Yellow crownbeard brings a splash of bright yellow to the South Carolina Upstate in late summer. Learn how to identify this native wildflower, where it grows, and why it matters to local pollinators.
Carolina horsenettle is a native South Carolina nightshade with purple flowers, sharp prickles, and small yellow berries that resemble miniature tomatoes. Learn how to identify this common Upstate plant and why its tempting fruit should never be eaten.
Panicled tick-trefoil is a native South Carolina wildflower with delicate pink flowers, three-part leaves, and sticky seed pods that hitch rides on wildlife and hikers alike.
Discover the mushrooms hiding along the trails of Table Rock State Park. From bright orange woodland mushrooms to towering fungi and turkey tails, see some of the fascinating species you might encounter after a warm summer rain.
Devil’s Walking Stick is one of the strangest native plants hiding in the Upstate. Learn how to identify this thorn-covered tree and why it is an important part of South Carolina’s forests.
Bright pink stems and clusters of deep purple berries make American pokeweed one of the Upstate’s most eye-catching native plants. Learn how to recognize this colorful woodland species on your next hike around Table Rock State Park.
Bright red berries tucked beneath the forest canopy make partridgeberry one of the Upstate’s most overlooked native plants. Learn how to identify this evergreen groundcover and where you’re most likely to find it on trails around Table Rock State Park.
With its glossy black body and impressive size, the Great Black Wasp may look intimidating, but it’s one of the Upstate’s most beneficial insects. Discover how this gentle giant controls grasshoppers, pollinates wildflowers, and quietly builds underground nests throughout South Carolina.
Bumble bees may look intimidating, but they’re among South Carolina’s most important pollinators. Discover why these gentle giants are essential to our wildflowers, gardens, and mountain ecosystems.
When pear trees burst into bloom each spring, they become one of the busiest destinations for honey bees. Discover why these brilliant white blossoms play such an important role in supporting pollinators across the Upstate.