Native plants · District of Columbia

Native plants of District of Columbia

908 plant species are recorded as native to District of Columbia in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in District of Columbia by USDA PLANTS. 345 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

District of Columbia, District of Columbia

Native species
908 Typical District of Columbia county: 908 (median of 1 counties)
Garden-ready natives
345 Typical District of Columbia county: 345
Share by type (all 908 native species)
Percent of the 908 native species in each growth type
Tree 9% (79)
Shrub 5% (47)
Wildflower (forb) 49% (442)
Grass or grass-like 27% (243)
Vine 6% (50)
Fern 5% (47)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (49%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (27%).

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

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 8a (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 345

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

Garden-ready native plants of District of Columbia, District of Columbia
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
American basswood Tilia americana Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American beech Fagus grandifolia Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens Vine 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American black currant Ribes americanum Shrub 3 ft — — Zone 2b
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana Tree 120 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
American holly Ilex opaca Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
American plum Prunus americana Tree 24 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana Wildflower (forb) 7.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
American water plantain Alisma subcordatum Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun High Zone 4a
American water-willow Justicia americana Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
annual wildrice Zizania aquatica Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 10b
arctic brome Bromus kalmii Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Atlantic mannagrass Glyceria obtusa Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
Bailey's dewberry Rubus baileyanus Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Grass or grass-like 6 ft Sun Low Zone 2b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 3a
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis Tree 75 ft Sun Medium Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 9b
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata Shrub 4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
black oak Quercus velutina Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
black raspberry Rubus occidentalis Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
black walnut Juglans nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium Tree 16 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica Tree 25 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
bottle gentian Gentiana clausa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
boxelder Acer negundo Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus Shrub 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
broadleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium latifolium Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
broom sedge Carex scoparia Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
bur-reed sedge Carex sparganioides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low —
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
Bush's sedge Carex bushii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus Grass or grass-like 6.3 ft Sun High Zone 5a
bushy St. Johnswort Hypericum densiflorum Shrub 6.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis Tree 23 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus Wildflower (forb) 2.7 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Carolina fanwort Cabomba caroliniana Wildflower (forb) — Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
Carolina rose Rosa carolina Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
cattail sedge Carex typhina Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia Tree 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
chokecherry Prunus virginiana Tree 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea Fern 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
climbing rose Rosa setigera Vine 16 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri Grass or grass-like 6.5 ft Sun High Zone 10b
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana Tree 33 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7b
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli Tree 30 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
common blue violet Viola sororia Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
common duckweed Lemna minor Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
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 ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
common rush Juncus effusus Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
common serviceberry Amelanchier arborea Tree 36 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Shrub 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum Wildflower (forb) — Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
crested sedge Carex cristatella Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata Fern 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 6a
crookedstem aster Symphyotrichum prenanthoides Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
cypressknee sedge Carex decomposita Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum Shrub 16 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12a
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa Tree 20 ft Sun High Zone 4b
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
drooping sedge Carex prasina Grass or grass-like 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides Tree 190 ft Sun High Zone 3a
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 5a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
field horsetail Equisetum arvense Fern 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
field paspalum Paspalum laeve Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 5.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
flatstem spikerush Eleocharis compressa Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 4a
flattened oatgrass Danthonia compressa Grass or grass-like 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
forked rush Juncus dichotomus Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8b
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
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
Frank's sedge Carex frankii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
fringed sedge Carex crinita Grass or grass-like 5.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
frost grape Vitis vulpina Vine 83 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
golden ragwort Packera aurea Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
Gray's sedge Carex grayi Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
greater straw sedge Carex normalis Grass or grass-like 5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun High Zone 8a
hairy sedge Carex lacustris Grass or grass-like 5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata Tree 30 ft Sun High Zone 5a
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
hop sedge Carex lupulina Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana Tree 45 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium Grass or grass-like 4.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana Fern 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus Wildflower (forb) 9.8 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
limestone bittercress Cardamine douglassii Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
limestone wild petunia Ruellia strepens Wildflower (forb) 3.6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
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 buttercup Ranunculus abortivus Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
loblolly pine Pinus taeda Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 6b
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
longleaf starwort Stellaria longifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina Shrub 9 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 5a
manyflower flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun High Zone 8a
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 4a
Maryland senna Senna marilandica Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5b
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala Tree 52 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis Grass or grass-like 8 in Sun Medium Zone 5a
needleleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium aciculare Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 7b
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 7a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis Fern 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
nodding beggartick Bidens cernua Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa Tree 60 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum Fern 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
northern red oak Quercus rubra Tree 81 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
Nuttall's reedgrass Calamagrostis coarctata Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
oldfield blackberry Rubus alumnus Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 12a
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata Wildflower (forb) 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
pawpaw Asimina triloba Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Pennsylvania buttercup Ranunculus pensylvanicus Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
peppervine Nekemias arborea Vine 1 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 5a
pignut hickory Carya glabra Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
pin oak Quercus palustris Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4a
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
possumhaw Viburnum nudum Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
possumhaw Ilex decidua Tree 33 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
poverty rush Juncus tenuis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata Grass or grass-like 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
prairie willow Salix humilis Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
pride of Ohio Dodecatheon meadia Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
pumpkin ash Fraxinus profunda Tree 120 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun Low Zone 3a
purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
quill sedge Carex tenera Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Fern 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
rattlesnake mannagrass Glyceria canadensis Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia Shrub 5 ft Sun High Zone 5b
red maple Acer rubrum Tree 68 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra Tree 70 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 4a
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
river birch Betula nigra Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 4a
riverbank grape Vitis riparia Vine 45 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
rough avens Geum laciniatum Wildflower (forb) 3.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
sand blackberry Rubus cuneifolius Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
sandbar willow Salix interior Tree 30 ft Sun — Zone 1a
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
shagbark hickory Carya ovata Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
shallow sedge Carex lurida Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria Tree 45 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
Short's sedge Carex shortiana Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum Shrub 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
silky willow Salix sericea Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
silver maple Acer saccharinum Tree 90 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
slippery elm Ulmus rubra Tree 85 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
small beggarticks Bidens discoidea Wildflower (forb) 5.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina Wildflower (forb) 11 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
smooth beggartick Bidens laevis Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra Tree 12 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Grass or grass-like 9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum Tree 8 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 5a
southern arrowwood Viburnum recognitum Tree 9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
southern red oak Quercus falcata Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 3b
spiked muhly Muhlenbergia glomerata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
spring avens Geum vernum Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun High Zone 4b
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
stalkless yellowcress Rorippa sessiliflora Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
star sedge Carex echinata Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium Wildflower (forb) 10 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
summer grape Vitis aestivalis Vine 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
swamp doghobble Eubotrys racemosus Shrub 13 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus Shrub 8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
swamp rose Rosa palustris Shrub 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides Wildflower (forb) — Sun Medium Zone 10b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
sweetbay Magnolia virginiana Tree 60 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 9a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
tawny cottongrass Eriophorum virginicum Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides Grass or grass-like 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 6b
thicket sedge Carex abscondita Grass or grass-like 8 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 7a
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans Vine 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Tree 120 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
upright sedge Carex stricta Grass or grass-like 4.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia dayflower Commelina virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
Virginia iris Iris virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
Virginia rose Rosa virginiana Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile Fern 3 ft Sun High Zone 4a
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 5a
water tupelo Nyssa aquatica Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
white ash Fraxinus americana Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 4a
white avens Geum canadense Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
white edge sedge Carex debilis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
whitegrass Leersia virginica Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
wild sweetwilliam Phlox maculata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
willow oak Quercus phellos Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
winged sumac Rhus copallinum Tree 8 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens Wildflower (forb) 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
woodland bluegrass Poa sylvestris Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
woodland muhly Muhlenbergia sylvatica Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
woodland rush Juncus subcaudatus Grass or grass-like 2.2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
woolly rosette grass Dichanthelium scabriusculum Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 563

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.

  • Adam and Eve Aplectrum hyemale
  • Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
  • alpine violet Viola labradorica
  • American bluehearts Buchnera americana
  • American cancer-root Conopholis americana
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • American marshpennywort Hydrocotyle americana
  • American spikenard Aralia racemosa
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • anglestem primrose-willow Ludwigia leptocarpa
  • Apocynum ×floribundum Apocynum ×floribundum
  • Appalachian gooseberry Ribes rotundifolium
  • Appalachian polypody Polypodium appalachianum
  • arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
  • arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
  • arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
  • Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
  • Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
  • Aunt Lucy Ellisia nyctelea
  • autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
  • awl-leaf arrowhead Sagittaria subulata
  • bashful bulrush Trichophorum planifolium
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
  • beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
  • beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
  • bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
  • beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
  • bent sedge Carex styloflexa
  • biennial beeblossom Oenothera gaura
  • big devils beggartick Bidens vulgata
  • birdfoot violet Viola pedata
  • black baneberry Actaea racemosa
  • black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
  • Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
  • blue sedge Carex glaucodea
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • blue waxweed Cuphea viscosissima
  • bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
  • bog fern Thelypteris simulata
  • bog white violet Viola lanceolata
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
  • Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
  • Bowman's root Gillenia trifoliata
  • box knotweed Polygonum buxiforme
  • Brazilian watermeal Wolffia brasiliensis
  • bristly flatsedge Cyperus hystricinus
  • bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
  • broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
  • broadleaf ironweed Vernonia glauca
  • broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
  • broadwing sedge Carex alata
  • brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
  • brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
  • buffalo clover Trifolium reflexum
  • bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
  • buttonbush dodder Cuscuta cephalanthi
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada lily Lilium canadense
  • Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Canadian burnet Sanguisorba canadensis
  • Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
  • Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
  • Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
  • Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
  • cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
  • carelessweed Cyclachaena xanthiifolia
  • Carey's sedge Carex careyana
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
  • Carolina mosquitofern Azolla caroliniana
  • Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
  • Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
  • Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
  • carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
  • claspingleaf pondweed Potamogeton perfoliatus
  • Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
  • climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
  • climbing milkvine Matelea obliqua
  • Clinton's woodfern Dryopteris clintoniana
  • clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
  • clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
  • clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
  • coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
  • Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
  • common dittany Cunila origanoides
  • common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
  • common moonseed Menispermum canadense
  • common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
  • common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
  • common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
  • compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
  • cream avens Geum virginianum
  • creeping burhead Echinodorus cordifolius
  • creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
  • Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
  • cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
  • cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
  • cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • darkgreen sedge Carex venusta
  • DC dewberry Rubus fecundus
  • deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • downy carrionflower Smilax pulverulenta
  • downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
  • downy phlox Phlox pilosa
  • downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
  • downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
  • Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
  • dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
  • dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
  • dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
  • dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
  • dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
  • dwarf plantain Plantago pusilla
  • dwarf violet iris Iris verna
  • early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
  • early wildrye Elymus macgregorii
  • earlyleaf brome Bromus latiglumis
  • earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
  • eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
  • eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
  • eastern featherbells Stenanthium gramineum
  • eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
  • eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
  • eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
  • eastern star sedge Carex radiata
  • eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
  • Eaton's rosette grass Dichanthelium spretum
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
  • Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
  • Emory's sedge Carex emoryi
  • Engelmann's spikerush Eleocharis engelmannii
  • erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
  • evening campion Silene nivea
  • fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
  • fall phlox Phlox paniculata
  • fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
  • Fernow oak Quercus ×fernowii
  • fescue sedge Carex festucacea
  • fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
  • fewleaf sunflower Helianthus occidentalis
  • field pansy Viola bicolor
  • field thistle Cirsium discolor
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • flat-spiked sedge Carex planispicata
  • flattened pipewort Eriocaulon compressum
  • floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
  • floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
  • Florida mudmidget Wolffiella gladiata
  • Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
  • Florida yellow flax Linum floridanum
  • fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
  • forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
  • fourflower yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadriflora
  • fourleaf yam Dioscorea quaternata
  • fox grape Vitis labrusca
  • foxtail sedge Carex alopecoidea
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
  • fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
  • Gattinger's panicgrass Panicum gattingeri
  • giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
  • glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
  • globe beaksedge Rhynchospora recognita
  • globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
  • glomerate sedge Carex aggregata
  • golden zizia Zizia aurea
  • goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
  • Goldie's woodfern Dryopteris goldieana
  • grassleaf mudplantain Heteranthera dubia
  • Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
  • great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
  • great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
  • Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
  • green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
  • green and gold Chrysogonum virginianum
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
  • green dragon Arisaema dracontium
  • green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
  • Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
  • hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
  • hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
  • hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
  • hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
  • hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
  • hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
  • halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
  • handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
  • harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
  • hazel dodder Cuscuta coryli
  • heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
  • heartleaf plantain Plantago cordata
  • hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
  • hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
  • Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
  • hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
  • hirsute sedge Carex complanata
  • Hitchcock's sedge Carex hitchcockiana
  • hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
  • hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
  • hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
  • hogwort Croton capitatus
  • honeyvine Cynanchum laeve
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • hybrid oak Quercus ×saulii
  • hybrid violet Viola ×conjugens
  • Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
  • Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • inflated narrow-leaf sedge Carex grisea
  • intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
  • James' sedge Carex jamesii
  • jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
  • king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
  • kinnickinnick dewberry Rubus multifer
  • lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
  • leafy bulrush Scirpus polyphyllus
  • Leavenworth's sedge Carex leavenworthii
  • lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
  • lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
  • lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
  • limp mannagrass Glyceria laxa
  • lined sedge Carex striatula
  • little duckweed Lemna obscura
  • little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
  • little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
  • littlehead nutrush Scleria oligantha
  • lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
  • log fern Dryopteris celsa
  • Long's sedge Carex longii
  • longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
  • longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
  • longsepal beardtongue Penstemon calycosus
  • longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
  • low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
  • lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • lyrate rockcress Arabis lyrata
  • maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
  • man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
  • marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
  • maroon Carolina milkvine Matelea carolinensis
  • marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
  • marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
  • marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
  • marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
  • Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
  • Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
  • Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • matricary grapefern Botrychium matricariifolium
  • matting rosette grass Dichanthelium meridionale
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • meadow garlic Allium canadense
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • meadow zizia Zizia aptera
  • Miami mist Phacelia purshii
  • midland sedge Carex mesochorea
  • minute duckweed Lemna perpusilla
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • mudbank crowngrass Paspalum dissectum
  • Muehlenberg's nutrush Scleria muehlenbergii
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • narrowleaf bluecurls Trichostema setaceum
  • narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
  • narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
  • navel cornsalad Valerianella umbilicata
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
  • netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
  • New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
  • nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
  • nodding evening primrose Oenothera nutans
  • nodding onion Allium cernuum
  • northern adderstongue Ophioglossum pusillum
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
  • northern long sedge Carex folliculata
  • northern panicgrass Dichanthelium boreale
  • northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
  • obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
  • oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
  • openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
  • orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
  • pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
  • pale dock Rumex altissimus
  • palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
  • paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
  • Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
  • perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
  • Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
  • pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
  • pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
  • poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
  • pretty sedge Carex woodii
  • procession flower Polygala incarnata
  • prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
  • pubescent sedge Carex hirtifolia
  • puffsheath dropseed Sporobolus neglectus
  • purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • ramp Allium tricoccum
  • rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
  • rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
  • Ravenel's rosette grass Dichanthelium ravenelii
  • red hickory Carya ovalis
  • redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
  • reflexed flatsedge Cyperus refractus
  • reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
  • Reznicek's sedge Carex reznicekii
  • ribbed sedge Carex virescens
  • rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
  • richwoods sedge Carex oligocarpa
  • River Broom-Rape Orobanche riparia
  • rock buttercup Ranunculus micranthus
  • rock muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera
  • rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
  • rosy sedge Carex rosea
  • rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
  • rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
  • rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
  • rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
  • roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
  • rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
  • running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
  • sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
  • sand grape Vitis rupestris
  • sand violet Viola affinis
  • sandbar lovegrass Eragrostis frankii
  • sandplain flax Linum intercursum
  • scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • sessilefruit arrowhead Sagittaria rigida
  • sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
  • shaved sedge Carex tonsa
  • shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
  • shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
  • shore quillwort Isoetes riparia
  • Short's hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula
  • Short's rockcress Arabis shortii
  • shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
  • shortstalk false bindweed Calystegia silvatica
  • showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
  • showy skullcap Scutellaria serrata
  • sicklepod Arabis canadensis
  • sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
  • silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
  • silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
  • silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
  • sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
  • skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender bunchflower Veratrum hybridum
  • slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender looseflower sedge Carex gracilescens
  • slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
  • slender toothwort Cardamine angustata
  • slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
  • slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
  • slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
  • slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
  • slimflower muhly Muhlenbergia tenuiflora
  • slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
  • slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
  • small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
  • Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
  • smallflower phacelia Phacelia dubia
  • smartweed dodder Cuscuta polygonorum
  • smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
  • smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • smooth white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum racemosum
  • smooth winterberry Ilex laevigata
  • smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
  • snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
  • soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
  • southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
  • southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
  • southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
  • southern sandbur Cenchrus echinatus
  • southern woodland violet Viola hirsutula
  • Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
  • sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
  • spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
  • spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
  • spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
  • spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading chervil Chaerophyllum procumbens
  • spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
  • spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
  • spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
  • spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
  • St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
  • star chickweed Stellaria pubera
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • Steele's dewberry Rubus steelei
  • sticky catchfly Silene caroliniana
  • stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
  • stiff yellow flax Linum medium
  • striped cream violet Viola striata
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • Swan's sedge Carex swanii
  • tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
  • tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
  • tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
  • tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
  • terrestrial water-starwort Callitriche terrestris
  • thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • thinleaf late purple aster Symphyotrichum phlogifolium
  • thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
  • threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
  • three-lobe violet Viola triloba
  • tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
  • toothed flatsedge Cyperus dentatus
  • toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
  • twining screwstem Bartonia paniculata
  • twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
  • twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
  • upland brittle bladderfern Cystopteris tenuis
  • vasevine Clematis viorna
  • veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
  • veiny skullcap Scutellaria nervosa
  • vervain Verbena ×engelmannii
  • Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
  • violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
  • Virginia bunchflower Veratrum virginicum
  • Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
  • Virginia fanpetals Sida hermaphrodita
  • Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
  • Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
  • warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
  • warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
  • waterhorehound Lycopus ×sherardii
  • waterplantain spearwort Ranunculus ambigens
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
  • waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
  • weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
  • weakstalk bulrush Schoenoplectiella purshiana
  • whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
  • white bear sedge Carex albursina
  • white colicroot Aletris farinosa
  • white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
  • white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • white wood aster Eurybia divaricata
  • whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
  • whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
  • whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
  • whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
  • whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
  • whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
  • whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
  • whorled tickseed Coreopsis verticillata
  • whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
  • widowsfrill Silene stellata
  • wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
  • wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
  • wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
  • wild Job's tears Onosmodium virginianum
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
  • willowleaf aster Symphyotrichum praealtum
  • winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
  • wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
  • wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
  • wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
  • woodfern Dryopteris ×neowherryi
  • woodland bulrush Scirpus expansus
  • woodland flax Linum virginianum
  • woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
  • woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
  • yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
  • yellow loosestrife Lysimachia ×producta
  • yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
  • yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
  • yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
  • yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
  • zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata
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.

Compared with District of Columbia

The typical county is the median of the 1 District of Columbia 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, District of Columbia and District of Columbia
MeasureDistrict of ColumbiaTypical countyStatewide
Native species 908 908 908
Garden-ready natives 345 345 345
Tree 79 — 79
Shrub 47 — 47
Wildflower (forb) 442 — 442
Grass or grass-like 243 — 243
Vine 50 — 50
Fern 47 — 47

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
District of Columbia (county FIPS 11001), District of Columbia. 908 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
Method
A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources

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