Native plants · Indiana

Native plants of Lake County

866 plant species are recorded as native to Indiana in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Lake County by USDA PLANTS. 350 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

Lake County, Indiana

Native species
866 Typical Indiana county: 494 (median of 92 counties)
Garden-ready natives
350 Typical Indiana county: 211
Share by type (all 866 native species)
Percent of the 866 native species in each growth type
Tree 8% (67)
Shrub 6% (53)
Wildflower (forb) 56% (485)
Grass or grass-like 25% (213)
Vine 3% (28)
Fern 2% (20)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (56%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (25%).

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 5b to 6a (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 350

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

Garden-ready native plants of Lake County, Indiana
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
alderleaf buckthorn Rhamnus alnifolia Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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 beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
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 black currant Ribes americanum Shrub 3 ft — — Zone 2b
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana Tree 120 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
American 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 red raspberry Rubus idaeus Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 1a
American snowbell Styrax americanus Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 5b
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 witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
annual wildrice Zizania aquatica Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 10b
arborvitae Thuja occidentalis Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
arumleaf arrowhead Sagittaria cuneata Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
balsam poplar Populus balsamifera Tree 80 ft Sun High Zone 1a
beach pea Lathyrus japonicus Vine 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Bicknell's sedge Carex bicknellii Grass or grass-like 3.4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
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 ash Fraxinus nigra Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 9b
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata Shrub 4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
black 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 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
bluebead Clintonia borealis Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
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 birch Betula pumila Shrub 20 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
bog goldenrod Solidago uliginosa Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus Shrub 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
bur oak Quercus macrocarpa Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
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
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 lousewort Pedicularis canadensis Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Medium Zone 3b
Canadian rush Juncus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
chokecherry Prunus virginiana Tree 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea Fern 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri Grass or grass-like 6.5 ft Sun High Zone 10b
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 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 juniper Juniperus communis Tree 10 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
common rush Juncus effusus Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum Wildflower (forb) — Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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
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
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
downy arrowwood Viburnum rafinesqueanum Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3a
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 redcedar Juniperus virginiana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
eastern straw sedge Carex straminea Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
eastern white pine Pinus strobus Tree 150 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
eggleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium ovale Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
field horsetail Equisetum arvense Fern 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
field pussytoes Antennaria neglecta Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 5.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
flatstem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
flatstem spikerush Eleocharis compressa Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 4a
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
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
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
golden sedge Carex aurea Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
graceful sedge Carex gracillima Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
gray alder Alnus incana Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
gray birch Betula populifolia Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
gray dogwood Cornus racemosa Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
greater straw sedge Carex normalis Grass or grass-like 5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens Grass or grass-like 5.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 2a
groundnut Apios americana Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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
hairyfruit sedge Carex trichocarpa Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High 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
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Shrub 12 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 7b
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
inland sedge Carex interior Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High 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
jack pine Pinus banksiana Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 2a
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
jointleaf rush Juncus articulatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Shrub 6 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
knotted rush Juncus nodosus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 6b
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
leadplant Amorpha canescens Shrub 4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 3a
lesser panicled sedge Carex diandra Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
little green sedge Carex viridula Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun High 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
longleaf starwort Stellaria longifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Shrub 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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
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
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
mud sedge Carex limosa Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Muskingum sedge Carex muskingumensis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
nannyberry Viburnum lentago Tree 28 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 7a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
nodding beggartick Bidens cernua Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
northern bedstraw Galium boreale Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
northern bush honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera Shrub 2.4 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
northern red oak Quercus rubra Tree 81 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun High Zone 3a
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
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6a
paper birch Betula papyrifera Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 1a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata Wildflower (forb) 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides Tree 60 ft Sun High Zone 4a
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Pennsylvania buttercup Ranunculus pensylvanicus Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica Tree 30 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
pin oak Quercus palustris Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4a
pinnate prairie coneflower Ratibida pinnata Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
porcupinegrass Hesperostipa spartea Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
poverty rush Juncus tenuis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
prairie blazing star Liatris pycnostachya Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata Grass or grass-like 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
prairie crab apple Malus ioensis Tree 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
prairie dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis Grass or grass-like 2.3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
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 sandreed Calamovilfa longifolia Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Sun Medium 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
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
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
pussy willow Salix discolor Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 1a
quill sedge Carex tenera Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Fern 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
red maple Acer rubrum Tree 68 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
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
river birch Betula nigra Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 4a
river bulrush Bolboschoenus fluviatilis Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
Robbins' pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
rough avens Geum laciniatum Wildflower (forb) 3.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
rough bugleweed Lycopus asper Wildflower (forb) 2.1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
roughfruit amaranth Amaranthus tuberculatus Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 4a
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
roundleaf dogwood Cornus rugosa Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
roundleaf goldenrod Solidago patula Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
russet buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1a
sageleaf willow Salix candida Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High 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
sandcherry Prunus pumila Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
scratchgrass Muhlenbergia asperifolia Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
shallow sedge Carex lurida Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria Tree 45 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
shining willow Salix lucida Tree 13 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa Shrub 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
slender cottongrass Eriophorum gracile Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Sun High Zone 3a
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
slimstem reedgrass Calamagrostis stricta Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
smallhead rush Juncus brachycephalus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
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 waternymph Najas guadalupensis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 3b
spotted joe pye weed Eutrochium maculatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
stalked bulrush Scirpus pedicellatus Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 4b
star duckweed Lemna trisulca Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
star sedge Carex echinata Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa Shrub 4 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
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
summer grape Vitis aestivalis Vine 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium 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 fern Comptonia peregrina Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
tall cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 3a
tall hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
tamarack Larix laricina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 1a
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
tawny cottongrass Eriophorum virginicum Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides Grass or grass-like 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
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
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum Vine 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
threeseeded sedge Carex trisperma Grass or grass-like 1.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
toad rush Juncus bufonius Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
upright sedge Carex stricta Grass or grass-like 4.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
Virginia iris Iris virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile Fern 3 ft Sun High Zone 4a
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 5a
water sedge Carex aquatilis Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
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 meadowsweet Spiraea alba Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
white oak Quercus alba Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
white prairie clover Dalea candida Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
whitestem pondweed Potamogeton praelongus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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 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
woolly beachheather Hudsonia tomentosa Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
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 birch Betula alleghaniensis Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
yellow marsh marigold Caltha palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b

