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Native plants · California

Native plants of Riverside County

383 plant species are recorded as native to California in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Riverside County by USDA PLANTS. 258 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

Riverside County, California

Native species
383 Typical California county: 333 (median of 58 counties)
Garden-ready natives
258 Typical California county: 239
Share by type (all 383 native species)
Percent of the 383 native species in each growth type
Tree 13% (48)
Shrub 17% (66)
Wildflower (forb) 44% (167)
Grass or grass-like 23% (89)
Vine 1% (5)
Fern 2% (8)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (44%), 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 8a to 10b (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 258

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

Garden-ready native plants of Riverside County, California
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
alkali sacaton Sporobolus airoides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low 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 licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana Wildflower (forb) 7.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
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
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
banana yucca Yucca baccata Shrub 4 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
basalt milkvetch Astragalus filipes Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
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 deervetch Lotus crassifolius Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata Tree 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
big saltbush Atriplex lentiformis Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
bigberry manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca Tree 18 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8b
bigcone Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga macrocarpa Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
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
bitter cherry Prunus emarginata Tree 80 ft Sun Medium 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
boxelder Acer negundo Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
brittlebush Encelia farinosa Shrub 5 ft Sun Low Zone 10a
broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum Wildflower (forb) 4.9 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
broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae Shrub 1.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
buckbrush Ceanothus cuneatus Shrub 11 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
bunchleaf penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 9a
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
California amaranth Amaranthus californicus Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
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 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 laurel Umbellularia californica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
California live oak Quercus agrifolia Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
California poppy Eschscholzia californica Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8a
California sycamore Platanus racemosa Tree 75 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
California wildrose Rosa californica Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 8a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
cane bluestem Bothriochloa barbinodis Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 7b
canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis Tree 90 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8b
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
catclaw acacia Senegalia greggii Tree 20 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
cattle saltbush Atriplex polycarpa Shrub 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum Shrub 10 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
chaparral yucca Hesperoyucca whipplei Shrub 4 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
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
coastal sage scrub oak Quercus dumosa Tree 9 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
Colorado four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 5b
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 rush Juncus effusus Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
common sunflower Helianthus annuus Wildflower (forb) 9 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
Coulter pine Pinus coulteri Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
cows clover Trifolium wormskioldii Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
coyotebrush Baccharis pilularis Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
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
deerbrush Ceanothus integerrimus Shrub 13 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 9b
desert 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 ironwood Olneya tesota Tree 25 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
desert needlegrass Achnatherum speciosum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
desert willow Chilopsis linearis Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
desertbroom Baccharis sarothroides Shrub 12 ft Sun Low Zone 10a
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
Douglas' sedge Carex douglasii Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Eastern Mojave buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
Eschscholtz's buttercup Ranunculus eschscholtzii Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa Shrub 15 ft Sun Low 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
foothill needlegrass Nassella lepida Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 9a
fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens Shrub 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata Grass or grass-like 5.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
freckled milkvetch Astragalus lentiginosus Shrub 1.4 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 6a
fringed brome Bromus ciliatus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
giant wildrye Leymus condensatus Grass or grass-like 8.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
glaucus willowherb Epilobium glaberrimum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6b
golden crownbeard Verbesina encelioides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
golden currant Ribes aureum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
Goodding's willow Salix gooddingii Tree 40 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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
greenleaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
hollyleaf cherry Prunus ilicifolia Tree 40 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
hollyleaved barberry Mahonia aquifolium Shrub 8 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3a
hooded lady's tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Hooker's evening primrose Oenothera elata Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun High Zone 5a
Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
incense cedar Calocedrus decurrens Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
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
Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi Tree 180 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
jojoba Simmondsia chinensis Shrub 7 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
Joshua tree Yucca brevifolia Tree 30 ft Sun Low Zone 10a
knotgrass Paspalum distichum Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun High Zone 6a
lacy phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
Lewis flax Linum lewisii Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
limber pine Pinus flexilis Tree 66 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
littleleaf mock orange Philadelphus microphyllus Shrub 15 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
littleleaf ratany Krameria erecta Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Tree 99 ft Sun Medium Zone 1a
longleaf jointfir Ephedra trifurca Shrub 15 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
longstalk clover Trifolium longipes Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8a
low pussytoes Antennaria dimorpha Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
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
mesa dropseed Sporobolus flexuosus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus Grass or grass-like 10 in Sun Medium Zone 5b
miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
Missouri gourd Cucurbita foetidissima Vine 1 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
mormon tea Ephedra viridis Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5b
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 spikerush Eleocharis acicularis Grass or grass-like 8 in Sun Medium Zone 5a
Nevada jointfir Ephedra nevadensis Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun Low Zone 9a
Nuttall's povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 12a
oceanspray Holodiscus discolor Shrub 12 ft Sun High Zone 8a
ocotillo Fouquieria splendens Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
onespike danthonia Danthonia unispicata Grass or grass-like 10 in Sun Low Zone 4b
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
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
pinebush Ericameria pinifolia Shrub 8 ft Sun Medium Zone 10a
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
pointleaf manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens Shrub 12 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 9b
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 needlegrass Nassella pulchra Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8b
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
redberry buckthorn Rhamnus crocea Tree 5 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
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
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
Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
royal penstemon Penstemon speciosus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa Shrub 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
saguaro Carnegiea gigantea Tree 9 ft Sun Low Zone 8b
salt heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
salt spring checkerbloom Sidalcea neomexicana Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
saltgrass Distichlis spicata Grass or grass-like 1.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1a
scarlet monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6a
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
shiny chickweed Stellaria nitens Wildflower (forb) 10 in Shade-tolerant 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
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 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
smallflower melicgrass Melica imperfecta Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Low Zone 10a
smooth beggartick Bidens laevis Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum Fern 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
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
spiny hopsage Grayia spinosa Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
spreading alkaliweed Cressa truxillensis Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 6a
squirreltail Elymus elymoides Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
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
sugar pine Pinus lambertiana Tree 229 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
sugar sumac Rhus ovata Tree 12 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
sulphur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides Wildflower (forb) — Sun Medium Zone 10b
sweetscent Pluchea odorata Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
tall trisetum Trisetum canescens Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
thickspike wheatgrass Elymus lanceolatus Grass or grass-like 2.3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum Vine 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
tinker's penny Hypericum anagalloides Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus Wildflower (forb) 5 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
toad rush Juncus bufonius Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
turpentinebroom Thamnosma montana Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
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
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
wartleaf ceanothus Ceanothus papillosus Shrub 16 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 9b
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 5a
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius Wildflower (forb) 3.2 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 goldentop Euthamia occidentalis Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
western needlegrass Achnatherum occidentale Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
western white clematis Clematis ligusticifolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
white alder Alnus rhombifolia Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
white hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
whitethorn ceanothus Ceanothus cordulatus Shrub 8 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 2a
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 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 125

