Native plants · Illinois

Native plants of Union County

1,000 plant species are recorded as native to Illinois in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Union County by USDA PLANTS. 384 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 4 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Union County, Illinois

Native species
1,000 Typical Illinois county: 641 (median of 102 counties)
Garden-ready natives
384 Typical Illinois county: 272
Share by type (all 1,000 native species)
Percent of the 1,000 native species in each growth type
Tree 12% (116)
Shrub 3% (29)
Wildflower (forb) 56% (563)
Grass or grass-like 20% (198)
Vine 5% (52)
Fern 4% (42)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (56%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (20%).

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 zone 7a (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 384

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

Garden-ready native plants of Union County, Illinois
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
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 bellflower Campanulastrum americanum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens Vine 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
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 hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American lotus Nelumbo lutea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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 spongeplant Limnobium spongia Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun High Zone 5a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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 wisteria Wisteria frutescens Vine 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
Appalachian blazing star Liatris squarrulosa Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Atlantic camas Camassia scilloides Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
bald cypress Taxodium distichum Tree 130 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
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
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis Tree 75 ft Sun Medium Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica Tree 95 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica Tree 25 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium 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
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
bog rush Juncus biflorus Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
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
broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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 oak Quercus macrocarpa Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
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 —
Bush's sedge Carex bushii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
butternut Juglans cinerea Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
butterweed Packera glabella Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 10b
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Canada germander Teucrium canadense Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
Canadian plum Prunus nigra Tree 9 ft Sun — Zone 9b
Canadian rush Juncus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High 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
catchfly grass Leersia lenticularis Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
cattail sedge Carex typhina Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda Tree 120 ft Sun Medium Zone 6b
chestnut oak Quercus montana Tree 73 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia Tree 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea Fern 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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 buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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 persimmon Diospyros virginiana Tree 55 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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 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
copper iris Iris fulva Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 6a
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
cup plant Silphium perfoliatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 2b
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
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
disk waterhyssop Bacopa rotundifolia Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 4a
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
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 purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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 swampprivet Forestiera acuminata Tree 33 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
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
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa Shrub 15 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum Tree 28 ft Shade-tolerant Medium 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
flowering dogwood Cornus florida Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
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
foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant Low 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 brome Bromus ciliatus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
fringed sedge Carex crinita Grass or grass-like 5.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
fringeleaf wild petunia Ruellia humilis Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
frost grape Vitis vulpina Vine 83 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
Georgia bulrush Scirpus georgianus Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea Shrub 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
gray dogwood Cornus racemosa Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Gray's sedge Carex grayi Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
graybark grape Vitis cinerea Vine 50 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
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
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens Grass or grass-like 5.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 2a
green hawthorn Crataegus viridis Tree 30 ft Sun High Zone 5a
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
groundnut Apios americana Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun High Zone 8a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
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
halberdleaf rosemallow Hibiscus laevis Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6a
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata Tree 30 ft Sun High Zone 5a
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata Vine 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6b
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
horsetail paspalum Paspalum fluitans Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
Illinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
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
inland rush Juncus interior Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
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
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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 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
longhair sedge Carex comosa Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
lopsided rush Juncus secundus Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun High Zone 8a
marsh muhly Muhlenbergia racemosa Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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
meadow evening primrose Oenothera pilosella Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Mississippi buttercup Ranunculus laxicaulis Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6b
Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
Missouri ironweed Vernonia missurica Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala Tree 52 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa Tree 85 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Muskingum sedge Carex muskingumensis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis Grass or grass-like 8 in Sun Medium Zone 5a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
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
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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
northern spiderlily Hymenocallis occidentalis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra Tree 68 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6a
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
peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides Tree 60 ft Sun High Zone 4a
pecan Carya illinoinensis Tree 120 ft Sun High Zone 5a
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
plains muhly Muhlenbergia cuspidata Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
possumhaw Ilex decidua Tree 33 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
post oak Quercus stellata Tree 60 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
prairie crab apple Malus ioensis Tree 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
prairie 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
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
purple prairie clover Dalea purpurea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
purplestem beggarticks Bidens connata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Fern 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
ravenfoot sedge Carex crus-corvi Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
red buckeye Aesculus pavia Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
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
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea Tree 12 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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
roughfruit amaranth Amaranthus tuberculatus Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 4a
roughleaf dogwood Cornus drummondii Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
roundleaf goldenrod Solidago patula Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
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 dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
sandbar willow Salix interior Tree 30 ft Sun — Zone 1a
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox Vine 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus Shrub 8.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
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
shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria Tree 45 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
shoreline sedge Carex hyalinolepis Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
Short's sedge Carex shortiana Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum Shrub 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
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
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
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
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
smooth hedgenettle Stachys tenuifolia Wildflower (forb) 25 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum Fern 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
smooth phlox Phlox glaberrima Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
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 sugar maple Acer floridanum Tree 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
stalkless yellowcress Rorippa sessiliflora Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
star duckweed Lemna trisulca Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
stiff dogwood Cornus foemina Tree 16 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum Wildflower (forb) 3.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
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
sugar maple Acer saccharum Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
sugarberry Celtis laevigata Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
summer grape Vitis aestivalis Vine 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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
swamp white oak Quercus bicolor Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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 flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides Grass or grass-like 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
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
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus Wildflower (forb) 5 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans Vine 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
tufted loosestrife Lysimachia thyrsiflora Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Tree 120 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
twisted sedge Carex torta Grass or grass-like 2.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 4a
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
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 4a
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 spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
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 hickory Carya aquatica Tree 85 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 5a
water locust Gleditsia aquatica Tree 40 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 10a
water tupelo Nyssa aquatica Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High 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 doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
white oak Quercus alba Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
white prairie clover Dalea candida Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
whitegrass Leersia virginica Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
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
willow oak Quercus phellos Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
winged elm Ulmus alata Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
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
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 616