Other native species recorded here 516

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 monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
  • alpine violet Viola labradorica
  • amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
  • American bluehearts Buchnera americana
  • American bugseed Corispermum americanum
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
  • American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • American searocket Cakile edentula
  • American senna Senna hebecarpa
  • American spikenard Aralia racemosa
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • American wintergreen Pyrola americana
  • arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
  • arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
  • ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
  • bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
  • balsam groundsel Packera paupercula
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
  • bayberry willow Salix myricoides
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
  • Beck's water-marigold Bidens beckii
  • beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
  • Bicknell's cranesbill Geranium bicknellii
  • biennial beeblossom Oenothera gaura
  • birdfoot violet Viola pedata
  • blackfruit spikerush Eleocharis melanocarpa
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blood panicgrass Dichanthelium consanguineum
  • bloody butcher Trillium recurvatum
  • Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • blue wild indigo Baptisia australis
  • bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
  • bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
  • bog white violet Viola lanceolata
  • bog willow Salix pedicellaris
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
  • bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
  • bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
  • bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida
  • broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
  • broadwing sedge Carex alata
  • brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
  • brownfruit rush Juncus pelocarpus
  • brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
  • brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
  • bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
  • bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
  • button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
  • buttonbush dodder Cuscuta cephalanthi
  • Buxbaum's sedge Carex buxbaumii
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
  • Canada spikesedge Eleocharis geniculata
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
  • candle anemone Anemone cylindrica
  • carelessweed Cyclachaena xanthiifolia
  • Carey's smartweed Polygonum careyi
  • Carolina draba Draba reptans
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina puccoon Lithospermum caroliniense
  • Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
  • carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
  • catberry Ilex mucronata
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
  • clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
  • Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
  • Cleland's evening primrose Oenothera clelandii
  • clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
  • coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
  • Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
  • common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
  • common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
  • common woodrush Luzula multiflora
  • common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
  • compassplant Silphium laciniatum
  • cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
  • Crawe's sedge Carex crawei
  • cuckoo flower Cardamine pratensis
  • Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
  • Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
  • curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
  • devil's bite Liatris scariosa
  • dioecious sedge Carex sterilis
  • downy gentian Gentiana puberulenta
  • downy phlox Phlox pilosa
  • downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
  • downy willowherb Epilobium strictum
  • dragon's mouth Arethusa bulbosa
  • Drummond's halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha drummondii
  • dryspike sedge Carex siccata
  • Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
  • dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
  • dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
  • earleaf false foxglove Agalinis auriculata
  • early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
  • eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
  • eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
  • eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
  • eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
  • eastern swamp saxifrage Saxifraga pensylvanica
  • eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
  • Eaton's rosette grass Dichanthelium spretum
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • elk sedge Carex garberi
  • elliptic spikerush Eleocharis elliptica
  • elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
  • fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
  • false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
  • fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fen grass of Parnassus Parnassia glauca
  • fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
  • feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
  • fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
  • fewleaf sunflower Helianthus occidentalis
  • fewseed sedge Carex oligosperma
  • field thistle Cirsium discolor
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • flatleaf bladderwort Utricularia intermedia
  • floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
  • flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
  • forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
  • forked threeawn Aristida basiramea
  • fourflower yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadriflora
  • fox grape Vitis labrusca
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
  • Fraser's marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum fraseri
  • fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • Gattinger's panicgrass Panicum gattingeri
  • giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
  • globe beaksedge Rhynchospora recognita
  • globefruit primrose-willow Ludwigia sphaerocarpa
  • golden zizia Zizia aurea
  • goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
  • grape honeysuckle Lonicera reticulata
  • grassleaf mudplantain Heteranthera dubia
  • grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
  • great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
  • Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
  • Great Plains lady's tresses Spiranthes magnicamporum
  • great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
  • greater fringed gentian Gentianopsis crinita
  • greater water dock Rumex orbiculatus
  • Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
  • green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
  • green dragon Arisaema dracontium
  • green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
  • green milkweed Asclepias hirtella
  • Greene's rush Juncus greenei
  • grooved flax Linum sulcatum
