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Native plants · California

Native plants of El Dorado County

438 plant species are recorded as native to California in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in El Dorado County by USDA PLANTS. 324 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

El Dorado County, California

Native species
438 Typical California county: 333 (median of 58 counties)
Garden-ready natives
324 Typical California county: 239
Share by type (all 438 native species)
Percent of the 438 native species in each growth type
Tree 12% (52)
Shrub 11% (50)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (223)
Grass or grass-like 22% (98)
Vine <1% (3)
Fern 3% (12)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (22%).

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 6b to 9b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Cold hardiness is estimated from each plant’s PLANTS minimum temperature. How we estimate it.

Garden-ready natives 324

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

Garden-ready native plants of El Dorado County, California
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
Alaska oniongrass Melica subulata Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
alpine laurel Kalmia microphylla Shrub 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
alpine leafybract aster Symphyotrichum foliaceum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
alpine mountainsorrel Oxyria digyna Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
alpine timothy Phleum alpinum Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
American alpine speedwell Veronica wormskjoldii Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
American bistort Polygonum bistortoides Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun 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
analogue sedge Carex simulata Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
annual hairgrass Deschampsia danthonioides Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentata Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
arctic pearlwort Sagina saginoides Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
arrowleaf balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
arrowleaf ragwort Senecio triangularis Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
arumleaf arrowhead Sagittaria cuneata Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
big deervetch Lotus crassifolius Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata Tree 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
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
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
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
bog blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
boreal sagebrush Artemisia arctica Shrub 1.5 ft — — Zone 1a
Brewer's bittercress Cardamine breweri Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
broadleaf arnica Arnica latifolia Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
broadleaf lupine Lupinus latifolius Wildflower (forb) 25 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
broadlipped twayblade Listera convallarioides Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Brown's peony Paeonia brownii Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
buckbrush Ceanothus cuneatus Shrub 11 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens Shrub 7 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6b
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 false hellebore Veratrum californicum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
California flannelbush Fremontodendron californicum Tree 10 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
California foothill pine Pinus sabiniana Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 8b
California laurel Umbellularia californica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
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 red fir Abies magnifica Tree 150 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
California yerba santa Eriodictyon californicum Shrub 8 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
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
Cascara buckthorn Frangula purshiana Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
Chamisso arnica Arnica chamissonis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
chamisso sedge Carex pachystachya Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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
Colorado rush Juncus confusus Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Columbia brome Bromus vulgaris Grass or grass-like 1 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
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 juniper Juniperus communis Tree 10 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
common mare's-tail Hippuris vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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
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
creeping barberry Mahonia repens Shrub 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
curl-leaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 2b
curvepod yellowcress Rorippa curvisiliqua Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
cutleaf daisy Erigeron compositus Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
Davis' knotweed Polygonum davisiae Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
deer fern Blechnum spicant Fern 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6b
deerbrush Ceanothus integerrimus Shrub 13 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
desert yellow fleabane Erigeron linearis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
diamondleaf willow Salix planifolia Tree 8 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Tree 200 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Douglas' dustymaiden Chaenactis douglasii Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
Douglas' sedge Carex douglasii Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
drooping woodreed Cinna latifolia Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Drummond's rockcress Arabis drummondii Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
Drummond's rush Juncus drummondii Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
dwarf bilberry Vaccinium cespitosum Shrub 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
dwarf purple monkeyflower Mimulus nanus Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Low Zone 10b
dwarf rose Rosa gymnocarpa Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
Eaton's fleabane Erigeron eatonii Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Low Zone 5b
elephanthead lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Eschscholtz's buttercup Ranunculus eschscholtzii Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
field horsetail Equisetum arvense Fern 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 5.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
fivespot Nemophila maculata Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
flat-top pussytoes Antennaria corymbosa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
foothill needlegrass Nassella lepida Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 9a
fowl bluegrass Poa palustris Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata Grass or grass-like 5.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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
Gardner's yampah Perideridia gairdneri Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
Geyer willow Salix geyeriana Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
glaucus willowherb Epilobium glaberrimum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6b
golden sedge Carex aurea Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
gooseberry currant Ribes montigenum Shrub 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
granite prickly phlox Linanthus pungens Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
gray alder Alnus incana Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
greater creeping spearwort Ranunculus flammula Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
Greene's mountain ash Sorbus scopulina Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
greenleaf fescue Festuca viridula Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
greenleaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
hairy arnica Arnica mollis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
heartleaf arnica Arnica cordifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
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
huckleberry oak Quercus vacciniifolia Shrub 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Idaho blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium idahoense Wildflower (forb) 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant High 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
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi Tree 180 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
King's sandwort Arenaria kingii Wildflower (forb) 8 in Sun Low Zone 4b
Klamath plum Prunus subcordata Tree 25 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
lambstongue ragwort Senecio integerrimus Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
largeleaf avens Geum macrophyllum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Lemmon's needlegrass Achnatherum lemmonii Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
Lemmon's willow Salix lemmonii Shrub 14 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 3a
lesser panicled sedge Carex diandra Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
Lewis' mock orange Philadelphus lewisii Shrub 12 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
little sagebrush Artemisia arbuscula Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Tree 99 ft Sun Medium Zone 1a
longstalk clover Trifolium longipes Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8a
longstalk starwort Stellaria longipes Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
maiden blue eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Mariposa sedge Carex mariposana Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
marumleaf buckwheat Eriogonum marifolium Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Low Zone 5b
mat muhly Muhlenbergia richardsonis Grass or grass-like 6 in Sun High Zone 4b
meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
Mertens' rush Juncus mertensianus Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
Modoc hawksbeard Crepis modocensis Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
mountain blue penstemon Penstemon laetus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
mountain hemlock Tsuga mertensiana Tree 125 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
mountain muhly Muhlenbergia montana Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
mountain pride Penstemon newberryi Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
