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Native plants recorded in your state and county

Native plants · California

Native plants of Inyo County

490 plant species are recorded as native to California in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Inyo County by USDA PLANTS. 341 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 1 more species is listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Inyo County, California

Native species
490 Typical California county: 333 (median of 58 counties)
Garden-ready natives
341 Typical California county: 239
Share by type (all 490 native species)
Percent of the 490 native species in each growth type
Tree 8% (40)
Shrub 14% (71)
Wildflower (forb) 49% (239)
Grass or grass-like 25% (124)
Vine <1% (4)
Fern 2% (12)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (49%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (25%).

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 7a to 9a (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 341

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

Garden-ready native plants of Inyo County, California
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
alkali cordgrass Spartina gracilis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
alkali sacaton Sporobolus airoides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
alpine laurel Kalmia microphylla Shrub 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
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 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
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
Apache plume Fallugia paradoxa Shrub 6 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
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
basin wildrye Leymus cinereus Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 3a
bastardsage Eriogonum wrightii Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6a
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun High Zone 4b
beardless wildrye Leymus triticoides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata Tree 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
big saltbush Atriplex lentiformis Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
Bishop pine Pinus muricata Tree 90 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 9a
bitter cherry Prunus emarginata Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
black sagebrush Artemisia nova Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
blackbrush Coleogyne ramosissima Shrub 6 ft Sun Low Zone 5b
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
bog willowherb Epilobium leptophyllum Wildflower (forb) 3.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Booth's willow Salix boothii Shrub 24 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
boraxweed Nitrophila occidentalis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
boxelder Acer negundo Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
Brewer's bittercress Cardamine breweri Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
brittlebush Encelia farinosa Shrub 5 ft Sun Low Zone 10a
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
broadlipped twayblade Listera convallarioides Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae Shrub 1.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
bud sagebrush Picrothamnus desertorum Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
burrobush Ambrosia dumosa Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens Shrub 7 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6b
bush muhly Muhlenbergia porteri Grass or grass-like 2.8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8b
bushy bird's beak Cordylanthus ramosus Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus Grass or grass-like 6.3 ft Sun High Zone 5a
California black oak Quercus kelloggii Tree 85 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
California brome Bromus carinatus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Low Zone 9a
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 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
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
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
cattle saltbush Atriplex polycarpa Shrub 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
Chamisso arnica Arnica chamissonis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
clasping arnica Arnica amplexicaulis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
Colorado four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 5b
Columbia needlegrass Achnatherum nelsonii Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
Columbian monkshood Aconitum columbianum Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common duckweed Lemna minor Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
common maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris Fern 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
common reed Phragmites australis Shrub 13 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common sunflower Helianthus annuus Wildflower (forb) 9 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum Wildflower (forb) — Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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
creosote bush Larrea tridentata Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
curl-leaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 2b
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
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
darkthroat shootingstar Dodecatheon pulchellum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
desert almond Prunus fasciculata Shrub 6 ft Sun Low Zone 8b
desert bitterbrush Purshia glandulosa Shrub 5 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
desert ceanothus Ceanothus greggii Shrub 7 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
desert centaury Centaurium exaltatum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
desert globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 6b
desert needlegrass Achnatherum speciosum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
desert sweet Chamaebatiaria millefolium Shrub 6 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
desert willow Chilopsis linearis Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12a
diamondleaf willow Salix planifolia Tree 8 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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
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
Drummond's willow Salix drummondiana Shrub 12 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
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
Eastern Mojave buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
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
fernleaf biscuitroot Lomatium dissectum Wildflower (forb) 15 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8a
fiddleleaf hawksbeard Crepis runcinata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
field horsetail Equisetum arvense Fern 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
firecracker penstemon Penstemon eatonii Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 5.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
fivepetal cliffbush Jamesia americana Shrub 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
flat-top pussytoes Antennaria corymbosa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
foothill deathcamas Zigadenus paniculatus Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens Shrub 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
fowl bluegrass Poa palustris Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
freckled milkvetch Astragalus lentiginosus Shrub 1.4 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 6a
fringed brome Bromus ciliatus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
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
glaucous bluegrass Poa glauca Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun — Zone 3a
glaucus willowherb Epilobium glaberrimum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6b
golden currant Ribes aureum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
golden sedge Carex aurea Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Goodding's willow Salix gooddingii Tree 40 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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
greasewood Sarcobatus vermiculatus Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
green molly Bassia americana Shrub 2 ft Sun Low 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
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 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
Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi Tree 180 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Joshua tree Yucca brevifolia Tree 30 ft Sun Low Zone 10a
King's sandwort Arenaria kingii Wildflower (forb) 8 in Sun Low Zone 4b
knotgrass Paspalum distichum Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun High Zone 6a
knotted rush Juncus nodosus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
