Native plants · Massachusetts

Native plants of Barnstable County

882 plant species are recorded as native to Massachusetts in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Barnstable County by USDA PLANTS. 361 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 3 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Native species
882 Typical Massachusetts county: 1,068 (median of 14 counties)
Garden-ready natives
361 Typical Massachusetts county: 413
Share by type (all 882 native species)
Percent of the 882 native species in each growth type
Tree 10% (87)
Shrub 7% (58)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (453)
Grass or grass-like 24% (214)
Vine 4% (32)
Fern 4% (38)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (24%).

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 7a to 7b (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 361

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

Garden-ready native plants of Barnstable County, Massachusetts
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
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 basswood Tilia americana Tree 100 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 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 chestnut Castanea dentata Tree 115 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
American dunegrass Leymus mollis Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
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 holly Ilex opaca Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American lotus Nelumbo lutea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun High Zone 3b
American plum Prunus americana Tree 24 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana Wildflower (forb) 7.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American red raspberry Rubus idaeus Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 1a
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 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
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Atlantic mannagrass Glyceria obtusa Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
Atlantic white cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
balsam fir Abies balsamea Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
beach pea Lathyrus japonicus Vine 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
beach plum Prunus maritima Shrub 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun High Zone 4b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Grass or grass-like 6 ft Sun Low Zone 2b
big cordgrass Spartina cynosuroides Grass or grass-like 8 ft Sun High Zone 7a
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla Wildflower (forb) 4.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 3a
bitter panicgrass Panicum amarum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
black 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 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 willow Salix nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica Tree 95 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
blister sedge Carex vesicaria Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
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 muhly Muhlenbergia uniflora Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun High Zone 4a
bog rush Juncus biflorus Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
bog willowherb Epilobium leptophyllum Wildflower (forb) 3.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
boxelder Acer negundo Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
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
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus Grass or grass-like 6.3 ft Sun High Zone 5a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Canada 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 goldenrod Solidago canadensis Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun 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 plum Prunus nigra Tree 9 ft Sun — Zone 9b
Canadian rush Juncus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis Tree 23 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
Carolina redroot Lachnanthes caroliana Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
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
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri Grass or grass-like 6.5 ft Sun High Zone 10b
coastal sweetpepperbush Clethra alnifolia Shrub 16 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
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 cowparsnip Heracleum maximum Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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 juniper Juniperus communis Tree 10 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
common reed Phragmites australis Shrub 13 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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 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
cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata Fern 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 6a
cucumberleaf sunflower Helianthus debilis Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Medium Zone 9b
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
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 darning needles Clematis virginiana Vine 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
dwarf spikerush Eleocharis parvula Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
eastern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum subulatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
eastern baccharis Baccharis halimifolia Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
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 rough sedge Carex scabrata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
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
flattened oatgrass Danthonia compressa Grass or grass-like 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
flowering dogwood Cornus florida Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
forked rush Juncus dichotomus Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8b
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
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
fringed sedge Carex crinita Grass or grass-like 5.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
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
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens Grass or grass-like 5.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 2a
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
groundnut Apios americana Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
hazel alder Alnus serrulata Tree 30 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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
inkberry Ilex glabra Shrub 8 ft Sun High Zone 6a
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
Jesuit's bark Iva frutescens Wildflower (forb) 9 ft Sun High Zone 7b
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
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
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
lavender thrift Limonium carolinianum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 6b
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 3a
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
lopsided rush Juncus secundus Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Shrub 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina Shrub 9 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 5a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
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 seedbox Ludwigia palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 4a
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala Tree 52 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa Tree 85 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia Tree 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
mud sedge Carex limosa Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun 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
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis Grass or grass-like 8 in Sun Medium Zone 5a
nerveless woodland sedge Carex leptonervia Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
New York aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun High Zone 4a
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 beggartick Bidens cernua Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
nodding waternymph Najas flexilis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
northern bayberry Morella pensylvanica Tree 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
northern red oak Quercus rubra Tree 81 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
northern St. Johnswort Hypericum boreale Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun High Zone 3a
Nuttall's reedgrass Calamagrostis coarctata Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 12a
pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus Grass or grass-like 5.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
perplexed ticktrefoil Desmodium perplexum Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 5a
pignut hickory Carya glabra Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica Tree 30 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
pitch pine Pinus rigida Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
post oak Quercus stellata Tree 60 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
prairie 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 willow Salix humilis Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun Low Zone 3a
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
purplestem beggarticks Bidens connata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
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
rattlesnake mannagrass Glyceria canadensis Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia Shrub 5 ft Sun High Zone 5b
red goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun High Zone 12b
red maple Acer rubrum Tree 68 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
red pine Pinus resinosa Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
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
rhodora Rhododendron canadense Shrub 18 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
ribbonleaf pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
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 bedstraw Galium asprellum Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
saltgrass Distichlis spicata Grass or grass-like 1.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
saltmeadow cordgrass Spartina patens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 7a
sandcherry Prunus pumila Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus Shrub 8.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
sea milkwort Glaux maritima Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun High Zone 4a
seaside goldenrod Solidago sempervirens Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
shallow sedge Carex lurida Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
shining willow Salix lucida Tree 13 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum Shrub 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
silky willow Salix sericea Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
silver maple Acer saccharinum Tree 90 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
silvery sedge Carex canescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
small beggarticks Bidens discoidea Wildflower (forb) 5.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina Wildflower (forb) 11 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
small white violet Viola macloskeyi Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
smooth beggartick Bidens laevis Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun High Zone 5a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra Tree 12 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Grass or grass-like 9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
southern arrowwood Viburnum recognitum Tree 9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 3b
spiked muhly Muhlenbergia glomerata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
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 marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium Wildflower (forb) 10 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sturdy bulrush Bolboschoenus robustus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 8a
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 azalea Rhododendron viscosum Shrub 16 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
swamp doghobble Eubotrys racemosus Shrub 13 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
sweet birch Betula lenta Tree 60 ft Sun Medium 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
sweetflag Acorus americanus Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
sweetgale Myrica gale Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
sweetgrass Hierochloe odorata Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
sweetscent Pluchea odorata Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
tall hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
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
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
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
upright sedge Carex stricta Grass or grass-like 4.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 4a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
Virginia rose Rosa virginiana Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile Fern 3 ft Sun High Zone 4a
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 5a
wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
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 edge sedge Carex debilis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
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 panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 7a
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
wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
woodland rush Juncus subcaudatus Grass or grass-like 2.2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
woolly beachheather Hudsonia tomentosa Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
woolly rosette grass Dichanthelium scabriusculum Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
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 flatsedge Cyperus flavescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b

