Native plants · Colorado
Native plants of Grand County
412 plant species are recorded as native to Colorado in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Grand County by USDA PLANTS. 262 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
Grand County, Colorado
- Native species
- 412 Typical Colorado county: 237 (median of 63 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 262 Typical Colorado county: 148
- Share by type (all 412 native species)
-
Percent of the 412 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (53%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (26%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 262
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| alpine bistort Polygonum viviparum | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| alpine laurel Kalmia microphylla | Shrub | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| alpine leafybract aster Symphyotrichum foliaceum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Alpine Meadow-Foxtail Alopecurus magellanicus | Grass or grass-like | 6 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| 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 alpine speedwell Veronica wormskjoldii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| 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 speedwell Veronica americana | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| American vetch Vicia americana | Vine | 1.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentata | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| arctic bluegrass Poa arctica | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| arctic pearlwort Sagina saginoides | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| arctic raspberry Rubus arcticus | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| Arizona fescue Festuca arizonica | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| balsam poplar Populus balsamifera | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | High | Zone 1a |
| basin wildrye Leymus cinereus | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata | Tree | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Bigelow's tansyaster Machaeranthera bigelovii | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 10b |
| black sagebrush Artemisia nova | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| blanketflower Gaillardia aristata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| blue spruce Picea pungens | Tree | 100 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| blue wildrye Elymus glaucus | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Booth's willow Salix boothii | Shrub | 24 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8b |
| boreal sagebrush Artemisia arctica | Shrub | 1.5 ft | — | — | Zone 1a |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| bristlecone pine Pinus aristata | Tree | 40 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf arnica Arnica latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| Chamisso arnica Arnica chamissonis | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| chamisso sedge Carex pachystachya | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| chestnut rush Juncus castaneus | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| Colorado blue columbine Aquilegia coerulea | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Colorado rush Juncus confusus | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| Columbia needlegrass Achnatherum nelsonii | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| Columbian monkshood Aconitum columbianum | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum | Wildflower (forb) | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common juniper Juniperus communis | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| common spikerush Eleocharis palustris | Grass or grass-like | 1.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun–part shade | 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 |
| cutleaf daisy Erigeron compositus | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| darkthroat shootingstar Dodecatheon pulchellum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| diamondleaf willow Salix planifolia | Tree | 8 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 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 |
| 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 |
| Engelmann spruce Picea engelmannii | Tree | 120 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2a |
| 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 |
| fireweed Chamerion angustifolium | Wildflower (forb) | 5.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| flat-top pussytoes Antennaria corymbosa | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| floating pondweed Potamogeton natans | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| fringed grass of Parnassus Parnassia fimbriata | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| Geyer willow Salix geyeriana | Tree | 15 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| glaucous bluegrass Poa glauca | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | — | Zone 3a |
| golden crownbeard Verbesina encelioides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| greater creeping spearwort Ranunculus flammula | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| Greene's mountain ash Sorbus scopulina | Tree | 12 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| grouse whortleberry Vaccinium scoparium | Shrub | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| hair-like sedge Carex capillaris | Grass or grass-like | 1.7 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| hairy arnica Arnica mollis | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| hairy false goldenaster Heterotheca villosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| heartleaf bittercress Cardamine cordifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| high northern buttercup Ranunculus hyperboreus | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| hooded lady's tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis | Grass or grass-like | 1.4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| inland sedge Carex interior | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Shrub | 6 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| lambstongue ragwort Senecio integerrimus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| lanceleaf grapefern Botrychium lanceolatum | Fern | 11 in | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| largeleaf avens Geum macrophyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| lesser panicled sedge Carex diandra | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | 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 |
