With its hot and muggy summer and short, cold winter, finding plants to grow in North Carolina can be challenging. It’s usually wet and cloudy all year long, although the winter doesn’t last long.
So, what flowers grow well in North Carolina? Well, there are plenty of great options, including Zinnia, daffodils, black-eyed Susans, daylilies, vinca, lantanas, and yarrows.
This article will provide you with many perennial options to grow in your garden in North Carolina, explaining what they are and how to provide them with the right conditions to grow and thrive.
Zinnia
Zinnias are some of the boldest and most vibrant and colorful flowers that grow during the early springtime. These flowers are easy to sprout in your garden and require very low maintenance.
Zinnias prefer heat, so you can grow them in well-drained soil and under full sun heat. However, despite being drought-tolerant, Zinnias still need water, so make sure the soil doesn’t get very dry.
Zinnias are also known for creating unique bouquet arrangements with their cut flowers due to their wide range of colors.
Daffodils
Daffodils, too, bloom in the spring. These flowers are known for their trumpet-like shape and warm yellow color that suits the springtime atmosphere. You can also plant daffodils inside containers for your North Carolina Garden.
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susans are very recognizable flowers with their black center and yellow petals, similar to sunflowers. Susans, however, are smaller in size compared to sunflowers.
Black-Eyed Susans are drought-resistant flowers, making them thrive even with minimal watering. You should deadhead the blooms for growing more flowers.
Daylily
Daylilies are flowers found in zones three through nine. These flowers can be found in nearly every color and prefer to grow in the heat and under the sun. The Daylilies’ soil must always be well-drained because their roots can’t handle being too wet.
Clematis
Clematis is a vibrant purple flower that prefers growing in the heat and under the sun. The flower needs well-draining soil, as most flowers do. On top of that, it’s an avid climber. So if you want to create an art piece using clematis, you can invest in a trellis and have it in your garden.
Vinca
Vinca flowers, also known as Periwinkles, are great for beautiful ground coverage. These plants have glossy foliage that creates a nice contrast with their purple flowers, making them a colorful sight.
Vinica flowers should be planted using loamy, clay, or sandy soil that’s rich with high organic matter. The flowers also require good drainage and should be placed under dappled sunlight or partial shade.
It’s also worth noting that Vinca flowers will attract lots of bumblebees.
Calibrachoa
Also known as A Million Bells, Calibrachoa flowers are container plants of trumpet-shaped blooms in many different shades and colors. Calibrachoa flowers don’t grow tall, but they spread widely, making them a great option to fill pots, window boxes, or any containers.
For these flowers to bloom beautifully, they need a moist, well-drained soil. They bloom in the spring and stay put through the fall.
Echinacea Purpurea
More popularly known as Purple Coneflowers, these herbaceous perennials are very low-maintenance plants that are suitable for many gardens. While Purple Coneflowers can adapt to many soils, they prefer moist and well-drained ones.
Coneflowers are tall (up to five feet high) and hardy flowers that look a lot like daisies and come in many different colors. These flowers will also attract bees, keeping your garden pollinated for all seasons.
Lantana
Lantana plants are bright and vibrant blooms. The flowers’ center is usually orange or yellow, while the outer petals are light pink. Lantanas prefer the sun, so if grown in cold weather, they are likely to hibernate. The flowers also need to grow in well-drained soils, as their roots don’t hold much water.
Yarrow
Yarrow flowers have many names, like little feathers, nosebleed plant, devil’s nettle, soldier’s woundwort, and thousand-leaf. Despite the series of strange and somewhat scary names, Yarrows are actually gorgeous and vibrant plants that can attract butterflies, survive droughts, and be harvested for their beneficial essential oil.
Verbena
Verbenas are beautiful plants with lavender blooms that come in various shapes and sizes. They’re made out of a bunch of tiny flowers that create a big colorful flower cluster.
Verbenas don’t require a lot of water and will do best in sunny conditions. They can also grow well in indirect sunlight. The flowers also require well-drained soil to grow.
Impatiens
Impatiens need a good amount of water to grow and thrive in high temperatures. If the temperature goes over 85 degrees Fahrenheit (it usually does in North Carolina), then the Impatiens need to get at least four inches of water weekly to keep their bright and vibrant petal color.
Peony
Peonies are gorgeous-looking flowers that are known for their fragrance. Many beauty brands use the essential oil extracted from Peonies because of their pleasant scent.
Peonies are also some of the best-looking flowers around, making them a pretty cut flower to use for bouquet arrangements.
Hostas
Hostas are a very unique and hardy perennial that can tolerate almost any growing condition. Hostas require little sunlight to grow; however, they need to be well watered and have their soil well-drained all the time.
Hostas will attract rabbits and deers, so keeping them in a fenced area in your garden is recommended.
Blue Star
Similar to what their name suggests, Blue Star flowers are made of stunning ice blue flower clusters that could cover any garden and bring out its beauty. These plants are famous for their star-shaped blue to lavender flowers. They are also fairly low maintenance and are easy to grow.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus flowers are some of the most popular flowers and are the go-to choice for many gardeners. This is because of their hardy nature and because they don’t require much care. Hibiscus flowers will add a lot of color and character to your garden as they can grow quickly to become more than two feet tall.
Cosmos
Cosmos flowers are some of the very few flowers that can grow on their own, allowing you to nearly forget about them after planting. Growing in zones five to 11, Cosmos prefer a lot of sunlight and well-drained soil.
Aside from their wide beautiful white flowers, what really makes Cosmos unique is their ability to reseed by themselves and grow back each year. The flowers will also attract butterflies and pollinators.
Salvia
If you’re looking for tubular plants for your garden, Salvia flowers are an excellent option. The blooms come in many colors and shades, like red, pink, and purple. The flowers will also attract hummingbirds and pollinators.
Thimbleweed
A great option for ground cover for your yard, Thimbleweed plants are as beautiful as adaptable. The plants are drought-resistant and love the sun, but can also adapt in part shade areas, making them suitable for many living conditions.
Thimbleweed plants love dappled light, too, making them a great option to place under the canopy of your patio. The plant’s white petals are a gorgeous sight and will bring out the color of other flowers in your garden.
Flowering Tobacco
Also known as Nicotiana, Flowering Tobacco can grow in partial sun or shade. Depending on these conditions, Flowering Tobacco flowers could grow to be light or vibrant, short or tall. These flowers require lots of water and deadheading to grow and thrive.
Conclusion: What Flowers Grow Well in North Carolina
Despite its challenging weather conditions, North Carolina is home to different plants. Hardy and adaptable perennial flowers, like Zinnia, Vinca, and many others, grow and thrive in North Carolina.
However, these plants need to receive proper care to survive despite their tough nature. This starts with growing them in the right soil with appropriate watering and under suitable sun conditions.
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