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

  • American bird's-foot trefoil Lotus unifoliolatus
  • American black nightshade Solanum americanum
  • American pillwort Pilularia americana
  • American rockbrake Cryptogramma acrostichoides
  • American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
  • American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
  • arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
  • bigleaf lupine Lupinus polyphyllus
  • bigpod sesbania Sesbania herbacea
  • bladderpod spiderflower Cleome isomeris
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
  • buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
  • Canada spikesedge Eleocharis geniculata
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • carelessweed Amaranthus palmeri
  • Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • catchfly prairie gentian Eustoma exaltatum
  • chaffweed Anagallis minima
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
  • cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
  • Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • desert horsepurslane Trianthema portulacastrum
  • desert princesplume Stanleya pinnata
  • ditch rabbitsfoot grass Polypogon interruptus
  • feather fingergrass Chloris virgata
  • fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
  • fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius
  • flatspine bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa
  • floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
  • Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
  • grand redstem Ammannia robusta
  • hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
  • hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • husk tomato Physalis pubescens
  • ivyleaf groundcherry Physalis hederifolia
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • least duckweed Lemna minuta
  • Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
  • Macoun's barley ×Elyhordeum macounii
  • manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
  • manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
  • marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
  • Mexican lovegrass Eragrostis mexicana
  • Mojave seablite Suaeda moquinii
  • mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
  • mucronate sprangletop Leptochloa panicea
  • muskflower Mimulus moschatus
  • narrowleaf four o'clock Mirabilis linearis
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needleleaf navarretia Navarretia intertexta
  • Oregon cliff fern Woodsia oregana
  • pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
  • Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
  • pillpod sandmat Chamaesyce hirta
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • Porter brome Bromus porteri
  • povertyweed Iva axillaris
  • prairie plantain Plantago elongata
  • pullup muhly Muhlenbergia filiformis
  • Pursh seepweed Suaeda calceoliformis
  • ram's horn Proboscidea louisianica
  • Rocky Mountain rush Juncus saximontanus
  • rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
  • salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
  • sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
  • sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
  • scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
  • scarlet spiderling Boerhavia coccinea
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • shortseed waterwort Elatine brachysperma
  • silkcotton purslane Portulaca halimoides
  • silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
  • sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
  • sixweeks threeawn Aristida adscensionis
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
  • slender-spire orchid Piperia unalascensis
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
  • southern cattail Typha domingensis
  • spike dropseed Sporobolus contractus
  • spiny naiad Najas marina
  • spinystar Escobaria vivipara
  • spiral ditchgrass Ruppia cirrhosa
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
  • stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
  • stretchberry Forestiera pubescens
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
  • swollen duckweed Lemna gibba
  • tapertip cupgrass Eriochloa acuminata
  • tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
  • Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
  • threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • upright burhead Echinodorus berteroi
  • verrucose seapurslane Sesuvium verrucosum
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
  • water minerslettuce Montia chamissoi
  • water pygmyweed Crassula aquatica
  • wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
  • wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
  • western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
  • western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
  • whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
  • whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
  • willow dock Rumex salicifolius
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • 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, Riverside County and California
MeasureRiverside CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 383 333 1,108
Garden-ready natives 258 239 720
Tree 48 — 111
Shrub 66 — 140
Wildflower (forb) 167 — 559
Grass or grass-like 89 — 253
Vine 5 — 16
Fern 8 — 29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Riverside 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
Riverside County (county FIPS 06065), California. 383 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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