Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas

Albert E. Radford, Harry E. Ahles, C. Ritchie Bell

Originally published in 1964, this is still the plant bible for many of us. If a plant was known to grow outside of cultivation in the Carolinas, it's in this book, along with a detailed description, a map of its range, and perhaps a line drawing.

The University of North Carolina Press.