Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina — Durham County

compiled by Will Cook

Native Trees

Scientific Name

Common Names

Freq*

Refº

Notes

Synonyms

 

 

 

 

 

Acer floridanum

Florida Maple, Southern Sugar Maple

fc

rab

Acer barbatum

Acer leucoderme

Chalk Maple

r

pho

Acer saccharum ssp. leucoderme

Acer negundo var. negundo

Boxelder

fc

rab

Acer rubrum var. drummondii

Drummond's Red Maple

o

per

Acer drummondii

Acer rubrum var. rubrum

Red Maple

c

spe

Acer rubrum var. trilobum

Carolina Red Maple

fc

spe

Acer saccharinum

Silver Maple

r

pho

Acer saccharum

Sugar Maple

vr

pho

Aesculus sylvatica

Painted Buckeye

fc

rab

Alnus serrulata

Hazel Alder, Tag Alder

fc

rab

Amelanchier arborea

Common Serviceberry

u

rab

Amelanchier canadensis

Canadian Serviceberry

o

dci

Aralia spinosa

Devil's-walkingstick

r

dci

Asimina triloba

Pawpaw

fc

rab

Baccharis halimifolia

Eastern Baccharis, Groundseltree

fc

rab

Betula nigra

River Birch

fc

rab

Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana

American Hornbeam, Ironwood

fc

spe

Carpinus caroliniana ssp. virginiana

American Hornbeam, Ironwood

u

spe

Carya carolinae-septentrionalis

Carolina Shagbark Hickory

u

rab

Carya ovata var. australis

Carya cordiformis

Bitternut Hickory

u

rab

Carya glabra

Pignut Hickory

c

rab

Carya laciniosa

Shellbark Hickory

vr

spe

Carya ovalis

Red Hickory, Sweet Pignut Hickory

o

spe

Carya glabra var. odorata

Carya ovata

Shagbark Hickory

fc

rab

Carya pallida

Sand Hickory

r

rab

Castanea pumila

Chinkapin

o

rab

Castanea alnifolia

Carya tomentosa

Mockernut Hickory

c

rab

Carya alba

Celtis laevigata var. laevigata

Sugarberry

c

rab

Celtis occidentalis var. occidentalis

Common Hackberry

o

spe

Celtis tenuifolia

Dwarf Hackberry

o

rab

Celtis occidentalis var. georgiana

Cercis canadensis var. canadensis

Eastern Redbud

c

rab

Chionanthus virginicus

Fringetree

fc

rab

Cornus florida

Flowering Dogwood

c

rab

Crataegus crus-galli

Cockspur Hawthorn

u

rab

Crataegus flabellata

Fanleaf Hawthorn

o

rab

Crataegus marshallii

Parsley Hawthorn

o

rab

Crataegus phaenopyrum

Washington Hawthorn

o

rab

Crataegus uniflora

One-flowered Hawthorn, Dwarf Hawthorn

o

rab

Crataegus viridis

Green Hawthorn

o

rab

Diospyros virginiana

Common Persimmon

fc

rab

Fagus grandifolia var. caroliniana

American Beech

c

rab

Frangula caroliniana

Carolina Buckthorn

vr

dci

Rhamnus caroliniana

Fraxinus americana

White Ash

c

rab

Fraxinus caroliniana

Carolina Ash

r

rab

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Green Ash

fc

rab

Halesia tetraptera var. tetraptera

Mountain Silverbell

vr

rab

Halesia carolina (misapplied)

