A Field Guide to Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia

Natural Communities

DRY LONGLEAF PINELAND

Dry Longleaf Pineland is the typical longleaf pine woodland of the Sandhills region. It used to be the most widespread and abundant community within the region, occurring on dry slopes and flats throughout, but development, fire suppression, and conversion to pine plantations have reduced most of it to small patches. Fortunately, a number of large and highly significant examples remain within protected areas. Dominants are Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris), Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis), Dwarf Post Oak (Q. margarettae), and Wiregrass (Aristida stricta, two varieties), with a moderate to dense herb layer. Wiregrass is usually dense and carries relatively cool-burning fires through the community. As with Turkey Oak Scrub, many of the member plants are highly adapted to fire; some such as Wiregrass will not flower or fruit without it. Within just a few weeks after a winter or spring fire, there is a burst of plant growth from dormant seeds and rhizomes, soon followed by flowering, which continues through fall. Next season's display is less spectacular, and each subsequent year produces fewer flowering plants until fire occurs again. When particularly well-burned, the oak subcanopy is markedly reduced, and the community then appears savannalike. Further reduction in the density of pines results in a pine savanna.

Three components form the typical community of dry soils: an open canopy of Longleaf Pine, an understory of up to four species of oaks, and a dense layer of wiregrass.

Common associates include Mockernut Hickory (Carya alba), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Dwarf Huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa), Narrowleaf Blueberry (Vaccinium tenellum), Poison Oak (Toxicodendron pubescens), Carolina Wild-indigo (Baptisia cinerea), Southern Flowering-spurge (Euphorbia pubentissima), Downy Beardtongue (Penstemon australis), Goat's-rue (Tephrosia virginiana), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and witchgrasses (Dichanthelium spp.).

Dry Longleaf Pinelands are quite variable in structure and composition, depending on soil type, moisture, depth to underlying clay layer, and fire regime. We cannot describe them all, but one variant is particularly interesting botanically. In this variant the soils are markedly loamy and more fertile than the average droughty Sandhills region soils, producing a very diverse herb layer notable for high numbers of legumes, grasses, and composites (aster family). The community is best developed in shallow dry swales (called pea swales or bean dips), on mesic flats, and at bases of relatively steep slopes. Blackjack Oak (Q. marilandica) and Bluejack Oak (Q. incana) are often the commonest understory trees. Within our region, a number of species are virtually restricted to this community: Small-leaved White Snakeroot (Ageratina aromatica), Woolly Three-awn (Aristida lanosa), Panicled Tick-trefoil (Desmodium paniculatum), Soft Milkpea (Galactia mollis), Virginia Marbleseed (Onosmodium virginianum),

In the loamy-soil variant, finer-textured soils retain more nutrients and support communities with an exceptional diversity of grasses, legumes, and composites (aster family).

At well-burned sites, members of the aster family are prominent in the late summer and autumn. Here we see asters, goldenrods, eupatoriums, and blazing-asters.

Pitchfork Crowngrass (Paspalum bifidum), and Nodding Indiangrass (Sorghastrum elliottii). The federally endangered Michaux's Sumac (Rhus michauxii) occurs most often in this variant.

Species List

The color after a name indicates the primary natural community or habitat.

T = mentioned in text of another species; not pictured.

Agalinis setacea TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Threadleaf Gerardia

Ageratina aromatica

Small-leaved White

Snakeroot

Aletris farinosa T STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

White Colicroot

Amorpha herbacea

Dwarf Indigo-bush

Amsonia ciliata TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Fringed Bluestar

Andropogon gerardii

Big Bluestem; Turkeyfoot

Andropogon ternarius

Silvery Bluestem; Splitbeard Bluestem

Andropogon virginicus T

Oldfield Bluestem

Angelica venenosa

Downy Angelica

Apocynum cannabinum ROADSIDES AND DISTURBED GROUND

Indian Hemp

Aristida stricta

Wiregrass

Arnica acaulis OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Leopard's-bane

Asclepias amplexicaulis

Wavy-leaved Milkweed

Asclepias humistrata TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Fleshy Milkweed

Asclepias tomentosa TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Hairy Milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa ssp. rolfsii

Sandhill Orange Milkweed

Astragalus michauxii

Sandhills Milkvetch

Aureolaria pectinata TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Sticky False-foxglove

Baptisia cinerea

Carolina Wild-indigo

Baptisia lanceolata T

Lanceleaf Wild-indigo

Baptisia tinctoria

Northern Wild-indigo

Berlandiera pumila

Eastern Greeneyes

Brickellia eupatorioides

Eastern False-boneset;

Eastern False-eupatorium

Buchnera floridana STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Florida Bluehearts

Carphephorus bellidifolius TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Sandhill Chaffhead

