North Carolina ’s native trees chew over the widely motley terrain of the state . Tree growing along the coastal plain stitch are adapt to sandy , salty conditions . The modest mood and rolling foothills of the Piedmont region bring forth trees typically visualise in temperate zones , such as crab apples , elms , ashes and wild plums . pine , maples , oaks and other big tree diagram are found throughout the western part of the State Department and the craggy Smoky Mountain and Blue Ridge areas .
Time Frame
Many North Carolina Tree are deciduous and lose their leave-taking in the fall . American beech ( Fagus grandifolia ) , nutmeg hickory ( Carya myristicaeformis ) , American elm ( Ulmus Americana ) and red maple ( Acer rubrum ) are just a few of the aboriginal North Carolina trees that miss leaves in the drop .
Many trees are evergreen in North Carolina ’s mild mood . Broad - leaved evergreen plant such as loblolly bay ( Gordonia lasianthus ) , American holly ( Ilex opaca ) and Carolina cherry tree laurel ( Ilex opaca ) keep their green , glossy leave class - round .
Atlantic white cedar ( Chamaecyparis thyoides ) and Eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus ) are two examples of needle - leaved evergreen plant native to North Carolina .

Leaf Shape
When identifying North Carolina tree diagram leaves , consider the shape of the leaves . Shumardi cherry-red oak tree ( Quercus schumardii ) and sugar maple ( Acer genus Saccharum ) have the deeply abridge leaf shapes commonly tie in with their coinage . The evergreen leave of absence of the Southern magnolia ( Magnolia grandiflora ) are glossy , cryptical - green , stretch ovals with brown bottom . The leaves of the uncivilized European olive tree or Osmanthus americanus ( Osmanthus americanus ) are also evergreen and glossy , but pocket-size than those of the magnolia .
Leaf Color
turn over the colour of the foliation when identify Tree native to North Carolina . Ironwood ( Carpinus caroliniana ) , maple and oaks are known for brilliant fall foliage . The blue - green , thread - same leaves of the pool cypress tree are held vertical , and rick orange , lily-livered and red in the fall . raw foliage on devil ’s walk reefer emerges bronze . The needle - comparable foliage of the Carolina poison parsley have blanched strips on the underneath parcel .
Unusual Characteristics
When identifying the leaves of North Carolina Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , view strange characteristic . The elongated farewell of the paw paw ( Asimina triloba ) have an unpleasant odor when crushed , while the leaves of the Carolina cherry red Stan Laurel are toxic to livestock and people .
Other Identifying Characteristics
In plus to the leaves , many North Carolina tree diagram have interesting peak , fruit or bark that identify them . The spicery bush ( Lindera benzoin ) grow leave , bark and flowers with a spicy scent , followed by brilliant red fruits . American plum ( Prunus Americana ) , persimmon ( Diospyros virginiana ) , and paw paw ( Asimina triloba ) produce edible fruit . Hickory , walnut and buckeye species produce testis .