| limber pine Pinus flexilis | Tree | 66 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| little sagebrush Artemisia arbuscula | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| little western bittercress Cardamine oligosperma | Wildflower (forb) | 1.7 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| littleleaf pussytoes Antennaria microphylla | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| longbeak buttercup Ranunculus longirostris | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| low pussytoes Antennaria dimorpha | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun–part shade | Low | 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 bluegrass Poa leptocoma | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| marsh grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris | Wildflower (forb) | 2.2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| Mertens' rush Juncus mertensianus | Grass or grass-like | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| Modoc hawksbeard Crepis modocensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| mountain brome Bromus marginatus | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| mountain sedge Carex scopulorum | Grass or grass-like | 1.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| mud sedge Carex limosa | Grass or grass-like | 1.8 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| mule-ears Wyethia amplexicaulis | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| muttongrass Poa fendleriana | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| narrowleaf cottonwood Populus angustifolia | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| Nebraska sedge Carex nebrascensis | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| needle and thread Hesperostipa comata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| nodding microseris Microseris nutans | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 12a |
| old man's whiskers Geum triflorum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| oniongrass Melica bulbosa | Grass or grass-like | 1.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| orange agoseris Agoseris aurantiaca | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Pacific anemone Anemone multifida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| park willow Salix monticola | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| Parry's rush Juncus parryi | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| plains pricklypear Opuntia polyacantha | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| plantainleaf buttercup Ranunculus alismifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| prairie sagewort Artemisia frigida | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| prickly currant Ribes lacustre | Shrub | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 1a |
| prickly rose Rosa acicularis | Shrub | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| purple avens Geum rivale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| purple locoweed Oxytropis lambertii | Wildflower (forb) | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| purple milkvetch Astragalus agrestis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| purple oniongrass Melica spectabilis | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| red goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 12b |
| 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 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 penstemon Penstemon strictus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| rush pussytoes Antennaria luzuloides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| russet buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 1a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| sawsepal penstemon Penstemon glaber | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana | Tree | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 6a |
| 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 |
| shortfruit willow Salix brachycarpa | Shrub | 3.6 ft | — | — | Zone 5a |
| showy locoweed Oxytropis splendens | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa | Shrub | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| silver sagebrush Artemisia cana | Shrub | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| silverleaf phacelia Phacelia hastata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| slenderbeak sedge Carex athrostachya | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| smallwing sedge Carex microptera | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum | Fern | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| snowbrush ceanothus Ceanothus velutinus | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| softleaf sedge Carex disperma | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani | Grass or grass-like | 9 ft | Sun | High | 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 |
| spiked woodrush Luzula spicata | Grass or grass-like | 1.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| spineless horsebrush Tetradymia canescens | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9a |
| squashberry Viburnum edule | Shrub | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 1a |
| 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 currant Ribes viscosissimum | Shrub | 3.5 ft | Sun | — | Zone 3b |
| sticky purple geranium Geranium viscosissimum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| stiff clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum | Fern | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa | Tree | 90 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2a |
| 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 cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| thickspike wheatgrass Elymus lanceolatus | Grass or grass-like | 2.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| Thurber's fescue Festuca thurberi | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| timber oatgrass Danthonia intermedia | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| twoflowered rush Juncus biglumis | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| wax currant Ribes cereum | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| western polemonium Polemonium occidentale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| western stoneseed Lithospermum ruderale | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| wheat sedge Carex atherodes | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2a |
| Woods' rose Rosa woodsii | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| woolly groundsel Packera cana | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| 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 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 |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 150
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 bluegrass Poa alpina
- alpine fescue Festuca brachyphylla
- alpine lewisia Lewisia pygmaea
- alpine milkvetch Astragalus alpinus
- alpine pondweed Potamogeton alpinus
- American dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum
- American rockbrake Cryptogramma acrostichoides
- American sloughgrass Beckmannia syzigachne
- American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
- autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
