Growing Together with Native Plants

Published on September 26, 2025

We’re still excited from the wonderful time we had at the Cape Fear Native Plant Festival last week! We truly enjoy celebrating native plants because they support local pollinators and wildlife, are adapted to local conditions, and require fewer fertilizers or pesticides, which can cause issues in local waterways if misused.

Even though the festival has ended, you can still find native plants available for purchase from many of the vendors who participated (check out the vendor list at the event page, linked in the sidebar). In fact, we encourage you to keep shopping and asking for native plants all year round — this helps vendors know that there’s continued interest!

Below are photos of some native plants that put on a great show in the fall. For a complete list of plants native to southeastern North Carolina, be sure to visit the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, where you’ll find curated lists and a handy “Find a Plant” feature that allows you to specify your site conditions and preferred plant characteristics, including native options.

Check out the toolbox here: NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox