Native plants · Colorado
Native plants of Delta County
248 plant species are recorded as native to Colorado in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Delta County by USDA PLANTS. 169 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
Delta County, Colorado
- Native species
- 248 Typical Colorado county: 237 (median of 63 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 169 Typical Colorado county: 148
- Share by type (all 248 native species)
-
Percent of the 248 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (54%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 169
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| alderleaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus montanus | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| alpine leafybract aster Symphyotrichum foliaceum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| American red raspberry Rubus idaeus | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 1a |
| American vetch Vicia americana | Vine | 1.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| analogue sedge Carex simulata | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| ballhead waterleaf Hydrophyllum capitatum | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| basin wildrye Leymus cinereus | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| blue wildrye Elymus glaucus | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| bluntseed sweetroot Osmorhiza depauperata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| bud sagebrush Picrothamnus desertorum | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| 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 |
| cloaked bulrush Scirpus pallidus | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Colorado blue columbine Aquilegia coerulea | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Colorado four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| Columbia needlegrass Achnatherum nelsonii | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| common duckweed Lemna minor | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common juniper Juniperus communis | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| common selfheal Prunella vulgaris | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| common spikerush Eleocharis palustris | Grass or grass-like | 1.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| creeping barberry Mahonia repens | Shrub | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| diamondleaf willow Salix planifolia | Tree | 8 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Drummond's rockcress Arabis drummondii | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Drummond's rush Juncus drummondii | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Drummond's willow Salix drummondiana | Shrub | 12 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| dwarf bilberry Vaccinium cespitosum | Shrub | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides | Tree | 190 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| elephanthead lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| fiddleleaf hawksbeard Crepis runcinata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| fringed grass of Parnassus Parnassia fimbriata | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| Gambel oak Quercus gambelii | Tree | 40 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| Gardner's saltbush Atriplex gardneri | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| gooseberry currant Ribes montigenum | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| gray alder Alnus incana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| gray aster Eurybia glauca | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| greasewood Sarcobatus vermiculatus | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| green molly Bassia americana | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| hairy false goldenaster Heterotheca villosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| heartleaf arnica Arnica cordifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| heartleaf bittercress Cardamine cordifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| Hooker's evening primrose Oenothera elata | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| Idaho fescue Festuca idahoensis | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| largeflower hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 11 in | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| largeleaf avens Geum macrophyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Letterman's needlegrass Achnatherum lettermanii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| Lewis flax Linum lewisii | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| little barley Hordeum pusillum | Grass or grass-like | 1.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| 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 |
| longstyle rush Juncus longistylis | Grass or grass-like | 1.8 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| Macoun's buttercup Ranunculus macounii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| maiden blue eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| marsh grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris | Wildflower (forb) | 2.2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| mormon tea Ephedra viridis | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 5b |
| mountain brome Bromus marginatus | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| mountain muhly Muhlenbergia montana | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| mountain pepperweed Lepidium montanum | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| muttongrass Poa fendleriana | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| narrowleaf cottonwood Populus angustifolia | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| narrowleaf willow Salix exigua | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| needle and thread Hesperostipa comata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| nettleleaf giant hyssop Agastache urticifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| northern bedstraw Galium boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| Nuttall's sunflower Helianthus nuttallii | Wildflower (forb) | 10 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| old man's whiskers Geum triflorum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Pacific anemone Anemone multifida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| pale agoseris Agoseris glauca | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| pale evening primrose Oenothera pallida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| park willow Salix monticola | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| pine dropseed Blepharoneuron tricholepis | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 5a |
| plantainleaf buttercup Ranunculus alismifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| prickly rose Rosa acicularis | Shrub | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| quaking aspen Populus tremuloides | Tree | 65 ft | Sun | High | Zone 1a |
| red elderberry Sambucus racemosa | Tree | 18 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| redosier dogwood Cornus sericea | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 goldenrod Solidago multiradiata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| Rocky Mountain iris Iris missouriensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum | Tree | 50 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum | Tree | 30 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| Rocky Mountain penstemon Penstemon strictus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Rydberg's penstemon Penstemon rydbergii | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 1a |