Hamamelis virginiana

American Witchhazel

u

dci

Ilex decidua

Possumhaw, Deciduous Holly

fc

rab

Ilex montana

Mountain Holly, Mountain Winterberry

o

rab

Ilex ambigua var. montana

Ilex opaca

American Holly

c

rab

Juglans nigra

Black Walnut

u

rab

Juniperus virginiana

Eastern Redcedar

c

rab

Kalmia latifolia

Mountain-laurel

u

rab

Liquidambar styraciflua

Sweetgum

c

rab

Liriodendron tulipifera

Tulip-poplar, Yellow-poplar, Tuliptree

c

rab

Magnolia tripetala

Umbrella-Tree, Umbrella Magnolia

u

rab

Magnolia virginiana

Sweetbay

r

rab

Malus angustifolia

Southern Crabapple

o

rab

Morella cerifera

Wax Myrtle

u

pal

Myrica cerifera

Morus rubra

Red Mulberry

fc

rab

Nyssa sylvatica

Blackgum, Black Tupelo

c

pal

Ostrya virginiana

Hophornbeam

u

rab

Oxydendrum arboreum

Sourwood

c

rab

Pinus echinata

Shortleaf Pine

c

rab

Pinus taeda

Loblolly Pine

c

rab

Pinus virginiana

Virginia Pine

fc

rab

Platanus occidentalis

American Sycamore

fc

rab

Populus deltoides

Eastern Cottonwood

r

rab

Prunus americana

American Plum

u

rab

Prunus angustifolia

Chickasaw Plum

fc

rab

Prunus serotina

Black Cherry

c

rab

Ptelea trifoliata

Hoptree

vr

spe

 

 

Quercus alba

White Oak

c

rab

Quercus bicolor

Swamp White Oak

vr

dci

 

 

Quercus coccinea

Scarlet Oak

fc

rab

Quercus falcata

Southern Red Oak

c

rab

Quercus lyrata

Overcup Oak

u

rab

Quercus marilandica

Blackjack Oak

u

rab

Quercus michauxii

Swamp Chestnut Oak

u

rab

Quercus nigra

Water Oak

fc

rab

Quercus pagoda

Cherrybark Oak

fc

rab

Q. falcata var. pagodaefolia

Quercus palustris

Pin Oak

r

rab

Quercus phellos

Willow Oak

c

rab

Quercus montana

Chestnut Oak

u

rab

Quercus prinus

Quercus rubra

Northern Red Oak

c

rab

Quercus shumardii

Shumard Oak

fc

rab

Quercus stellata

Post Oak

fc

rab

Quercus velutina

Black Oak

c

rab

Rhododendron catawbiense

Catawba Rhododendron

o

rab

Rhus copallinum var. copallinum

Winged Sumac, Shining Sumac

c

rab

Rhus copallina

Rhus glabra

Smooth Sumac

fc

rab

Salix nigra

Black Willow

fc

rab

Sassafras albidum

Sassafras

c

rab

Staphylea trifolia

American Bladdernut

o

rab

Styrax grandifolius

Bigleaf Snowbell

u

rab

Styrax grandifolia

Symplocos tinctoria

Sweetleaf

r

jli

Taxodium distichum

Baldcypress

r

dci

Erwin Rd. stand planted

Tilia americana var. caroliniana

Carolina Basswood

vr

per

T. caroliniana, T. floridana

Ulmus alata

Winged Elm

c

rab

Ulmus americana

American Elm

u

rab

Ulmus rubra

Slippery Elm

fc

spe

Vaccinium arboreum

Sparkleberry, Farkleberry

u

rab

Viburnum nudum

Possumhaw Viburnum

o

rab

Viburnum prunifolium

Blackhaw

fc

rab

Viburnum rufidulum

Rusty Blackhaw

u

rab

 

 

 

 

Hypothetical (occur in surrounding counties)

 

 

 