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
  • amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
  • American alumroot Heuchera americana
  • American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
  • American buckwheat vine Brunnichia ovata
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American columbo Frasera caroliniensis
  • American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
  • American featherfoil Hottonia inflata
  • American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • American senna Senna hebecarpa
  • American spikenard Aralia racemosa
  • American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • anglestem primrose-willow Ludwigia leptocarpa
  • angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
  • annual marsh elder Iva annua
  • Apocynum ×floribundum Apocynum ×floribundum
  • aquatic milkweed Asclepias perennis
  • aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
  • arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
  • arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
  • arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
  • ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
  • Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
  • Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
  • Aunt Lucy Ellisia nyctelea
  • autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
  • autumn onion Allium stellatum
  • beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
  • beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
  • beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
  • beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
  • biennial beeblossom Oenothera gaura
  • big devils beggartick Bidens vulgata
  • bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
  • bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
  • birdfoot violet Viola pedata
  • blackfoot quillwort Isoetes melanopoda
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
  • bloody butcher Trillium recurvatum
  • blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
  • blue mudplantain Heteranthera limosa
  • Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
  • blue sedge Carex glaucodea
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • blue waxweed Cuphea viscosissima
  • bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
  • bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
  • bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
  • bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
  • bottomland aster Symphyotrichum ontarionis
  • box knotweed Polygonum buxiforme
  • Bradley's spleenwort Asplenium bradleyi
  • branched bur-reed Sparganium androcladum
  • Brazilian watermeal Wolffia brasiliensis
  • bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
  • bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
  • brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
  • broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
  • broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
  • brook cinquefoil Potentilla rivalis
  • brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
  • browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
  • bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
  • bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
  • bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
  • buttonbush dodder Cuscuta cephalanthi
  • camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
  • camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
  • Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
  • Canadian summer bluet Houstonia canadensis
  • Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
  • Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
  • Carey's sedge Carex careyana
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
  • carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
  • celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
  • Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
  • clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
  • Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
  • climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
  • climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
  • clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
  • clustered fescue Festuca paradoxa
  • Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • 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 woodrush Luzula multiflora
  • common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
  • compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
  • Copenhagen hawthorn Crataegus intricata
  • cream avens Geum virginianum
  • creeping burhead Echinodorus cordifolius
  • creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
  • crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
  • crossvine Bignonia capreolata
  • crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
  • Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cusp dodder Cuscuta cuspidata
  • cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
  • cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
  • cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • diamond-flowers Stenaria nigricans
  • Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • dotted hawthorn Crataegus punctata
  • downy carrionflower Smilax pulverulenta
  • downy hawthorn Crataegus mollis
  • downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
  • downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
  • downy phlox Phlox pilosa
  • downy ragged goldenrod Solidago petiolaris
  • downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
  • Drummond's aster Symphyotrichum drummondii
  • Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
  • dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
  • dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
  • dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
  • dwarf horseweed Conyza ramosissima
  • dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
  • dwarf plantain Plantago pusilla
  • early azalea Rhododendron prinophyllum
  • early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • early wildrye Elymus macgregorii
  • earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
  • eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
  • eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
  • eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
  • eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
  • eastern featherbells Stenanthium gramineum
  • eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
  • eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
  • eastern swamp saxifrage Saxifraga pensylvanica
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
  • Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
  • elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
