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Survey windows for North Carolina’s federally threatened, endangered, and at-risk plant species

Updated October 5, 2026

These survey windows were determined using information from species recovery plans, field observations, herbaria specimens, and NC Natural Heritage Program information. If suitable habitat for species is present in the proposed impact area, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will likely request species surveys, conducted by a qualified biologist, during the optimal survey window. Projects are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and you are encouraged to contact a Section 7 coordinator early in the project planning process. To discuss your project and survey recommendations with a Section 7 coordinator, please contact the Asheville Field Office at 828/258 3939 or the Raleigh Field Office at 919/856 4520.

E = endangered, T = threatened, ARS = At-risk species, a term denoting that the species is under consideration for Endangered Species Act protection, but is not currently afforded such protection.

Scientific name	Common name	Status	Survey window	Years survey is valid
Aeschynomene virginica	sensitive joint-vetch	T	July – October	1
Amaranthus pumilus	seabeach amaranth	T	July - October (or before first tropical storm that causes overwash)	1
Amorpha georgiana var. georgiana	Georgia lead-plant	ARS	late April – October	2
Cardamine micranthera	small-anthered bittercress	E	April - May	1
Carex impressinervia	impressed-nerved sedge	ARS	April - May	2
Carex lutea	golden sedge	E	mid April - mid June	2
Dionaea muscipula	Venus flytrap	ARS	late May – June	2
Echinacea laevigata	smooth coneflower	T	late May – October	2
Fimbristylis perpusilla	Harper’s fimbristylis	ARS	July – September	2
Geum radiatum	spreading avens	E	June – September	2
Gymnoderma lineare	rock gnome lichen	E	year round	2
Hedyotis purpurea var. montana	Roan Mountain bluet	E	June – July	2
Helianthus schweinitzii	Schweinitz's sunflower	E	late August – October	2
Helonias bullata	swamp pink	T	April – May	2
Hudsonia montana	mountain golden heather	T	late May - early June	2
Isoetes microvela	thin-wall quillwort	ARS	April – July	1
Isotria medeoloides	small whorled pogonia	T	mid May - early July	1
Liatris helleri	Heller's blazing star	T	July – September	2
Lindera melissifolia	pondberry	E	February – March; September - October	2
Lindera subcoriacea	bog spicebush	ARS	March - August	2
Lobelia boykinii	Boykin’s Lobelia	ARS	May – July	2
Ludwigia ravenii	Raven’s seedbox	ARS	June - October	2
Lysimachia asperulaefolia	rough-leaved loosestrife	E	mid May – September	2
Macbridea caroliniana	Carolina birds-in-a-nest	ARS	July – November	2
Minuartia godfreyi	Godfrey’s stitchwort	ARS	April – June	2
Oxypolis canbyi	Canby's dropwort	E	mid July – September	2
Platanthera integrilabia	white fringeless orchid	T	mid July - late August	2
Ptilimnium nodosum	harperella	E	July – early September (during low water)	1
Rhus michauxii	Michaux's sumac	E	May – October	2
Rhynchospora crinipes	hairy-peduncled beakrush	ARS	July – September	2
Rudbeckia heliopsidis	sun-facing coneflower	ARS	July – September	2
Sagittaria fasciculata	bunched arrowhead	E	mid May – July	2
Sarracenia oreophila	green pitcher-plant	E	late April – October	2
Sarracenia purpurea var. montana	mountain purple pitcher-plant	ARS	April – October	2
Sarracenia rubra ssp. jonesii	mountain sweet pitcher-plant	E	April – October	2
Schwalbea americana	American chaffseed	E	May - August (1-2 months after a fire)	2
Sisyrinchium dichotomum	white irisette	E	late May – July	2
Solidago plumosa	Yadkin River goldenrod	CCA	September – October	2
Solidago spithamaea	Blue Ridge goldenrod	T	July – September	2
Symphyotrichum georgianum	Georgia aster	CCA	October - mid November	2
Spiraea virginiana	Virginia spiraea	T	May - early July	2
Sporobolus teretifolius	wire-leaved dropseed	ARS	July – September (following fire)	2
Thalictrum cooleyi	Cooley's meadowrue	E	mid June - early July	2
Tsuga caroliniana	Carolina hemlock	ARS	year round	2

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