Dwarf-flowered heartleaf removed from Carolina endangered species list

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A little plant with a big comeback story is officially off the endangered species list in North and South Carolina.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it has removed the dwarf-flowered heartleaf from the federal list of endangered and threatened plants, thanks to years of conservation efforts.

Back in 1989, the heartleaf, known for its small size and dark green, heart-shaped leaves, was considered threatened, with just 24 known populations in North Carolina.

Fast forward to today, and there are now 119 known populations spread across 13 counties in both Carolinas. Some of these areas have over 1,000 plants, authorities said.

This success didn’t happen overnight. It took a team effort. Duke Energy helped protect tens of thousands of these plants along the Broad River. Other key helpers included Cowpens National Battlefield, Broad River Greenway, local land trusts like Foothills Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy, and even the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

To keep the plant thriving, the Fish and Wildlife Service will continue monitoring it for at least five more years. That way, any potential problems can be spotted early, officials said.

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