United States regional guide · NC
Permaculture in North Carolina
North Carolina descends from cool Appalachian mountains through Piedmont clay to a warm sandy Coastal Plain. The state’s elevation range, humid summers, storm exposure, and long eastern season require region-specific plant palettes.
USDA span
5b–9b
Census region
South
Climate starting point
USDA hardiness zones in North Carolina
North Carolina includes USDA zones 5b–9b. Hardiness zones describe typical annual extreme minimum temperatures; within-state elevation, wind, water, soil, and urban heat can change what succeeds on a particular site.
Regional plant starting points
Plants to explore for a North Carolina design
These plants are useful starting points for researching a design in North Carolina. Confirm each choice against your exact zone, site conditions, local ecology, and management goals.
Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
- Layer
- Sub-Canopy
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
- Layer
- Canopy
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
Chickasaw Plum
Prunus angustifolia
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
Rabbiteye Blueberry
Vaccinium ashei
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial
Mayhaw
Crataegus opaca
- Layer
- Sub-Canopy
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial