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Native plants recorded in your state and county

Native plants · California

Native plants of Ventura County

276 plant species are recorded as native to California in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Ventura County by USDA PLANTS. 195 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 4 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Ventura County, California

Native species
276 Typical California county: 333 (median of 58 counties)
Garden-ready natives
195 Typical California county: 239
Share by type (all 276 native species)
Percent of the 276 native species in each growth type
Tree 15% (41)
Shrub 16% (45)
Wildflower (forb) 45% (124)
Grass or grass-like 20% (55)
Vine 1% (4)
Fern 3% (7)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (45%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (20%).

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 7b 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 195

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

Garden-ready native plants of Ventura County, California
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
American licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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
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
bigpod ceanothus Ceanothus megacarpus Shrub 13 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
Bishop pine Pinus muricata Tree 90 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 9a
bitter cherry Prunus emarginata Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
blue oak Quercus douglasii Tree 60 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
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
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
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 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 flannelbush Fremontodendron californicum Tree 10 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
California foothill pine Pinus sabiniana Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 8b
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 wax myrtle Morella californica Tree 33 ft Sun Medium Zone 9b
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
canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis Tree 90 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8b
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
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 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
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
curl-leaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 2b
curvepod yellowcress Rorippa curvisiliqua Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
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 bitterbrush Purshia glandulosa Shrub 5 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
desert ceanothus Ceanothus greggii Shrub 7 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
desert needlegrass Achnatherum speciosum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12a
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
Douglas' sedge Carex douglasii Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
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
field horsetail Equisetum arvense Fern 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
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 bluegrass Poa palustris Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun–part shade 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
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
golden sedge Carex aurea Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
granite prickly phlox Linanthus pungens Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
gray alder Alnus incana Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
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 mallow Lavatera assurgentiflora Shrub 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi Tree 180 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
largeflower hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun Low Zone 5a
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
little western bittercress Cardamine oligosperma Wildflower (forb) 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
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
Missouri gourd Cucurbita foetidissima Vine 1 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
mormon tea Ephedra viridis Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5b
mountain blue penstemon Penstemon laetus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
mountain brome Bromus marginatus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun High Zone 4b
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
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
oceanspray Holodiscus discolor Shrub 12 ft Sun High Zone 8a
Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8b
pale yellow lupine Lupinus luteolus Wildflower (forb) 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus Grass or grass-like 5.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
pinebush Ericameria pinifolia Shrub 8 ft Sun Medium Zone 10a
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
primrose monkeyflower Mimulus primuloides Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
redberry buckthorn Rhamnus crocea Tree 5 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
Rocky Mountain iris Iris missouriensis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
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
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
saltmarsh bird's-beak Cordylanthus maritimus Wildflower (forb) 1.7 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1a
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
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
silver buffaloberry Shepherdia argentea Tree 18 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High 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
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
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 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
sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
sticky purple geranium Geranium viscosissimum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
sugar pine Pinus lambertiana Tree 229 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
sugar sumac Rhus ovata Tree 12 ft Sun Low 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
tanoak Notholithocarpus densiflorus Tree 125 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8a
tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
tapertip hawksbeard Crepis acuminata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
Thurber's needlegrass Achnatherum thurberianum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
toad rush Juncus bufonius Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
turkey tangle fogfruit Phyla nodiflora Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 5b
turtleweed Batis maritima Shrub 1 in Sun Medium Zone 9a
Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
valley oak Quercus lobata Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
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
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 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 panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
whitethorn ceanothus Ceanothus cordulatus Shrub 8 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 7a
Woods' rose Rosa woodsii Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
woollypod milkvetch Astragalus purshii Wildflower (forb) 7 in Sun Low Zone 4a
yellow bush lupine Lupinus arboreus Shrub 6 ft Sun Low Zone 9b
yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
yerba mansa Anemopsis californica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 9b

Other native species recorded here 81

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
  • bigleaf lupine Lupinus polyphyllus
  • bladderpod spiderflower Cleome isomeris
  • brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
  • buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
  • bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
  • coast tarweed Madia sativa
  • cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
  • Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • desert princesplume Stanleya pinnata
  • ditch rabbitsfoot grass Polypogon interruptus
  • dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
  • fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
  • flatspine bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa
  • foxtail muhly Muhlenbergia andina
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
  • hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
  • hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • little grapefern Botrychium simplex
  • manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
  • Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
  • Mexican lovegrass Eragrostis mexicana
  • Mojave seablite Suaeda moquinii
  • muskflower Mimulus moschatus
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
  • Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • povertyweed Iva axillaris
  • prairie plantain Plantago elongata
  • Pursh seepweed Suaeda calceoliformis
  • ram's horn Proboscidea louisianica
  • saline saltbush Atriplex subspicata
  • salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
  • sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
  • scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • Scouler's popcornflower Plagiobothrys scouleri
  • seawrack Zostera marina
  • silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
  • silverscale saltbush Atriplex argentea
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
  • smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
  • southern cattail Typha domingensis
  • Spanish gold Grindelia papposa
  • spiral ditchgrass Ruppia cirrhosa
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
  • stretchberry Forestiera pubescens
  • swollen duckweed Lemna gibba
  • tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
  • tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • turion duckweed Lemna turionifera
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • water minerslettuce Montia chamissoi
  • wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
  • western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
  • western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
  • willow dock Rumex salicifolius
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens
Also listed as native and introduced here 4

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
  • hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
  • 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, Ventura County and California
MeasureVentura CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 276 333 1,108
Garden-ready natives 195 239 720
Tree 41 — 111
Shrub 45 — 140
Wildflower (forb) 124 — 559
Grass or grass-like 55 — 253
Vine 4 — 16
Fern 7 — 29

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Ventura 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
Ventura County (county FIPS 06111), California. 276 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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