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Native plants recorded in your state and county

Native plants · Michigan

Native plants of Ottawa County

615 plant species are recorded as native to Michigan in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Ottawa County by USDA PLANTS. 282 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

Ottawa County, Michigan

Native species
615 Typical Michigan county: 495 (median of 83 counties)
Garden-ready natives
282 Typical Michigan county: 227
Share by type (all 615 native species)
Percent of the 615 native species in each growth type
Tree 11% (68)
Shrub 7% (45)
Wildflower (forb) 54% (333)
Grass or grass-like 25% (151)
Vine 3% (18)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (54%), 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 zones 6a to 7a (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 282

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

Garden-ready native plants of Ottawa County, Michigan
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy 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
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 bellflower Campanulastrum americanum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens Vine 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American black currant Ribes americanum Shrub 3 ft — — Zone 2b
American bur-reed Sparganium americanum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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 hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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 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
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
beach pea Lathyrus japonicus Vine 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
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 ash Fraxinus nigra Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium 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 walnut Juglans nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High 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
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
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 goldenrod Solidago uliginosa Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
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
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus Shrub 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High 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
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
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
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low —
butternut Juglans cinerea Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canada yew Taxus canadensis Shrub 5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
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 waterweed Elodea canadensis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High 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
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
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 cowparsnip Heracleum maximum Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
common juniper Juniperus communis Tree 10 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
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 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
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
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
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
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
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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 woodreed Cinna latifolia Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Drummond's rockcress Arabis drummondii Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides Tree 190 ft Sun High Zone 3a
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 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
fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 5.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
flatstem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
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
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
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
golden sedge Carex aurea Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
graceful sedge Carex gracillima Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
gray alder Alnus incana Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium 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
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens Grass or grass-like 5.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 2a
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
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
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
knotted rush Juncus nodosus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
lesser panicled sedge Carex diandra Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
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
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
Missouri ironweed Vernonia missurica Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala Tree 52 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
moss phlox Phlox subulata Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
mountain maple Acer spicatum Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
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
necklace sedge Carex projecta Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
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
northern mountain ash Sorbus decora Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 2a
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
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
paper birch Betula papyrifera Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 1a
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
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 5a
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica Tree 30 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
pin oak Quercus palustris Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4a
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
poverty rush Juncus tenuis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
prairie blazing star Liatris pycnostachya Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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 sandreed Calamovilfa longifolia Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
prickly rose Rosa acicularis Shrub 4 ft Shade-tolerant High 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
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 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
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 mannagrass Glyceria canadensis Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
red elderberry Sambucus racemosa Tree 18 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
red maple Acer rubrum Tree 68 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra Tree 70 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
red pine Pinus resinosa Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea Tree 12 ft Sun High Zone 3b
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
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
ribbonleaf pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
river bulrush Bolboschoenus fluviatilis Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
riverbank grape Vitis riparia Vine 45 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
rough avens Geum laciniatum Wildflower (forb) 3.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
rough bugleweed Lycopus asper Wildflower (forb) 2.1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
roughfruit amaranth Amaranthus tuberculatus Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 4a
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
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
rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
shallow sedge Carex lurida Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
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
slender cottongrass Eriophorum gracile Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Sun High Zone 3a
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
slippery elm Ulmus rubra Tree 85 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
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
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
softleaf sedge Carex disperma Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade 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
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
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 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
swamp white oak Quercus bicolor Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High 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
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
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
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Virginia iris Iris virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
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
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 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 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
winged sumac Rhus copallinum Tree 8 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
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
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 marsh marigold Caltha palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b

