Native plants · California

Native plants of Humboldt County

487 plant species are recorded as native to California in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Humboldt County by USDA PLANTS. 345 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 6 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Humboldt County, California

Native species
487 Typical California county: 333 (median of 58 counties)
Garden-ready natives
345 Typical California county: 239
Share by type (all 487 native species)
Percent of the 487 native species in each growth type
Tree 13% (64)
Shrub 11% (54)
Wildflower (forb) 48% (236)
Grass or grass-like 23% (112)
Vine 2% (11)
Fern 2% (10)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (48%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (23%).

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 9a 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 345

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

Garden-ready native plants of Humboldt 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 timothy Phleum alpinum Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
American bistort Polygonum bistortoides Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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
American water horehound Lycopus americanus Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Anderson's larkspur Delphinium andersonii Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
annual hairgrass Deschampsia danthonioides Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
arctic pearlwort Sagina saginoides Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
arctic sweet coltsfoot Petasites frigidus Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
arrowleaf ragwort Senecio triangularis Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
awl-leaf lilaea Lilaea scilloides Grass or grass-like 10 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
beach pea Lathyrus japonicus Vine 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
bearded fescue Festuca subulata Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
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
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
black crowberry Empetrum nigrum Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
black hawthorn Crataegus douglasii Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
Blue Mountain buckwheat Eriogonum strictum Wildflower (forb) 2.2 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
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
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
bog blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
Brewer spruce Picea breweriana Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
Brewer's bittercress Cardamine breweri Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
brickellbush aster Eucephalus brickellioides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
buckbrush Ceanothus cuneatus Shrub 11 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
bunchleaf penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 9a
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 false hellebore Veratrum californicum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
California fescue Festuca californica Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
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 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 wax myrtle Morella californica Tree 33 ft Sun Medium Zone 9b
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
canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis Tree 90 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8b
Cascade barberry Mahonia nervosa Shrub 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
Cascara buckthorn Frangula purshiana Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
catclaw acacia Senegalia greggii Tree 20 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum Shrub 10 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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
cluster rose Rosa pisocarpa Shrub 3 ft Sun — Zone 5a
coastal monkeyflower Mimulus dentatus Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7b
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
Columbian monkshood Aconitum columbianum Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
common beargrass Xerophyllum tenax Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8a
common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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 sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Shrub 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun High 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
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
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
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
Douglas' dustymaiden Chaenactis douglasii Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
Douglas' grasswidow Olsynium douglasii Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
drooping woodreed Cinna latifolia Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Sun–part shade High 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
dwarf spikerush Eleocharis parvula Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
elephanthead lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Elmer's lupine Lupinus elmeri Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
fernleaf biscuitroot Lomatium dissectum Wildflower (forb) 15 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8a
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
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
giant chinquapin Chrysolepis chrysophylla Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
glaucus willowherb Epilobium glaberrimum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6b
grand fir Abies grandis Tree 150 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
green alder Alnus viridis Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 1a
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 manzanita Arctostaphylos columbiana Tree 6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8a
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
Henderson's sedge Carex hendersonii Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6b
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
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
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
kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Shrub 6 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
Klamath plum Prunus subcordata Tree 25 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
knotgrass Paspalum distichum Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun High Zone 6a
lambstongue ragwort Senecio integerrimus Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
largeflower hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun Low Zone 5a
largeleaf avens Geum macrophyllum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
leafy pea Lathyrus polyphyllus Vine 2.7 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7b
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
Lemmon's willow Salix lemmonii Shrub 14 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
lesser panicled sedge Carex diandra Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Lewis' mock orange Philadelphus lewisii Shrub 12 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
little green sedge Carex viridula Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
little western bittercress Cardamine oligosperma Wildflower (forb) 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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
Lyall's angelica Angelica arguta Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
Lyngbye's sedge Carex lyngbyei Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun — Zone 2a
maiden blue eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
Mertens' rush Juncus mertensianus Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
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 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
narrowleaf willow Salix exigua Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High 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
noble fir Abies procera Tree 230 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
nodding microseris Microseris nutans Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun Low Zone 9a
Nootka rose Rosa nutkana Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
northern bedstraw Galium boreale Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun High Zone 3a
oceanspray Holodiscus discolor Shrub 12 ft Sun High Zone 8a
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 crab apple Malus fusca Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 10a
Oregon geranium Geranium oreganum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
Oregon white oak Quercus garryana Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
Pacific aster Symphyotrichum chilense Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
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 rhododendron Rhododendron macrophyllum Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 8a
Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
pale agoseris Agoseris glauca Shrub 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
pale yellow lupine Lupinus luteolus Wildflower (forb) 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
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
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 fleabane Erigeron strigosus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
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 needlegrass Nassella pulchra Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8b
purple oniongrass Melica spectabilis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
Rainier pleated gentian Gentiana calycosa Wildflower (forb) 7 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8a
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
red huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium Shrub 12 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
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
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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
Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
rose spirea Spiraea douglasii Shrub 7 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
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
rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa Shrub 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
salal Gaultheria shallon Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
salmonberry Rubus spectabilis Vine 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
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
Scouler's woollyweed Hieracium scouleri Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sea milkwort Glaux maritima Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun High Zone 4a
seashore bentgrass Agrostis pallens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
seashore bluegrass Poa macrantha Grass or grass-like 5 in Sun Low Zone 9b
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
showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
silky beach pea Lathyrus littoralis Vine 1.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8a
silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
silvery sedge Carex canescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis Tree 200 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Sitka willow Salix sitchensis Tree 23 ft Sun High Zone 5b
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 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
slough sedge Carex obnupta Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
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 white violet Viola macloskeyi Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
smallflowered woodrush Luzula parviflora Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Grass or grass-like 9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
spreading phlox Phlox diffusa Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
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
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sturdy bulrush Bolboschoenus robustus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 8a
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 hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
tall trisetum Trisetum canescens Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
tapertip onion Allium acuminatum Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
tarweed fiddleneck Amsinckia lycopsoides Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides Grass or grass-like 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
thinleaf huckleberry Vaccinium membranaceum Shrub 4.5 ft Sun–part shade 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
thrift seapink Armeria maritima Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun Medium Zone 4b
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
toughleaf iris Iris tenax Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa Grass or grass-like 3.4 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 4a
vine maple Acer circinatum Tree 20 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
water birch Betula occidentalis Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 1a
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
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 fescue Festuca occidentalis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3a
western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla Tree 170 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 redcedar Thuja plicata Tree 150 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
western sweetroot Osmorhiza occidentalis Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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
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
whitebark raspberry Rubus leucodermis Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
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
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 7a
woodrush sedge Carex luzulina Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 4a
yellow bush lupine Lupinus arboreus Shrub 6 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 142