lacy phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
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
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
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
limber pine Pinus flexilis Tree 66 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
little sagebrush Artemisia arbuscula Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
littleleaf horsebrush Tetradymia glabrata Shrub 12 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
littleleaf mock orange Philadelphus microphyllus Shrub 15 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
littleleaf ratany Krameria erecta Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
littleseed ricegrass Piptatheropsis micrantha Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Tree 99 ft Sun Medium Zone 1a
longleaf jointfir Ephedra trifurca Shrub 15 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
longstalk starwort Stellaria longipes Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
longstyle rush Juncus longistylis Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
low pussytoes Antennaria dimorpha Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
MacKenzie's willow Salix prolixa Tree 45 ft Sun Low Zone 2a
maiden blue eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
Mariposa sedge Carex mariposana Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
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
mesa dropseed Sporobolus flexuosus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus Grass or grass-like 10 in Sun Medium Zone 5b
miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
mormon tea Ephedra viridis Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5b
mountain brome Bromus marginatus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun High Zone 4b
mountain hemlock Tsuga mertensiana Tree 125 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
mountain pepperweed Lepidium montanum Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
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
mule-fat Baccharis salicifolia Shrub 10 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
muttongrass Poa fendleriana Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
narrowleaf 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
Nevada jointfir Ephedra nevadensis Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
Nevada lupine Lupinus nevadensis Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
northern singlespike sedge Carex scirpoidea Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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
Nuttall's sunflower Helianthus nuttallii Wildflower (forb) 10 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
Pacific onion Allium validum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
pale agoseris Agoseris glauca Shrub 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
pale desert-thorn Lycium pallidum Shrub 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus Grass or grass-like 5.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa Tree 223 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
primrose monkeyflower Mimulus primuloides Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
purple mountainheath Phyllodoce breweri Shrub 1 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
purple sage Salvia dorrii Shrub 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
purple threeawn Aristida purpurea Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 1a
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 goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun High Zone 12b
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
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
Richardson's geranium Geranium richardsonii Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Robbins' pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
Rocky Mountain goldenrod Solidago multiradiata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun — Zone 1a
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
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
rough bugleweed Lycopus asper Wildflower (forb) 2.1 ft Shade-tolerant High 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
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
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
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
scratchgrass Muhlenbergia asperifolia Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
screwbean mesquite Prosopis pubescens Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
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
shadscale saltbush Atriplex confertifolia Shrub 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
shortspine horsebrush Tetradymia spinosa Shrub 3.2 ft Sun 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
Sierra currant Ribes nevadense Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
Sierra false needlegrass Ptilagrostis kingii Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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
silver buffaloberry Shepherdia argentea Tree 18 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
silver sagebrush Artemisia cana Shrub 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
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
singleleaf ash Fraxinus anomala Tree 20 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
singleleaf pinyon Pinus monophylla Tree 50 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
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 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 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
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
softleaf sedge Carex disperma Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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
spineless horsebrush Tetradymia canescens Shrub 4 ft Sun Low Zone 9a
spiny hopsage Grayia spinosa Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
spreading alkaliweed Cressa truxillensis Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium 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 duckweed Lemna trisulca Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
sturdy bulrush Bolboschoenus robustus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 8a
Suksdorf's monkeyflower Mimulus suksdorfii Wildflower (forb) 7 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
sulphur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
sweetscent Pluchea odorata Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
swordleaf rush Juncus ensifolius Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
tailcup lupine Lupinus caudatus Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
tall trisetum Trisetum canescens Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
tapertip hawksbeard Crepis acuminata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
threadleaf sedge Carex filifolia Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum Vine 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Thurber's needlegrass Achnatherum thurberianum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
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
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa Grass or grass-like 3.4 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
turpentinebroom Thamnosma montana Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
umbrella starwort Stellaria umbellata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Utah agave Agave utahensis Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
Utah juniper Juniperus osteosperma Tree 26 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
velvet ash Fraxinus velutina Tree 40 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
wax currant Ribes cereum Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
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 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 polemonium Polemonium occidentale Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
western water hemlock Cicuta douglasii Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun High Zone 4b
western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
western white clematis Clematis ligusticifolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
western white pine Pinus monticola Tree 200 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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
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
winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 2a
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 plantain Plantago patagonica Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Low Zone 12b
woollypod milkvetch Astragalus purshii Wildflower (forb) 7 in Sun Low Zone 4a
yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
yellow spiderflower Cleome lutea Wildflower (forb) 2.7 ft Sun Low Zone 12a
yellow willow Salix lutea Tree 16 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
yerba mansa Anemopsis californica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 9b

