Native plants · Colorado
Native plants of Las Animas County
459 plant species are recorded as native to Colorado in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Las Animas County by USDA PLANTS. 221 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Las Animas County, Colorado
- Native species
- 459 Typical Colorado county: 237 (median of 63 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 221 Typical Colorado county: 148
- Share by type (all 459 native species)
-
Percent of the 459 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (61%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 221
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 |
| alkali sacaton Sporobolus airoides | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| 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 plum Prunus americana | Tree | 24 ft | Sun | Medium | 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 |
| American water horehound Lycopus americanus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.8 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| Arizona cottontop Digitaria californica | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| Arizona fescue Festuca arizonica | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Arizona threeawn Aristida arizonica | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 7a |
| arumleaf arrowhead Sagittaria cuneata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| big bluestem Andropogon gerardii | Grass or grass-like | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2b |
| Bigelow's tansyaster Machaeranthera bigelovii | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 10b |
| black grama Bouteloua eriopoda | Grass or grass-like | 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 grama Bouteloua gracilis | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| blue wildrye Elymus glaucus | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| bluntseed sweetroot Osmorhiza depauperata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| broadbeard beardtongue Penstemon angustifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| buffalograss Bouteloua dactyloides | Grass or grass-like | 6 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| bush muhly Muhlenbergia porteri | Grass or grass-like | 2.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 8b |
| butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis | Wildflower (forb) | 5.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| cloaked bulrush Scirpus pallidus | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Colorado four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| 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 duckweed Lemna minor | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| common hackberry Celtis occidentalis | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 2b |
| common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| common maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris | Fern | 1.7 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| common selfheal Prunella vulgaris | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| common 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 |
| composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| crested pricklypoppy Argemone polyanthemos | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 12b |
| cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| darkthroat shootingstar Dodecatheon pulchellum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| dewystem willow Salix irrorata | Shrub | 6 ft | — | — | Zone 2a |
| dotted blazing star Liatris punctata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| downy paintedcup Castilleja sessiliflora | Wildflower (forb) | 1.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides | Tree | 190 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana | Tree | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa | Shrub | 15 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| featherplume Dalea formosa | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| fineleaf pondweed Stuckenia filiformis | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| fireweed Chamerion angustifolium | Wildflower (forb) | 5.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| fivepetal cliffbush Jamesia americana | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | 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 |
| Gambel oak Quercus gambelii | Tree | 40 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| granite prickly phlox Linanthus pungens | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| greasewood Sarcobatus vermiculatus | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| green needlegrass Nassella viridula | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| green prairie coneflower Ratibida tagetes | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| green sprangletop Leptochloa dubia | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| hairy false goldenaster Heterotheca villosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta | Grass or grass-like | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| honey mesquite Prosopis glandulosa | Tree | 50 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| Hooker's evening primrose Oenothera elata | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| Illinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans | Grass or grass-like | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| inland rush Juncus interior | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| inland sedge Carex interior | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus | Wildflower (forb) | 9.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| lambstongue ragwort Senecio integerrimus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| largeleaf avens Geum macrophyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| leadplant Amorpha canescens | Shrub | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| lemonscent Pectis angustifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 8 in | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| littleleaf mock orange Philadelphus microphyllus | Shrub | 15 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| littleseed ricegrass Piptatheropsis micrantha | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| longleaf starwort Stellaria longifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| longstyle rush Juncus longistylis | Grass or grass-like | 1.8 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| lyreleaf greeneyes Berlandiera lyrata | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| marsh grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris | Wildflower (forb) | 2.2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| marsh muhly Muhlenbergia racemosa | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| Missouri gourd Cucurbita foetidissima | Vine | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| mountain muhly Muhlenbergia montana | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| mountain snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus | Shrub | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| muttongrass Poa fendleriana | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| narrowleaf water plantain Alisma gramineum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| New Mexico locust Robinia neomexicana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| nodding beggartick Bidens cernua | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12a |
| northern bedstraw Galium boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Nuttall's sunflower Helianthus nuttallii | Wildflower (forb) | 10 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| oneseed juniper Juniperus monosperma | Tree | 40 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| pale desert-thorn Lycium pallidum | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica | Tree | 30 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| plains muhly Muhlenbergia cuspidata | Grass or grass-like | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| plains pricklypear Opuntia polyacantha | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| poverty threeawn Aristida divaricata | Grass or grass-like | 1.3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6b |
| prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| prairie sandreed Calamovilfa longifolia | Grass or grass-like | 4.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis | Grass or grass-like | 11 in | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| purple poppymallow Callirhoe involucrata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| purple prairie clover Dalea purpurea | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| purple threeawn Aristida purpurea | Grass or grass-like | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| quaking aspen Populus tremuloides | Tree | 65 ft | Sun | High | Zone 1a |
| red elderberry Sambucus racemosa | Tree | 18 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| riverbank grape Vitis riparia | Vine | 45 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| saltgrass Distichlis spicata | Grass or grass-like | 1.1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| sand bluestem Andropogon hallii | Grass or grass-like | 6.1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| sand lovegrass Eragrostis trichodes | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| sandbar willow Salix interior | Tree | 30 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| 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 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 |
| small white violet Viola macloskeyi | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| smallwing sedge Carex microptera | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | 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 |
| soapweed yucca Yucca glauca | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani | Grass or grass-like | 9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| spike muhly Muhlenbergia wrightii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| spreading yellowcress Rorippa sinuata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| squirreltail Elymus elymoides | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| sticky purple geranium Geranium viscosissimum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| tall cinquefoil Potentilla arguta | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| tall cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| tanseyleaf tansyaster Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| tenpetal blazingstar Mentzelia decapetala | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| textile onion Allium textile | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12a |
| threetooth ragwort Packera tridenticulata | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| toad rush Juncus bufonius | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12a |
| Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi | Grass or grass-like | 3.1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| twoneedle pinyon Pinus edulis | Tree | 50 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| upright prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera | Wildflower (forb) | 3.1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Utah sweetvetch Hedysarum boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| vine mesquite Panicum obtusum | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| water birch Betula occidentalis | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 1a |
| 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 snowberry Symphoricarpos occidentalis | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| western white clematis Clematis ligusticifolia | Vine | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white prairie clover Dalea candida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| yellow owl's-clover Orthocarpus luteus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 238
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
- annual buckwheat Eriogonum annuum
- annual muhly Muhlenbergia minutissima
- aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- Aunt Lucy Ellisia nyctelea
- autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
- bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
- bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
- blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
- blue giant hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- blue mudplantain Heteranthera limosa
- bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
- bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
- brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
- brittle pricklypear Opuntia fragilis
- brook cinquefoil Potentilla rivalis
- brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
- buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
- bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
- Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
- candle anemone Anemone cylindrica
- carelessweed Cyclachaena xanthiifolia
- Carolina draba Draba reptans
- Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
- Carruth's sagewort Artemisia carruthii
- chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
- chickenthief Mentzelia oligosperma
- clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
- common starlily Leucocrinum montanum
- Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
- curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
- curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
- cusp dodder Cuscuta cuspidata
- cutleaf nightshade Solanum triflorum
- Dakota mock vervain Glandularia bipinnatifida
- desert biscuitroot Lomatium foeniculaceum
- desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
- desert princesplume Stanleya pinnata
- Drummond's campion Silene drummondii
- Drummond's false pennyroyal Hedeoma drummondii
- Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
- Emory's sedge Carex emoryi
- Engelmann's daisy Engelmannia peristenia
- fairy slipper Calypso bulbosa
- false buffalograss Munroa squarrosa
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fetid marigold Dyssodia papposa
- fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius
- flatspine bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa
- flatspine stickseed Lappula occidentalis
- foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii
- fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
- Geyer's sandmat Chamaesyce geyeri
- giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
- grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
- great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
- green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
- groundplum milkvetch Astragalus crassicarpus
- hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
- hairy four o'clock Mirabilis hirsuta
- hairy hedgenettle Stachys pilosa
- hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
- heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
- heavy sedge Carex gravida
- hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
- hoary verbena Verbena stricta
- hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
- Hopi tea greenthread Thelesperma megapotamicum
- horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
- ivyleaf groundcherry Physalis hederifolia
- James' cryptantha Cryptantha cinerea
- lacy tansyaster Machaeranthera pinnatifida
- lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
- lanceleaf sage Salvia reflexa
- Laxmann's milkvetch Astragalus laxmannii
- lesser rattlesnake plantain Goodyera repens
- lesser spikemoss Selaginella densa