mountain sedge Carex scopulorum Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
mud sedge Carex limosa Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
muttongrass Poa fendleriana Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
narrowleaf willow Salix exigua Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Nebraska sedge Carex nebrascensis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun 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
nettleleaf giant hyssop Agastache urticifolia Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
nodding microseris Microseris nutans Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun High Zone 3a
Nuttall's povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 12a
oceanspray Holodiscus discolor Shrub 12 ft Sun High Zone 8a
old man's whiskers Geum triflorum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
onespike danthonia Danthonia unispicata Grass or grass-like 10 in Sun Low Zone 4b
oniongrass Melica bulbosa Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
orange agoseris Agoseris aurantiaca Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Oregon ash Fraxinus latifolia Tree 70 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
Oregon checkerbloom Sidalcea oregana Wildflower (forb) 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Oregon white oak Quercus garryana Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
Pacific bleeding heart Dicentra formosa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
Pacific dogwood Cornus nuttallii Tree 50 ft Shade-tolerant 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
Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
pale agoseris Agoseris glauca Shrub 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus Grass or grass-like 5.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Parish's yampah Perideridia parishii Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
Parry's rush Juncus parryi Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
pinemat manzanita Arctostaphylos nevadensis Shrub 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
plantainleaf buttercup Ranunculus alismifolius Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa Tree 223 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
prickly currant Ribes lacustre Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 1a
primrose monkeyflower Mimulus primuloides Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
prostrate ceanothus Ceanothus prostratus Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
purple mountainheath Phyllodoce breweri Shrub 1 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
purple needlegrass Nassella pulchra Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8b
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 1a
Rainier pleated gentian Gentiana calycosa Wildflower (forb) 7 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8a
rayless arnica Arnica ×diversifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
Raynolds' sedge Carex raynoldsii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
red elderberry Sambucus racemosa Tree 18 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
red huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium Shrub 12 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea Tree 12 ft Sun High Zone 3b
ribbonleaf pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
Richardson's geranium Geranium richardsonii Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
rockloving erigeron Erigeron petrophilus Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 8a
Rocky Mountain goldenrod Solidago multiradiata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun — Zone 1a
Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
Ross' sedge Carex rossii Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
royal penstemon Penstemon speciosus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa Shrub 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Rydberg's penstemon Penstemon rydbergii Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
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
scabland penstemon Penstemon deustus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
scarlet gilia Ipomopsis aggregata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5b
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
shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
shorthair reedgrass Calamagrostis breweri Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 4b
shorthair sedge Carex exserta Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa Shrub 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Siberian springbeauty Claytonia sibirica Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
sicklekeel lupine Lupinus albicaulis Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
Sierra currant Ribes nevadense Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
Sierra gooseberry Ribes roezlii Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Sierra larkspur Delphinium glaucum Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Sierra rush Juncus nevadensis Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Sierra willow Salix orestera Shrub 10 ft Sun High Zone 5a
silverleaf phacelia Phacelia hastata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
silvery lupine Lupinus argenteus Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
silvery sedge Carex canescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
skunkbush sumac Rhus trilobata Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 2a
slender cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis Wildflower (forb) 2.4 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
slender clarkia Clarkia gracilis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
slender cottongrass Eriophorum gracile Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Sun High Zone 3a
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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
slimstem reedgrass Calamagrostis stricta Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
small camas Camassia quamash Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina Wildflower (forb) 11 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
small white violet Viola macloskeyi Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
smallflower melicgrass Melica imperfecta Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Low Zone 10a
smallleaf giant hyssop Agastache parvifolia Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
smallwing sedge Carex microptera Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 4a
smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum Fern 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
snowbrush ceanothus Ceanothus velutinus Tree 10 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
spearleaf arnica Arnica longifolia Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
spike trisetum Trisetum spicatum Grass or grass-like 1.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
spiked woodrush Luzula spicata Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
spreading phlox Phlox diffusa Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
spreading yellowcress Rorippa sinuata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
spreadingpod rockcress Arabis ×divaricarpa Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
squirreltail Elymus elymoides Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
star sedge Carex echinata Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
sticky currant Ribes viscosissimum Shrub 3.5 ft Sun — Zone 3b
sugar pine Pinus lambertiana Tree 229 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
sulphur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
swordleaf rush Juncus ensifolius Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
tall fringed bluebells Mertensia ciliata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
tall trisetum Trisetum canescens Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
tall woolly buckwheat Eriogonum elatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
tanoak Notholithocarpus densiflorus Tree 125 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8a
tapertip hawksbeard Crepis acuminata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
thickstem aster Eurybia integrifolia Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
threadleaf sedge Carex filifolia Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum Vine 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
timber oatgrass Danthonia intermedia Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
tinker's penny Hypericum anagalloides Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
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
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
valley oak Quercus lobata Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 4a
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 5a
water sedge Carex aquatilis Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
wavyleaf Indian paintbrush Castilleja applegatei Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
wax currant Ribes cereum Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
western azalea Rhododendron occidentale Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 8b
western columbine Aquilegia formosa Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
western Labrador tea Ledum glandulosum Shrub 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
western needlegrass Achnatherum occidentale Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
western polemonium Polemonium occidentale Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
western stoneseed Lithospermum ruderale Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
western sweetroot Osmorhiza occidentalis Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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 pine Pinus monticola Tree 200 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
white alder Alnus rhombifolia Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
white hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
white marsh marigold Caltha leptosepala Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 4a
white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
whitebark pine Pinus albicaulis Tree 65 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1b
whiteleaf manzanita Arctostaphylos manzanita Shrub 8 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
whitestem gooseberry Ribes inerme Shrub 8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
whitethorn ceanothus Ceanothus cordulatus Shrub 8 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
woodrush sedge Carex luzulina Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 4a
Woods' rose Rosa woodsii Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
woolly groundsel Packera cana Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
woolly mule-ears Wyethia mollis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 114