Other native species recorded here 149

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 fescue Festuca brachyphylla
  • alpine lewisia Lewisia pygmaea
  • American bird's-foot trefoil Lotus unifoliolatus
  • American black nightshade Solanum americanum
  • American rockbrake Cryptogramma acrostichoides
  • 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
  • beautiful sandwort Minuartia rubella
  • bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
  • bigleaf lupine Lupinus polyphyllus
  • bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bluntleaf yellowcress Rorippa curvipes
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • boreal starwort Stellaria borealis
  • brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cushion draba Draba breweri
  • cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
  • desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
  • desert princesplume Stanleya pinnata
  • ditch rabbitsfoot grass Polypogon interruptus
  • Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
  • elkweed Frasera speciosa
  • entireleaved thelypody Thelypodium integrifolium
  • Equisetum ×ferrissii Equisetum ×ferrissii
  • feather fingergrass Chloris virgata
  • fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
  • fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius
  • flatspine bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa
  • flatspine stickseed Lappula occidentalis
  • foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
  • foxtail muhly Muhlenbergia andina
  • Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
  • hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
  • hookedspur violet Viola adunca
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • Hornemann's willowherb Epilobium hornemannii
  • husk tomato Physalis pubescens
  • Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
  • least duckweed Lemna minuta
  • lesser wirelettuce Stephanomeria minor
  • little grapefern Botrychium simplex
  • liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
  • male fern Dryopteris filix-mas
  • manyflower stickseed Hackelia floribunda
  • manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
  • mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
  • marsh arrowgrass Triglochin palustris
  • meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
  • mealy goosefoot Chenopodium incanum
  • Menzies' campion Silene menziesii
  • Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
  • Mexican lovegrass Eragrostis mexicana
  • milkflower willowherb Epilobium lactiflorum
  • Mojave seablite Suaeda moquinii
  • mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
  • narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium
  • narrowleaf goosefoot Chenopodium leptophyllum
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needleleaf sedge Carex duriuscula
  • nodding buckwheat Eriogonum cernuum
  • northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
  • Oregon cliff fern Woodsia oregana
  • pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
  • pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
  • Palmer's penstemon Penstemon palmeri
  • Pennsylvania cinquefoil Potentilla pensylvanica
  • pimpernel willowherb Epilobium anagallidifolium
  • pinyon goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • Porter brome Bromus porteri
  • povertyweed Iva axillaris
  • Powell's amaranth Amaranthus powellii
  • pullup muhly Muhlenbergia filiformis
  • purple reedgrass Calamagrostis purpurascens
  • Pursh seepweed Suaeda calceoliformis
  • pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis
  • red baneberry Actaea rubra
  • Rocky Mountain fescue Festuca saximontana
  • Rocky Mountain rush Juncus saximontanus
  • Rocky Mountain woodsia Woodsia scopulina
  • rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
  • rusty lupine Lupinus pusillus
  • salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
  • sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • Scouler's popcornflower Plagiobothrys scouleri
  • seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
  • shaggy fleabane Erigeron pumilus
  • shortray fleabane Erigeron lonchophyllus
  • sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
  • silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
  • silverscale saltbush Atriplex argentea
  • sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
  • sixweeks threeawn Aristida adscensionis
  • slender lipfern Cheilanthes feei
  • slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
  • southern cattail Typha domingensis
  • spearleaf stonecrop Sedum lanceolatum
  • spike dropseed Sporobolus contractus
  • spiny milkvetch Astragalus kentrophyta
  • spiny naiad Najas marina
  • spiny phlox Phlox hoodii
  • spinystar Escobaria vivipara
  • spiral ditchgrass Ruppia cirrhosa
  • spotted fritillary Fritillaria atropurpurea
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
  • stretchberry Forestiera pubescens
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • swollen duckweed Lemna gibba
  • tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
  • tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
  • threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
  • threenerve goldenrod Solidago velutina
  • tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • turion duckweed Lemna turionifera
  • verrucose seapurslane Sesuvium verrucosum
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • water minerslettuce Montia chamissoi
  • water mudwort Limosella aquatica
  • wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
  • western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
  • western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
  • white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
  • whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
  • whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
  • willow dock Rumex salicifolius
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • woolly sedge Carex pellita
  • Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
Also listed as native and introduced here 1

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, Inyo County and California
MeasureInyo CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 490 333 1,108
Garden-ready natives 341 239 720
Tree 40 — 111
Shrub 71 — 140
Wildflower (forb) 239 — 559
Grass or grass-like 124 — 253
Vine 4 — 16
Fern 12 — 29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Inyo 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
Inyo County (county FIPS 06027), California. 490 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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