| scarlet gilia Ipomopsis aggregata | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| scarlet globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| seep monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| shadscale saltbush Atriplex confertifolia | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| shortfruit willow Salix brachycarpa | Shrub | 3.6 ft | — | — | Zone 5a |
| shortspine horsebrush Tetradymia spinosa | Shrub | 3.2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa | Shrub | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Sierra fumewort Corydalis caseana | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| Sierra rush Juncus nevadensis | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| silky lupine Lupinus sericeus | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| silver buffaloberry Shepherdia argentea | Tree | 18 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| silvery lupine Lupinus argenteus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| skunkbush sumac Rhus trilobata | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 2a |
| slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum | Fern | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| southwestern showy sedge Carex bella | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| spike trisetum Trisetum spicatum | Grass or grass-like | 1.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| spiny hopsage Grayia spinosa | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| squirreltail Elymus elymoides | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| sticky purple geranium Geranium viscosissimum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa | Tree | 90 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2a |
| sulphur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| tapertip hawksbeard Crepis acuminata | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| tapertip onion Allium acuminatum | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| thrift mock goldenweed Stenotus armerioides | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Thurber's fescue Festuca thurberi | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| Torrey's jointfir Ephedra torreyana | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| twoneedle pinyon Pinus edulis | Tree | 50 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| umbrella starwort Stellaria umbellata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| Utah juniper Juniperus osteosperma | Tree | 26 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| water birch Betula occidentalis | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 1a |
| water sedge Carex aquatilis | Grass or grass-like | 2.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| western goldentop Euthamia occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| western sweetroot Osmorhiza occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| western valerian Valeriana occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Whipple's penstemon Penstemon whippleanus | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| whitestem gooseberry Ribes inerme | Shrub | 8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2a |
| Woods' rose Rosa woodsii | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| woolly locoweed Astragalus mollissimus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| woolly plantain Plantago patagonica | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
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.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- alpine milkvetch Astragalus alpinus
- American dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum
- American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
- American rockbrake Cryptogramma acrostichoides
- American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
- Apocynum ×floribundum Apocynum ×floribundum
- autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- beautiful cinquefoil Potentilla pulcherrima
- bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
- bluntleaf yellowcress Rorippa curvipes
- brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
- carelessweed Cyclachaena xanthiifolia
- Carruth's sagewort Artemisia carruthii
- curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
- desert princesplume Stanleya pinnata
- Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
- entireleaved thelypody Thelypodium integrifolium
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius
- flatspine stickseed Lappula occidentalis
- foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
- foxtail muhly Muhlenbergia andina
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
- hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
- hookedspur violet Viola adunca
- Hornemann's willowherb Epilobium hornemannii
- lacy tansyaster Machaeranthera pinnatifida
- lanceleaf sage Salvia reflexa
- lesser spikemoss Selaginella densa
- Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
- meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
- mealy goosefoot Chenopodium incanum
- Menzies' campion Silene menziesii
- milkflower willowherb Epilobium lactiflorum
- mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
- mountain tarweed Madia glomerata
- narrowleaf four o'clock Mirabilis linearis
- Norway sedge Carex norvegica
- pinyon goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens
- plains springparsley Cymopterus acaulis
- pleated gentian Gentiana affinis
- Porter brome Bromus porteri
- povertyweed Iva axillaris
- purple reedgrass Calamagrostis purpurascens
- pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis
- redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
- ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
- Rocky Mountain fescue Festuca saximontana
- rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
- sagebrush violet Viola vallicola
- scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
- shaggy fleabane Erigeron pumilus
- sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
- single delight Moneses uniflora
- slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
- small-leaf pussytoes Antennaria parvifolia
- snowline wintergreen Pyrola minor
- spearleaf stonecrop Sedum lanceolatum
- spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
- starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
- stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
- tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
- tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
- tobacco root Valeriana edulis
- tower rockcress Arabis glabra
- trailing fleabane Erigeron flagellaris
- Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
- western poison ivy Toxicodendron rydbergii
- western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
- whitest evening primrose Oenothera albicaulis
- whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
- witchgrass Panicum capillare
- wood bluegrass Poa nemoralis
- woolly cinquefoil Potentilla hippiana
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.
- claspleaf twistedstalkStreptopus amplexifolius
- common reedPhragmites australis
- Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
Compared with Colorado
The typical county is the median of the 63 Colorado 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.
| Measure | Delta County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 248 | 237 | 1,119 |
| Garden-ready natives | 169 | 148 | 585 |
| Tree | 22 | — | 66 |
| Shrub | 32 | — | 92 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 134 | — | 626 |
| Grass or grass-like | 52 | — | 278 |
| Vine | 4 | — | 20 |
| Fern | 4 | — | 37 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Delta County.
- Gunnison County, CO 271 garden-ready
- Montrose County, CO 220 garden-ready
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
- Delta County (county FIPS 08029), Colorado. 248 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