Native plants · Maryland

Native plants of Baltimore County

252 plant species are recorded as native to Maryland in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Baltimore County by USDA PLANTS. 78 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

Baltimore County, Maryland

Native species: 252 Typical Maryland county: 184 (median of 24 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 78 Typical Maryland county: 61
Share by type (all 252 native species): Percent of the 252 native species in each growth type

Tree 3% (8)
Shrub 1% (3)
Wildflower (forb) 41% (104)
Grass or grass-like 42% (107)
Vine 3% (7)
Fern 9% (23)

Grasses and grass-like plants make up the largest share of the native list (42%), followed by wildflowers (41%).

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 8a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 78

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

Garden-ready native plants of Baltimore County, Maryland
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
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
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
broom sedge Carex scoparia	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
bur-reed sedge Carex sparganioides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
Bush's sedge Carex bushii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
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
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
coppery St. Johnswort Hypericum denticulatum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7b
crested sedge Carex cristatella	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
dense blazing star Liatris spicata	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
drooping sedge Carex prasina	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
fowl bluegrass Poa palustris	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
Frank's sedge Carex frankii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
fringed sedge Carex crinita	Grass or grass-like	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
graceful sedge Carex gracillima	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
gray birch Betula populifolia	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Gray's sedge Carex grayi	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
hairyfruit sedge Carex trichocarpa	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
hop sedge Carex lupulina	Grass or grass-like	4.3 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
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
longhair sedge Carex comosa	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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
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
roundleaf goldenrod Solidago patula	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
silvery sedge Carex canescens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
spotted joe pye weed Eutrochium maculatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
sweetgrass Hierochloe odorata	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
tall cinquefoil Potentilla arguta	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
thicket sedge Carex abscondita	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
troublesome sedge Carex molesta	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa	Grass or grass-like	3.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
twisted sedge Carex torta	Grass or grass-like	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
upright sedge Carex stricta	Grass or grass-like	4.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
white edge sedge Carex debilis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
woodland horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum	Fern	11 in	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3a
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
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 174

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

Adam and Eve Aplectrum hyemale
allegheny vine Adlumia fungosa
American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
bashful bulrush Trichophorum planifolium
beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
bent sedge Carex styloflexa
black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
Blue Ridge sedge Carex lucorum
blue sedge Carex glaucodea
bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
bunched beaksedge Rhynchospora cephalantha
button sedge Carex bullata
Canadian burnet Sanguisorba canadensis
Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
claspingleaf pondweed Potamogeton perfoliatus
climbing milkvine Matelea obliqua
Collins' sedge Carex collinsii
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
downy phlox Phlox pilosa
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
Emory's sedge Carex emoryi
evening campion Silene nivea
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fescue sedge Carex festucacea
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
flat-spiked sedge Carex planispicata
fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
glomerate sedge Carex aggregata
goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
great Indian plantain Arnoglossum reniforme
greater fringed gentian Gentianopsis crinita
greater purple fringed orchid Platanthera grandiflora
green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
green false hellebore Veratrum viride
green rockcress Arabis missouriensis
grooved flax Linum sulcatum
hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
hairy lettuce Lactuca hirsuta
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hay sedge Carex argyrantha
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
hyssopleaf hedgenettle Stachys hyssopifolia
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
inundated clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata
justiceweed Eupatorium leucolepis
large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
Leavenworth's sedge Carex leavenworthii
lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
lesser purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
lined sedge Carex striatula
lobed spleenwort Asplenium pinnatifidum
log fern Dryopteris celsa
Long's sedge Carex longii
longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
Louisiana sedge Carex louisianica
low false bindweed Calystegia spithamaea
matted spikerush Eleocharis intermedia
Mead's sedge Carex meadii
midland sedge Carex mesochorea
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
Muehlenberg's nutrush Scleria muehlenbergii
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
narrowpanicle rush Juncus brevicaudatus
netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
nodding sedge Carex gynandra
nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
northern long sedge Carex folliculata
Nottoway Valley brome Bromus nottowayanus
oldpasture bluegrass Poa saltuensis
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
parasol sedge Carex umbellata
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
pretty sedge Carex woodii
pubescent sedge Carex hirtifolia
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple fringeless orchid Platanthera peramoena
purple giant hyssop Agastache scrophulariifolia
purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
queen of the prairie Filipendula rubra
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
red milkweed Asclepias rubra
redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
ribbed sedge Carex virescens
Richardson's sedge Carex richardsonii
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rosy sedge Carex rosea
sand grape Vitis rupestris
sandplain flax Linum intercursum
Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
sessileleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium sessilifolium
shaved sedge Carex tonsa
shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
shining lady's tresses Spiranthes lucida
shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
showy lady's slipper Cypripedium reginae
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
slender blue iris Iris prismatica
slender bunchflower Veratrum hybridum
slender looseflower sedge Carex gracilescens
slender waternymph Najas gracillima
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
Smith's bulrush Schoenoplectiella smithii
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
soft fox sedge Carex conjuncta
southern bog clubmoss Lycopodiella appressa
spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
Standley's goosefoot Chenopodium standleyanum
stiff ticktrefoil Desmodium obtusum
striped gentian Gentiana villosa
summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
swamp lousewort Pedicularis lanceolata
swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
Swan's sedge Carex swanii
tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
tenlobe false foxglove Agalinis obtusifolia
Texas sedge Carex texensis
threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
twisted spikerush Eleocharis tortilis
velvet sedge Carex vestita
Virginia mountainmint Pycnanthemum virginianum
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
Welsh mudwort Limosella australis
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
whip-poor-will flower Trillium cernuum
white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorled mountainmint Pycnanthemum verticillatum
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
woolly sedge Carex pellita
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii
yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens

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.

Robert geraniumGeranium robertianum
switchcaneArundinaria tecta

Compared with Maryland

The typical county is the median of the 24 Maryland 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, Baltimore County and Maryland
Measure	Baltimore County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	252	184	1,872
Garden-ready natives	78	61	635
Tree	8	—	174
Shrub	3	—	112
Wildflower (forb)	104	—	965
Grass or grass-like	107	—	463
Vine	7	—	72
Fern	23	—	86

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Baltimore County.

Baltimore city, MD 44 garden-ready
Carroll County, MD 46 garden-ready
Harford County, MD 60 garden-ready
Howard County, MD 52 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: Baltimore County (county FIPS 24005), Maryland. 252 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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