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Native plants · California

Native plants of Sierra County

333 plant species are recorded as native to California in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Sierra County by USDA PLANTS. 254 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

Sierra County, California

Native species
333 Typical California county: 333 (median of 58 counties)
Garden-ready natives
254 Typical California county: 239
Share by type (all 333 native species)
Percent of the 333 native species in each growth type
Tree 12% (41)
Shrub 12% (41)
Wildflower (forb) 53% (177)
Grass or grass-like 18% (61)
Vine <1% (2)
Fern 3% (11)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (53%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (18%).

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

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 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 254

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

Garden-ready native plants of Sierra County, California
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High 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 bistort Polygonum bistortoides Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun 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
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
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
awl-leaf lilaea Lilaea scilloides Grass or grass-like 10 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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 hazelnut Corylus cornuta Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
beardless wildrye Leymus triticoides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
big deervetch Lotus crassifolius Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata Tree 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
bigflower agoseris Agoseris grandiflora Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
bigleaf maple Acer macrophyllum Tree 60 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
bigseed biscuitroot Lomatium macrocarpum Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Low Zone 4b
bitter cherry Prunus emarginata Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
Blue Mountain buckwheat Eriogonum strictum Wildflower (forb) 2.2 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
blue wildrye Elymus glaucus Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
bog blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
Brewer's bittercress Cardamine breweri Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
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
Brown's peony Paeonia brownii Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
buckbrush Ceanothus cuneatus Shrub 11 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
bunchleaf penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 9a
bush chinquapin Chrysolepis sempervirens Shrub 7 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6b
California black oak Quercus kelloggii Tree 85 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
California brome Bromus carinatus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Low Zone 9a
California damsonium Damasonium californicum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 5a
California false hellebore Veratrum californicum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
California laurel Umbellularia californica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
California oatgrass Danthonia californica Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 9a
California red fir Abies magnifica Tree 150 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
California yerba santa Eriodictyon californicum Shrub 8 ft Sun Low Zone 7a
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis Tree 90 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8b
Cascara buckthorn Frangula purshiana Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
Chamisso arnica Arnica chamissonis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana Tree 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
Columbia brome Bromus vulgaris Grass or grass-like 1 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
common mare's-tail Hippuris vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
common sunflower Helianthus annuus Wildflower (forb) 9 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
cows clover Trifolium wormskioldii Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
curl-leaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 2b
curvepod milkvetch Astragalus curvicarpus Wildflower (forb) 5 in 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
doublehorn calicoflower Downingia bicornuta Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 12a
Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Tree 200 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Douglas' dustymaiden Chaenactis douglasii Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
drooping woodreed Cinna latifolia Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Drummond's rush Juncus drummondii Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
dwarf purple monkeyflower Mimulus nanus Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Low Zone 10b
Eaton's fleabane Erigeron eatonii Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Low Zone 5b
elephanthead lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Eschscholtz's buttercup Ranunculus eschscholtzii Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
fineleaf pondweed Stuckenia filiformis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
fivespot Nemophila maculata Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
foothill deathcamas Zigadenus paniculatus Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
fowl bluegrass Poa palustris Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata Grass or grass-like 5.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
freckled milkvetch Astragalus lentiginosus Shrub 1.4 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
fringed brome Bromus ciliatus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
Geyer willow Salix geyeriana Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
gooseberry currant Ribes montigenum Shrub 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
granite prickly phlox Linanthus pungens Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
gray alder Alnus incana Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Greene's mountain ash Sorbus scopulina Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
greenleaf fescue Festuca viridula Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
greenleaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
hairy arnica Arnica mollis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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 balsamroot Balsamorhiza hookeri Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
huckleberry oak Quercus vacciniifolia Shrub 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
Idaho blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium idahoense Wildflower (forb) 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Idaho fescue Festuca idahoensis Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
incense cedar Calocedrus decurrens Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi Tree 180 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
King's sandwort Arenaria kingii Wildflower (forb) 8 in Sun Low Zone 4b
Klamath plum Prunus subcordata Tree 25 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
lambstongue ragwort Senecio integerrimus Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
largeflower hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun Low Zone 5a
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius Wildflower (forb) — Sun High 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
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 3a
Lewis' mock orange Philadelphus lewisii Shrub 12 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
little sagebrush Artemisia arbuscula Shrub 2 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Tree 99 ft Sun Medium Zone 1a
longstalk clover Trifolium longipes Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8a
longstalk starwort Stellaria longipes Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
marumleaf buckwheat Eriogonum marifolium Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Low Zone 5b
mat muhly Muhlenbergia richardsonis Grass or grass-like 6 in Sun High Zone 4b
meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus Grass or grass-like 10 in Sun Medium Zone 5b
miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
Modoc hawksbeard Crepis modocensis Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
mountain hemlock Tsuga mertensiana Tree 125 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
