Native plants · Delaware

Native plants of Sussex County

622 plant species are recorded as native to Delaware in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Sussex County by USDA PLANTS. 223 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Sussex County, Delaware

Native species: 622 Typical Delaware county: 622 (median of 3 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 223 Typical Delaware county: 223
Share by type (all 622 native species): Percent of the 622 native species in each growth type

Tree 7% (45)
Shrub 5% (34)
Wildflower (forb) 49% (305)
Grass or grass-like 30% (186)
Vine 3% (20)
Fern 5% (32)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (49%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (30%).

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

Garden-ready natives 223

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

Garden-ready native plants of Sussex County, Delaware
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
American beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
American bur-reed Sparganium americanum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
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
Atlantic white cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
bald cypress Taxodium distichum	Tree	130 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
beach plum Prunus maritima	Shrub	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata	Tree	65 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
bitter panicgrass Panicum amarum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
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 walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
bog goldenrod Solidago uliginosa	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
buckthorn bully Sideroxylon lycioides	Tree	9.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
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
Canadian rush Juncus canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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 redroot Lachnanthes caroliana	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
Carolina rose Rosa carolina	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
cattail sedge Carex typhina	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
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
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri	Grass or grass-like	6.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common reed Phragmites australis	Shrub	13 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
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
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
coppery St. Johnswort Hypericum denticulatum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7b
coral greenbrier Smilax walteri	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata	Fern	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
dense blazing star Liatris spicata	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana	Vine	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	High	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
dwarf azalea Rhododendron atlanticum	Shrub	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum subulatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern straw sedge Carex straminea	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
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
eggleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium ovale	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
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
forked rush Juncus dichotomus	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8b
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
graceful sedge Carex gracillima	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
hairy sedge Carex lacustris	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
hazel alder Alnus serrulata	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
hop sedge Carex lupulina	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
inkberry Ilex glabra	Shrub	8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
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
laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
lavender thrift Limonium carolinianum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
lesser creeping rush Juncus repens	Grass or grass-like	6.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
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
loblolly pine Pinus taeda	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
lopsided rush Juncus secundus	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina	Shrub	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Mississippi buttercup Ranunculus laxicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
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
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
needlegrass rush Juncus roemerianus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9a
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 York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis	Fern	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
northern bayberry Morella pensylvanica	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
northern red oak Quercus rubra	Tree	81 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
northern St. Johnswort Hypericum boreale	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
Nuttall's reedgrass Calamagrostis coarctata	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	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
overcup oak Quercus lyrata	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
pine barren goldenrod Solidago fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata	Shrub	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
pond cypress Taxodium ascendens	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 8a
pond pine Pinus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
poorland flatsedge Cyperus compressus	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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
pumpkin ash Fraxinus profunda	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	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
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
ribbonleaf pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
river bulrush Bolboschoenus fluviatilis	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
saltmeadow cordgrass Spartina patens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
sand blackberry Rubus cuneifolius	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
seaside alder Alnus maritima	Tree	30 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
seaside goldenrod Solidago sempervirens	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
shaggy blazing star Liatris pilosa	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
silky willow Salix sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
silvery sedge Carex canescens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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 white violet Viola macloskeyi	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
smallfruit beggarticks Bidens mitis	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
smooth beggartick Bidens laevis	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
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
sturdy bulrush Bolboschoenus robustus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
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 smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
swamp titi Cyrilla racemiflora	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 6b
swamp tupelo Nyssa biflora	Tree	115 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
sweet fern Comptonia peregrina	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
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
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
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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
variable sedge Carex polymorpha	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
Virginia dayflower Commelina virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
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 oak Quercus nigra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
wax myrtle Morella cerifera	Tree	10 ft	Sun	High	Zone 7a
white doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 7a
willow oak Quercus phellos	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
woodland rush Juncus subcaudatus	Grass or grass-like	2.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
woolly beachheather Hudsonia tomentosa	Shrub	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
woolly rosette grass Dichanthelium scabriusculum	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
wrinkled jointtail grass Coelorachis rugosa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 399

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.