Other native species recorded here 333

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 monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
  • allegheny vine Adlumia fungosa
  • alpine violet Viola labradorica
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American cancer-root Conopholis americana
  • American fly honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
  • American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
  • American golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
  • American marshpennywort Hydrocotyle americana
  • American milletgrass Milium effusum
  • American searocket Cakile edentula
  • American spikenard Aralia racemosa
  • American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • American wintergreen Pyrola americana
  • bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
  • balsam groundsel Packera paupercula
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • bayberry willow Salix myricoides
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
  • beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
  • beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
  • bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
  • bigfruit hawthorn Crataegus macrosperma
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blackseed ricegrass Patis racemosa
  • blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
  • bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
  • Blue Ridge sedge Carex lucorum
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
  • bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
  • bog bluegrass Poa paludigena
  • bog white violet Viola lanceolata
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
  • bottomland aster Symphyotrichum ontarionis
  • Brazilian watermeal Wolffia brasiliensis
  • bright green spikerush Eleocharis olivacea
  • bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
  • bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida
  • broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
  • broadwing sedge Carex alata
  • brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
  • brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
  • brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
  • bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
  • Buxbaum's sedge Carex buxbaumii
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
  • Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
  • Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
  • Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
  • Carey's sedge Carex careyana
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina puccoon Lithospermum caroliniense
  • Carolina springbeauty Claytonia caroliniana
  • Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
  • Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
  • Cleland's evening primrose Oenothera clelandii
  • clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
  • clustered sedge Carex cumulata
  • Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
  • 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
  • crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
  • Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
  • curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • dioecious sedge Carex sterilis
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • downy hawthorn Crataegus mollis
  • downy phlox Phlox pilosa
  • downy willowherb Epilobium strictum
  • drooping woodland sedge Carex arctata
  • Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
  • dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
  • dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
  • eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
  • eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
  • eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
  • eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
  • eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
  • elk sedge Carex garberi
  • elliptic spikerush Eleocharis elliptica
  • Emory's sedge Carex emoryi
  • eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
  • fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
  • false mermaidweed Floerkea proserpinacoides
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
  • fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
  • fewseed sedge Carex oligosperma
  • fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
  • fireberry hawthorn Crataegus chrysocarpa
  • flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
  • fox grape Vitis labrusca
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • Fraser's marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum fraseri
  • Fries' pondweed Potamogeton friesii
  • fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
  • gaywings Polygala paucifolia
  • giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
  • great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
  • great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green dragon Arisaema dracontium
  • green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
  • greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
  • hairy hawkweed Hieracium longipilum
  • hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
  • hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
  • handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
  • harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
  • hay sedge Carex argyrantha
  • heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
  • heartleaf twayblade Listera cordata
  • hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
  • Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
  • hyssopleaf hedgenettle Stachys hyssopifolia
  • Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
  • Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
  • lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • lanceleaf wild licorice Galium lanceolatum
  • large St. Johnswort Hypericum majus
  • largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
  • lemonyellow false goldenaster Heterotheca camporum
  • lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
  • lesser roundleaved orchid Platanthera orbiculata
  • licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
  • limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
  • little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
  • lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
  • Long's sedge Carex longii
  • longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
  • longspur violet Viola rostrata
  • longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • lyrate rockcress Arabis lyrata
  • Macoun's cudweed Pseudognaphalium macounii
  • mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
  • marsh arrowgrass Triglochin palustris
  • marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
  • marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
  • marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
  • marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
  • Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • matted spikerush Eleocharis intermedia
  • matting rosette grass Dichanthelium meridionale
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • meadow garlic Allium canadense
  • meadow willow Salix petiolaris
  • Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf pondweed Potamogeton strictifolius
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • nodding stickseed Hackelia deflexa
  • northeastern sedge Carex cryptolepis
  • northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern green rush Juncus alpinoarticulatus
  • northern long sedge Carex folliculata
  • northern shorthusk Brachyelytrum aristosum
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • Oakes' evening primrose Oenothera oakesiana
  • obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
  • Ontario lobelia Lobelia kalmii
  • orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
  • pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
  • palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
  • Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
  • partridgeberry Mitchella repens
  • pear hawthorn Crataegus calpodendron
  • Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • plantainleaf sedge Carex plantaginea
  • poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • prairie sedge Carex prairea
  • prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
  • purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
  • purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
  • purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
  • purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
  • ramp Allium tricoccum
  • red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
  • ribbed sedge Carex virescens
  • ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
  • rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
  • Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
  • rigid sedge Carex tetanica
  • Robert geranium Geranium robertianum
  • rock harlequin Corydalis sempervirens
  • rosy sedge Carex rosea
  • rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
  • roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • sand violet Viola affinis
  • scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
  • scarlet hawthorn Crataegus pedicellata
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • Schweinitz's flatsedge Cyperus schweinitzii
  • seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
  • seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
  • Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
  • shaved sedge Carex tonsa
  • shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
  • shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
  • shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
  • sicklepod Arabis canadensis
  • sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slimflower muhly Muhlenbergia tenuiflora
  • small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos
  • small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
  • smooth rose Rosa blanda
  • smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
  • smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
  • smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
  • spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
  • spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading chervil Chaerophyllum procumbens
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • Sprengel's sedge Carex sprengelii
  • spring blue eyed Mary Collinsia verna
  • spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
  • squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
  • starflower Trientalis borealis
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
  • striped cream violet Viola striata
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
  • swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • Swan's sedge Carex swanii
  • sweet white violet Viola blanda
  • tall blazing star Liatris aspera
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • thinleaf cottonsedge Eriophorum viridicarinatum
  • three-angle spikerush Eleocharis tricostata
  • threeleaf false lily of the valley Maianthemum trifolium
  • threeleaf goldthread Coptis trifolia
  • toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • Tuckerman's sedge Carex tuckermanii
  • tussock cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum
  • twinflower Linnaea borealis
  • twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
  • umbrella flatsedge Cyperus diandrus
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • waterplantain spearwort Ranunculus ambigens
  • waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
  • waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
  • western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
  • whip-poor-will flower Trillium cernuum
  • white adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis brachypoda
  • white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
  • white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
  • white bear sedge Carex albursina
  • white colicroot Aletris farinosa
  • white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
  • white rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes alba
  • white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
  • white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
  • whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
  • whorled mountainmint Pycnanthemum verticillatum
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
  • wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
  • woodland bulrush Scirpus expansus
  • woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • yellow avens Geum aleppicum
  • yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
  • yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii
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 reedPhragmites australis
  • 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, Ottawa County and Michigan
MeasureOttawa CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 615 495 1,641
Garden-ready natives 282 227 595
Tree 68 — 136
Shrub 45 — 104
Wildflower (forb) 333 — 870
Grass or grass-like 151 — 398
Vine 18 — 48
Fern 0 — 85

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Ottawa 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
Ottawa County (county FIPS 26139), Michigan. 615 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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