Look up a plant. Understand its value.
The Quercus Score estimates ecological benefit where a plant is native. This first release compares North Carolina plants using recorded wildlife interactions. Listed invasives receive negative scores for harm in NC.
Start with a name. See the score, recorded distribution, growing conditions and sources. A wildlife score is not a yard-fit verdict. Select a county on any plant page to see occurrence evidence. Add a supported growing condition for partial site suitability and a provisional Fit Score.
| White Oak | 89 Keystone |
| Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod | 92 Keystone |
| Common Boxwood | — Not native |
| Heavenly Bamboo | -80 Severe harm |
| Chinese Privet | -85 Severe harm |
80+ Keystone · 50+ Strong · 20+ Good · 5+ Modest · −5 to 4 Neutral · −40 to −6 Harmful · < −40 Severe harm · — not native, not scored
Browse all 3835 North Carolina plants → · Is this plant native?
Scores come from public data: federal datasets, the NC flora and invasive lists, and published research on which plants feed caterpillars, bees and birds. How the score works.
Quercus Score v0.6.4 · built 2026-09-24 · North Carolina beta · sources and limitations on every page