Native Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia– A scientific website dedicated to native and naturalized plants of the Carolinas and Georgia. Search by scientific or common name, or by plant description. This site is a place to see plants in different seasons, from first shoot to flower to seed.

Flora of the Southeastern United States– A more comprehensive website covering plants in the southeast corner of the United States (from Pennsylvania to Florida, and to the west to east Texas through southern Missouri). The website works by searching through the keys, or by common or scientific name. This site is very helpful for sorting out the details between very similar plants for proper identification.

NC State Extension– The Gardener Plant Toolbox provides information for those that wish to grow plants in North Carolina. It showcases growing conditions, including soil pH, light and moisture requirements, along with pollinators, and possible toxicity to pets and humans. The Find a Plant link allows gardeners to search for a plant that would grow in their specific garden. Users may also search a plant by common or scientific name.

Wildflower Search– This is a visual website, great for beginners who are looking for a flower name and not much technical detail. The page allows for a search by simple flower description and specific location. The unique aspect of this site is that it has data for the times of the year that a plant has been observed and where the plant has been found.

Field Guide to the Southern Piedmont– The Field Guide is a specific guide to natural phenomena in the Piedmont area of the Carolinas and Georgia. It covers plants, fungi, rocks, and animals that are common in the area. It even has “What’s That Sound?” and “What’s That?” sections for things that might surprise you in nature. This Field Guide can be downloaded as a PDF to take with you in the field.

iNaturalist– Photos of plants by citizen scientists. Use this website to explore countless pictures of plants and nature. Set up an account to upload your own nature photos. You can also download the iNaturalist app. The app allows users to take a picture of nature (a plant, animal, mushroom, etc) with their phone and the app will identify it.

Jeff Pippen Nature– A collection of beautiful macro (close up) nature photos by a former Duke University professor. He has photos of plants, mushrooms, animals and bugs, along with a few facts about each subject. The plants are organized by scientific name, so come prepared with at least the genus of the plant you are looking for. (If you only have a common name, you can press Ctrl +F (PC) or Command +F (Mac) on your keyboard and search the page quickly for the common name.)

North Carolina Native Plant Society– A nonprofit organization that educates the public and preserves North Carolina’s native plants and their habitats. They have many resources on native plants, invasive and exotic species, native plant nurseries and more. There is a Plant Gallery and Plant ID section to search for plants. Optionally choose to become a member of the Native Plant Society and receive benefits such as field trips, access to rare plants through sales and exchanges, rescue plants from development sites, newsletters, presentations, and connection to other native plant enthusiasts in the community.

Homegrown National Park– A call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks. This website has a wealth of information on native plants on a national level. More importantly, this site provides articles, videos and books that explain how interconnected our plants, insects, and pollinators are to every human’s survival. This site is geared toward the general public. No special training or knowledge is required.

NC State Extension Gardener– A glossary of plant identification terms. Many of the websites listed above use terms that you might not be familiar with. This glossary is for the general public. It provides definitions in simple language along with many helpful illustrations to guide you.