Native plants · Arizona

Native plants of Pima County

462 plant species are recorded as native to Arizona in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Pima County by USDA PLANTS. 249 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 3 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Pima County, Arizona

Native species: 462 Typical Arizona county: 356 (median of 15 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 249 Typical Arizona county: 210
Share by type (all 462 native species): Percent of the 462 native species in each growth type

Tree 11% (52)
Shrub 10% (48)
Wildflower (forb) 47% (219)
Grass or grass-like 26% (119)
Vine 3% (12)
Fern 3% (12)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (47%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (26%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zones 8b to 9b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 249

Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.

Garden-ready native plants of Pima County, Arizona
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
alderleaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus montanus	Tree	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
alkali sacaton Sporobolus airoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
American red raspberry Rubus idaeus	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 1a
American vetch Vicia americana	Vine	1.3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
Apache plume Fallugia paradoxa	Shrub	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Arizona cottontop Digitaria californica	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
Arizona cypress Hesperocyparis arizonica	Tree	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
Arizona fescue Festuca arizonica	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Arizona madrone Arbutus arizonica	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
Arizona sycamore Platanus wrightii	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6b
Arizona threeawn Aristida arizonica	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
Arizona walnut Juglans major	Tree	50 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
arumleaf arrowhead Sagittaria cuneata	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
banana yucca Yucca baccata	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
bastardsage Eriogonum wrightii	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
beardless wildrye Leymus triticoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
beechleaf frangula Frangula betulifolia	Tree	7 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5b
big sacaton Sporobolus wrightii	Grass or grass-like	5.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
big saltbush Atriplex lentiformis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
Bigelow's tansyaster Machaeranthera bigelovii	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 10b
bigtooth maple Acer grandidentatum	Tree	38 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
bitter cherry Prunus emarginata	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black grama Bouteloua eriopoda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
blue grama Bouteloua gracilis	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
blue wildrye Elymus glaucus	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
bluntseed sweetroot Osmorhiza depauperata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Bonpland willow Salix bonplandiana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 10a
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
brittlebush Encelia farinosa	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 10a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
broadlipped twayblade Listera convallarioides	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae	Shrub	1.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
burrobush Ambrosia dumosa	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
bush muhly Muhlenbergia porteri	Grass or grass-like	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8b
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
California buckthorn Frangula californica	Tree	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
California bulrush Schoenoplectus californicus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9a
California oatgrass Danthonia californica	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
California poppy Eschscholzia californica	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
Canada germander Teucrium canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
candy barrelcactus Ferocactus wislizeni	Tree	11 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
cane bluestem Bothriochloa barbinodis	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7b
canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis	Tree	90 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8b
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
catclaw acacia Senegalia greggii	Tree	20 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
cattle saltbush Atriplex polycarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
cliff fendlerbush Fendlera rupicola	Shrub	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
Colorado four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
Columbia needlegrass Achnatherum nelsonii	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
Columbian monkshood Aconitum columbianum	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common duckweed Lemna minor	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
common maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris	Fern	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common rush Juncus effusus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
common sotol Dasylirion wheeleri	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 10a
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common sunflower Helianthus annuus	Wildflower (forb)	9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
coralbells Heuchera sanguinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
creeping muhly Muhlenbergia repens	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9a
creosote bush Larrea tridentata	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
curly-mesquite Hilaria belangeri	Grass or grass-like	10 in	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
deerbrush Ceanothus integerrimus	Shrub	13 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9b
desert ceanothus Ceanothus greggii	Shrub	7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
desert globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6b
desert ironwood Olneya tesota	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9b
desert needlegrass Achnatherum speciosum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
desert willow Chilopsis linearis	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
desertbroom Baccharis sarothroides	Shrub	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 10a
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii	Tree	200 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
downy paintedcup Castilleja sessiliflora	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
Eastern Mojave buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
Engelmann spruce Picea engelmannii	Tree	120 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2a
fairyduster Calliandra eriophylla	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 10a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
false grama Cathestecum erectum	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
featherplume Dalea formosa	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
firecracker penstemon Penstemon eatonii	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
fivepetal cliffbush Jamesia americana	Shrub	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
Florida hopbush Dodonaea viscosa	Tree	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9a
fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata	Grass or grass-like	5.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
freckled milkvetch Astragalus lentiginosus	Shrub	1.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
fringed brome Bromus ciliatus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
Gambel oak Quercus gambelii	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
golden crownbeard Verbesina encelioides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
golden currant Ribes aureum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
Goodding's willow Salix gooddingii	Tree	40 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
gray alder Alnus incana	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
