Native Plants

When you walk around the North Carolina Museum of Art Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, you are surrounded by many plants that are native to North Carolina. One way the Museum has increased diversity of native plants in the Park is through a partnership with the North Carolina Native Plant Society to rescue native plants from sites scheduled for development. They are replanted and thrive in the Museum Park. Native plants that have been replanted in the Park include plants like ginger, lady ferns, spring beauties, and mayapples. You’ll also spot various native wildflowers like bloodroot that occur naturally in the Park. They have been able to continue to grow and thrive thanks to Park efforts to remove invasive species. The Museum staff has developed an Invasive Species Management Plan to direct the removal of invasive species like kudzu, privet, and English ivy from the campus. These plants threaten other wildlife like North Carolina trees. After the team removed a thick layer of invasive shrubs that were dominating the space, they discovered several native orchids and ferns, such as downy rattlesnake plantain and grape fern. As you stroll the Park, you’ll find yourself surrounded by many large native trees, including pecan, southern magnolias, hickory, and a variety of oak tree species. The Museum does have some non-native species growing on campus, but they are used in smaller quantities, and only if they’re known to be noninvasive, like tulip magnolias. There are many unique native plants to find while exploring the Museum Park, including a flowering tree called the white fringe tree. This stunning small-sized tree displays cascading white flowers in the spring. Another North Carolina native tree featured in the Park is the yellowwood. This medium-sized tree features white flowers in spring and vibrant yellow leaves in the fall. These trees grow mostly in western North Carolina and are often underutilized in landscaping. The prairie features black-eyed susans and the green-headed coneflower that grow large flower heads with drooping yellow petals. Standing above the tall grass of the prairie are blazing star flowers that produce a cluster of purple flowers. Around the pond, visitors can enjoy the white flowers of the buttonbush. Birds eat the seeds of the buttonbush, and butterflies drink their nectar, so you can frequently find wildlife gathered around them. But if it’s dragonflies you’re looking for, you’ll want to find the pickerelweed. This plant produces tall stalks of purple flowers and can be found in the pond growing in the water. As we expand our trails, landscape, and programs, we hope to welcome an even wider audience to enjoy the beautiful natural wonders that the Museum Park has to offer.