Fraxinus profunda

Pumpkin Ash

h

Fraxinus tomentosa

Nyssa biflora

Swamp Tupelo

h

Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naturalized Trees

Scientific Name

Common Names

Freq*

Refº

Notes

Synonyms

Acer palmatum

Japanese Maple

r

pho

Native: Japan, South Korea

Ailanthus altissima

Tree-of-heaven

c

rab

Native: China

Albizia julibrissin

Silktree Mimosa

c

rab

Native: Asia

Albizia julibrissin x kalkora

Hybrid Mimosa

vr

pho

Albizia kalkora

Kalkora Mimosa

vr

spe

Native: Japan, Korea, Taiwan

Broussonetia papyrifera

Paper-mulberry

o

rab

Native: China

Catalpa bignonioides

Southern Catalpa

o

spe

Native: South-central USA

Catalpa speciosa

Northern Catalpa

o

spe

Native: Central USA

Cladrastis kentukea

Yellowwood

vr

per

Native: Appalachian Mountains, USA

Gleditsia triacanthos

Honeylocust

u

rab

Native: Central USA

Hibiscus syriacus

Rose-of-Sharon

o

pho

Native: China, India

Ilex cornuta

Chinese Holly

u

pho

Native: China

Ilex vomitoria

Yaupon

fc

spe

Native: SE USA

Lagerstroemia indica

Crapemyrtle

r

spe

Native: Asia

Ligustrum lucidum

Glossy Privet

u

spe

Native: China, Japan, Korea

Ligustrum sinense

Chinese Privet

c

rab

Native: China

Maackia japonica

Japanese Maackia

vr

pho

Native: Japan

Maclura pomifera

Osage-orange

r

rab

Native: Central USA

Magnolia grandiflora

Southern Magnolia, Bull-bay

fc

rab

Native: SE USA

Malus pumila

Common Apple

o

pal

Native: Eurasia

Melia azedarach

Chinaberry

u

rab

Native: China

Morus alba

White Mulberry

fc

rab

Native: China

Paulownia tomentosa

Princesstree, Royal Paulownia

c

rab

Native: China

Pinus strobus

Eastern White Pine

vr

pho

Native: NE US

Populus alba

White Poplar

fc

rab

Native: Europe

Prunus avium

Sweet Cherry

o

pal

Native: Eurasia

Prunus caroliniana

Carolina Laurelcherry

o

pal

Native: SE USA

Prunus persica

Peach

o

rab

Native: Asia

Pyrus calleryana

Callery Pear

fc

pho

Native: Asia

Pyrus communis

Common Pear

o

spe

Native: Eurasia (hybrid origin)

Quercus acutissima

Sawtooth Oak

vr

per

Native: eastern Asia

Robinia pseudoacacia

Black Locust

c

rab

Native: Appalachians

Robinia pseudo-acacia

Salix alba

White Willow

r

per

Native: Europe

Salix babylonica

Weeping Willow

r

rab

Native: Asia

Ulmus parviflora

Lacebark Elm, Chinese Elm

o

pho

Native: China, Japan, Korea

 

 

 

 

 

 

Native Shrubs and Subshrubs

Scientific Name

Common Names

Freq*

Refº

Notes

Synonyms

Amorpha fruticosa

False Indigo-bush, Tall Indigo-bush

r

rab

 

Aronia arbutifolia

Red Chokeberry

fc

rab

Sorbus arbutifolia, Photinia pyrifolia

Arundinaria gigantea

Giant Cane

o

spe

Arundinaria tecta

Switch Cane

o

spe

Asimina parviflora

Smallflower Pawpaw, Dwarf Pawpaw

u

rab

 

 

Berberis canadensis

American Barberry

r

rab

 

Callicarpa americana

American Beautyberry

o

rab

 

Calycanthus floridus var. floridus

Sweet Betsy, Eastern Sweetshrub

r

rab

 

Ceanothus americanus

New Jersey-Tea

o

rab

 

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Common Buttonbush

fc

rab

Chimaphila maculata

Striped Pipsissewa, Wintergreen

fc

rab

Chimaphila umbellata ssp. cisatlantica

Pipsissewa

r

rab

Clematis ochroleuca

Curlyheads

r

rab

 

Cornus amomum

Swamp Dogwood, Silky Dogwood

u

rab

 

Cornus stricta

Stiff Dogwood

r

rab

Cornus foemina

Corylus americana

American Hazelnut

u

rab

Cunila origanoides

American-dittany, Wild-oregano

r

rab

Dirca palustris

Eastern Leatherwood

vr

dci

 

Epigaea repens

Trailing Arbutus

r

rab

 

Eubotrys racemosa

Coastal Fetterbush

o

dci

Leucothoe racemosa

Euonymus americanus

Hearts-a-bustin', American Strawberry-bush

c

rab

Euonymus americana

Galax urceolata

Galax

r

rab

Galax aphylla

Gaylussacia brachycera

Box Huckleberry

vr

spe

Gaylussacia baccata

Black Huckleberry

u

rab

 