green sprangletop Leptochloa dubia	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta	Grass or grass-like	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
Hooker's evening primrose Oenothera elata	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
Indian blanket Gaillardia pulchella	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
inland rush Juncus interior	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
jojoba Simmondsia chinensis	Shrub	7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
knotgrass Paspalum distichum	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	High	Zone 6a
lacy phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
Lemmon's needlegrass Achnatherum lemmonii	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
Letterman's needlegrass Achnatherum lettermanii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
Lewis flax Linum lewisii	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
littleleaf mock orange Philadelphus microphyllus	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
littleleaf ratany Krameria erecta	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
littleleaf sumac Rhus microphylla	Tree	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
littleseed ricegrass Piptatheropsis micrantha	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
longleaf jointfir Ephedra trifurca	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
lyreleaf greeneyes Berlandiera lyrata	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
marsh muhly Muhlenbergia racemosa	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
mesa dropseed Sporobolus flexuosus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus	Grass or grass-like	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 12b
Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
Missouri gourd Cucurbita foetidissima	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
mormon tea Ephedra viridis	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
mountain brome Bromus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
mountain muhly Muhlenbergia montana	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
mountain snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
mule-fat Baccharis salicifolia	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
muttongrass Poa fendleriana	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
narrowleaf cottonwood Populus angustifolia	Tree	60 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
narrowleaf willow Salix exigua	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
needle and thread Hesperostipa comata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
New Mexico locust Robinia neomexicana	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
Nuttall's povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
ocotillo Fouquieria splendens	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
oneseed juniper Juniperus monosperma	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
orange agoseris Agoseris aurantiaca	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
pale agoseris Agoseris glauca	Shrub	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
pale desert-thorn Lycium pallidum	Shrub	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus	Grass or grass-like	5.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides	Tree	60 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
pine dropseed Blepharoneuron tricholepis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
plains lovegrass Eragrostis intermedia	Grass or grass-like	2.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
pointleaf manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens	Shrub	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9b
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
poverty threeawn Aristida divaricata	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6b
prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
purple locoweed Oxytropis lambertii	Wildflower (forb)	1.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purple threeawn Aristida purpurea	Grass or grass-like	1.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides	Tree	65 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
red elderberry Sambucus racemosa	Tree	18 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
redberry buckthorn Rhamnus crocea	Tree	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9b
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Richardson's geranium Geranium richardsonii	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
roadside agrimony Agrimonia striata	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum	Tree	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
rough menodora Menodora scabra	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9a
roving sailor Maurandella antirrhiniflora	Vine	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
sacahuista Nolina microcarpa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
saguaro Carnegiea gigantea	Tree	9 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
salt spring checkerbloom Sidalcea neomexicana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
saltgrass Distichlis spicata	Grass or grass-like	1.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
scarlet gilia Ipomopsis aggregata	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
scratchgrass Muhlenbergia asperifolia	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
screwbean mesquite Prosopis pubescens	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
seep monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
shiny chickweed Stellaria nitens	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 12a
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
singlewhorl burrobrush Hymenoclea monogyra	Shrub	2 ft	—	—	Zone 10a
skunkbush sumac Rhus trilobata	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 2a
slender hairgrass Deschampsia elongata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
slenderbeak sedge Carex athrostachya	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
smooth beggartick Bidens laevis	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum	Fern	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
soaptree yucca Yucca elata	Tree	20 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
southwestern pricklypoppy Argemone pleiacantha	Wildflower (forb)	7 in	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
spike muhly Muhlenbergia wrightii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
spreading alkaliweed Cressa truxillensis	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
squirreltail Elymus elymoides	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa	Tree	90 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
tanglehead Heteropogon contortus	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
tanseyleaf tansyaster Machaeranthera tanacetifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
Thurber's desert honeysuckle Anisacanthus thurberi	Shrub	4.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus	Wildflower (forb)	5 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
toad rush Juncus bufonius	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
tobosagrass Pleuraphis mutica	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7b
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
turkey tangle fogfruit Phyla nodiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
velvet ash Fraxinus velutina	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
vine mesquite Panicum obtusum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
western white clematis Clematis ligusticifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
white fir Abies concolor	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
white prairie clover Dalea candida	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
whitethorn acacia Vachellia constricta	Tree	9 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2a
Woods' rose Rosa woodsii	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
woolly locoweed Astragalus mollissimus	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
woolly plantain Plantago patagonica	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 12b
Wright's deervetch Lotus wrightii	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 7a
Wright's silktassel Garrya wrightii	Tree	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
yellow evening primrose Oenothera flava	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
yellow trumpetbush Tecoma stans	Tree	20 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9a
yerba mansa Anemopsis californica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9b
yewleaf willow Salix taxifolia	Tree	40 ft	Sun	—	Zone 9a