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
  • American bird's-foot trefoil Lotus unifoliolatus
  • American black nightshade Solanum americanum
  • American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
  • American rockbrake Cryptogramma acrostichoides
  • American sloughgrass Beckmannia syzigachne
  • American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
  • American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
  • arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
  • awned halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha aristulata
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • Bering's tufted hairgrass Deschampsia beringensis
  • biannual lettuce Lactuca ludoviciana
  • Bicknell's cranesbill Geranium bicknellii
  • bigleaf lupine Lupinus polyphyllus
  • bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
  • blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • boreal starwort Stellaria borealis
  • brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • chaffweed Anagallis minima
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
  • claspleaf twistedstalk Streptopus amplexifolius
  • coast tarweed Madia sativa
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • ditch rabbitsfoot grass Polypogon interruptus
  • Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
  • dune willow Salix hookeriana
  • eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
  • elk sedge Carex garberi
  • elkweed Frasera speciosa
  • fairy slipper Calypso bulbosa
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
  • grand redstem Ammannia robusta
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green false hellebore Veratrum viride
  • heartleaf twayblade Listera cordata
  • hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
  • hookedspur violet Viola adunca
  • Hornemann's willowherb Epilobium hornemannii
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • inundated clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata
  • keeled bulrush Isolepis carinata
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • largeleaf sandwort Moehringia macrophylla
  • least duckweed Lemna minuta
  • leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
  • liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
  • long-stolon sedge Carex inops
  • low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
  • Macoun's barley ×Elyhordeum macounii
  • manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
  • marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
  • marsh violet Viola palustris
  • meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
  • meadow sedge Carex praticola
  • Menzies' campion Silene menziesii
  • Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
  • Mexican lovegrass Eragrostis mexicana
  • 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 bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
  • northern cluster sedge Carex arcta
  • pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • pinyon goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens
  • pleated gentian Gentiana affinis
  • prairie plantain Plantago elongata
  • prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
  • pullup muhly Muhlenbergia filiformis
  • purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
  • red baneberry Actaea rubra
  • redwool plantain Plantago eriopoda
  • Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
  • rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • Scouler's popcornflower Plagiobothrys scouleri
  • seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
  • sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
  • single delight Moneses uniflora
  • sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
  • skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender bog orchid Platanthera stricta
  • slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
  • slender-spire orchid Piperia unalascensis
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
  • smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
  • snowline wintergreen Pyrola minor
  • spiral ditchgrass Ruppia cirrhosa
  • spotted fritillary Fritillaria atropurpurea
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • swaying bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis
  • sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
  • tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
  • tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
  • tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
  • threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • turion duckweed Lemna turionifera
  • twinflower Linnaea borealis
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
  • water minerslettuce Montia chamissoi
  • water pygmyweed Crassula aquatica
  • western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
  • western rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
  • western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
  • whorl-leaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum verticillatum
  • willow dock Rumex salicifolius
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens
  • yellow water buttercup Ranunculus flabellaris
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
Also listed as native and introduced here 6

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, Humboldt County and California
MeasureHumboldt CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 487 333 1,108
Garden-ready natives 345 239 720
Tree 64 — 111
Shrub 54 — 140
Wildflower (forb) 236 — 559
Grass or grass-like 112 — 253
Vine 11 — 16
Fern 10 — 29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Humboldt 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
Humboldt County (county FIPS 06023), California. 487 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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