Native plants · Kansas

Native plants of Chautauqua County

511 plant species are recorded as native to Kansas in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Chautauqua County by USDA PLANTS. 184 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Chautauqua County, Kansas

Native species: 511 Typical Kansas county: 335 (median of 105 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 184 Typical Kansas county: 141
Share by type (all 511 native species): Percent of the 511 native species in each growth type

Tree 11% (55)
Shrub 3% (16)
Wildflower (forb) 59% (299)
Grass or grass-like 19% (97)
Vine 5% (25)
Fern 4% (19)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (59%), 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 zone 7a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 184

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

Garden-ready native plants of Chautauqua County, Kansas
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 plum Prunus americana	Tree	24 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American water-willow Justicia americana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
Atlantic camas Camassia scilloides	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 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
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
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
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
buffalograss Bouteloua dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
Canada germander Teucrium canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
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
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
clasping coneflower Dracopis amplexicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
climbing rose Rosa setigera	Vine	16 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
cloaked bulrush Scirpus pallidus	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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 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
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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
dotted blazing star Liatris punctata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
dwarf spikerush Eleocharis parvula	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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 redbud Cercis canadensis	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
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 pussytoes Antennaria neglecta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
flatstem spikerush Eleocharis compressa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata	Grass or grass-like	5.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
Frank's sedge Carex frankii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
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
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
golden currant Ribes aureum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
green hawthorn Crataegus viridis	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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 grama Bouteloua hirsuta	Grass or grass-like	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata	Vine	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus	Wildflower (forb)	9.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
leadplant Amorpha canescens	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	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
Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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 catalpa Catalpa speciosa	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
northern red oak Quercus rubra	Tree	81 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
Nuttall's povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra	Tree	68 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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 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
pin oak Quercus palustris	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
plains lovegrass Eragrostis intermedia	Grass or grass-like	2.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
porcupinegrass Hesperostipa spartea	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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 fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
prairie willow Salix humilis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
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
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
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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
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
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
roundhead rush Juncus validus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
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
sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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
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
silver maple Acer saccharinum	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
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
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sugarberry Celtis laevigata	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
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 cinquefoil Potentilla arguta	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus	Wildflower (forb)	5 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
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
upright prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera	Wildflower (forb)	3.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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 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
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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 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
white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
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
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
woolly plantain Plantago patagonica	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 12b

Other native species recorded here 327

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.

amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
American bluehearts Buchnera americana
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
annual fimbry Fimbristylis annua
annual marsh elder Iva annua
aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
Aunt Lucy Ellisia nyctelea
autumn onion Allium stellatum
azure blue sage Salvia azurea
Baldwin's ironweed Vernonia baldwinii
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
biannual lettuce Lactuca ludoviciana
bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
blue wild indigo Baptisia australis
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
branched foldwing Dicliptera brachiata
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carolina anemone Anemone caroliniana
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina draba Draba reptans
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
Carolina woollywhite Hymenopappus scabiosaeus
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
chickenthief Mentzelia oligosperma
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
compassplant Silphium laciniatum
creeping lovegrass Neeragrostis reptans
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
desert biscuitroot Lomatium foeniculaceum
desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
diamond-flowers Stenaria nigricans
downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
downy phlox Phlox pilosa
Drummond's aster Symphyotrichum drummondii
Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
dwarf horseweed Conyza ramosissima
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
dwarf plantain Plantago pusilla
early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
Engelmann's spikerush Eleocharis engelmannii
Equisetum ×ferrissii Equisetum ×ferrissii
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
fetid marigold Dyssodia papposa
feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
field pansy Viola bicolor
fire on the mountain Euphorbia cyathophora
floating primrose-willow Ludwigia peploides
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fourpoint evening primrose Oenothera rhombipetala
foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
green antelopehorn Asclepias viridis
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
grooved flax Linum sulcatum
groovestem Indian plantain Arnoglossum plantagineum
groundplum milkvetch Astragalus crassicarpus
gum bully Sideroxylon lanuginosum
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
hairy fimbry Fimbristylis puberula
hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
hoary verbena Verbena stricta
hogwort Croton capitatus
honeyvine Cynanchum laeve
Jersey tea Ceanothus herbaceus
kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
lanceleaf ragweed Ambrosia bidentata
large Indian breadroot Pediomelum esculentum
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeflower tickseed Coreopsis grandiflora
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lemon beebalm Monarda citriodora
light poppymallow Callirhoe alcaeoides
limestone adderstongue Ophioglossum engelmannii
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
longflower beeblossom Oenothera filiformis
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
Madagascar dropseed Sporobolus pyramidatus
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
matted sandmat Chamaesyce serpens
Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
meadow garlic Allium canadense
Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
Missouri gooseberry Ribes missouriense
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
mullein foxglove Dasistoma macrophylla
narrowleaf gumweed Grindelia lanceolata
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
Nuttall's prairie parsley Polytaenia nuttallii
Nuttall's sensitive-briar Mimosa nuttallii
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
pale dock Rumex altissimus
pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
pasture heliotrope Heliotropium tenellum
Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
pinkladies Oenothera speciosa
pitcher's stitchwort Minuartia patula
plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
poorjoe Diodia teres
poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium campestre
prairie broomweed Amphiachyris dracunculoides
prairie cupgrass Eriochloa contracta
prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
prairie ironweed Vernonia fasciculata
prairie milkweed Asclepias sullivantii
prairie plantain Plantago elongata
prairie rose Rosa arkansana
prairie sandmat Chamaesyce missurica
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
prairie violet Viola pedatifida
procession flower Polygala incarnata
prostrate sandmat Chamaesyce prostrata
puffsheath dropseed Sporobolus neglectus
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
ram's horn Proboscidea louisianica
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
rope dodder Cuscuta glomerata
rose mock vervain Glandularia canadensis
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
rough rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes aspera
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
roundseed St. Johnswort Hypericum sphaerocarpum
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
sessileleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium sessilifolium
shaggy dwarf morning-glory Evolvulus nuttallianus
shortbeak arrowhead Sagittaria brevirostra
shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
shortstalk chickweed Cerastium brachypodum
showy ticktrefoil Desmodium canadense
sicklepod Arabis canadensis
silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
Skinner's false foxglove Agalinis skinneriana
skyblue aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender lipfern Cheilanthes feei
slender snakecotton Froelichia gracilis
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slickseed fuzzybean Strophostyles leiosperma
slimflower scurfpea Psoralidium tenuiflorum
slimleaf milkweed Asclepias stenophylla
slimpod Venus' looking-glass Triodanis leptocarpa
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
smallflower fumewort Corydalis micrantha
smooth cliffbrake Pellaea glabella
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
snow on the mountain Euphorbia marginata
soft goldenaster Chrysopsis pilosa
soft-hair marbleseed Onosmodium bejariense
sorrelvine Cissus trifoliata
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
Spanish gold Grindelia papposa
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading chervil Chaerophyllum procumbens
spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
Standley's goosefoot Chenopodium standleyanum
stemless evening primrose Oenothera triloba
stiff sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus
stiff tickseed Coreopsis palmata
sunbright Phemeranthus parviflorus
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
tall blazing star Liatris aspera
tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
Tennessee bladderfern Cystopteris tennesseensis
Texas goldentop Euthamia gymnospermoides
Texas star Sabatia campestris
Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threadleaf evening primrose Oenothera linifolia
tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
tumble windmill grass Chloris verticillata
tumblegrass Schedonnardus paniculatus
twistspine pricklypear Opuntia macrorhiza
veiny dock Rumex venosus
velvetweed Oenothera curtiflora
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
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
wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
western silver aster Symphyotrichum sericeum
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white fawnlily Erythronium albidum
white four o'clock Mirabilis albida
white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
white wand beardtongue Penstemon tubaeflorus
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
wholeleaf rosinweed Silphium integrifolium
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
widowsfrill Silene stellata
willowleaf aster Symphyotrichum praealtum
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woolly dutchman's pipe Aristolochia tomentosa
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

Also listed as native and introduced here 2

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
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with Kansas

The typical county is the median of the 105 Kansas 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, Chautauqua County and Kansas
Measure	Chautauqua County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	511	335	1,264
Garden-ready natives	184	141	447
Tree	55	—	88
Shrub	16	—	42
Wildflower (forb)	299	—	752
Grass or grass-like	97	—	285
Vine	25	—	61
Fern	19	—	36

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Chautauqua County.

Cowley County, KS 181 garden-ready
Elk County, KS 172 garden-ready
Montgomery County, KS 209 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: Chautauqua County (county FIPS 20019), Kansas. 511 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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