- beautiful cinquefoil Potentilla pulcherrima
- beautiful sandwort Minuartia rubella
- Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
- Bicknell's cranesbill Geranium bicknellii
- bitter fleabane Erigeron acris
- blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
- bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
- bluntleaf yellowcress Rorippa curvipes
- bluntleaved orchid Platanthera obtusata
- bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
- boreal bog sedge Carex magellanica
- brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
- brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
- Buxbaum's sedge Carex buxbaumii
- Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
- clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
- common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
- Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
- Drummond's campion Silene drummondii
- dryspike sedge Carex siccata
- Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
- elkweed Frasera speciosa
- entireleaved thelypody Thelypodium integrifolium
- fairy slipper Calypso bulbosa
- falsegold groundsel Packera pseudaurea
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
- fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius
- flatspine stickseed Lappula occidentalis
- foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
- foxtail muhly Muhlenbergia andina
- fragile rockbrake Cryptogramma stelleri
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
- giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
- Gmelin's buttercup Ranunculus gmelinii
- greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
- hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
- hairy hedgenettle Stachys pilosa
- heartleaf twayblade Listera cordata
- hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
- hookedspur violet Viola adunca
- Hornemann's willowherb Epilobium hornemannii
- lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
- Laxmann's milkvetch Astragalus laxmannii
- least duckweed Lemna minuta
- lesser spikemoss Selaginella densa
- little grapefern Botrychium simplex
- liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
- longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
- Macoun's cudweed Pseudognaphalium macounii
- manyflower stickseed Hackelia floribunda
- manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
- marsh arrowgrass Triglochin palustris
- marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
- meadow horsetail Equisetum pratense
- meadow sedge Carex praticola
- Menzies' campion Silene menziesii
- milkflower willowherb Epilobium lactiflorum
- moss campion Silene acaulis
- mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
- mountain ricegrass Piptatheropsis pungens
- mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
- mountain tarweed Madia glomerata
- narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- needleleaf sedge Carex duriuscula
- northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
- northern hollyfern Polystichum lonchitis
- Northern Idaho biscuitroot Lomatium orientale
- northern sweetgrass Hierochloe hirta
- Norway sedge Carex norvegica
- Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
- oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
- Oregon cliff fern Woodsia oregana
- Pennsylvania cinquefoil Potentilla pensylvanica
- pimpernel willowherb Epilobium anagallidifolium
- pinyon goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens
- pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
- plains bluegrass Poa arida
- pleated gentian Gentiana affinis
- Porter brome Bromus porteri
- purple reedgrass Calamagrostis purpurascens
- pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis
- red baneberry Actaea rubra
- Rocky Mountain fescue Festuca saximontana
- Rocky Mountain rush Juncus saximontanus
- Rocky Mountain woodsia Woodsia scopulina
- rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
- roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
- sanddune cryptantha Cryptantha fendleri
- scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
- scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
- seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
- shortray fleabane Erigeron lonchophyllus
- shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
- sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
- single delight Moneses uniflora
- skeletonleaf bur ragweed Ambrosia tomentosa
- skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
- small bur-reed Sparganium natans
- small-leaf pussytoes Antennaria parvifolia
- snowline wintergreen Pyrola minor
- spearleaf stonecrop Sedum lanceolatum
- spiny milkvetch Astragalus kentrophyta
- spiny phlox Phlox hoodii
- spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
- spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
- spreading sandwort Arenaria lanuginosa
- starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
- stemless four-nerve daisy Tetraneuris acaulis
- strapleaf willow Salix ligulifolia
- strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
- tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
- tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- thread rush Juncus filiformis
- threenerve goldenrod Solidago velutina
- tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
- tobacco root Valeriana edulis
- trailing fleabane Erigeron flagellaris
- twinflower Linnaea borealis
- variegated scouringrush Equisetum variegatum
- Vasey's rush Juncus vaseyi
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- water minerslettuce Montia chamissoi
- western blue virginsbower Clematis occidentalis
- western oakfern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
- western rockjasmine Androsace occidentalis
- western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
- western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
- white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
- white prairie aster Symphyotrichum falcatum
- white violet Viola renifolia
- whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
- wood bluegrass Poa nemoralis
- woodland draba Draba nemorosa
- woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
- woolly cinquefoil Potentilla hippiana
- woolly sedge Carex pellita
- yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
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
- claspleaf twistedstalkStreptopus amplexifolius
- 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 | Grand County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 412 | 237 | 1,119 |
| Garden-ready natives | 262 | 148 | 585 |
| Tree | 29 | — | 66 |
| Shrub | 39 | — | 92 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 219 | — | 626 |
| Grass or grass-like | 106 | — | 278 |
| Vine | 4 | — | 20 |
| Fern | 15 | — | 37 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Grand County.
- Eagle County, CO 162 garden-ready
- Summit County, CO 158 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
- Grand County (county FIPS 08049), Colorado. 412 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