Natives by ZIP

Native plants recorded in your state and county

Native plants · Colorado

Native plants of Routt County

389 plant species are recorded as native to Colorado in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Routt County by USDA PLANTS. 242 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

Routt County, Colorado

Native species
389 Typical Colorado county: 237 (median of 63 counties)
Garden-ready natives
242 Typical Colorado county: 148
Share by type (all 389 native species)
Percent of the 389 native species in each growth type
Tree 8% (30)
Shrub 10% (39)
Wildflower (forb) 54% (211)
Grass or grass-like 23% (91)
Vine 1% (5)
Fern 3% (13)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (54%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (23%).

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

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 5b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Cold hardiness is estimated from each plant’s PLANTS minimum temperature. How we estimate it.

Garden-ready natives 242

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

Garden-ready native plants of Routt County, Colorado
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy 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 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 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 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 pearlwort Sagina saginoides Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata Tree 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
bigseed biscuitroot Lomatium macrocarpum Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Low Zone 4b
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
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
Booth's willow Salix boothii Shrub 24 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
boreal sagebrush Artemisia arctica Shrub 1.5 ft — — Zone 1a
Brewer's bittercress Cardamine breweri Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
broadleaf arnica Arnica latifolia Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
broadlipped twayblade Listera convallarioides Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae Shrub 1.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
bushy bird's beak Cordylanthus ramosus Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
California oatgrass Danthonia californica Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 9a
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
Cascade azalea Rhododendron albiflorum Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 8a
cerro hawthorn Crataegus erythropoda Tree 16 ft Sun Low Zone 2a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana Tree 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
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 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
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
Dewey sedge Carex deweyana Grass or grass-like 3.8 ft Shade-tolerant 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
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
Engelmann's aster Eucephalus engelmannii Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Eschscholtz's buttercup Ranunculus eschscholtzii Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
fiddleleaf hawksbeard Crepis runcinata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
field horsetail Equisetum arvense Fern 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
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
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
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
Gambel oak Quercus gambelii Tree 40 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
Geyer willow Salix geyeriana Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Geyer's sedge Carex geyeri Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
Greene's mountain ash Sorbus scopulina Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
greenleaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
grouse whortleberry Vaccinium scoparium Shrub 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
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
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 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
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
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 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
littleseed ricegrass Piptatheropsis micrantha Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Tree 99 ft Sun Medium Zone 1a
longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6a
longleaf starwort Stellaria longifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
longstalk clover Trifolium longipes Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8a
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 bluegrass Poa leptocoma Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
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
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 sedge Carex scopulorum Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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 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
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
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis Grass or grass-like 8 in Sun Medium Zone 5a
nettleleaf giant hyssop Agastache urticifolia Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
nodding microseris Microseris nutans Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Nootka rose Rosa nutkana Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
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
oneflower helianthella Helianthella uniflora Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
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
prickly currant Ribes lacustre Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 1a
prickly rose Rosa acicularis Shrub 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
purple locoweed Oxytropis lambertii Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
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
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 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
rose spirea Spiraea douglasii Shrub 7 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
Ross' avens Geum rossii Wildflower (forb) 5 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 10a
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
Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1a
scarlet gilia Ipomopsis aggregata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5b
Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6a
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 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
Sierra rush Juncus nevadensis Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
skunkbush sumac Rhus trilobata Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 2a
slender cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis Wildflower (forb) 2.4 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
slenderbeak sedge Carex athrostachya Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
slimstem reedgrass Calamagrostis stricta Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina Wildflower (forb) 11 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
small white violet Viola macloskeyi Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
smallflowered woodrush Luzula parviflora Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
spike muhly Muhlenbergia wrightii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
spike trisetum Trisetum spicatum Grass or grass-like 1.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
squirreltail Elymus elymoides Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
star sedge Carex echinata Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
sticky currant Ribes viscosissimum Shrub 3.5 ft Sun — Zone 3b
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
swordleaf rush Juncus ensifolius Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
tailcup lupine Lupinus caudatus Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
tall cinquefoil Potentilla arguta Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
tall fringed bluebells Mertensia ciliata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
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
thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
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
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus Wildflower (forb) 5 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
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
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 sweetvetch Hedysarum boreale Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
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 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 stoneseed Lithospermum ruderale Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low 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 hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low 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
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
yellow owl's-clover Orthocarpus luteus Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 12b
yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Shrub 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 147

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.