Other native species recorded here 521

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
  • allegheny vine Adlumia fungosa
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
  • American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
  • American featherfoil Hottonia inflata
  • American golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
  • American marshpennywort Hydrocotyle americana
  • American searocket Cakile edentula
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • American wintergreen Pyrola americana
  • anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
  • annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
  • Apocynum ×floribundum Apocynum ×floribundum
  • arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
  • arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
  • arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
  • ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
  • balm-of-Gilead Populus ×jackii
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • bayonet rush Juncus militaris
  • bear oak Quercus ilicifolia
  • Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
  • beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
  • bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
  • bigfruit hawthorn Crataegus macrosperma
  • birdfoot violet Viola pedata
  • black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
  • blackfruit spikerush Eleocharis melanocarpa
  • blackgirdle bulrush Scirpus atrocinctus
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
  • Blue Ridge sedge Carex lucorum
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
  • bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
  • bog fern Thelypteris simulata
  • bog white violet Viola lanceolata
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
  • branched bur-reed Sparganium androcladum
  • Brazilian watermeal Wolffia brasiliensis
  • bright green spikerush Eleocharis olivacea
  • bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida
  • broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
  • broadwing sedge Carex alata
  • brown beaksedge Rhynchospora fusca
  • brownfruit rush Juncus pelocarpus
  • brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
  • bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
  • bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
  • bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
  • button sedge Carex bullata
  • buttonbush dodder Cuscuta cephalanthi
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada lily Lilium canadense
  • Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
  • Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
  • candle anemone Anemone cylindrica
  • cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
  • Carey's smartweed Polygonum careyi
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • catberry Ilex mucronata
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • checkered rattlesnake plantain Goodyera tesselata
  • cheerful sunflower Helianthus ×laetiflorus
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
  • clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
  • clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
  • clasping water horehound Lycopus amplectens
  • claspingleaf pondweed Potamogeton perfoliatus
  • climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
  • clubmoss Lycopodiella ×copelandii
  • clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
  • coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
  • coastal plain blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium fuscatum
  • coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
  • coastal sedge Carex exilis
  • combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
  • common marsh bedstraw Galium palustre
  • common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
  • common moonseed Menispermum canadense
  • common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
  • common woodrush Luzula multiflora
  • common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
  • compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
  • cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
  • cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
  • Crawford's sedge Carex crawfordii
  • cream avens Geum virginianum
  • creeping mannagrass Glyceria acutiflora
  • creeping spikerush Eleocharis fallax
  • creeping St. Johnswort Hypericum adpressum
  • crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
  • Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
  • curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
  • cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
  • cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
  • devil's bite Liatris scariosa
  • devil's-tongue Opuntia humifusa
  • disguised St. Johnswort Hypericum dissimulatum
  • Dodge's hawthorn Crataegus dodgei
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • Dortmann's cardinalflower Lobelia dortmanna
  • downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
  • downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
  • downy willowherb Epilobium strictum
  • downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
  • dragon's mouth Arethusa bulbosa
  • dwarf chinquapin oak Quercus prinoides
  • dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
  • dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
  • dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
  • eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
  • eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
  • eastern grasswort Lilaeopsis chinensis
  • eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
  • eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
  • eastern showy aster Eurybia spectabilis
  • eastern swamp saxifrage Saxifraga pensylvanica
  • Eaton's rosette grass Dichanthelium spretum
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • Elliott's goldenrod Solidago latissimifolia
  • Engelmann's arrowhead Sagittaria engelmanniana
  • European bur-reed Sparganium emersum
  • eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
  • fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fern flatsedge Cyperus filicinus
  • fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
  • feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
  • fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
  • fewnerved cottongrass Eriophorum tenellum
  • field thistle Cirsium discolor
  • fireberry hawthorn Crataegus chrysocarpa
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • fleshy hawthorn Crataegus succulenta
  • forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
  • fox grape Vitis labrusca
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • gall of the earth Prenanthes trifoliolata
  • gaywings Polygala paucifolia
  • golden hedgehyssop Gratiola aurea
  • goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
  • grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
  • Gray's flatsedge Cyperus grayi
  • Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
  • greater fringed gentian Gentianopsis crinita
  • greater water dock Rumex orbiculatus
  • green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
  • Greene's rush Juncus greenei
  • greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
  • hairy four o'clock Mirabilis hirsuta
  • hairy hedgenettle Stachys pilosa
  • hairy lettuce Lactuca hirsuta
  • hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
  • hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
  • hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