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.

  • Aleutian maidenhair Adiantum aleuticum
  • alpine lewisia Lewisia pygmaea
  • alpine pondweed Potamogeton alpinus
  • American bird's-foot trefoil Lotus unifoliolatus
  • American rockbrake Cryptogramma acrostichoides
  • American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
  • American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
  • aridland goosefoot Chenopodium desiccatum
  • arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
  • autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
  • ballhead ipomopsis Ipomopsis congesta
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • bigleaf lupine Lupinus polyphyllus
  • blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
  • boreal starwort Stellaria borealis
  • brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • coast tarweed Madia sativa
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
  • desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
  • ditch rabbitsfoot grass Polypogon interruptus
  • Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
  • elkweed Frasera speciosa
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
  • foxtail muhly Muhlenbergia andina
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
  • hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
  • hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
  • hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
  • hookedspur violet Viola adunca
  • Hornemann's willowherb Epilobium hornemannii
  • leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
  • lesser wirelettuce Stephanomeria minor
  • little grapefern Botrychium simplex
  • liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
  • marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
  • marsh willowherb Epilobium palustre
  • meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
  • Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
  • milkflower willowherb Epilobium lactiflorum
  • mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
  • mountain tarweed Madia glomerata
  • muskflower Mimulus moschatus
  • narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium
  • narrowleaf minerslettuce Montia linearis
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needleleaf navarretia Navarretia intertexta
  • northern adderstongue Ophioglossum pusillum
  • northern hollyfern Polystichum lonchitis
  • oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
  • pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
  • pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
  • pimpernel willowherb Epilobium anagallidifolium
  • pinyon goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens
  • Porter brome Bromus porteri
  • povertyweed Iva axillaris
  • pullup muhly Muhlenbergia filiformis
  • purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
  • red baneberry Actaea rubra
  • Rocky Mountain woodsia Woodsia scopulina
  • rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • Scouler's popcornflower Plagiobothrys scouleri
  • shaggy fleabane Erigeron pumilus
  • shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
  • sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
  • silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
  • skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
  • slender-spire orchid Piperia unalascensis
  • small bur-reed Sparganium natans
  • spearleaf stonecrop Sedum lanceolatum
  • spotted fritillary Fritillaria atropurpurea
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • swaying bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis
  • sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
  • swollen duckweed Lemna gibba
  • tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
  • tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
  • tasselflower brickellbush Brickellia grandiflora
  • threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
  • tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • tumble windmill grass Chloris verticillata
  • twinflower Linnaea borealis
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
  • water minerslettuce Montia chamissoi
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
  • western rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
  • western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
  • western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
  • whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
  • whorl-leaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum verticillatum
  • willow dock Rumex salicifolius
  • woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • woolly sedge Carex pellita
  • Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens
Also listed as native and introduced here 2

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.

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.

Native species counts, El Dorado County and California
MeasureEl Dorado CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 438 333 1,108
Garden-ready natives 324 239 720
Tree 52 — 111
Shrub 50 — 140
Wildflower (forb) 223 — 559
Grass or grass-like 98 — 253
Vine 3 — 16
Fern 12 — 29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with El Dorado County.

Look up another ZIP

Matches your ZIP to the county it mostly lies in, then lists the plants recorded as native to your state (Kew’s World Checklist and USDA PLANTS) and recorded in that county by USDA PLANTS.

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
El Dorado County (county FIPS 06017), California. 438 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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