Ceanothus americanus OAK-HICKORY FOREST

New Jersey Tea

Centrosema virginiana

Spurred Butterfly-pea

Chamaecrista nictitans

Sensitive Partridge-pea;

Wild Sensitive-plant

Chrysopsis mariana

Maryland Golden-aster

Cirsium repandum

Sandhill Thistle

Clitoria mariana

Butterfly-pea

Cnidoscolus stimulosus TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Tread-softly

Commelina erecta var. angustifolia

Pineland Dayflower;

Sand Dayflower

Coreopsis major var. rigida

Whorled Tickseed;

Whorled Coreopsis

Coreopsis verticillata OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Cutleaf Tickseed

Crocanthemum canadense TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Canada Frostweed

Croptilon divaricatum ROADSIDES AND DISTURBED GROUND

Slender Scratch-daisy

Crotalaria purshii

Pursh's Rattlebox

Crotalaria rotundifolia

Rabbitbells;

Low Rattlebox

Cuthbertia graminea TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Slender Roseling

Cyperus plukenetii

Starburst Flatsedge;

Plukenet's Flatsedge

Dalea pinnata var. pinnata

Summer Farewell

Danthonia sericea

Silky Oatgrass

Desmodium ciliare

Littleleaf Tick-trefoil

Desmodium laevigatum

Smooth Tick-trefoil

Desmodium nuttallii

Nuttall's Tick-trefoil

Desmodium strictum

Upland Slender Tick-trefoil;

Pineland Tick-trefoil

Desmodium viridiflorum T

Velvet Tick-trefoil

Elephantopus nudatus

Savanna Elephant's-foot;

Pineland Elephant's-foot

Elephantopus tomentosus T

Upland Elephant's-foot

Epigaea repens

Trailing Arbutus

Eragrostis spectabilis ROADSIDES AND DISTURBED GROUND

Purple Lovegrass

Erigeron strigosus var. strigosus

Slender Daisy-fleabane

Eryngium yuccifolium

Rattlesnake Master;

Button Snakeroot

Eupatorium album

White Eupatorium

Eupatorium capillifolium T ROADSIDES AND DISTURBED GROUND

Slender Dog-fennel

Eupatorium compositifolium ROADSIDES AND DISTURBED GROUND

Coastal Plain Dog-fennel

Eupatorium hyssopifolium OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Hyssopleaf Eupatorium

Eupatorium leucolepis STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Savanna Eupatorium

Eupatorium linearifolium T STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Narrowleaf Eupatorium

Eupatorium rotundifolium

Roundleaf Eupatorium

Euphorbia curtissii

White Sandhill-spurge

Euphorbia exserta T

Purple Sandhill-spurge

Euphorbia ipecacuanhae TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Carolina Ipecac

Euphorbia pubentissima

Southern Flowering-spurge

Euthamia caroliniana

Slender Flat-topped Goldenrod

Gaillardia aestivalis

Rayless Blanket-flower;

Sandhills Gaillardia

Galactia erecta

Erect Milkpea

Galactia mollis

Soft Milkpea

Galactia regularis

Smooth Milkpea;

Common Milkpea

Galactia volubilis T

Twining Milkpea

Gaura filipes OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Threadstalk Gaura

Gaylussacia dumosa TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Dwarf Huckleberry

Gentiana autumnalis

Autumn Gentian

Gentiana villosa T STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Striped Gentian

Helianthus atrorubens

Purpledisc Sunflower

Helianthus divaricatus OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Woodland Sunflower

Hieracium gronovii T

Beaked Hawkweed

Hieracium marianum

Maryland Hawkweed

Houstonia purpurea OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Summer Bluet

Hypericum hypericoides

St. Andrew's Cross

Hypericum setosum STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Downy St. John's-wort

Hypoxis hirsuta OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Upland Stargrass

Hypoxis wrightii

Pineland Stargrass

Ionactis linariifolius

Stiff Aster; Spruce Aster

Iris verna var. verna

Dwarf Iris

Lactuca graminifolia

Slender Wild-lettuce

Lespedeza angustifolia

Narrowleaf Bush-clover

Lespedeza bicolor ROADSIDES AND DISTURBED GROUND

Bicolor Bush-clover

Lespedeza capitata

Silvery Bush-clover

Lespedeza cuneata ROADSIDES AND DISTURBED GROUND

Chinese Bush-clover

Lespedeza hirta T

Roundleaf Bush-clover

Lespedeza procumbens T

Trailing Bush-clover

Lespedeza repens

Creeping Bush-clover

Lespedeza stuevei T OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Stueve's Bush-clover

Lespedeza virginica OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Slender Bush-clover

Liatris cokeri TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Sandhills Blazing-star

Liatris secunda T TURKEY OAK SCRUB

One-sided Blazing-star

Liatris squarrosa

Long-bracted Blazing-star

Liatris squarrulosa

Earle's Blazing-star

Linum floridanum

Savanna Flax

Lithospermum caroliniense TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Sandhill Puccoon

