flower visited by hummingbirds, butterflies
Florida Azalea, Rhododendron austrinum - Flower visited by swallowtails, gulf fritillaries, onarchs, hummingbirds, bees, and song birds
Piedmont Azaleas, R. canescens
Pinxterbloom Azalea, R. periclymenoides
Oakleaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia - Fruits eaten by song and game birds, mammals
Silky Camellia, Stewartia malachodendron - Nesting for birds, pollinators
MEDIUM – SMALL SHRUBS – Evergreen
Coastal Leucothoe, Leucothoe axillaris - Deer browse
Dwarf Palmetto, Sabal minor - Fruits eaten by warbler, woodpecker
Needle Palm, Rhapidophyllum hystix - Cover, deer browse
Spanish Bayonet, Yucca aloifolia - Moths, larva plant for giant skipper butterflies
MEDIUM – SMALL SHRUBS – Deciduous
American Beautyberry, Callicarpia americana - Fruits eaten by mockingbirds, finch, bobwhite, robin, thrasher, browse by deer and raccoon
Carolina Allspice, Calycanthus floridus - Deer Browse, butterflies
Sweet Pepperbush, Clethra alnifolia - Flowers visited by bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, fruits eaten by shorebirds, game birds, waterfowl
Fothergilla, Fothergilla major - Game birds, small mammals
Golden St. Johns Wort, Hypericum frondosum - Seeds eaten by game birds, songbirds
Virginia Sweetspire, Itea virginica - Butterflies, seeds eaten by birds, cover
Mapleleaf Viburnum, Viburnum acerfolium - Fruits eaten by wild turkey, bluebird, cardinal, thrasher, squirrel, deer
Northern Spicebush, Lindera benzoin - Larval plant for spicebush swallowtail
Wild Hydrangea, Hydrangea aborescens - Wild turkey, deer browse
VINES
Carolina Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens - SC State Flower - Hummingbirds, game birds, butterflies
Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata - Deer browse, flowers visited by hummingbirds
Smilax/Greenbriar, Smilax spp. - Deer browse, wild turkey, many species of birds
Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens - Flowers visited by hummingbirds, bees, and birds
Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Fruits eaten by chickadee, mockingbird, nuthatch, scarlet tanager, robin
Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata - Flowers visited by gulf fritillary butterfly, larval plant for others
GROUND LAYER PLANTS – Shade
Atamasco Lily, Zephyranthese atamasco
Black Cohosh, Cimicifuga racemosa - Larval plant for azure butterflies, deer browse, cover
Blue Wooland Phlox, Phlox divaracata - Flowers visited by swallowtails, grey hairstreak, browse by deer, rabbit
Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis - Flowers visited by hummingbirds, bees, butterflies
Crestid Iris, Iris cristata - Hummingbirds, bees
False Solomons Seal, Smilacina racemosa - Deer browse, fruits eaten by mammals
Fire Pinks, Silene virginica - Flowers visited by hummingbirds, butterflies
Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia - Butterflies, bees, spring deer browse
Galax, Galax urceolata - Winter deer browse
Green and Gold, Chrysogonum virginianum
Haircap Moss, Polytrichum commune - Winter deer browse, nesting material
Heartleaf Ginger, Hexastylis arifolia - Winter deer browse
Indian Pinks, Spigelia marilandica - Flowers favorite for butterflies and hummingbirds
Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaema triphylium - Fruits and leaves eaten by turkey and wood thrush, all parts caustic to most animals
Lyreleaf Sage, Salvia lyrata - Flowers favorite for butterflies, and hummingbirds
Partridgeberry, Mitchella repens - Fruits eaten by grouse, bobwhite, wild turkey, mouse
Solomons Seal, Polygonatum biflora - Roots eaten by mammals, deer browse
Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis - Flowers visited by hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, seeds eaten by finches, buntings
Wild Geranium, Geranimum maculatum - Seeds eaten by bobwhite, dove, deer
GROUND LAYER PLANTS – Sun
Aster, Aster spp. - Flowers visited by hummingbirds, butterflies, bees; seeds eaten by cardinal, finches, thrasher, sparrow and turkey
Wild Indigo, Baptisia spp. - Early succession, birds, bees, nitrogen fixer
Beebalm, Monarda didyma - Flowers nectar source for Eastern tiger swallowtail (SC State Butterfly), spicebush, Eastern black swallowtail, pipevine, swallowtails, deer browse
Bluestar, Amsonia spp. - Flowers visited by bees, butterflies
Black Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida - Seeds eaten by birds, nectar source for bees & butterflies
Butterflyweed, Asclepias tuberosa - Flowers nectar source for tiger, spicebush, Eastern black, pipevine, swallowtail butterflies, cloudless sulphur butterfly. Larval plant for monarch butterflies.
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis - Nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies
Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca - Larval plant for monarchs
Common Yarrow, Achillea millefolium - Nectar source for butterflies & bees
Coreopsis, Coreopsis spp. - Nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies, seeds eaten by songbirds, bees, butterflies
Carolina Phlox, Phlox carolina - Nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies
Downy Phlox, Phlox pilosa - Nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies
Goldenrod, Solidago spp. - Flowers visited by butterflies, bees; seeds eaten by goldfinch and other birds. Goldenrod is the official South Carolina State Wildflower.
Joe Pye Weed, Eupatorium fistulosum - Great pollinator attractor, visited by spicebush swallowtail, gulf fritillary, monarch, painted lady butterflies.
Prairie Blazing Star, Liatris spp. - Flowers visited by butterflies, bees
Beardtongue, Penstemon spp. - Flowers visited by bees, butterflies
Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum tenufolium - Seeds eaten by numerous wildlife; flowers visited by butterflies, bees; deer browse
Seashore Mallow, Kosteletzkya virginica - Nectar plant
Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata - Larval plant for monarch butterflies
FERNS
Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrosticoides - Grouse, cover for frogs
Cinnamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamomea - Nesting
Marginal Shield Fern, Dryopteris marginalis - Shelter for toads, lizards
New York Fern, Thelypteris noveboracensis - Shelter for toads
Netted Chain Fern, Woodwardia areolata - Shelter for toads, salamanders, newts
Northern Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum pedatum - Shelter for toads, salamanders, newts
Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis - Shelter for toads, salamanders
Sensitive Fern, Onoclea sensibilis - Shelter for toads, salamanders
Southern Lady Fern, Athyrium filix-femina - Shelter for toads, salamanders
GRASSES
Bushy Bluestem, Andropogon glomeratus - Seeds eaten by birds insects and mammals
Broomsedge, Andropogon virginicus - Seeds eaten by field sparrow, junco; deer browse, rabbit; cover for bobwhites
Inland Sea Oats, Chasmanthum latifolia - Seeds eaten by grouse, titmouse, wren, robin
Indian Grass, Sorgastrum nutans - SC State Grass - Flowers visited by bees, seeds eaten by birds; foliage for grazing
Splitbeard Bluestem, Andropogon ternaries - Seeds eaten by songbirds; deer browse, wild turkey
Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum - Seeds eaten by songbirds, deer browse
Bulrush, Scirpus cyperinus - Seeds eaten by ducks, marsh birds, muskrats, nesting cover