Southern Region
Southern Region. From “Guide to Your National Forests and Grasslands (PDF)”, 2025.
From Texas to Virginia to Puerto Rico, 13.5 million acres of public lands across 13 Southeastern state, constitute the Southern Region, offering mountain scenery, wetlands, rainforests, grasslands, lakes and coastal beaches.
Pale purple coneflower in a longleaf pine stand on the Winn Ranger District, Kistachie National Forest, Louisiana.
Some 50 million people in Region 8 live within 30 minutes of national forest boundaries and enjoy activities in the Region’s 34 national forests. More than 6.6 million people visit the national forests in the Southern Appalachians each year.
The Southern Region is home to the largest and most productive prescribed burning program in the country, treating more than a million acres in 2005. The Caribbean National forest in Puerto Rico is the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system. It is also the most diverse, with 225 native tree species.
Rare Plant Conservation Success Stories
- Kentucky Lady’s slipper Orchid Restoration Project Uses Local Know How on Kisatchie National Forest Lands
- Update! Restoration of a Rare Lady’s Slipper Orchid on the Kisatchie National Forest, Louisiana
- Restoration of Buck Creek Serpentine Barrens - Tusquitee Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest
Also See…
Wildflower Photographs
Bearded grasspink (Calopogon barbatus). Francis-Marion National Forest. Photo by Richard Porcher.
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Fairywand (Chamaelirium luteum). Jefferson National Forest. Photo by T.G. Barnes.
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Kentucky lady's slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense). National Forests in Texas. Photo by Jason Singhurst, Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Venus fly-trap (Dionaea muscipula). Croatan National Forest. Photo by Gary Kauffman.
Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). National Forests in Alabama. Photo by Rhonda Stewart.
Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum). Ozark-St. Francis National Forests. Photo by T.G. Barnes.
Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata). Ouachita National Forest. Photo by T.G. Barnes.
Scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma). Daniel Boone National Forest. Photo by T.G. Barnes.
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Indian pipes (Monotropa uniflora). Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Photo by T.G. Barnes.
Purple passion flower (Passiflora incarnata). National Forests in Mississippi. Photo by T.G. Barnes.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). Uwharrie National Forest. Photo by Gary Kauffman.
Yellow trumpets (Sarracenia alata). Kisatchie National Forest. Photo by Rhonda Stewart.
Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica). Pisgah National Forest. Photo by T.G. Barnes.
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Little sweet Betsy (Trillium cuneatum). Nantahala National Forest. Photo by Bill Lea.
Jeweled wakerobin (Trillium simile). Cherokee National Forest. Photo by Mark Pistrang.
Painted trillium (Trillium undulatum). George Washington National Forest. Photo by T.G. Barnes.
Perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata). Land Between the Lakes. Photo by Larry Stritch.