Other native species recorded here 213

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
annual fimbry Fimbristylis annua
annual muhly Muhlenbergia minutissima
Apocynum ×floribundum Apocynum ×floribundum
arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
awned halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha aristulata
bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
biannual lettuce Lactuca ludoviciana
bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
blue mudplantain Heteranthera limosa
bristly scaleseed Spermolepis echinata
brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
brook cinquefoil Potentilla rivalis
buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canada spikesedge Eleocharis geniculata
carelessweed Amaranthus palmeri
Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
Carolina draba Draba reptans
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
catchfly prairie gentian Eustoma exaltatum
chaffweed Anagallis minima
chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
chickenthief Mentzelia oligosperma
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
crested anoda Anoda cristata
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
Dakota mock vervain Glandularia bipinnatifida
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
desert horsepurslane Trianthema portulacastrum
ditch rabbitsfoot grass Polypogon interruptus
Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
Drummond's false pennyroyal Hedeoma drummondii
dryspike sedge Carex siccata
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
elkweed Frasera speciosa
Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
erect spiderling Boerhavia erecta
feather fingergrass Chloris virgata
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
field pansy Viola bicolor
fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius
flatspine stickseed Lappula occidentalis
floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
foxtail prairie clover Dalea leporina
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii
fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
gum bully Sideroxylon lanuginosum
hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
Hopi tea greenthread Thelesperma megapotamicum
horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
husk tomato Physalis pubescens
hyssopleaf sandmat Chamaesyce hyssopifolia
ivyleaf groundcherry Physalis hederifolia
James' cryptantha Cryptantha cinerea
kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
lacy tansyaster Machaeranthera pinnatifida
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
least duckweed Lemna minuta
lemon beebalm Monarda citriodora
lesser duckweed Lemna aequinoctialis
lesser wirelettuce Stephanomeria minor
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
Macoun's cudweed Pseudognaphalium macounii
Madagascar dropseed Sporobolus pyramidatus
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
male fern Dryopteris filix-mas
manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
Mead's sedge Carex meadii
mealy goosefoot Chenopodium incanum
Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
Mexican lovegrass Eragrostis mexicana
Mexican Mosquito Fern Azolla microphylla
Mojave seablite Suaeda moquinii
mucronate sprangletop Leptochloa panicea
narrowleaf four o'clock Mirabilis linearis
narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
neckweed Veronica peregrina
needleleaf sedge Carex duriuscula
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
nodding onion Allium cernuum
northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
northern sweetgrass Hierochloe hirta
pale dock Rumex altissimus
pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
pillpod sandmat Chamaesyce hirta
pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
pleated gentian Gentiana affinis
poorjoe Diodia teres
Porter brome Bromus porteri
Powell's amaranth Amaranthus powellii
prairie cupgrass Eriochloa contracta
prairie plantain Plantago elongata
prairie spiderwort Tradescantia occidentalis
prairie sunflower Helianthus petiolaris
prickly fanpetals Sida spinosa
prostrate sandmat Chamaesyce prostrata
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis
red baneberry Actaea rubra
redseed plantain Plantago rhodosperma
redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
Rocky Mountain rush Juncus saximontanus
roughfruit fairybells Prosartes trachycarpa
salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
scarlet spiderling Boerhavia coccinea
scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shaggy dwarf morning-glory Evolvulus nuttallianus
shortseed waterwort Elatine brachysperma
shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
silkcotton purslane Portulaca halimoides
silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sixweeks threeawn Aristida adscensionis
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender lipfern Cheilanthes feei
slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
slimflower scurfpea Psoralidium tenuiflorum
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
small-leaf pussytoes Antennaria parvifolia
smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
sorrelvine Cissus trifoliata
southern cattail Typha domingensis
southern sandbur Cenchrus echinatus
spike dropseed Sporobolus contractus
spiny naiad Najas marina
spinystar Escobaria vivipara
spiral ditchgrass Ruppia cirrhosa
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
spreading sandwort Arenaria lanuginosa
spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
strapleaf willow Salix ligulifolia
stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
swollen duckweed Lemna gibba
tapertip cupgrass Eriochloa acuminata
tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
tasselflower brickellbush Brickellia grandiflora
Texas croton Croton texensis
Texas signalgrass Urochloa texana
Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threenerve goldenrod Solidago velutina
trailing fleabane Erigeron flagellaris
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
twistspine pricklypear Opuntia macrorhiza
Vahl's fimbry Fimbristylis vahlii
velvetweed Oenothera curtiflora
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
warty caltrop Kallstroemia parviflora
warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
wedgeleaf Phyla cuneifolia
wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
western poison ivy Toxicodendron rydbergii
western rockjasmine Androsace occidentalis
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
whisk fern Psilotum nudum
white four o'clock Mirabilis albida
white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
white prairie aster Symphyotrichum falcatum
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whitest evening primrose Oenothera albicaulis
whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle prolifera
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
willow dock Rumex salicifolius
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
woolly lipfern Cheilanthes tomentosa
woolly tidestromia Tidestromia lanuginosa
wormseed sandmat Chamaesyce vermiculata
Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens

Also listed as native and introduced here 3

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

cayenne pepperCapsicum annuum
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
white sagebrushArtemisia ludoviciana

Compared with Arizona

The typical county is the median of the 15 Arizona counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.

Native species counts, Pima County and Arizona
Measure	Pima County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	462	356	922
Garden-ready natives	249	210	509
Tree	52	—	75
Shrub	48	—	95
Wildflower (forb)	219	—	471
Grass or grass-like	119	—	229
Vine	12	—	20
Fern	12	—	32

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Pima County.

Cochise County, AZ 227 garden-ready
Maricopa County, AZ 175 garden-ready
Pinal County, AZ 112 garden-ready
Santa Cruz County, AZ 145 garden-ready

Source & data date

Source: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).; Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.; USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.; Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date: Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope: Pima County (county FIPS 04019), Arizona. 462 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
Method: A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources

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