Native plants · Indiana

Native plants of Brown County

488 plant species are recorded as native to Indiana in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Brown County by USDA PLANTS. 211 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

Brown County, Indiana

Native species: 488 Typical Indiana county: 494 (median of 92 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 211 Typical Indiana county: 211
Share by type (all 488 native species): Percent of the 488 native species in each growth type

Tree 12% (58)
Shrub 3% (17)
Wildflower (forb) 58% (282)
Grass or grass-like 19% (95)
Vine 4% (20)
Fern 3% (16)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (58%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (19%).

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 6a to 6b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 211

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

Garden-ready native plants of Brown County, Indiana
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia	Tree	25 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 bur-reed Sparganium americanum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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 pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American water horehound Lycopus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	1.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American water plantain Alisma subcordatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
American water-willow Justicia americana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
arctic brome Bromus kalmii	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata	Tree	65 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
black maple Acer nigrum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
black raspberry Rubus occidentalis	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium	Tree	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
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
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	—
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
butternut Juglans cinerea	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
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
chestnut oak Quercus montana	Tree	73 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
climbing rose Rosa setigera	Vine	16 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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 evening primrose Oenothera biennis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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
crested sedge Carex cristatella	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
cup plant Silphium perfoliatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 2b
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
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
drooping sedge Carex prasina	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis	Tree	105 ft	Shade-tolerant	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 woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
field 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 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
Frank's sedge Carex frankii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
fringed sedge Carex crinita	Grass or grass-like	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
frost grape Vitis vulpina	Vine	83 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
Georgia bulrush Scirpus georgianus	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
gray alder Alnus incana	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
great St. Johnswort Hypericum ascyron	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	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
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana	Fern	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus	Wildflower (forb)	9.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
Kentucky yellowwood Cladrastis kentukea	Tree	40 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
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
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis	Fern	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra	Tree	68 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
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
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
perplexed ticktrefoil Desmodium perplexum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
pignut hickory Carya glabra	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
pin oak Quercus palustris	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
riverbank grape Vitis riparia	Vine	45 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
rough avens Geum laciniatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.1 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sandbar willow Salix interior	Tree	30 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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
Short's sedge Carex shortiana	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	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
silky willow Salix sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
slippery elm Ulmus rubra	Tree	85 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum	Tree	8 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 5a
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
stalked bulrush Scirpus pedicellatus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
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
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	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
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
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
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides	Grass or grass-like	4 in	Sun	High	Zone 3b
toad rush Juncus bufonius	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
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 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 threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 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
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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 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 277

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.

Allegheny hawkweed Hieracium paniculatum
Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
American alumroot Heuchera americana
American beakgrain Diarrhena americana
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American senna Senna hebecarpa
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
biennial beeblossom Oenothera gaura
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
bloody butcher Trillium recurvatum
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
blue sedge Carex glaucodea
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
bright green spikerush Eleocharis olivacea
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
Clingman's hedgenettle Stachys clingmanii
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common dittany Cunila origanoides
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
Copenhagen hawthorn Crataegus intricata
cream avens Geum virginianum
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
devil's bite Liatris scariosa
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy carrionflower Smilax pulverulenta
downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
evening campion Silene nivea
fall phlox Phlox paniculata
false mermaidweed Floerkea proserpinacoides
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
fire pink Silene virginica
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fourflower yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadriflora
fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
fourleaf yam Dioscorea quaternata
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
Gattinger's panicgrass Panicum gattingeri
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
Goldie's woodfern Dryopteris goldieana
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
great Indian plantain Arnoglossum reniforme
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
heartleaf hedgenettle Stachys cordata
heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
hoary skullcap Scutellaria incana
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
James' sedge Carex jamesii
lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
northern panicgrass Dichanthelium boreale
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
pinkladies Oenothera speciosa
plantainleaf sedge Carex plantaginea
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
pubescent sedge Carex hirtifolia
purple fringeless orchid Platanthera peramoena
purple giant hyssop Agastache scrophulariifolia
purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
purplerocket Iodanthus pinnatifidus
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
red hickory Carya ovalis
redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
ribbed sedge Carex virescens
rock muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rosepink Sabatia angularis
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
s-curve threeawn Aristida ramosissima
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shining bedstraw Galium concinnum
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
Short's aster Symphyotrichum shortii
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
skyblue aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender toothwort Cardamine angustata
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slimflower muhly Muhlenbergia tenuiflora
slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
southern mountainmint Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spring blue eyed Mary Collinsia verna
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
Tennessee bladderfern Cystopteris tennesseensis
terrestrial water-starwort Callitriche terrestris
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
three-lobe violet Viola triloba
toadshade Trillium sessile
trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia mountainmint Pycnanthemum virginianum
Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
watershield Brasenia schreberi
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white bear sedge Carex albursina
white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
white fawnlily Erythronium albidum
white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
wholeleaf rosinweed Silphium integrifolium
whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woodland flax Linum virginianum
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
yellow nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes ochroleuca
yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
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.

annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
climbing false buckwheatPolygonum scandens
hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with Indiana

The typical county is the median of the 92 Indiana 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, Brown County and Indiana
Measure	Brown County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	488	494	1,773
Garden-ready natives	211	211	601
Tree	58	—	164
Shrub	17	—	88
Wildflower (forb)	282	—	954
Grass or grass-like	95	—	416
Vine	20	—	74
Fern	16	—	77

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Brown County.

Bartholomew County, IN 156 garden-ready
Jackson County, IN 264 garden-ready
Johnson County, IN 126 garden-ready
Monroe County, IN 280 garden-ready
Morgan County, IN 187 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: Brown County (county FIPS 18013), Indiana. 488 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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