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Native plants recorded in your state and county

Native plants · California

Native plants of San Diego County

430 plant species are recorded as native to California in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in San Diego County by USDA PLANTS. 271 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 3 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

San Diego County, California

Native species
430 Typical California county: 333 (median of 58 counties)
Garden-ready natives
271 Typical California county: 239
Share by type (all 430 native species)
Percent of the 430 native species in each growth type
Tree 10% (41)
Shrub 15% (63)
Wildflower (forb) 50% (215)
Grass or grass-like 22% (96)
Vine 1% (6)
Fern 2% (9)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (50%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (22%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 11a (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 271

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

Garden-ready native plants of San Diego County, California
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
Alaska brome Bromus sitchensis Grass or grass-like 5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
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
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 vetch Vicia americana Vine 1.3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
annual hairgrass Deschampsia danthonioides Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentata Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
arctic pearlwort Sagina saginoides Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
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
bigpod ceanothus Ceanothus megacarpus Shrub 13 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
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
boraxweed Nitrophila occidentalis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
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
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 muhly Muhlenbergia porteri Grass or grass-like 2.8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8b
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus Grass or grass-like 6.3 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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 huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum Shrub 8 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 8a
California laurel Umbellularia californica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
California live oak Quercus agrifolia Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
California oatgrass Danthonia californica Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 9a
California poppy Eschscholzia californica Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8a
California sycamore Platanus racemosa Tree 75 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
California 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
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
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 selfheal Prunella vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Shrub 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
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
creeping barberry Mahonia repens Shrub 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
creosote bush Larrea tridentata Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
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
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' sedge Carex douglasii Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
Eastern Mojave buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
fairyduster Calliandra eriophylla Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 10a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
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
fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 5.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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
Gardner's yampah Perideridia gairdneri Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
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
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
heartleaf arnica Arnica cordifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
hollyleaf cherry Prunus ilicifolia Tree 40 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
hollyleaved barberry Mahonia aquifolium Shrub 8 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3a
Hooker's evening primrose Oenothera elata Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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
island gooseberry Ribes viburnifolium Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 7a
Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi Tree 180 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
jojoba Simmondsia chinensis Shrub 7 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
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
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
Lewis flax Linum lewisii Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
little barley Hordeum pusillum Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
little western bittercress Cardamine oligosperma Wildflower (forb) 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
littleleaf ratany Krameria erecta Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
longleaf jointfir Ephedra trifurca Shrub 15 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High 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
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 4a
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
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
Nuttall's sunflower Helianthus nuttallii Wildflower (forb) 10 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
Oregon ash Fraxinus latifolia Tree 70 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
Pacific aster Symphyotrichum chilense Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
Pacific dogwood Cornus nuttallii Tree 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8b
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
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
pinebush Ericameria pinifolia Shrub 8 ft Sun Medium Zone 10a
pointleaf manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens Shrub 12 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 9b
ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa Tree 223 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
poverty rush Juncus tenuis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
poverty threeawn Aristida divaricata Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6b
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
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
red goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun High Zone 12b
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
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
Richardson's geranium Geranium richardsonii Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Rocky Mountain beeplant Cleome serrulata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
Rocky Mountain iris Iris missouriensis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
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
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 monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
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
shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
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 rush Juncus nevadensis Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
singleleaf pinyon Pinus monophylla Tree 50 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
singlewhorl burrobrush Hymenoclea monogyra Shrub 2 ft — — Zone 10a
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
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 3b
spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
spineless horsebrush Tetradymia canescens Shrub 4 ft Sun Low Zone 9a
spreading alkaliweed Cressa truxillensis Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 6a
spreading yellowcress Rorippa sinuata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
squirreltail Elymus elymoides Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sugar pine Pinus lambertiana Tree 229 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
sugar sumac Rhus ovata Tree 12 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
sweetscent Pluchea odorata Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
tall hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
tanglehead Heteropogon contortus Grass or grass-like 8 in Sun Low Zone 8a
tarweed fiddleneck Amsinckia lycopsoides Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
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
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
turkey tangle fogfruit Phyla nodiflora Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 5b
turpentinebroom Thamnosma montana Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
turtleweed Batis maritima Shrub 1 in Sun Medium Zone 9a
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
valley oak Quercus lobata Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
velvet ash Fraxinus velutina Tree 40 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 4a
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 5a
wavyleaf Indian paintbrush Castilleja applegatei Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
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 fescue Festuca occidentalis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3a
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 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 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 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 raspberry Rubus leucodermis Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 7a
Woods' rose Rosa woodsii Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
woolly plantain Plantago patagonica Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Low Zone 12b
yellow bush lupine Lupinus arboreus Shrub 6 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
yerba mansa Anemopsis californica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 9b