  • hairystem gooseberry Ribes hirtellum
  • halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
  • handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
  • harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
  • hazel dodder Cuscuta coryli
  • heartleaf twayblade Listera cordata
  • hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
  • hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
  • Heller's cudweed Pseudognaphalium helleri
  • Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
  • hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
  • hiddenfruit bladderwort Utricularia geminiscapa
  • hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
  • hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
  • hoary verbena Verbena stricta
  • Holmes' hawthorn Crataegus holmesiana
  • horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • hyssopleaf hedgenettle Stachys hyssopifolia
  • hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
  • Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • intermediate mermaidweed Proserpinaca intermedia
  • intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
  • inundated clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata
  • Kalm's hawkweed Hieracium kalmii
  • king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
  • lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
  • large St. Johnswort Hypericum majus
  • large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • largepod pinweed Lechea intermedia
  • lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
  • leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
  • Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
  • lespedeza Lespedeza ×brittonii
  • lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
  • lesser purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes
  • lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
  • limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
  • little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
  • little floating bladderwort Utricularia radiata
  • little floatingheart Nymphoides cordata
  • little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
  • long beechfern Phegopteris connectilis
  • Long's sedge Carex longii
  • longbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora scirpoides
  • longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
  • low frostweed Helianthemum propinquum
  • low watermilfoil Myriophyllum humile
  • manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
  • marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
  • marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
  • marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
  • marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
  • marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
  • marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
  • marsh willowherb Epilobium palustre
  • Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
  • Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • matricary grapefern Botrychium matricariifolium
  • meadow garlic Allium canadense
  • meadow willow Salix petiolaris
  • midland sedge Carex mesochorea
  • Mitchell's sedge Carex mitchelliana
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • mosquito bulrush Scirpus hattorianus
  • mountain holly Ilex montana
  • mountain ricegrass Piptatheropsis pungens
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • narrowfruit horned beaksedge Rhynchospora inundata
  • narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
  • narrowleaf hawkweed Hieracium umbellatum
  • narrowleaf lespedeza Lespedeza angustifolia
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
  • narrowpanicle rush Juncus brevicaudatus
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
  • netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
  • netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
  • New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
  • northern adderstongue Ophioglossum pusillum
  • northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
  • northern long sedge Carex folliculata
  • northern panicgrass Dichanthelium boreale
  • northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
  • northern wildrice Zizania palustris
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • Nuttall's milkwort Polygala nuttallii
  • Oakes' evening primrose Oenothera oakesiana
  • Oakes' pondweed Potamogeton oakesianus
  • oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
  • oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
  • orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
  • pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
  • pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
  • pale sedge Carex pallescens
  • pale St. Johnswort Hypericum ellipticum
  • paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
  • palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
  • parasol sedge Carex umbellata
  • parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
  • Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
  • partridgeberry Mitchella repens
  • pasture thistle Cirsium pumilum
  • Pennsylvania clubmoss Lycopodium hickeyi
  • Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
  • perennial saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
  • poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
  • poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • prairie sedge Carex prairea
  • prairie sunflower Helianthus petiolaris
  • prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
  • purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
  • purple milkweed Asclepias purpurascens
  • purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
  • purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
  • purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
  • Pursh seepweed Suaeda calceoliformis
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
  • rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
  • rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
  • red baneberry Actaea rubra
  • red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
  • red hickory Carya ovalis
  • rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
  • Robbins' spikerush Eleocharis robbinsii
  • robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
  • rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
  • rosy sedge Carex rosea
  • rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
  • rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
  • rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
  • roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
  • running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
  • running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
  • saline saltbush Atriplex subspicata
  • salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
  • saltmarsh false foxglove Agalinis maritima
  • saltmeadow rush Juncus gerardii
  • sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
  • sandplain flax Linum intercursum
  • scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
  • scarlet hawthorn Crataegus pedicellata
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
  • seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
  • seaside sandplant Honckenya peploides
  • seawrack Zostera marina
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • Sesquehana sandcherry Prunus susquehanae
  • sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
  • setose blackberry Rubus setosus
