Native plants · California
Native plants of Alameda County
255 plant species are recorded as native to California in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Alameda County by USDA PLANTS. 178 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
Alameda County, California
- Native species
- 255 Typical California county: 333 (median of 58 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 178 Typical California county: 239
- Share by type (all 255 native species)
-
Percent of the 255 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (47%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 178
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American dunegrass Leymus mollis | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8a |
| American licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| American speedwell Veronica americana | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| American vetch Vicia americana | Vine | 1.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| annual hairgrass Deschampsia danthonioides | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12b |
| awl-leaf lilaea Lilaea scilloides | Grass or grass-like | 10 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 12b |
| bastardsage Eriogonum wrightii | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta | Tree | 15 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| beardless wildrye Leymus triticoides | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| bigberry manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca | Tree | 18 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 8b |
| bigflower agoseris Agoseris grandiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 1.8 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| bigleaf maple Acer macrophyllum | Tree | 60 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6a |
| bigseed biscuitroot Lomatium macrocarpum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| Bishop pine Pinus muricata | Tree | 90 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 9a |
| bitter cherry Prunus emarginata | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| blue oak Quercus douglasii | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| blue wildrye Elymus glaucus | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| boraxweed Nitrophila occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf lupine Lupinus latifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| buckbrush Ceanothus cuneatus | Shrub | 11 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| bunchleaf penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 9a |
| California black oak Quercus kelloggii | Tree | 85 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 7a |
| California blackberry Rubus ursinus | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8a |
| California brome Bromus carinatus | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9a |
| California buckeye Aesculus californica | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7b |
| 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 fescue Festuca californica | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8a |
| California flannelbush Fremontodendron californicum | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9b |
| California foothill pine Pinus sabiniana | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8b |
| California huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum | Shrub | 8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 8a |
| California laurel Umbellularia californica | Tree | 80 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 6a |
| California live oak Quercus agrifolia | Tree | 70 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8a |
| California melicgrass Melica californica | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 8a |
| 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 |
| California sycamore Platanus racemosa | Tree | 75 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8a |
| California wax myrtle Morella californica | Tree | 33 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 9b |
| California wildrose Rosa californica | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 8a |
| California yerba santa Eriodictyon californicum | Shrub | 8 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 7a |
| Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis | Tree | 90 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 8b |
| chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 evening primrose Oenothera biennis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 snowberry Symphoricarpos albus | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| Coulter pine Pinus coulteri | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8b |
| cows clover Trifolium wormskioldii | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| coyotebrush Baccharis pilularis | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9b |
| deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens | Grass or grass-like | 4.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 9b |
| devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12a |
| 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 |
| dwarf rose Rosa gymnocarpa | Shrub | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| Eastern Mojave buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| field horsetail Equisetum arvense | Fern | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| foothill needlegrass Nassella lepida | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9a |
| Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii | Tree | 90 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| giant chinquapin Chrysolepis chrysophylla | Tree | 100 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| giant sequoia Sequoiadendron giganteum | Tree | 200 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| giant wildrye Leymus condensatus | Grass or grass-like | 8.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| golden currant Ribes aureum | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12b |
| greenleaf fescue Festuca viridula | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus | Grass or grass-like | 9.8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| hollyleaf cherry Prunus ilicifolia | Tree | 40 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| hollyleaved barberry Mahonia aquifolium | Shrub | 8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3a |
| hooded lady's tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| Hooker's evening primrose Oenothera elata | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| Idaho fescue Festuca idahoensis | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| incense cedar Calocedrus decurrens | Tree | 100 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| Indian plum Oemleria cerasiformis | Tree | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 10a |
| Klamath plum Prunus subcordata | Tree | 25 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| largeflower linanthus Leptosiphon grandiflorus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 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 |
| little western bittercress Cardamine oligosperma | Wildflower (forb) | 1.7 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Missouri gourd Cucurbita foetidissima | Vine | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| mule-fat Baccharis salicifolia | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 7a |
| narrowleaf willow Salix exigua | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua | Grass or grass-like | 2.6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9a |
| oceanspray Holodiscus discolor | Shrub | 12 ft | Sun | High | Zone 8a |
| Oregon ash Fraxinus latifolia | Tree | 70 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6b |
| Pacific aster Symphyotrichum chilense | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii | Tree | 80 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 8b |
| Pacific ninebark Physocarpus capitatus | Shrub | 8 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| Pacific onion Allium validum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus | Grass or grass-like | 5.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| pinegrass Calamagrostis rubescens | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa | Tree | 223 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Port Orford cedar Chamaecyparis lawsoniana | Tree | 200 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| poverty rush Juncus tenuis | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| purple needlegrass Nassella pulchra | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 8b |
| red alder Alnus rubra | Tree | 90 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| red elderberry Sambucus racemosa | Tree | 18 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| red goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 12b |
| redberry buckthorn Rhamnus crocea | Tree | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9b |
| redflower currant Ribes sanguineum | Shrub | 12 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 8a |
| redosier dogwood Cornus sericea | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11a |
| redwood Sequoia sempervirens | Tree | 250 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 8a |
| rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| rockloving erigeron Erigeron petrophilus | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 8a |
| Rocky Mountain iris Iris missouriensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| salal Gaultheria shallon | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| salt heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| saltgrass Distichlis spicata | Grass or grass-like | 1.1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| saltmarsh bird's-beak Cordylanthus maritimus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.7 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8a |
| Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda | Grass or grass-like | 1.4 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 1a |
| scarlet monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana | Tree | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 6a |
| seashore bentgrass Agrostis pallens | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| Sierra gooseberry Ribes roezlii | Shrub | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| slender clarkia Clarkia gracilis | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12b |
| 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 |
| slough sedge Carex obnupta | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 7a |
| smallflower melicgrass Melica imperfecta | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 10a |
| 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 |
| snowbrush ceanothus Ceanothus velutinus | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| sulphur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| tall trisetum Trisetum canescens | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| tarweed fiddleneck Amsinckia lycopsoides | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum | Vine | 10 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| thrift seapink Armeria maritima | Wildflower (forb) | 11 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa | Grass or grass-like | 3.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| turkey tangle fogfruit Phyla nodiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 2 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 5b |
| twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| valley oak Quercus lobata | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8a |
| valley redstem Ammannia coccinea | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8b |
| water knotweed Polygonum amphibium | Wildflower (forb) | 1 in | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| wavyleaf Indian paintbrush Castilleja applegatei | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| western columbine Aquilegia formosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| western goldentop Euthamia occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| western swordfern Polystichum munitum | Fern | 3.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| western water hemlock Cicuta douglasii | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| western waterleaf Hydrophyllum occidentale | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| western white clematis Clematis ligusticifolia | Vine | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white alder Alnus rhombifolia | Tree | 65 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| whiteleaf manzanita Arctostaphylos manzanita | Shrub | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 5a |
| widgeongrass Ruppia maritima | Wildflower (forb) | 2 in | Sun | High | Zone 7a |
| yellow bush lupine Lupinus arboreus | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9b |
| yerba mansa Anemopsis californica | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 9b |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 77
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.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- Aleutian maidenhair Adiantum aleuticum
- American bird's-foot trefoil Lotus unifoliolatus
- American black nightshade Solanum americanum
- American pillwort Pilularia americana
- American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
- arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
- bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
- blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
- bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
- brook cinquefoil Potentilla rivalis
- bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
- Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
- Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
- Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
- chaffweed Anagallis minima
- chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
- clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
- coast tarweed Madia sativa
- cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
- Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
- curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
- ditch rabbitsfoot grass Polypogon interruptus
- Equisetum ×ferrissii Equisetum ×ferrissii
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
- horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
- largeleaf sandwort Moehringia macrophylla
- least duckweed Lemna minuta
- manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
- marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
- meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
- Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
- Mexican lovegrass Eragrostis mexicana
- Mojave seablite Suaeda moquinii
- muskflower Mimulus moschatus
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
- pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
- povertyweed Iva axillaris
- prairie plantain Plantago elongata
- red baneberry Actaea rubra
- saline saltbush Atriplex subspicata
- salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
- scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
- scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
- Scouler's popcornflower Plagiobothrys scouleri
- seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
- shortseed waterwort Elatine brachysperma
- silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
- sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
- sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
- slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
- small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
- southern cattail Typha domingensis
- spiny naiad Najas marina
- spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
- starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
- stretchberry Forestiera pubescens
- summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
- sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
- swollen duckweed Lemna gibba
- tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
- tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
- tower rockcress Arabis glabra
- trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
- tumble windmill grass Chloris verticillata
- warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
- water pygmyweed Crassula aquatica
- wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
- western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
- western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
- willow dock Rumex salicifolius
- witchgrass Panicum capillare
- woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
- 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.
- biennial wormwoodArtemisia biennis
- floating primrose-willowLudwigia peploides
- Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
Compared with California
The typical county is the median of the 58 California 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.
| Measure | Alameda County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 255 | 333 | 1,108 |
| Garden-ready natives | 178 | 239 | 720 |
| Tree | 45 | — | 111 |
| Shrub | 26 | — | 140 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 119 | — | 559 |
| Grass or grass-like | 53 | — | 253 |
| Vine | 6 | — | 16 |
| Fern | 6 | — | 29 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Alameda County.
- Contra Costa County, CA 183 garden-ready
- San Francisco County, CA 149 garden-ready
- San Joaquin County, CA 106 garden-ready
- Santa Clara County, CA 182 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
- Alameda County (county FIPS 06001), California. 255 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