mountain pride Penstemon newberryi Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
mountain sedge Carex scopulorum Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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
nettleleaf giant hyssop Agastache urticifolia Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Nevada lupine Lupinus nevadensis Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
nodding microseris Microseris nutans Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun High Zone 3a
Nuttall's povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 12a
oceanspray Holodiscus discolor Shrub 12 ft Sun High Zone 8a
onespike danthonia Danthonia unispicata Grass or grass-like 10 in Sun Low Zone 4b
Oregon checkerbloom Sidalcea oregana Wildflower (forb) 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Pacific dogwood Cornus nuttallii Tree 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8b
Pacific onion Allium validum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
pale agoseris Agoseris glauca Shrub 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus Grass or grass-like 5.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Parish's yampah Perideridia parishii Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
Parry's rush Juncus parryi Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
pinemat manzanita Arctostaphylos nevadensis Shrub 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
plantainleaf buttercup Ranunculus alismifolius Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa Tree 223 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
primrose monkeyflower Mimulus primuloides Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
prostrate ceanothus Ceanothus prostratus Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
purple milkvetch Astragalus agrestis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
purple mountainheath Phyllodoce breweri Shrub 1 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 1a
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
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea Tree 12 ft Sun High Zone 3b
Robbins' pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
rockloving erigeron Erigeron petrophilus Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 8a
Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
rose spirea Spiraea douglasii Shrub 7 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
Ross' sedge Carex rossii Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
royal penstemon Penstemon speciosus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa Shrub 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
rush pussytoes Antennaria luzuloides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Rydberg's penstemon Penstemon rydbergii Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
sagebrush buttercup Ranunculus glaberrimus Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun High Zone 3a
Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1a
scabland penstemon Penstemon deustus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
scarlet gilia Ipomopsis aggregata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5b
Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6a
Scouler's woollyweed Hieracium scouleri Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
shorthair sedge Carex exserta Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sicklekeel lupine Lupinus albicaulis Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
Sierra currant Ribes nevadense Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
Sierra gooseberry Ribes roezlii Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Sierra larkspur Delphinium glaucum Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Sierra rush Juncus nevadensis Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Sierra willow Salix orestera Shrub 10 ft Sun High Zone 5a
silver sagebrush Artemisia cana Shrub 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
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 pinyon Pinus monophylla Tree 50 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
slender cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis Wildflower (forb) 2.4 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
slender cottongrass Eriophorum gracile Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Sun High 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
small camas Camassia quamash Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina Wildflower (forb) 11 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
small white violet Viola macloskeyi Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
smallflowered woodrush Luzula parviflora Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
smallleaf giant hyssop Agastache parvifolia Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum Fern 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
snowbrush ceanothus Ceanothus velutinus Tree 10 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
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 phlox Phlox diffusa Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
squirreltail Elymus elymoides Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
star sedge Carex echinata Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
sticky currant Ribes viscosissimum Shrub 3.5 ft Sun — Zone 3b
sugar pine Pinus lambertiana Tree 229 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
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
tailcup lupine Lupinus caudatus Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
tall fringed bluebells Mertensia ciliata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
tall trisetum Trisetum canescens Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
tall woolly buckwheat Eriogonum elatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
tanoak Notholithocarpus densiflorus Tree 125 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8a
tapertip hawksbeard Crepis acuminata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
thickstem aster Eurybia integrifolia Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
thinleaf huckleberry Vaccinium membranaceum Shrub 4.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
threadleaf fleabane Erigeron filifolius Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
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
tinker's penny Hypericum anagalloides Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
toad rush Juncus bufonius Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa Grass or grass-like 3.4 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
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 serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 4a
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 5a
water sedge Carex aquatilis Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
wavyleaf Indian paintbrush Castilleja applegatei Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
wax currant Ribes cereum Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
western azalea Rhododendron occidentale Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 8b
western columbine Aquilegia formosa Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
western juniper Juniperus occidentalis Tree 33 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
western Labrador tea Ledum glandulosum Shrub 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
western needlegrass Achnatherum occidentale Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
western stoneseed Lithospermum ruderale Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
western waterleaf Hydrophyllum occidentale Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
western white pine Pinus monticola Tree 200 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
white alder Alnus rhombifolia Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
white hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
white marsh marigold Caltha leptosepala Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 4a
whitestem pondweed Potamogeton praelongus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
whitethorn ceanothus Ceanothus cordulatus Shrub 8 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
Woods' rose Rosa woodsii Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
woolly mule-ears Wyethia mollis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
woollypod milkvetch Astragalus purshii Wildflower (forb) 7 in Sun Low Zone 4a
yellow evening primrose Oenothera flava Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
yellow fritillary Fritillaria pudica Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12a
yellow owl's-clover Orthocarpus luteus Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 12b
yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 79

