Green Swamp, Protected wetland area in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States.
Green Swamp is a protected nature reserve and National Natural Landmark in Brunswick County, North Carolina, made up of wet pine savannas, open grass prairies, and low-lying marsh areas. The terrain is mostly flat and open, with sandy soils that stay waterlogged for much of the year.
The land in this part of Brunswick County was largely unregulated and privately held before the Nature Conservancy began acquiring parcels in the mid-20th century. The National Natural Landmark designation in 1974 formalized its protection and brought wider attention to the plant communities found there.
Green Swamp is closely tied to the identity of coastal North Carolina, where carnivorous plants have long drawn botanists, hikers, and curious visitors alike. Walking the trails, you can see how local conservation efforts keep this rare plant community alive and visible.
Waterproof boots and insect repellent are strongly recommended, as the trails cross wet, muddy ground for much of the year. The most comfortable time to visit is in the cooler months, when the ground is firmer and insects are less active.
The Venus Flytrap grows naturally only within a roughly 60-mile (100 km) radius of Wilmington, North Carolina, making this one of the narrowest natural ranges of any plant on Earth. Green Swamp holds the largest single concentration of wild plants within that already small zone.
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