Lobelia nuttallii STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Nuttall's Lobelia

Ludwigia hirtella T

Rafinesque's Seedbox

Ludwigia virgata

Savanna Seedbox

Lupinus diffusus TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Sandhill Lupine

Lupinus perennis T TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Sundial Lupine

Marshallia obovata var. scaposa

Savanna Barbara's-buttons

Mimosa microphylla

Eastern Sensitive-brier

Minuartia caroliniana TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Carolina Sandwort

Monarda punctata

Spotted Beebalm

Morella pumila

Dwarf Wax-myrtle

Muhlenbergia capillaris

Upland Muhly

Oenothera fruticosa

Southern Sundrops

Onosmodium virginianum

Virginia Marbleseed

Orbexilum lupinellum

Sandhill Scurfpea;

Lupine Scurfpea

Orbexilum pedunculatum var. psoralioides STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Sampson's Snakeroot

Parthenium integrifolium var. mabryanum

Mabry's Wild-quinine

Pediomelum canescens

Buckroot

Penstemon australis

Downy Beardtongue

Penstemon laevigatus T

Smooth Beardtongue

Phaseolus sinuatus

Trailing Wild Bean;

Sandhill Bean

Phlox nivalis var. nivalis

Pineland Phlox

Physalis lanceolata

Sandhills Ground-cherry

Physalis virginiana T

Virginia Ground-cherry

Pityopsis aspera

Sticky Golden-aster

Pityopsis graminifolia T

Grass-leaved Golden-aster

Polygala grandiflora

Showy Milkwort

Polygala mariana T ROADSIDES AND DISTURBED GROUND

Maryland Milkwort

Prenanthes autumnalis

One-sided Rattlesnake-root

Pycnanthemum flexuosum

Savanna Mountain-mint

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Slender Mountain-mint

Pyxidanthera brevifolia TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Sandhills Pyxie-moss

Rhexia alifanus STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Savanna Meadow-beauty

Rhus copallinum

Winged Sumac

Rhus glabra OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Smooth Sumac

Rhus michauxii

Michaux's Sumac

Rhynchosia reniformis

Dollarweed;

Roundleaf Snoutbean

Rhynchosia tomentosa

Erect Snoutbean

Robinia nana TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Dwarf Locust

Rubus cuneifolius ROADSIDES AND DISTURBED GROUND

Sand Blackberry

Ruellia ciliosa

Sandhill Wild-petunia

Sabatia brachiata

Narrowleaf Sabatia

Sabatia quadrangula T STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Four-angled Sabatia

Saccharum alopecuroides T BEAVER PONDS AND IMPOUNDMENTS

Foxtail Plumegrass

Salvia azurea var. azurea

Azure Sage

Schizachyrium scoparium

Little Bluestem

Schwalbea americana

Chaffseed

Sericocarpus asteroides

Toothed White-topped Aster

Sericocarpus linifolius T

Slender White-topped Aster

Sericocarpus tortifolius

Twistleaf White-topped Aster; Dixie White-topped Aster

Seymeria cassioides

Senna Seymeria

Silene virginica OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Fire Pink

Silphium compositum

Rosinweed

Sisyrinchium fuscatum T

Bristly Blue-eyed-grass

Sisyrinchium rufipes

Sandhill Blue-eyed-grass

Smilax glauca OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Sawbrier

Solidago arguta var. caroliniana OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Vasey's Goldenrod

Solidago odora

Fragrant Goldenrod

Solidago pinetorum T OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Pineywoods Goldenrod

Solidago rugosa var. aspera T STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Roughstem Goldenrod

Sorghastrum elliottii

Nodding Indiangrass

Sorghastrum nutans

Prairie Indiangrass;

Yellow Indiangrass

Spiranthes praecox STREAMHEADS AND SEEPAGE SLOPES

Grass-leaved Ladies’-tresses

Spiranthes tuberosa

Little Ladies’-tresses

Stillingia sylvatica

Queen's Delight

Stylisma patens ssp. angustifolia T

Narrowleaf Dawnflower

Stylisma patens ssp. patens

Sandhill Morning-glory;

Sandhill Dawnflower

Stylodon carneus

Carolina Vervain

Stylosanthes biflora

Pencil Flower

Symphyotrichum concolor

Eastern Silvery-aster

Symphyotrichum patens OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Skydrop Aster

Symphyotrichum walteri

Walter's Aster

Tephrosia florida T

Savanna Goat's-rue

Tephrosia spicata

Tawny Goat's-rue

Tephrosia virginiana

Common Goat's-rue

Tetragonotheca helianthoides

Squareheads

Thaspium trifoliatum OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Woodland Parsnip