  • groovestem Indian plantain Arnoglossum plantagineum
  • hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy hedgenettle Stachys pilosa
  • hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
  • hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
  • hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
  • hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
  • hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
  • Hall's bulrush Schoenoplectiella hallii
  • handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
  • harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
  • Hayden's sedge Carex haydenii
  • hazel dodder Cuscuta coryli
  • heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
  • heartleaf plantain Plantago cordata
  • Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
  • hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
  • hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
  • hoary verbena Verbena stricta
  • Hooker's orchid Platanthera hookeri
  • horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • horsetail Equisetum ×nelsonii
  • Houghton's flatsedge Cyperus houghtonii
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
  • Illinois ticktrefoil Desmodium illinoense
  • Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • inundated clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata
  • Jersey tea Ceanothus herbaceus
  • knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
  • lakecress Neobeckia aquatica
  • lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • large St. Johnswort Hypericum majus
  • largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
  • lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
  • lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
  • Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
  • Leiberg's panicum Dichanthelium leibergii
  • lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
  • lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
  • lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
  • limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
  • limestone calamint Clinopodium arkansanum
  • little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
  • little grapefern Botrychium simplex
  • longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
  • longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
  • longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
  • longsepal beardtongue Penstemon calycosus
  • longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
  • low nutrush Scleria verticillata
  • low serviceberry Amelanchier humilis
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
  • lyrate rockcress Arabis lyrata
  • manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
  • manyfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia polycarpa
  • mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
  • marsh arrowgrass Triglochin palustris
  • marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
  • marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
  • marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
  • marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
  • Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • matricary grapefern Botrychium matricariifolium
  • matting rosette grass Dichanthelium meridionale
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • Mead's sedge Carex meadii
  • meadow garlic Allium canadense
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • Michaux's stitchwort Minuartia michauxii
  • Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
  • minute duckweed Lemna perpusilla
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
  • narrowleaf hawkweed Hieracium umbellatum
  • narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
  • narrowleaf pondweed Potamogeton strictifolius
  • narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needle beaksedge Rhynchospora capillacea
  • netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
  • New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
  • nodding evening primrose Oenothera nutans
  • nodding onion Allium cernuum
  • northeastern sedge Carex cryptolepis
  • northern bog aster Symphyotrichum boreale
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern green orchid Platanthera aquilonis
  • northern green rush Juncus alpinoarticulatus
  • northern panicgrass Dichanthelium boreale
  • northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
  • northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
  • northern sweetgrass Hierochloe hirta
  • northern water plantain Alisma triviale
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • Nuttall's prairie parsley Polytaenia nuttallii
  • obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
  • Oklahoma grasspink Calopogon oklahomensis
  • oldpasture bluegrass Poa saltuensis
  • oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
  • Ontario blazing star Liatris cylindracea
  • Ontario lobelia Lobelia kalmii
  • openfield sedge Carex conoidea
  • orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
  • pale dock Rumex altissimus
  • pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
  • palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
  • paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
  • palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
  • parasol sedge Carex umbellata
  • parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
  • Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
  • pear hawthorn Crataegus calpodendron
  • Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
  • Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • plain gentian Gentiana alba
  • plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
  • pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
  • pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
  • poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
  • poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
  • poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • prairie goldenrod Oligoneuron album
  • prairie ironweed Vernonia fasciculata
  • prairie rosinweed Silphium terebinthinaceum
  • prairie sunflower Helianthus petiolaris
  • prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
  • prairie violet Viola pedatifida
  • pubescent sedge Carex hirtifolia
  • puffsheath dropseed Sporobolus neglectus
  • purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
  • purple milkweed Asclepias purpurascens
  • purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
  • purple rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes racemosa
  • purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
  • purplestem angelica Angelica atropurpurea
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
  • ramp Allium tricoccum
  • red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
  • redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
  • ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
  • rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
  • Richardson's alumroot Heuchera richardsonii
  • Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
  • Richardson's sedge Carex richardsonii
  • rigid sedge Carex tetanica
  • robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
  • rock harlequin Corydalis sempervirens
  • rope dodder Cuscuta glomerata
  • rosepink Sabatia angularis
  • rosy sedge Carex rosea
  • rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