Gaylussacia dumosa

Dwarf Huckleberry

r

rab

 

Gaylussacia frondosa

Dangleberry, Blue Huckleberry

r

jli

 

Huperzia lucidula

Shining Firmoss, Shining Clubmoss

r

rab

Hydrangea arborescens

Wild Hydrangea

r

rab

 

Hypericum crux-andreae

St. Andrew's-Cross, St. Peter's-Wort

o

rab

Hypericum stans

Hypericum densiflorum

Bushy St. John's-Wort

r

dci

Hypericum hypericoides

St. Andrew's-Cross

c

rab

 

Hypericum lloydi

Sandhill St. John's-Wort

r

rab

 

Hypericum nudiflorum

Early St. John's-Wort

o

rab

 

Hypericum prolificum

Shrubby St. John's-Wort

r

pho

 

Hypericum stragalum

St. Andrew's-Cross

o

dci

Hypericum hypericoides ssp. multicaule

Ilex glabra

Inkberry

r

rab

 

Ilex verticillata

Common Winterberry

r

rab

Itea virginica

Virginia Sweetspire

r

rab

 

Lindera benzoin var. benzoin

Smooth Northern Spicebush

o

spe

Lindera benzoin var. pubescens

Hairy Northern Spicebush

u

spe

Lycopodium digitatum

Running-Cedar, Fan Ground-Pine

c

rab

Lycopodium flabelliforme, Diphasiastrum digitatum

Lycopodium obscurum

Common Ground-pine

r

rab

Dendrolycopodium obscurum

Lyonia ligustrina

Maleberry

u

rab

 

Lyonia mariana

Staggerbush

u

rab

 

Morella caroliniensis

Southern Bayberry

r

dci

Myrica heterophylla

Nestronia umbellula

Nestronia, Leechbrush

r

rab

 

Phoradendron leucarpum

Oak Mistletoe

fc

rab

Phoradendron serotinum

Physocarpus opulifolius

Eastern Ninebark

r

rab

 

Pyrola americana

Rounded Shinleaf

r

rab

 

Rhododendron arborescens

Smooth Azalea

r

dci

 

Rhododendron periclymenoides

Pink Azalea, Pinxter Flower

fc

rab

Rhododendron nudiflorum

Rhus aromatica

Fragrant Sumac

r

rab

 

Rhus michauxii

Michaux's Sumac

vr

rab

 

Robinia hispida var. hispida

Bristly Locust

o

rab

 

Rosa carolina

Carolina Rose

o

rab

 

Rosa palustris

Swamp Rose

u

rab

 

Rubus argutus

Saw-tooth Blackberry

c

rab

Rubus betulifolius

Rubus cuneifolius

Sand Blackberry

u

rab

 

Rubus flagellaris

Whiplash Dewberry

u

rab

 

Rubus occidentalis

Black Raspberry

o

rab

 

Salix humilis

Prairie Willow

o

rab

 

Salix sericea

Silky Willow

o

spe

Sambucus canadensis

Common Elderberry

fc

rab

Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis

Selaginella apoda

Meadow Spikemoss

r

rab

 

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Coralberry

u

rab

 

Toxicodendron pubescens

Atlantic Poison-Oak

r

rab

Rhus toxicodendron

Vaccinium caesariense

New Jersey Highbush Blueberry

r

spe

V. corymbosum (in part)

Vaccinium formosum

Southern Highbush Blueberry

o

spe

V. corymbosum (in part)

Vaccinium fuscatum

Black Highbush Blueberry

c

rab

Vaccinium atrococcum

Vaccinium ×marianum (formosum × fuscatum)

Southern × Black Highbush Blueberry

r

spe

Vaccinium pallidum

Early Lowbush Blueberry

c

rab

Vaccinium vacillans

Vaccinium stamineum

Deerberry

c

rab

 

Vaccinium tenellum

Small Black Blueberry

u

rab

 