Other native species recorded here 159

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 wild carrot Daucus pusillus
  • American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
  • arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
  • bigpod sesbania Sesbania herbacea
  • bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
  • bladderpod spiderflower Cleome isomeris
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • bristly scaleseed Spermolepis echinata
  • brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
  • brook cinquefoil Potentilla rivalis
  • buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
  • bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
  • Canada spikesedge Eleocharis geniculata
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • carelessweed Amaranthus palmeri
  • Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
  • Carolina draba Draba reptans
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • catchfly prairie gentian Eustoma exaltatum
  • chaffweed Anagallis minima
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
  • coast tarweed Madia sativa
  • coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
  • Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
  • cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
  • creeping primrose-willow Ludwigia repens
  • Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
  • curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
  • desert princesplume Stanleya pinnata
  • ditch rabbitsfoot grass Polypogon interruptus
  • Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
  • dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
  • Equisetum ×ferrissii Equisetum ×ferrissii
  • feather fingergrass Chloris virgata
  • fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
  • fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius
  • flatspine bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa
  • floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
  • foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
  • Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
  • grand redstem Ammannia robusta
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
  • hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
  • hooded arrowhead Sagittaria calycina
  • hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
  • hookedspur violet Viola adunca
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • husk tomato Physalis pubescens
  • Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
  • ivyleaf groundcherry Physalis hederifolia
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • largeleaf sandwort Moehringia macrophylla
  • least duckweed Lemna minuta
  • Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • Macoun's barley ×Elyhordeum macounii
  • manybranched pepperweed Lepidium ramosissimum
  • manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
  • manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
  • marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
  • Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
  • Mexican lovegrass Eragrostis mexicana
  • Mexican Mosquito Fern Azolla microphylla
  • Modoc yellowcress Rorippa tenerrima
  • Mojave seablite Suaeda moquinii
  • mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
  • muskflower Mimulus moschatus
  • narrowleaf minerslettuce Montia linearis
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needleleaf navarretia Navarretia intertexta
  • northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
  • northern water plantain Alisma triviale
  • northern watermeal Wolffia borealis
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
  • pinyon goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • povertyweed Iva axillaris
  • Powell's amaranth Amaranthus powellii
  • prairie plantain Plantago elongata
  • prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
  • ram's horn Proboscidea louisianica
  • redseed plantain Plantago rhodosperma
  • salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
  • sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
  • sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
  • scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
  • scarlet spiderling Boerhavia coccinea
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • Scouler's popcornflower Plagiobothrys scouleri
  • seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
  • seawrack Zostera marina
  • shortseed waterwort Elatine brachysperma
  • shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
  • silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
  • silverscale saltbush Atriplex argentea
  • 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
  • smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
  • southern cattail Typha domingensis
  • southern sandbur Cenchrus echinatus
  • spiny naiad Najas marina
  • 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
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
  • swollen duckweed Lemna gibba
  • tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
  • tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
  • Texas bergia Bergia texana
  • threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • turion duckweed Lemna turionifera
  • upright burhead Echinodorus berteroi
  • Vahl's fimbry Fimbristylis vahlii
  • verrucose seapurslane Sesuvium verrucosum
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
  • warty caltrop Kallstroemia parviflora
  • 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 pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • woolly sedge Carex pellita
  • woolly tidestromia Tidestromia lanuginosa
  • Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens
Also listed as native and introduced here 3

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

  • biennial wormwoodArtemisia biennis
  • floating primrose-willowLudwigia peploides
  • Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with California

The typical county is the median of the 58 California counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.

Native species counts, San Diego County and California
MeasureSan Diego CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 430 333 1,108
Garden-ready natives 271 239 720
Tree 41 — 111
Shrub 63 — 140
Wildflower (forb) 215 — 559
Grass or grass-like 96 — 253
Vine 6 — 16
Fern 9 — 29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with San Diego 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
San Diego County (county FIPS 06073), California. 430 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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