  • rough rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes aspera
  • roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
  • roundseed St. Johnswort Hypericum sphaerocarpum
  • roundstem false foxglove Agalinis gattingeri
  • rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
  • sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
  • Sartwell's sedge Carex sartwellii
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • Schweinitz's flatsedge Cyperus schweinitzii
  • seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
  • seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
  • seaside threeawn Aristida tuberculosa
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • sessileleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium sessilifolium
  • setose blackberry Rubus setosus
  • shaved sedge Carex tonsa
  • shining bedstraw Galium concinnum
  • shining lady's tresses Spiranthes lucida
  • shortbeak arrowhead Sagittaria brevirostra
  • shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
  • showy lady's slipper Cypripedium reginae
  • showy ticktrefoil Desmodium canadense
  • sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
  • silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
  • sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
  • Skinner's false foxglove Agalinis skinneriana
  • skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
  • skyblue aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
  • slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
  • slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
  • slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
  • slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
  • slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
  • small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
  • smallflower false foxglove Agalinis paupercula
  • smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
  • smartweed dodder Cuscuta polygonorum
  • Smith's bulrush Schoenoplectiella smithii
  • smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
  • smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
  • smooth rose Rosa blanda
  • smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
  • snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
  • soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
  • Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
  • spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
  • spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
  • spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
  • starflower Trientalis borealis
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • sticky tofieldia Triantha glutinosa
  • stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
  • stiff sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus
  • stiff tickseed Coreopsis palmata
  • stiff yellow flax Linum medium
  • strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
  • swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
  • swamp lousewort Pedicularis lanceolata
  • swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • Swan's sedge Carex swanii
  • swaying bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis
  • sweet coneflower Rudbeckia subtomentosa
  • sweet white violet Viola blanda
  • tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
  • tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
  • tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
  • Texas goldentop Euthamia gymnospermoides
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
  • thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
  • tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
  • toothed flatsedge Cyperus dentatus
  • toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
  • Torrey's bulrush Schoenoplectus torreyi
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • twinflower Linnaea borealis
  • twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
  • twoleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum
  • umbrella flatsedge Cyperus diandrus
  • variegated scouringrush Equisetum variegatum
  • veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
  • velvetleaf huckleberry Vaccinium myrtilloides
  • violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
  • violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
  • Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
  • Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
  • Virginia mountainmint Pycnanthemum virginianum
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
  • waterpurslane Didiplis diandra
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
  • weakstalk bulrush Schoenoplectiella purshiana
  • western rockjasmine Androsace occidentalis
  • western silver aster Symphyotrichum sericeum
  • western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
  • whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
  • white arrowleaf aster Symphyotrichum urophyllum
  • white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
  • white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
  • white colicroot Aletris farinosa
  • white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
  • white lady's slipper Cypripedium candidum
  • white rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes alba
  • white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
  • whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
  • whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
  • wholeleaf rosinweed Silphium integrifolium
  • whorl-leaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum verticillatum
  • whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
  • whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
  • widowsfrill Silene stellata
  • wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
  • wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
  • wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • willowleaf aster Symphyotrichum praealtum
  • winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
  • winged pigweed Cycloloma atriplicifolium
  • wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
  • wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • Wolf's spikerush Eleocharis wolfii
  • wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
  • wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
  • woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
  • woodland flax Linum virginianum
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • woolly sedge Carex pellita
  • woollyfruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa
  • yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
  • yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
  • yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
  • yellow water buttercup Ranunculus flabellaris
  • yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
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 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, Lake County and Indiana
MeasureLake CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 866 494 1,773
Garden-ready natives 350 211 601
Tree 67 — 164
Shrub 53 — 88
Wildflower (forb) 485 — 954
Grass or grass-like 213 — 416
Vine 28 — 74
Fern 20 — 77

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Lake 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
Lake County (county FIPS 18089), Indiana. 866 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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