American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American searocket Cakile edentula
American waterwort Elatine americana
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
anglestem primrose-willow Ludwigia leptocarpa
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
awl-leaf arrowhead Sagittaria subulata
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
bayonet rush Juncus militaris
bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
bent sedge Carex styloflexa
bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
black baneberry Actaea racemosa
black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
bog fern Thelypteris simulata
bog white violet Viola lanceolata
bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
Brazilian watermeal Wolffia brasiliensis
bright green spikerush Eleocharis olivacea
bristly flatsedge Cyperus hystricinus
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broadwing sedge Carex alata
brown beaksedge Rhynchospora fusca
brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
brownfruit rush Juncus pelocarpus
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
bunched beaksedge Rhynchospora cephalantha
bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canby's bulrush Schoenoplectus etuberculatus
cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
Carey's smartweed Polygonum careyi
Carolina clover Trifolium carolinianum
Carolina fimbry Fimbristylis caroliniana
Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
Carolina mosquitofern Azolla caroliniana
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
chaffweed Anagallis minima
chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
chinquapin Castanea pumila
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
clasping water horehound Lycopus amplectens
claspingleaf pondweed Potamogeton perfoliatus
claspingleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum gymnanthum
Clinton's woodfern Dryopteris clintoniana
clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
coastal plain panicgrass Dichanthelium longiligulatum
coastal sedge Carex exilis
Collins' sedge Carex collinsii
combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
common dittany Cunila origanoides
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
creeping St. Johnswort Hypericum adpressum
crested yellow orchid Platanthera cristata
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
darkgreen sedge Carex venusta
deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
denseflower knotweed Polygonum glabrum
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
devil's-tongue Opuntia humifusa
Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
dragon's mouth Arethusa bulbosa
dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
eastern showy aster Eurybia spectabilis
eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
Eaton's rosette grass Dichanthelium spretum
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
Elliott's goldenrod Solidago latissimifolia
Elliott's rush Juncus elliottii
Engelmann's arrowhead Sagittaria engelmanniana
Engelmann's spikerush Eleocharis engelmannii
erect centella Centella erecta
fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
fewflower milkweed Asclepias lanceolata
fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
field pansy Viola bicolor
field thistle Cirsium discolor
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
flattened pipewort Eriocaulon compressum
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
foxtail clubmoss Lycopodiella alopecuroides
fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
fringed yelloweyed grass Xyris fimbriata
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
giant bristlegrass Setaria magna
giant sedge Carex gigantea
giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora recognita
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
globefruit primrose-willow Ludwigia sphaerocarpa
golden hedgehyssop Gratiola aurea
goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
Gray's flatsedge Cyperus grayi
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
greater marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum walteri
green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
greenvein lady's tresses Spiranthes praecox
grove bluegrass Poa alsodes
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
justiceweed Eupatorium leucolepis
lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
lined sedge Carex striatula
little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
little floating bladderwort Utricularia radiata
little floatingheart Nymphoides cordata
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
log fern Dryopteris celsa
Long's sedge Carex longii
longbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora scirpoides
longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
loosehead beaksedge Rhynchospora chalarocephala
low frostweed Helianthemum propinquum
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
low watermilfoil Myriophyllum humile
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
maidencane Panicum hemitomon
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh fimbry Fimbristylis castanea
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
marsh rose gentian Sabatia dodecandra
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
Mitchell's sedge Carex mitchelliana
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mudbank crowngrass Paspalum dissectum
Muehlenberg's nutrush Scleria muehlenbergii
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
narrowfruit horned beaksedge Rhynchospora inundata
narrowleaf bluecurls Trichostema setaceum
narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia linearis
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
northern long sedge Carex folliculata
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
Nuttall's milkwort Polygala nuttallii
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
Oklahoma sedge Carex oklahomensis
orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
perennial saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
pink bogbutton Sclerolepis uniflora
pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
pink sundew Drosera capillaris
plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
poorjoe Diodia teres
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
procession flower Polygala incarnata
prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple milkweed Asclepias purpurascens
purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
Ravenel's rosette grass Dichanthelium ravenelii
red milkweed Asclepias rubra
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
Reznicek's sedge Carex reznicekii
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
Robbins' spikerush Eleocharis robbinsii
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rose of Plymouth Sabatia stellaris
rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
saltmarsh false foxglove Agalinis maritima
sand hickory Carya pallida
sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
sandplain flax Linum intercursum
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
seawrack Zostera marina
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
sevenangle pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum
shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
sheep laurel Kalmia angustifolia
shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
shore quillwort Isoetes riparia
shortbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora nitens
shortleaf skeletongrass Gymnopogon brevifolius
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
slender blue iris Iris prismatica
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
slender seapurslane Sesuvium maritimum
slender waternymph Najas gracillima
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small waterwort Elatine minima
Small's yelloweyed grass Xyris smalliana
Smith's bulrush Schoenoplectiella smithii
smooth elephantsfoot Elephantopus nudatus
smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
snowy orchid Platanthera nivea
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
southern bladderwort Utricularia juncea
southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
spineless hornwort Ceratophyllum echinatum
spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
spreading chervil Chaerophyllum procumbens
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
sticky catchfly Silene caroliniana
stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
Swan's sedge Carex swanii
swaying bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis
swollen bladderwort Utricularia inflata
tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
tenlobe false foxglove Agalinis obtusifolia
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
toothed flatsedge Cyperus dentatus
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
twining screwstem Bartonia paniculata
twoleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum
umbrella flatsedge Cyperus diandrus
upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
velvet sedge Carex vestita
velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
Virginia bunchflower Veratrum virginicum
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Walter's sedge Carex striata
warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
watershield Brasenia schreberi
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
weak rush Juncus debilis
weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorl-leaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum verticillatum
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle prolifera
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
woodland flax Linum virginianum
woolly ragwort Packera tomentosa
woollysheath threeawn Aristida lanosa
Wright's rosette grass Dichanthelium wrightianum
yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata

Compared with Delaware

The typical county is the median of the 3 Delaware 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, Sussex County and Delaware
Measure	Sussex County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	622	622	1,294
Garden-ready natives	223	223	477
Tree	45	—	125
Shrub	34	—	70
Wildflower (forb)	305	—	662
Grass or grass-like	186	—	324
Vine	20	—	52
Fern	32	—	61

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Sussex County.

Kent County, DE 188 garden-ready
Dorchester County, MD 79 garden-ready
Wicomico County, MD 50 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: Sussex County (county FIPS 10005), Delaware. 622 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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