  • alpine fescue Festuca brachyphylla
  • alpine lewisia Lewisia pygmaea
  • alpine milkvetch Astragalus alpinus
  • American dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum
  • American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
  • American rockbrake Cryptogramma acrostichoides
  • American sloughgrass Beckmannia syzigachne
  • American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
  • annual muhly Muhlenbergia minutissima
  • autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
  • autumn willow Salix serissima
  • beautiful cinquefoil Potentilla pulcherrima
  • Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
  • Bicknell's cranesbill Geranium bicknellii
  • bitter fleabane Erigeron acris
  • bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
  • bluntleaf yellowcress Rorippa curvipes
  • bluntleaved orchid Platanthera obtusata
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
  • brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • common starlily Leucocrinum montanum
  • curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
  • cutleaf nightshade Solanum triflorum
  • desert princesplume Stanleya pinnata
  • Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
  • Drummond's campion Silene drummondii
  • elkweed Frasera speciosa
  • entireleaved thelypody Thelypodium integrifolium
  • fairy slipper Calypso bulbosa
  • false melic Schizachne purpurascens
  • false mermaidweed Floerkea proserpinacoides
  • falsegold groundsel Packera pseudaurea
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
  • flatspine stickseed Lappula occidentalis
  • foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
  • hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
  • hairy hedgenettle Stachys pilosa
  • heartleaf twayblade Listera cordata
  • hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
  • hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
  • hookedspur violet Viola adunca
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • Hornemann's willowherb Epilobium hornemannii
  • Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
  • knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
  • lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
  • leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
  • lesser spikemoss Selaginella densa
  • liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
  • longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
  • maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
  • male fern Dryopteris filix-mas
  • manybranched pepperweed Lepidium ramosissimum
  • manyflower stickseed Hackelia floribunda
  • manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
  • marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
  • Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
  • Menzies' campion Silene menziesii
  • milkflower willowherb Epilobium lactiflorum
  • moss campion Silene acaulis
  • mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
  • mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
  • mountain tarweed Madia glomerata
  • muskflower Mimulus moschatus
  • narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium
  • narrowleaf goosefoot Chenopodium leptophyllum
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • nodding buckwheat Eriogonum cernuum
  • nodding onion Allium cernuum
  • northern hollyfern Polystichum lonchitis
  • northern sweetgrass Hierochloe hirta
  • northern water plantain Alisma triviale
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • pinyon goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • pullup muhly Muhlenbergia filiformis
  • 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
  • roughfruit fairybells Prosartes trachycarpa
  • roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • shortray fleabane Erigeron lonchophyllus
  • shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
  • shortstalk chickweed Cerastium brachypodum
  • sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
  • single delight Moneses uniflora
  • skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
  • slender lipfern Cheilanthes feei
  • slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
  • slender-spire orchid Piperia unalascensis
  • small-leaf pussytoes Antennaria parvifolia
  • snow on the mountain Euphorbia marginata
  • snowline wintergreen Pyrola minor
  • spearleaf stonecrop Sedum lanceolatum
  • spiny phlox Phlox hoodii
  • spotted fritillary Fritillaria atropurpurea
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
  • spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • strapleaf willow Salix ligulifolia
  • strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
  • tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
  • tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
  • tasselflower brickellbush Brickellia grandiflora
  • thread rush Juncus filiformis
  • tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
  • tobacco root Valeriana edulis
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • trailing fleabane Erigeron flagellaris
  • twinflower Linnaea borealis
  • variegated scouringrush Equisetum variegatum
  • veiny meadow-rue Thalictrum venulosum
  • Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • water minerslettuce Montia chamissoi
  • water mudwort Limosella aquatica
  • water whorlgrass Catabrosa aquatica
  • western blue virginsbower Clematis occidentalis
  • western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
  • western oakfern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
  • western rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • wood bluegrass Poa nemoralis
  • woodland draba Draba nemorosa
  • woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • woolly cinquefoil Potentilla hippiana
  • woolly sedge Carex pellita
  • 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.

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.

Native species counts, Routt County and Colorado
MeasureRoutt CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 389 237 1,119
Garden-ready natives 242 148 585
Tree 30 — 66
Shrub 39 — 92
Wildflower (forb) 211 — 626
Grass or grass-like 91 — 278
Vine 5 — 20
Fern 13 — 37

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Routt County.

Look up another ZIP

Matches your ZIP to the county it mostly lies in, then lists the plants recorded as native to your state (Kew’s World Checklist and USDA PLANTS) and recorded in that county by USDA PLANTS.

Source & data date

Source
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).
Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.
USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation
USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.
Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date
Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope
Routt County (county FIPS 08107), Colorado. 389 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

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.