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Native plants recorded in your state and county

Native plants · Michigan

Native plants of Mecosta County

386 plant species are recorded as native to Michigan in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Mecosta County by USDA PLANTS. 177 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

Mecosta County, Michigan

Native species
386 Typical Michigan county: 495 (median of 83 counties)
Garden-ready natives
177 Typical Michigan county: 227
Share by type (all 386 native species)
Percent of the 386 native species in each growth type
Tree 13% (52)
Shrub 10% (37)
Wildflower (forb) 57% (219)
Grass or grass-like 18% (69)
Vine 2% (9)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (57%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (18%).

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 5b (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 177

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

Garden-ready native plants of Mecosta County, Michigan
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
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 beech Fagus grandifolia Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
American black currant Ribes americanum Shrub 3 ft — — Zone 2b
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 4a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American plum Prunus americana Tree 24 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
American red raspberry Rubus idaeus Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 1a
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
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
arumleaf arrowhead Sagittaria cuneata Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Medium 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
Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Grass or grass-like 6 ft Sun Low Zone 2b
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
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 walnut Juglans nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
blister sedge Carex vesicaria Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
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
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus Shrub 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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
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
bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
bur oak Quercus macrocarpa Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
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
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
Carolina rose Rosa carolina Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana Tree 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
common duckweed Lemna minor Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
common juniper Juniperus communis Tree 10 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius Shrub 10 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
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 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
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
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
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
Drummond's rockcress Arabis drummondii Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides Tree 190 ft Sun High Zone 3a
eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis Tree 105 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
eastern rough sedge Carex scabrata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
flatstem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans Wildflower (forb) — Sun High 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
fringed sedge Carex crinita Grass or grass-like 5.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
golden sedge Carex aurea Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
gray alder Alnus incana Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High 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
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
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
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
jack pine Pinus banksiana Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 2a
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
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
longhair sedge Carex comosa Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
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
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
nannyberry Viburnum lentago Tree 28 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
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
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
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus Grass or grass-like 5.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 5a
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica Tree 30 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low 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
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 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
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
red maple Acer rubrum Tree 68 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
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
rock elm Ulmus thomasii Tree 90 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
rough bedstraw Galium asprellum Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
roundleaf serviceberry Amelanchier sanguinea Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
russet buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
sandbar willow Salix interior Tree 30 ft Sun — Zone 1a
sandcherry Prunus pumila Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
shining willow Salix lucida Tree 13 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
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 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
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
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 3b
spotted joe pye weed Eutrochium maculatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
star duckweed Lemna trisulca Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
sugar maple Acer saccharum Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
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
sweet fern Comptonia peregrina Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
sweetgale Myrica gale Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
tamarack Larix laricina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 1a
tufted loosestrife Lysimachia thyrsiflora Wildflower (forb) 2 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 creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia iris Iris virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 5a
water sedge Carex aquatilis Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
white ash Fraxinus americana Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 4a
white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
whitestem pondweed Potamogeton praelongus Wildflower (forb) — Sun 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
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
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 marsh marigold Caltha palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 209

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 fly honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
  • American spikenard Aralia racemosa
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • American wintergreen Pyrola americana
  • arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
  • arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
  • bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
  • balsam groundsel Packera paupercula
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • Beck's water-marigold Bidens beckii
  • bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
  • bigfruit hawthorn Crataegus macrosperma
  • birdfoot violet Viola pedata
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
  • Blue Ridge sedge Carex lucorum
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia
  • bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
  • bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
  • Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
  • Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
  • Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
  • candle anemone Anemone cylindrica
  • Carolina puccoon Lithospermum caroliniense
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
  • Cleland's evening primrose Oenothera clelandii
  • coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
  • common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
  • common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
  • common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
  • crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
  • Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
  • cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
  • cypress-like sedge Carex pseudocyperus
  • devil's bite Liatris scariosa
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • dotted hawthorn Crataegus punctata
  • downy phlox Phlox pilosa
  • dragon's mouth Arethusa bulbosa
  • 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 goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
  • eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
  • eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
  • eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
  • eastern swamp saxifrage Saxifraga pensylvanica
  • eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
  • false melic Schizachne purpurascens
  • false mermaidweed Floerkea proserpinacoides
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
  • fewleaf sunflower Helianthus occidentalis
  • fireberry hawthorn Crataegus chrysocarpa
  • flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
  • fleshy hawthorn Crataegus succulenta
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • gaywings Polygala paucifolia
  • great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
  • Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • grooved flax Linum sulcatum
  • grove bluegrass Poa alsodes
  • hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus
  • hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
  • hairy hawkweed Hieracium longipilum
  • hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
  • harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
  • hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
  • hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
  • Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
  • Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
  • Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • Kalm's hawkweed Hieracium kalmii
  • knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
  • lanceleaf wild licorice Galium lanceolatum
  • largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
  • lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
  • limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
  • liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
  • 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
  • Macoun's cudweed Pseudognaphalium macounii
  • marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
  • marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
  • Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • matted spikerush Eleocharis intermedia
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • Michaux's stitchwort Minuartia michauxii
  • Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • naked miterwort Mitella nuda
  • nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
  • northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern shorthusk Brachyelytrum aristosum
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • Ontario blazing star Liatris cylindracea
  • orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
  • pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
  • Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
  • partridgeberry Mitchella repens
  • Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
  • pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
  • poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
  • poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • prairie goldenrod Oligoneuron album
  • prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
  • purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
  • purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
  • purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
  • purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
  • ramp Allium tricoccum
  • red baneberry Actaea rubra
  • red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
  • Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
  • Robert geranium Geranium robertianum
  • Rocky Mountain fescue Festuca saximontana
  • rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
  • rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
  • roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
  • scarlet hawthorn Crataegus pedicellata
  • shaved sedge Carex tonsa
  • shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
  • shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
  • skyblue aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
  • slender watermilfoil Myriophyllum tenellum
  • small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • smooth rose Rosa blanda
  • smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
  • spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
  • starflower Trientalis borealis
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
  • swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • sweet white violet Viola blanda
  • tall blazing star Liatris aspera
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • thinleaf cottonsedge Eriophorum viridicarinatum
  • thinleaf sedge Carex cephaloidea
  • threeleaf goldthread Coptis trifolia
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
  • twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
  • water arum Calla palustris
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
  • waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
  • white bear sedge Carex albursina
  • white rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes alba
  • white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
  • wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
  • wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • woollyfruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa
  • yellow avens Geum aleppicum
  • yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
  • yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
  • yellow sedge Carex flava
  • 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.

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, Mecosta County and Michigan
MeasureMecosta CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 386 495 1,641
Garden-ready natives 177 227 595
Tree 52 — 136
Shrub 37 — 104
Wildflower (forb) 219 — 870
Grass or grass-like 69 — 398
Vine 9 — 48
Fern 0 — 85

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Mecosta 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
Mecosta County (county FIPS 26107), Michigan. 386 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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