Toxicodendron pubescens

Poison Oak

Trichostema setaceum T ROADSIDES AND DISTURBED GROUND

Slender Blue-curls

Vaccinium stamineum OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Deerberry

Vaccinium tenellum

Narrowleaf Blueberry

Vernonia acaulis

Carolina Ironweed

Vernonia angustifolia

Slender Ironweed

Viola pedata

Bird's-foot Violet

Viola villosa OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Southern Woolly Violet

Vitis rotundifolia OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Muscadine Grape

Warea cuneifolia TURKEY OAK SCRUB

Carolina Pineland-cress

Xyris caroliniana

Carolina Yellow-eyed-grass

Yucca filamentosa OAK-HICKORY FOREST

Adam's Needle

Zornia bracteata

Viperina

ASTERACEAE: ASTER FAMILY

Savanna Barbara's-buttons

Marshallia obovata (Walter) Beadle & Boynton var. scaposa Channell

Perennial, stems usually single, 4–18″ (10–45 cm) tall, unbranched. Leaves are few and occur in the lower quarter of the stem, or they may be strictly basal. Leaves are ascending to spreading, oblanceolate to elliptic, 1.2–4.8″ (3–12 cm) long and 0.25–1″ (5–25 mm) wide, tapered to a stalk. The single flower head grows terminally atop stem, hemispherical, about 1″ (2.5 cm) wide, disc flowers white, rays absent.

With so few leaves, Savanna Barbara's-buttons looks like it is composed merely of a few basal leaves and a flower atop a simple stem—a botanical condition called scapose. Chauncey Beadle and Frank Boynton were botanists and horticulturalists at the Biltmore Estate in NC; Robert Channell was a botany professor at Vanderbilt University.

Inhabits dry to seasonally moist, loamy sand soil of flats, pea swales, and savannas within longleaf pinelands. Ranges from c NC to c GA, nw FL, and se AL.

LATE APR.–MAY

ASTERACEAE: ASTER FAMILY

Mabry's Wild-quinine

Parthenium integrifolium L. var. mabryanum Mears

Perennial from tuberlike roots, the stem single and usually unbranched, 1–2.5′ (30–75 cm) tall, smooth to pubescent. Leaves are alternate, the basal ones lanceolate, 4–8″ (10–20 cm) long and 0.8–1.6″ (2–4 cm) wide, acute-tipped, tapering to the base, smooth or with short, appressed, roughish hairs, margins toothed, in some plants also deeply lobed. Midstem and upper leaves are much smaller and sessile. Flower heads grow in flat-topped clusters on branches from upper leaf axils, about 0.3″ (8 mm) across, ray flowers white, about 2 mm long, disc flowers creamy white.

As its name suggests, this plant (and its close relatives) was used medicinally to treat fevers, including malaria, and to reduce inflammation of the urinary tract. Typical Wild-quinine (P. integrifolium var. integrifolium) is primarily a Piedmont plant; it is larger in all dimensions.

Inhabits dry longleaf pinelands, rights-of-way, and sometimes roadsides. Ranges on the Coastal Plain from se VA to nc SC.

LATE MAY–EARLY NOV., BLOOMING STRONGLY IN RESPONSE TO FIRE

ASTERACEAE: ASTER FAMILY

Small-leaved White Snakeroot

Ageratina aromatica (L.) Spach [Eupatorium aromaticum L.]

Perennial, 10–24″ (30–65 cm) tall, branched from mid-and upper leaf bases, pubescent. Leaves are opposite, stalks 0.4–0.8″ (1–2 cm) long, blades ovate, 1.2–2.8″ (3–7 cm) long and 0.6–2″ (1.5–5 cm) wide, bluntly toothed. Convex or flattish inflorescences grow at tips of branches, each cluster with many tiny flower heads. Each head has short-pointed white bracts and 5 bright white disc flowers, rays absent.

Small-leaved White Snakeroot is closely related to eupatoriums, but it has much longer leafstalks; its leaves are a brighter green and its flowers a brighter white.

Inhabits loamy sandy soil within longleaf pinelands, mesic to moist pine savannas and flatwoods, and oak-hickory slopes. Ranges from e MA to OH south to n FL and se LA.

LATE AUG.–OCT.

ASTERACEAE: ASTER FAMILY

White Eupatorium

Eupatorium album L.

Pubescent perennial, stems erect or ascending, mostly 10–24″ (25–70 cm) tall. Leaves relatively few, opposite, 2–5″ (5–12 cm) long and 0.6–1.6″ (1.5–4 cm) wide, gradually reduced upward, lanceolate to elliptic, tapered basally, coarsely toothed. The stem is branched above into a flat-topped inflorescence of small flower heads, each with long-pointed white bracts and 5 white disc flowers, rays absent. The inflorescence is covered with short, white, downy hairs, in some plants also with dark