  • Engelmann's hawthorn Crataegus engelmannii
  • Equisetum ×ferrissii Equisetum ×ferrissii
  • erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
  • fall phlox Phlox paniculata
  • false aloe Manfreda virginica
  • false hop sedge Carex lupuliformis
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
  • feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
  • fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
  • fewflower ticktrefoil Desmodium pauciflorum
  • fewleaf sunflower Helianthus occidentalis
  • field pansy Viola bicolor
  • field thistle Cirsium discolor
  • fire on the mountain Euphorbia cyathophora
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
  • floating primrose-willow Ludwigia peploides
  • Florida mudmidget Wolffiella gladiata
  • flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
  • fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
  • forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
  • fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
  • fourleaf yam Dioscorea quaternata
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
  • fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
  • fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
  • Gattinger's panicgrass Panicum gattingeri
  • giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
  • giant sedge Carex gigantea
  • glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
  • globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
  • goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
  • Goldie's woodfern Dryopteris goldieana
  • grand redstem Ammannia robusta
  • gravelweed Verbesina helianthoides
  • great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
  • great Indian plantain Arnoglossum reniforme
  • great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
  • great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
  • greater marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum walteri
  • Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
  • green dragon Arisaema dracontium
  • grooved flax Linum sulcatum
  • Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
  • hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
  • hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
  • hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
  • hairy hedgenettle Stachys pilosa
  • hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
  • hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
  • hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
  • hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
  • hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
  • hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
  • hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
  • hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
  • hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
  • harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
  • heartleaf nettle Urtica chamaedryoides
  • heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
  • heavy sedge Carex gravida
  • hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
  • hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
  • Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
  • hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
  • hoary skullcap Scutellaria incana
  • hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
  • hoary verbena Verbena stricta
  • hogwort Croton capitatus
  • honeyvine Cynanchum laeve
  • hooded arrowhead Sagittaria calycina
  • hortulan plum Prunus hortulana
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • hyssopleaf hedgenettle Stachys aspera
  • hyssopleaf hedgenettle Stachys hyssopifolia
  • Illinois ticktrefoil Desmodium illinoense
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • inflated narrow-leaf sedge Carex grisea
  • intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
  • James' sedge Carex jamesii
  • jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
  • kidneyleaf mudplantain Heteranthera reniformis
  • knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
  • lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
  • lakecress Neobeckia aquatica
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • lanceleaf ragweed Ambrosia bidentata
  • largebract ticktrefoil Desmodium cuspidatum
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
  • largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
  • lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
  • Leiberg's panicum Dichanthelium leibergii
  • lemonyellow false goldenaster Heterotheca camporum
  • lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
  • lesser duckweed Lemna aequinoctialis
  • lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
  • licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
  • limestone adderstongue Ophioglossum engelmannii
  • lined sedge Carex striatula
  • little duckweed Lemna obscura
  • little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
  • lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
  • lobed spleenwort Asplenium pinnatifidum
  • longbeak arrowhead Sagittaria australis
  • longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
  • longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
  • longsepal beardtongue Penstemon calycosus
  • longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
  • Louisiana sedge Carex louisianica
  • low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
  • low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
  • low woodland sedge Carex socialis
  • lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
  • Lucretia dewberry Rubus roribaccus
  • lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
  • maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
  • man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
  • mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
  • marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
  • marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • matted sandmat Chamaesyce serpens
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • Mead's sedge Carex meadii
  • meadow garlic Allium canadense
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • Mexican Mosquito Fern Azolla microphylla
  • Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
  • Miami mist Phacelia purshii
  • Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
  • Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
  • minute duckweed Lemna perpusilla
  • Missouri violet Viola missouriensis
  • mucronate sprangletop Leptochloa panicea
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • mullein foxglove Dasistoma macrophylla
  • nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
  • narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
  • narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
  • nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
  • nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
  • nodding muhly Muhlenbergia bushii
  • nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
  • northern adderstongue Ophioglossum pusillum
  • northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
  • northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
  • northern wildrice Zizania palustris
  • Nuttall's prairie parsley Polytaenia nuttallii
  • Nuttall's ticktrefoil Desmodium nuttallii
  • oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
  • obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
  • obovate beakgrain Diarrhena obovata
  • October lady's tresses Spiranthes ovalis
  • oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
  • oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
  • Ontario blazing star Liatris cylindracea
  • openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
  • orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
  • orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
  • pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
  • pale dock Rumex altissimus
  • pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
  • pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
  • paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
  • palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
  • parasol sedge Carex umbellata
  • Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
  • pear hawthorn Crataegus calpodendron
  • Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
  • Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
  • Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
  • pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
  • pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
  • pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
  • pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
  • poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
  • poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • prairie cupgrass Eriochloa contracta
  • prairie groundcherry Physalis hispida
  • prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
  • prairie ironweed Vernonia fasciculata
  • prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
  • prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
  • prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
  • pubescent sedge Carex hirtifolia
  • puffsheath dropseed Sporobolus neglectus
  • purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple fringeless orchid Platanthera peramoena
  • purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
  • purple milkweed Asclepias purpurascens
  • purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
  • purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • Ravenel's rosette grass Dichanthelium ravenelii
  • red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
  • red hickory Carya ovalis
  • redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
  • redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
  • reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
  • ribbed sedge Carex virescens
  • richweed Collinsonia canadensis
  • richwoods sedge Carex oligocarpa
  • robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
  • rock buttercup Ranunculus micranthus
  • rock muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera
  • rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
  • rose mock vervain Glandularia canadensis
  • rosepink Sabatia angularis
  • rosy sedge Carex rosea
  • rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
  • rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
  • roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
  • roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
  • roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
  • roundseed St. Johnswort Hypericum sphaerocarpum
  • roundstem false foxglove Agalinis gattingeri
  • rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
  • rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
  • s-curve threeawn Aristida ramosissima
  • Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
  • sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
  • sand hickory Carya pallida
  • sand violet Viola affinis
  • scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
  • scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa
  • seaside threeawn Aristida tuberculosa
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • sessilefruit arrowhead Sagittaria rigida
  • sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
  • sessileleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium sessilifolium
  • sharpscale sedge Carex oxylepis
  • shining bedstraw Galium concinnum
  • shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
  • Short's aster Symphyotrichum shortii
  • shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
  • shortstalk chickweed Cerastium brachypodum
  • showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
  • showy ticktrefoil Desmodium canadense
  • shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
  • sicklepod Arabis canadensis
  • sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
  • silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
  • silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
  • silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
  • sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
  • skyblue aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
  • slender lipfern Cheilanthes feei
  • slender looseflower sedge Carex gracilescens
  • slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
  • slender snakecotton Froelichia gracilis
  • slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
  • slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
  • slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
  • slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
  • slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
  • slickseed fuzzybean Strophostyles leiosperma
  • slimflower muhly Muhlenbergia tenuiflora
  • slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
  • slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
  • small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
  • small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
  • smallflower false foxglove Agalinis paupercula
  • smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
  • smallhead doll's daisy Boltonia diffusa
  • smartweed dodder Cuscuta polygonorum
  • smooth cliffbrake Pellaea glabella
  • smooth false buttonweed Spermacoce glabra
  • smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
  • smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
  • smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
  • smooth rose Rosa blanda
  • smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
  • smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
  • smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
  • soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
  • soft fox sedge Carex conjuncta
  • soft-hair marbleseed Onosmodium bejariense
  • southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
  • southern mountainmint Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides
  • Spanish gold Grindelia papposa
  • Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
  • sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
  • spineless hornwort Ceratophyllum echinatum
  • spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
  • spleenwort Asplenium ×ebenoides
  • spleenwort Asplenium ×gravesii
  • spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading chervil Chaerophyllum procumbens
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spreading sandmat Chamaesyce humistrata
  • spring blue eyed Mary Collinsia verna
  • spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
  • spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
  • spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
  • squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
  • St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
  • stalked wild petunia Ruellia pedunculata
  • Standley's goosefoot Chenopodium standleyanum
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • stiff sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus
  • stiff tickseed Coreopsis palmata
  • stiff ticktrefoil Desmodium obtusum
  • stiff yellow flax Linum medium
  • strawberry-tomato Physalis grisea
  • striped cream violet Viola striata
  • sunbright Phemeranthus parviflorus
  • swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
  • tall blazing star Liatris aspera
  • tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
  • tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
  • tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
  • tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
  • tapertip cupgrass Eriochloa acuminata
  • Tennessee bladderfern Cystopteris tennesseensis
  • terrestrial water-starwort Callitriche terrestris
  • Texas sedge Carex texensis
  • Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
  • thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • thinleaf sedge Carex cephaloidea
  • thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
  • threadleaf evening primrose Oenothera linifolia
  • three-lobe violet Viola triloba
  • threeflower melicgrass Melica nitens
  • tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
  • toadshade Trillium sessile
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
  • twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
  • upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
  • upright burhead Echinodorus berteroi
  • veiny skullcap Scutellaria nervosa
  • Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
  • violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
  • violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
  • Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
  • Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
  • Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
  • walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
  • warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
  • waterpurslane Didiplis diandra
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
  • waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
  • western rockjasmine Androsace occidentalis
  • western rough goldenrod Solidago radula
  • western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
  • western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
  • white arrowleaf aster Symphyotrichum urophyllum
  • white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
  • white bear sedge Carex albursina
  • white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
  • white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
  • white fawnlily Erythronium albidum
  • white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
  • white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
  • white rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes alba
  • white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • white wand beardtongue Penstemon tubaeflorus
  • whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
  • whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
  • whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
  • whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
  • whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
  • wholeleaf rosinweed Silphium integrifolium
  • whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
  • whorled mountainmint Pycnanthemum verticillatum
  • widowsfrill Silene stellata
  • wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
  • wild goose plum Prunus munsoniana
  • wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
  • willowleaf aster Symphyotrichum praealtum
  • winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
  • winged pigweed Cycloloma atriplicifolium
  • wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
  • wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
  • woodland flax Linum virginianum
  • woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
  • woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
  • woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • yellow giant hyssop Agastache nepetoides
  • yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
  • yellow water buttercup Ranunculus flabellaris
  • yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
  • zigzag spiderwort Tradescantia subaspera
Also listed as native and introduced here 4

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 Illinois

The typical county is the median of the 102 Illinois 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, Union County and Illinois
MeasureUnion CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 1,000 641 1,909
Garden-ready natives 384 272 652
Tree 116 — 187
Shrub 29 — 96
Wildflower (forb) 563 — 1,015
Grass or grass-like 198 — 444
Vine 52 — 79
Fern 42 — 88

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Union County.

Look up another ZIP

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

Source & data date

Source
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).
Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.
USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation
USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.
Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date
Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope
Union County (county FIPS 17181), Illinois. 1,000 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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