Native plants · Michigan

Native plants of Ionia County

453 plant species are recorded as native to Michigan in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Ionia County by USDA PLANTS. 186 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

Ionia County, Michigan

Native species: 453 Typical Michigan county: 495 (median of 83 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 186 Typical Michigan county: 227
Share by type (all 453 native species): Percent of the 453 native species in each growth type

Tree 9% (42)
Shrub 7% (31)
Wildflower (forb) 56% (253)
Grass or grass-like 25% (112)
Vine 3% (15)

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

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 186

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

Garden-ready native plants of Ionia County, Michigan
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
alderleaf buckthorn Rhamnus alnifolia	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 beech Fagus grandifolia	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Vine	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American black currant Ribes americanum	Shrub	3 ft	—	—	Zone 2b
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 hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American vetch Vicia americana	Vine	1.3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
American water horehound Lycopus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	1.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
arctic brome Bromus kalmii	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
balsam poplar Populus balsamifera	Tree	80 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1a
beaked sedge Carex rostrata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla	Wildflower (forb)	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
bluebead Clintonia borealis	Wildflower (forb)	1.1 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 laurel Kalmia polifolia	Shrub	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
broadleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium latifolium	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
broom sedge Carex scoparia	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa	Wildflower (forb)	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bur-reed sedge Carex sparganioides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian rush Juncus canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Carolina rose Rosa carolina	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
cattail sedge Carex typhina	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri	Grass or grass-like	6.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
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 ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
creeping snowberry Gaultheria hispidula	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana	Vine	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
Dewey sedge Carex deweyana	Grass or grass-like	3.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
downy arrowwood Viburnum rafinesqueanum	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3a
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
drooping sedge Carex prasina	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
flatstem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
fowl bluegrass Poa palustris	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata	Grass or grass-like	5.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
fringed sedge Carex crinita	Grass or grass-like	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
graceful sedge Carex gracillima	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
gray dogwood Cornus racemosa	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
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
great St. Johnswort Hypericum ascyron	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
greater straw sedge Carex normalis	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
hairy sedge Carex lacustris	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	High	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
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
inland sedge Carex interior	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 3a
limestone bittercress Cardamine douglassii	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
longleaf starwort Stellaria longifolia	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala	Tree	52 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
mountain maple Acer spicatum	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
mud sedge Carex limosa	Grass or grass-like	1.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
nannyberry Viburnum lentago	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 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 fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
nodding waternymph Najas flexilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
northern bedstraw Galium boreale	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
northern bush honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera	Shrub	2.4 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
pawpaw Asimina triloba	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides	Tree	60 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Pennsylvania buttercup Ranunculus pensylvanicus	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
pignut hickory Carya glabra	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
porcupinegrass Hesperostipa spartea	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
purple avens Geum rivale	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purplestem aster Symphyotrichum puniceum	Wildflower (forb)	8.1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
purplestem beggarticks Bidens connata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
pussy willow Salix discolor	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
quill sedge Carex tenera	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
rattlesnake mannagrass Glyceria canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
red currant Ribes triste	Shrub	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 1a
red elderberry Sambucus racemosa	Tree	18 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
riverbank grape Vitis riparia	Vine	45 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
rock elm Ulmus thomasii	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
roundleaf dogwood Cornus rugosa	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
sageleaf willow Salix candida	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
sandbar willow Salix interior	Tree	30 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
smallhead rush Juncus brachycephalus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
spotted joe pye weed Eutrochium maculatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina	Tree	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
sugar maple Acer saccharum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
swamp rose Rosa palustris	Shrub	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
tamarack Larix laricina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 1a
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
troublesome sedge Carex molesta	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa	Grass or grass-like	3.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
upright sedge Carex stricta	Grass or grass-like	4.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
Virginia spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana	Wildflower (forb)	1.1 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
white avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
woodland bluegrass Poa sylvestris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
woodland muhly Muhlenbergia sylvatica	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
yellow marsh marigold Caltha palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b