  • sevenangle pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum
  • shaved sedge Carex tonsa
  • sheep laurel Kalmia angustifolia
  • shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
  • shortbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora nitens
  • shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
  • shrubby fivefingers Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
  • silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
  • sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender blue iris Iris prismatica
  • slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
  • slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
  • slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
  • slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
  • slender watermilfoil Myriophyllum tenellum
  • slender waternymph Najas gracillima
  • slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
  • slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
  • slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
  • slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
  • slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
  • slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
  • small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos
  • small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • small waterwort Elatine minima
  • Small's yelloweyed grass Xyris smalliana
  • smallflower false foxglove Agalinis paupercula
  • smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
  • Smith's bulrush Schoenoplectiella smithii
  • smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
  • smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
  • smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
  • smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • smooth white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum racemosum
  • smooth winterberry Ilex laevigata
  • smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
  • smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
  • snailseed pondweed Potamogeton bicupulatus
  • snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
  • southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
  • spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
  • spiral pondweed Potamogeton spirillus
  • spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
  • spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
  • spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
  • star tickseed Coreopsis pubescens
  • starflower Trientalis borealis
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • stiff sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus
  • stiff yellow flax Linum medium
  • strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
  • striped bladderwort Utricularia striata
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
  • swamp blackberry Rubus semisetosus
  • swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
  • Swan's sedge Carex swanii
  • swaying bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis
  • sweet white violet Viola blanda
  • tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
  • tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • thinleaf cottonsedge Eriophorum viridicarinatum
  • thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
  • tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
  • toothed flatsedge Cyperus dentatus
  • toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
  • Torrey's bulrush Schoenoplectus torreyi
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • triangle orache Atriplex prostrata
  • tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
  • tussock cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum
  • twinflower Linnaea borealis
  • twining screwstem Bartonia paniculata
  • umbrella flatsedge Cyperus diandrus
  • variegated scouringrush Equisetum variegatum
  • velvet sedge Carex vestita
  • Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
  • Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • 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
  • Walter's sedge Carex striata
  • warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
  • waterplantain spearwort Ranunculus ambigens
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
  • waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
  • waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
  • waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
  • weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
  • weakstalk bulrush Schoenoplectiella purshiana
  • Welsh mudwort Limosella australis
  • western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
  • whip-poor-will flower Trillium cernuum
  • white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
  • white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
  • white colicroot Aletris farinosa
  • white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
  • white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
  • white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
  • white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • white wood aster Eurybia divaricata
  • whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
  • whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
  • whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
  • whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
  • whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
  • whorled wood aster Oclemena acuminata
  • whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
  • wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
  • wild Job's tears Onosmodium virginianum
  • willowleaf aster Symphyotrichum praealtum
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
  • wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
  • wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
  • woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
  • woodfern Dryopteris ×boottii
  • woodfern Dryopteris ×triploidea
  • woodland bulrush Scirpus expansus
  • woodland flax Linum virginianum
  • woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • woolly sedge Carex pellita
  • woollyfruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa
  • Wright's rosette grass Dichanthelium wrightianum
  • yellow avens Geum aleppicum
  • yellow loosestrife Lysimachia ×producta
  • yellow nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes ochroleuca
  • yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
  • yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
  • yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii
  • yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
  • zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata
Also listed as native and introduced here 3

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
  • common pepperweedLepidium densiflorum
  • Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with Massachusetts

The typical county is the median of the 14 Massachusetts 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, Barnstable County and Massachusetts
MeasureBarnstable CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 882 1,068 1,556
Garden-ready natives 361 413 564
Tree 87 — 138
Shrub 58 — 101
Wildflower (forb) 453 — 803
Grass or grass-like 214 — 390
Vine 32 — 41
Fern 38 — 83

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Barnstable 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
Barnstable County (county FIPS 25001), Massachusetts. 882 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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