Native plants · Maryland

Native plants of Wicomico County

176 plant species are recorded as native to Maryland in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Wicomico County by USDA PLANTS. 50 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 1 more species is listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Wicomico County, Maryland

Native species: 176 Typical Maryland county: 184 (median of 24 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 50 Typical Maryland county: 61
Share by type (all 176 native species): Percent of the 176 native species in each growth type

Tree 5% (9)
Shrub <1% (1)
Wildflower (forb) 39% (69)
Grass or grass-like 48% (85)
Vine 3% (6)
Fern 3% (6)

Grasses and grass-like plants make up the largest share of the native list (48%), followed by wildflowers (39%).

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 7b to 8a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 50

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

Garden-ready native plants of Wicomico County, Maryland
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
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
bald cypress Taxodium distichum	Tree	130 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
common reed Phragmites australis	Shrub	13 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
common sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
coppery St. Johnswort Hypericum denticulatum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7b
coral greenbrier Smilax walteri	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
cypress swamp sedge Carex joorii	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	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
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
fringed sedge Carex crinita	Grass or grass-like	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
hop sedge Carex lupulina	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
jointed spikesedge Eleocharis equisetoides	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
loblolly pine Pinus taeda	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
longhair sedge Carex comosa	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
needleleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium aciculare	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 7b
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
pine barren goldenrod Solidago fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
pond pine Pinus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica	Grass or grass-like	1.8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
roundhead rush Juncus validus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
seaside alder Alnus maritima	Tree	30 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
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
shortbeard plumegrass Saccharum brevibarbe	Grass or grass-like	6.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
smallfruit beggarticks Bidens mitis	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
southern bayberry Morella caroliniensis	Tree	7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
southern waxy sedge Carex glaucescens	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
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
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
upright sedge Carex stricta	Grass or grass-like	4.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
white edge sedge Carex debilis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
woolly rosette grass Dichanthelium scabriusculum	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
wrinkled jointtail grass Coelorachis rugosa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a

Other native species recorded here 126

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.

American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
bent sedge Carex styloflexa
black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
blackfruit spikerush Eleocharis melanocarpa
Brazilian watermeal Wolffia brasiliensis
broadwing sedge Carex alata
brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
brownfruit rush Juncus pelocarpus
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
Canby's bulrush Schoenoplectus etuberculatus
Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
claspingleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum gymnanthum
clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
Collins' sedge Carex collinsii
creeping St. Johnswort Hypericum adpressum
crested yellow orchid Platanthera cristata
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
darkgreen sedge Carex venusta
downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
drumheads Polygala cruciata
dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
dwarf violet iris Iris verna
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
earlyleaf brome Bromus latiglumis
eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
eastern showy aster Eurybia spectabilis
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
Elliott's goldenrod Solidago latissimifolia
Elliott's rush Juncus elliottii
Engelmann's arrowhead Sagittaria engelmanniana
fewflower beaksedge Rhynchospora rariflora
flattened pipewort Eriocaulon compressum
foxtail clubmoss Lycopodiella alopecuroides
fringed yelloweyed grass Xyris fimbriata
giant sedge Carex gigantea
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
hooded arrowhead Sagittaria calycina
horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
justiceweed Eupatorium leucolepis
lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
lesser marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum tubulosum
lined sedge Carex striatula
little floatingheart Nymphoides cordata
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
Long's sedge Carex longii
longbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora scirpoides
Louisiana sedge Carex louisianica
marsh lady's tresses Spiranthes odorata
Mitchell's sedge Carex mitchelliana
mudbank crowngrass Paspalum dissectum
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
narrowfruit horned beaksedge Rhynchospora inundata
narrowleaf bluecurls Trichostema setaceum
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
northern long sedge Carex folliculata
Oklahoma sedge Carex oklahomensis
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
parasol sedge Carex umbellata
pink bogbutton Sclerolepis uniflora
pink sundew Drosera capillaris
Plukenet's flatsedge Cyperus plukenetii
procession flower Polygala incarnata
purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
red milkweed Asclepias rubra
Reznicek's sedge Carex reznicekii
Robbins' spikerush Eleocharis robbinsii
rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
sandplain flax Linum intercursum
sevenangle pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum
shaved sedge Carex tonsa
shining lady's tresses Spiranthes lucida
shore quillwort Isoetes riparia
shortbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora nitens
shortleaf skeletongrass Gymnopogon brevifolius
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa
silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
slender blue iris Iris prismatica
slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
slender waternymph Najas gracillima
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
Small's yelloweyed grass Xyris smalliana
Smith's bulrush Schoenoplectiella smithii
smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
stiff ticktrefoil Desmodium obtusum
stout smartweed Polygonum robustius
striped bladderwort Utricularia striata
swamp lousewort Pedicularis lanceolata
Swan's sedge Carex swanii
swaying bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis
tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
twisted spikerush Eleocharis tortilis
velvet sedge Carex vestita
velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
Walter's sedge Carex striata
weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
woollysheath threeawn Aristida lanosa
Wright's rosette grass Dichanthelium wrightianum
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens

Also listed as native and introduced here 1

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

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, Wicomico County and Maryland
Measure	Wicomico County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	176	184	1,872
Garden-ready natives	50	61	635
Tree	9	—	174
Shrub	1	—	112
Wildflower (forb)	69	—	965
Grass or grass-like	85	—	463
Vine	6	—	72
Fern	6	—	86

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Wicomico County.

Sussex County, DE 223 garden-ready
Somerset County, MD 27 garden-ready
Worcester County, MD 78 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: Wicomico County (county FIPS 24045), Maryland. 176 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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