Other native species recorded here 267

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
agueweed Gentianella quinquefolia
Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
alpine violet Viola labradorica
American alumroot Heuchera americana
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum
American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
American fly honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American marshpennywort Hydrocotyle americana
American senna Senna hebecarpa
American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
Appalachian barren strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
autumn willow Salix serissima
bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
bayberry willow Salix myricoides
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
bog bluegrass Poa paludigena
bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia
bog willow Salix pedicellaris
bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
bottomland aster Symphyotrichum ontarionis
bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
Buxbaum's sedge Carex buxbaumii
Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
candle anemone Anemone cylindrica
Carey's sedge Carex careyana
Carolina draba Draba reptans
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common woodrush Luzula multiflora
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
Copenhagen hawthorn Crataegus intricata
cream pea Lathyrus ochroleucus
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
cuckoo flower Cardamine pratensis
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
dioecious sedge Carex sterilis
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
dotted hawthorn Crataegus punctata
downy hawthorn Crataegus mollis
downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
downy phlox Phlox pilosa
downy willowherb Epilobium strictum
drooping woodland sedge Carex arctata
Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf ginseng Panax trifolius
dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
eastern hemlockparsley Conioselinum chinense
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
eastern swamp saxifrage Saxifraga pensylvanica
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
false melic Schizachne purpurascens
false mermaidweed Floerkea proserpinacoides
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fen grass of Parnassus Parnassia glauca
fewleaf sunflower Helianthus occidentalis
fewseed sedge Carex oligosperma
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
fleshy hawthorn Crataegus succulenta
fourflower yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadriflora
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
Fraser's marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum fraseri
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
golden zizia Zizia aurea
goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
grassleaf mudplantain Heteranthera dubia
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
greater fringed gentian Gentianopsis crinita
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green rockcress Arabis missouriensis
grove bluegrass Poa alsodes
hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
hairy hawkweed Hieracium longipilum
hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
hairystem gooseberry Ribes hirtellum
harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
heartleaf plantain Plantago cordata
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
Hitchcock's sedge Carex hitchcockiana
hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
inflated narrow-leaf sedge Carex grisea
lakecress Neobeckia aquatica
lanceleaf wild licorice Galium lanceolatum
large St. Johnswort Hypericum majus
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
leathery knotweed Polygonum achoreum
lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
longspur violet Viola rostrata
longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
low false bindweed Calystegia spithamaea
lyrate rockcress Arabis lyrata
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
marsh arrowgrass Triglochin palustris
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
mountain ricegrass Piptatheropsis pungens
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
northern bog aster Symphyotrichum boreale
northern sweetgrass Hierochloe hirta
oldpasture bluegrass Poa saltuensis
Ontario blazing star Liatris cylindracea
orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
pale dock Rumex altissimus
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
pear hawthorn Crataegus calpodendron
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie rosinweed Silphium terebinthinaceum
prairie sedge Carex prairea
pubescent sedge Carex hirtifolia
purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
purplestem angelica Angelica atropurpurea
racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
ramp Allium tricoccum
rannoch-rush Scheuchzeria palustris
rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
red baneberry Actaea rubra
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
Richardson's alumroot Heuchera richardsonii
Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
Richardson's sedge Carex richardsonii
rigid sedge Carex tetanica
Robert geranium Geranium robertianum
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
sandbar lovegrass Eragrostis frankii
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
shining lady's tresses Spiranthes lucida
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
Short's aster Symphyotrichum shortii
shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
showy lady's slipper Cypripedium reginae
showy ticktrefoil Desmodium canadense
shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
sicklepod Arabis canadensis
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth rose Rosa blanda
smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
snow trillium Trillium nivale
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
Sprengel's sedge Carex sprengelii
spring blue eyed Mary Collinsia verna
squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
starflower Trientalis borealis
starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
sticky tofieldia Triantha glutinosa
stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
striped cream violet Viola striata
summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
sweet white violet Viola blanda
tall blazing star Liatris aspera
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
thinleaf cottonsedge Eriophorum viridicarinatum
thinleaf sedge Carex cephaloidea
thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
Tuckerman's sedge Carex tuckermanii
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white bear sedge Carex albursina
white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
white lady's slipper Cypripedium candidum
white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
woolly sedge Carex pellita
woollyfruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa
yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
yellow sedge Carex flava
yellow water buttercup Ranunculus flabellaris
yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii
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.

climbing false buckwheatPolygonum scandens
hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium

Compared with Michigan

The typical county is the median of the 83 Michigan 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, Ionia County and Michigan
Measure	Ionia County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	453	495	1,641
Garden-ready natives	186	227	595
Tree	42	—	136
Shrub	31	—	104
Wildflower (forb)	253	—	870
Grass or grass-like	112	—	398
Vine	15	—	48
Fern	0	—	85

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Ionia County.

Barry County, MI 227 garden-ready
Clinton County, MI 238 garden-ready
Eaton County, MI 137 garden-ready
Gratiot County, MI 286 garden-ready
Kent County, MI 383 garden-ready
Montcalm County, MI 240 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: Ionia County (county FIPS 26067), Michigan. 453 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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