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
  • American pillwort Pilularia americana
  • American rockbrake Cryptogramma acrostichoides
  • American sloughgrass Beckmannia syzigachne
  • arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
  • autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
  • brightgreen spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum
  • brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • common starlily Leucocrinum montanum
  • curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
  • English sundew Drosera anglica
  • European bur-reed Sparganium emersum
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
  • greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
  • hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
  • hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
  • hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
  • hookedspur violet Viola adunca
  • leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • manyflower stickseed Hackelia floribunda
  • manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
  • Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
  • mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
  • mountain tarweed Madia glomerata
  • muskflower Mimulus moschatus
  • narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium
  • narrowleaf minerslettuce Montia linearis
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needleleaf navarretia Navarretia intertexta
  • Oregon cliff fern Woodsia oregana
  • pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
  • pinyon goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens
  • pullup muhly Muhlenbergia filiformis
  • rannoch-rush Scheuchzeria palustris
  • Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
  • Rocky Mountain woodsia Woodsia scopulina
  • rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • Scouler's popcornflower Plagiobothrys scouleri
  • seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
  • shaggy fleabane Erigeron pumilus
  • shortseed waterwort Elatine brachysperma
  • sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
  • skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
  • slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
  • slender-spire orchid Piperia unalascensis
  • spotted fritillary Fritillaria atropurpurea
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
  • stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
  • swollen duckweed Lemna gibba
  • tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
  • tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
  • tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • turion duckweed Lemna turionifera
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • water mudwort Limosella aquatica
  • waterawlwort Subularia aquatica
  • wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
  • western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
  • western rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
  • western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
  • whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
  • willow dock Rumex salicifolius
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens
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, Sierra County and California
MeasureSierra CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 333 333 1,108
Garden-ready natives 254 239 720
Tree 41 — 111
Shrub 41 — 140
Wildflower (forb) 177 — 559
Grass or grass-like 61 — 253
Vine 2 — 16
Fern 11 — 29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Sierra 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
Sierra County (county FIPS 06091), California. 333 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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