Viburnum acerifolium

Maple-leaf Viburnum

fc

rab

 

Viburnum dentatum

Southern Arrowwood

u

rab

 

Viburnum rafinesquianum

Downy Arrowwood

c

rab

 

Viburnum recognitum

Smooth Arrowwood

o

rab

Viburnum dentatum var. lucidum

Xanthorhiza simplicissima

Yellowroot

o

rab

 

Yucca filamentosa

Adam's Needle, Bear-Grass

o

rab

 

 

 

Hypothetical (occur in surrounding counties)

 

 

Aronia prunifolia

Purple Chokeberry

h

Photinia floribunda, Sorbus arbutifolia var. atropurpurea

Corylus cornuta

Beaked Hazelnut

h

 

Fothergilla major

Mountain Witch-Alder

h

 

Gaultheria procumbens

Wintergreen, Teaberry

h

Manfreda virginica

Eastern False-aloe

h

Agave virginica

Opuntia humifusa

Eastern Prickly-Pear

h

Opuntia compressa

Robinia nana

Bristly Locust

h

Robinia hispida var. nana

Salix caroliniana

Coastal Plain Willow

h

Vaccinium elliottii

Elliott's Blueberry, Mayberry

h

 

 

 

Naturalized Shrubs

Scientific Name

Common Names

Freq*

Refº

Notes

Synonyms

Berberis bealei

Leatherleaf Mahonia

u

spe

Native: Asia

Mahonia bealei

Berberis thunbergii

Japanese Barberry

r

dci

Native: Japan

 

Buddleja davidii

Orange-eye Butterfly-Bush

o

per

Native: China

Buddleia davidii

Citrus trifoliata

Trifoliate Orange, Hardy Orange

r

pho

Native: China

Poncirus trifoliata

Elaeagnus pungens

Thorny-Olive, Silverthorn

u

pho

Native: Japan

 

Elaeagnus umbellata var. parvifolia

Autumn-Olive, Silverberry

c

rab

Native: China, Korea, Japan

 

Euonymus alatus

Winged Burning Bush

r

pho

Native: China, Japan, Korea

Lespedeza bicolor

Shrubby Lespedeza

u

rab

Native: Asia

 

Ligustrum amurense

Amur Privet

r

spe

Native: China

Lonicera fragrantissima

Winter Honeysuckle, Sweet-breath-of-spring

r

pal

Native: China

 

Lonicera maackii

Amur Honeysuckle

u

spe

Native: Asia

 

Nandina domestica

Nandina, Heavenly-Bamboo

u

rab

Native: Asia

 

Prunus pumila var. susquehanae

Appalachian Sand Cherry

vr

rab

Native: NE US

 

Rosa multiflora

Multiflora Rose

fc

spe

Native: Asia

 

 

 

 

Native Woody Vines

Scientific Name

Common Names

Freq*

Refº

Notes

Synonyms

Bignonia capreolata

Crossvine

u

rab

Anisostichus capreolata

Campsis radicans

Trumpet Creeper

c

rab

 

Clematis viorna

N. Leatherflower, Vasevine

o

rab

 

Clematis virginiana

Virgin's-bower

o

rab

 

Gelsemium sempervirens

Carolina Yellow-Jessamine

fc

pal

 

Lonicera sempervirens

Trumpet Honeysuckle

fc

rab

 

Menispermum canadense

Common Moonseed

u

rab

 

Mitchella repens

Partridgeberry

u

rab

 

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Virginia Creeper

c

rab

 

Smilax bona-nox

Saw Greenbrier, Catbrier

c

rab

 

Smilax glauca

Whiteleaf Greenbrier, Catbrier

c

rab

 

Smilax hispida

Bristly Greenbriar

o

rab

Smilax tamnoides

Smilax rotundifolia

Common Greenbrier

c

rab

 

Smilax walteri

Coral Greenbrier

o

rab

 

Thyrsanthella difformis

Climbing Dogbane

u

rab

Trachelospermum difforme

Toxicodendron radicans

Eastern Poison-Ivy

c

rab

Rhus radicans

Vitis aestivalis var. aestivalis

Summer Grape

fc

dci

 

