Keystone Plants of the Southeast
The Southeast's longleaf pine savannas, Appalachian coves, and Coastal Plain wetlands harbor more plant species than almost anywhere else in North America. Native oaks, cherries, and willows provide the same keystone function here as in the North — but a richer understory layer adds milkweed, pawpaw, and spicebush to the food web.
States: NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, TN, KY
Level III Ecoregions in this region
Top Keystone Trees
Ranked by caterpillar species supported (NWF / Tallamy data)
| Genus | Common name | Caterpillar spp. |
|---|---|---|
| Quercus | Oak | 436 |
| Prunus | Wild cherry / plum | 340 |
| Salix | Willow | 289 |
| Pinus | Longleaf / loblolly pine | 200 |
Top Keystone Perennials
Ranked by pollen specialist bee species supported (Fowler data)
| Genus | Common name | Specialist bees |
|---|---|---|
| Solidago | Goldenrod | 42 |
| Symphyotrichum | Aster | 33 |
| Helianthus | Native sunflower | 50 |
Native Plants in the Directory
4 plants listed
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Data source: Keystone plant rankings based on NWF Keystone Plants by Ecoregion and Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire (2020), Nature Communications. Specialist bee data from Fowler (2016), USDA Forest Service.
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