- lilac penstemon Penstemon gracilis
- long-stolon sedge Carex inops
- longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
- longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
- longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
- Louisiana broomrape Orobanche ludoviciana
- Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
- maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
- male fern Dryopteris filix-mas
- manyflower stickseed Hackelia floribunda
- mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
- marsh arrowgrass Triglochin palustris
- marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
- mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
- meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
- mealy goosefoot Chenopodium incanum
- mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
- mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
- mountain tarweed Madia glomerata
- narrowleaf four o'clock Mirabilis linearis
- narrowleaf goosefoot Chenopodium leptophyllum
- narrowleaf purple coneflower Echinacea angustifolia
- narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- needleleaf sedge Carex duriuscula
- New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- nodding buckwheat Eriogonum cernuum
- nodding onion Allium cernuum
- northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
- northern water plantain Alisma triviale
- Oregon cliff fern Woodsia oregana
- painted milkvetch Astragalus ceramicus
- pale dock Rumex altissimus
- pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
- Pennsylvania cinquefoil Potentilla pensylvanica
- Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
- pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
- pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
- plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
- plains springparsley Cymopterus acaulis
- pony beebalm Monarda pectinata
- Porter brome Bromus porteri
- povertyweed Iva axillaris
- Powell's amaranth Amaranthus powellii
- prairie false dandelion Nothocalais cuspidata
- prairie groundcherry Physalis hispida
- prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
- prairie rose Rosa arkansana
- prairie sandmat Chamaesyce missurica
- prairie spiderwort Tradescantia occidentalis
- prairie sunflower Helianthus petiolaris
- prairie violet Viola pedatifida
- purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
- purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
- purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
- pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis
- ram's horn Proboscidea louisianica
- red baneberry Actaea rubra
- red lovegrass Eragrostis secundiflora
- redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
- ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
- Rocky Mountain fescue Festuca saximontana
- rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
- rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
- rush skeletonplant Lygodesmia juncea
- rusty lupine Lupinus pusillus
- sand sagebrush Artemisia filifolia
- sanddune cryptantha Cryptantha fendleri
- sandhill amaranth Amaranthus arenicola
- scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
- scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
- Schweinitz's flatsedge Cyperus schweinitzii
- scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
- seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
- shaggy dwarf morning-glory Evolvulus nuttallianus
- shaggy fleabane Erigeron pumilus
- shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
- shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
- shy wallflower Erysimum inconspicuum
- sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
- silkcotton purslane Portulaca halimoides
- silky prairie clover Dalea villosa
- silverleaf Indian breadroot Pediomelum argophyllum
- silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
- single delight Moneses uniflora
- sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
- sixweeks threeawn Aristida adscensionis
- skeletonleaf bur ragweed Ambrosia tomentosa
- sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
- slender lipfern Cheilanthes feei
- slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
- slender snakecotton Froelichia gracilis
- slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
- slimflower scurfpea Psoralidium tenuiflorum
- slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
- small-leaf pussytoes Antennaria parvifolia
- smooth cliffbrake Pellaea glabella
- smooth goosefoot Chenopodium subglabrum
- smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
- snow on the mountain Euphorbia marginata
- snowball sand verbena Abronia fragrans
- soft-hair marbleseed Onosmodium bejariense
- southern cattail Typha domingensis
- spearleaf stonecrop Sedum lanceolatum
- spinystar Escobaria vivipara
- spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
- spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
- stemless four-nerve daisy Tetraneuris acaulis
- stemless Townsend daisy Townsendia exscapa
- stiffstem flax Linum rigidum
- strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
- sunbright Phemeranthus parviflorus
- swamp verbena Verbena hastata
- tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- tasselflower brickellbush Brickellia grandiflora
- Texas croton Croton texensis
- threenerve goldenrod Solidago velutina
- tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
- trailing fleabane Erigeron flagellaris
- tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
- tumble windmill grass Chloris verticillata
- tumblegrass Schedonnardus paniculatus
- twistspine pricklypear Opuntia macrorhiza
- twoleaf waterweed Elodea bifoliata
- velvetweed Oenothera curtiflora
- velvety goldenrod Solidago mollis
- Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- warty caltrop Kallstroemia parviflora
- warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
- water minerslettuce Montia chamissoi
- wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
- wedgeleaf Phyla cuneifolia
- western poison ivy Toxicodendron rydbergii
- western rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
- western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
- western wallflower Erysimum asperum
- western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
- white four o'clock Mirabilis albida
- white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
- white prairie aster Symphyotrichum falcatum
- whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
- whitest evening primrose Oenothera albicaulis
- whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
- winged pigweed Cycloloma atriplicifolium
- witchgrass Panicum capillare
- wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
- woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
- woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
- woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
- woolly cinquefoil Potentilla hippiana
- Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens
- yellow avens Geum aleppicum
- yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
Also listed as native and introduced here 2
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.
- 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 | Las Animas County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 459 | 237 | 1,119 |
| Garden-ready natives | 221 | 148 | 585 |
| Tree | 25 | — | 66 |
| Shrub | 34 | — | 92 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 279 | — | 626 |
| Grass or grass-like | 97 | — | 278 |
| Vine | 11 | — | 20 |
| Fern | 13 | — | 37 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Las Animas County.
- Baca County, CO 132 garden-ready
- Bent County, CO 53 garden-ready
- Huerfano County, CO 152 garden-ready
- Otero County, CO 103 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
- Las Animas County (county FIPS 08071), Colorado. 459 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