Vitis cinerea var. floridana

Gray-bark Grape

o

rab

 

Vitis labrusca

Fox Grape

fc

rab

 

Vitis rotundifolia

Muscadine Grape, Scuppernong

c

rab

 

Vitis vulpina

Frost Grape

o

spe

 

Wisteria frutescens

American Wisteria

vr

rab

 

 

 

 

Hypothetical (occur in surrounding counties)

 

 

 

Vitis cinerea var. baileyana

Possum Grape

h

Vitis baileyana

 

 

 

Naturalized Woody Vines

Scientific Name

Common Names

Freq*

Refº

Notes

Synonyms

Akebia quinata

Five-leaf Akebia, Chocolate Vine

r

spe

Native: China, Korea, Japan

 

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata

Porcelainberry, Amur Peppervine

r

dci

Native: China

 

Celastrus orbiculatus

Oriental Bittersweet, Asian Bittersweet

u

pal

Native: China

Celastrus orbiculata

Clematis terniflora

Sweet Autumn Clematis

o

rab

Native: China, Korea, Japan

Clematis dioscoreifolia

Euonymus fortunei var. radicans

Winter Creeper

u

per

Native: China

 

Hedera helix

English Ivy

fc

spe

Native: Europe

 

Lonicera japonica

Japanese Honeysuckle

c

rab

Native: China, Japan

 

Pueraria montana var. lobata

Kudzu

fc

rab

Native: China, Japan

 

Vinca major

Bigleaf Periwinkle

o

per

Native: Europe

 

Vinca minor

Common Periwinkle

fc

per

Native: Europe

 

Wisteria sinensis

Chinese Wisteria

fc

pal

Native: China

 

 

 

 

Species attributed to Durham Co. but omitted from this list
Quercus laevis (Turkey Oak) has a dot for Durham Co. in Radford et al. (1968), but no specimen found in the Duke, UNC, or NC State Herbaria. Seems highly unlikely to be correct. The Castanea sativa (European Chestnut) listed in Palmer (1990), refers to specimens of planted trees. The Rubus allegheniensis (Allegheny Blackberry) listed in Palmer (1990) was of one apparent escape; not established.

*Freq = Frequency code
c = common - easy to find anywhere in the county with no special effort
fc = fairly common - can always be found with some effort
u = uncommon - not difficult to find with a directed search, but not present in most areas
o = occasional - may be difficult to find, even with searching appropriate habitat
r = rare - only a few known occurences, usually not found unless you know where to look
vr = very rare - only one or two known occurences
h = hypothetical - no known occurences, but has been found in more than one bordering county

ºRef = Reference for this species' occurence in Durham County, NC
dci = Durham County inventory, Hall and Sutter (1999)
jli = Jordan Lake inventory, LeGrand (1999)
pal = Palmer (1990)
per = personal observation
pho = photograph on this web site
rab = Radford, Ahles, and Bell (1968)
spe = specimen in Duke Herbarium

References
Hall, SP and RD Sutter. 1999. Durham County Inventory of Important Natural Areas, Plants and Wildlife. Privately printed, Durham, NC.
LeGrand, HE Jr. 1999. B. Everett Jordan Lake Project: Inventory for Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species and Natural Community Inventory. Privately printed, Raleigh, NC.
Palmer, MW. 1990. Vascular flora of the Duke Forest, North Carolina. Castanea 55(4):229-244.
Radford, AE, HE Ahles, and CR Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.

What is a tree?

There is no real clear-cut difference between a tree and a shrub, but to have a tree list you need to make the distinction. The definition here is the same as in the American Forestry Association's Big Tree Register (2000): a woody plant having one erect perennial stem or trunk at least 9.5 inches in circumference (3 inches in diameter) at 4.5 feet above the ground (breast height), a definitely formed crown of foliage, and a height of at least 13 feet. Source: EL Little, Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States Trees (Native and Naturalized). U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 541.

Summer key to common species

Orange County NC trees, shrubs, and woody vines

Wake County NC trees, shrubs, and woody vines