Native shrubs, groundcovers, and ferns that hold their leaves through winter for year-round green, screening, and cover. For North Carolina, the right natives are shaped by Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Coastal Plain and a humid subtropical to montane climate. Every species below, from Crossvine and Foamflower to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to North Carolina and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–8. Evergreen natives carry the garden through the bare months, giving structure, privacy, and winter shelter for birds when the deciduous plants have dropped their leaves. Site broadleaf evergreens out of harsh winter wind and afternoon sun to prevent leaf scorch, and water them deeply going into a dry fall so they enter winter fully charged.
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Bignonia capreolata
In North Carolina's Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Coastal Plain, year-round foliage for privacy and shelter when the rest of the garden sleeps, reaching 25–50 ft and happy in clay and loam soil.
Tiarella cordifolia
In North Carolina's Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Coastal Plain, stays green when everything else drops — 6–12 in tall and happy in loam soil, good for winter shelter.
Phlox subulata
In North Carolina's Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Coastal Plain, year-round foliage for privacy and shelter when the rest of the garden sleeps, for sand, rocky, and loam ground and good through zone 9.
Ilex glabra
In North Carolina's Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Coastal Plain, evergreen structure and privacy through the bare months, inconspicuous flowers and cold-hardy to zone 4.
Polystichum acrostichoides
In North Carolina's Blue Ridge, Piedmont & Coastal Plain, carries the planting through winter with leaves intact, reaching 1–2 ft and spreading 1.5–2.5 ft.
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.