Native plants · Minnesota

Native plants of Cook County

569 plant species are recorded as native to Minnesota in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Cook County by USDA PLANTS. 243 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

Cook County, Minnesota

Native species: 569 Typical Minnesota county: 435 (median of 87 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 243 Typical Minnesota county: 193
Share by type (all 569 native species): Percent of the 569 native species in each growth type

Tree 7% (42)
Shrub 10% (55)
Wildflower (forb) 50% (285)
Grass or grass-like 22% (128)
Vine 3% (18)
Fern 7% (41)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (50%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (22%).

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 3b to 4b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 243

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

Garden-ready native plants of Cook County, Minnesota
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
alderleaf buckthorn Rhamnus alnifolia	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
alpine bistort Polygonum viviparum	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	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 mountain ash Sorbus americana	Tree	40 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
American red raspberry Rubus idaeus	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 1a
American speedwell Veronica americana	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
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 water plantain Alisma subcordatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
arborvitae Thuja occidentalis	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
arctic raspberry Rubus arcticus	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
arctic sweet coltsfoot Petasites frigidus	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
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 fir Abies balsamea	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
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 hazelnut Corylus cornuta	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
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
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 chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 9b
black hawthorn Crataegus douglasii	Tree	15 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
black spruce Picea mariana	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 1a
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
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
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
bluntseed sweetroot Osmorhiza depauperata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bog birch Betula pumila	Shrub	20 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
bog blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
bog goldenrod Solidago uliginosa	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
bog Labrador tea Ledum groenlandicum	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
bog laurel Kalmia polifolia	Shrub	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
bog muhly Muhlenbergia uniflora	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
bog willowherb Epilobium leptophyllum	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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
broadlipped twayblade Listera convallarioides	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
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
bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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 waterweed Elodea canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
cloudberry Rubus chamaemorus	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun–part shade	High	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 juniper Juniperus communis	Tree	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
common mare's-tail Hippuris vulgaris	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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 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
creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
creeping snowberry Gaultheria hispidula	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata	Fern	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
Dewey sedge Carex deweyana	Grass or grass-like	3.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
diamondleaf willow Salix planifolia	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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 bilberry Vaccinium cespitosum	Shrub	1 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
eggleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium ovale	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
field pussytoes Antennaria neglecta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
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
fringed brome Bromus ciliatus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
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
glaucous bluegrass Poa glauca	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	—	Zone 3a
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
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
greater creeping spearwort Ranunculus flammula	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green alder Alnus viridis	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 1a
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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
hairy sedge Carex lacustris	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
hooded lady's tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana	Fern	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	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
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
lakeshore sedge Carex lenticularis	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
largeleaf avens Geum macrophyllum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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 bladderwort Utricularia minor	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 3a
lesser panicled sedge Carex diandra	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea	Shrub	6 in	Sun	—	Zone 1a
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
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
Macoun's buttercup Ranunculus macounii	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
marsh grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2.2 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
necklace sedge Carex projecta	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
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 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 black currant Ribes hudsonianum	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	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 St. Johnswort Hypericum boreale	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus	Grass or grass-like	5.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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 fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie willow Salix humilis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
prickly currant Ribes lacustre	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 1a
prickly rose Rosa acicularis	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
purple avens Geum rivale	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
purplestem aster Symphyotrichum puniceum	Wildflower (forb)	8.1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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 fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
red pine Pinus resinosa	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
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
ribbonleaf pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
riverbank grape Vitis riparia	Vine	45 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
roadside agrimony Agrimonia striata	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Robbins' pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
rough bedstraw Galium asprellum	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
roundleaf dogwood Cornus rugosa	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
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
sandcherry Prunus pumila	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
shining willow Salix lucida	Tree	13 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
silvery sedge Carex canescens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
slender cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
slender cottongrass Eriophorum gracile	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
slimstem reedgrass Calamagrostis stricta	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina	Wildflower (forb)	11 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
small white violet Viola macloskeyi	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
smallflowered woodrush Luzula parviflora	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
smooth hedgenettle Stachys tenuifolia	Wildflower (forb)	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
softleaf sedge Carex disperma	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
spike trisetum Trisetum spicatum	Grass or grass-like	1.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
spotted joe pye weed Eutrochium maculatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
squashberry Viburnum edule	Shrub	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 1a
star sedge Carex echinata	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
stiff clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum	Fern	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
sugar maple Acer saccharum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
sweet fern Comptonia peregrina	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
sweetgale Myrica gale	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
tall cinquefoil Potentilla arguta	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
tall cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
tamarack Larix laricina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 1a
tawny cottongrass Eriophorum virginicum	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum	Vine	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
tufted bulrush Trichophorum cespitosum	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa	Grass or grass-like	3.4 ft	Sun	Low	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
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile	Fern	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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
white spruce Picea glauca	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 1a
whitestem pondweed Potamogeton praelongus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
woodland horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum	Fern	11 in	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3a
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
woolly plantain Plantago patagonica	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 12b
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 326

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.

Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
alpine bulrush Trichophorum alpinum
alpine fescue Festuca brachyphylla
alpine pondweed Potamogeton alpinus
alpine violet Viola labradorica
American dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum
American fly honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
American golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum
American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
American milletgrass Milium effusum
American sloughgrass Beckmannia syzigachne
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
American spurred gentian Halenia deflexa
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
American wintergreen Pyrola americana
American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
Appalachian clubmoss Huperzia appalachiana
Back's sedge Carex backii
balsam groundsel Packera paupercula
bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
Beck's water-marigold Bidens beckii
biannual lettuce Lactuca ludoviciana
Bicknell's cranesbill Geranium bicknellii
bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
bitter fleabane Erigeron acris
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue giant hyssop Agastache foeniculum
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
bluntleaf pondweed Potamogeton obtusifolius
bluntleaved orchid Platanthera obtusata
bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia
bog willow Salix pedicellaris
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
boreal bog sedge Carex magellanica
boreal starwort Stellaria borealis
bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida
brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
brown beaksedge Rhynchospora fusca
brownfruit rush Juncus pelocarpus
brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
Buxbaum's sedge Carex buxbaumii
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
Canadian gooseberry Ribes oxyacanthoides
Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carolina springbeauty Claytonia caroliniana
checkered rattlesnake plantain Goodyera tesselata
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
claspleaf twistedstalk Streptopus amplexifolius
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common woodrush Luzula multiflora
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
Crawford's sedge Carex crawfordii
cream pea Lathyrus ochroleucus
creeping sedge Carex chordorrhiza
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
Dortmann's cardinalflower Lobelia dortmanna
Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
dragon's mouth Arethusa bulbosa
drooping woodland sedge Carex arctata
dryspike sedge Carex siccata
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
dwarf scouringrush Equisetum scirpoides
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
fairy slipper Calypso bulbosa
false melic Schizachne purpurascens
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fewflower sedge Carex pauciflora
fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
fewnerved cottongrass Eriophorum tenellum
fewseed sedge Carex oligosperma
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
fireberry hawthorn Crataegus chrysocarpa
flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
flatleaf bladderwort Utricularia intermedia
floating bur-reed Sparganium fluctuans
Flodman's thistle Cirsium flodmanii
foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
fragile rockbrake Cryptogramma stelleri
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
Fraser's marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum fraseri
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
gaywings Polygala paucifolia
giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
golden zizia Zizia aurea
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
greater water dock Rumex orbiculatus
green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
groundcedar Lycopodium complanatum
hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
hairystem gooseberry Ribes hirtellum
harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
heartleaf twayblade Listera cordata
hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
hookedspur violet Viola adunca
Hooker's orchid Platanthera hookeri
horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
inundated clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata
Iowa moonwort Botrychium campestre
Kalm's hawkweed Hieracium kalmii
knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
large St. Johnswort Hypericum majus
largeleaf sandwort Moehringia macrophylla
largepod pinweed Lechea intermedia
lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
leathery knotweed Polygonum achoreum
lesser purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes
lesser rattlesnake plantain Goodyera repens
lesser roundleaved orchid Platanthera orbiculata
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
Lindley's aster Symphyotrichum ciliolatum
little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
little grapefern Botrychium simplex
liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
long beechfern Phegopteris connectilis
longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
low false bindweed Calystegia spithamaea
lyrate rockcress Arabis lyrata
Macoun's cudweed Pseudognaphalium macounii
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
marsh arrowgrass Triglochin palustris
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
marsh horsetail Equisetum palustre
marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
marsh willowherb Epilobium palustre
Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
matricary grapefern Botrychium matricariifolium
Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
meadow horsetail Equisetum pratense
meadow sedge Carex praticola
meadow willow Salix petiolaris
meadow zizia Zizia aptera
Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mountain ricegrass Piptatheropsis pungens
mountain woodsorrel Oxalis montana
naked miterwort Mitella nuda
narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium
narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
narrowleaf hawkweed Hieracium umbellatum
narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
narrowpanicle rush Juncus brevicaudatus
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
nodding onion Allium cernuum
nodding stickseed Hackelia deflexa
northeastern sedge Carex cryptolepis
northern bog aster Symphyotrichum boreale
northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
northern cluster sedge Carex arcta
northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
northern green rush Juncus alpinoarticulatus
northern sedge Carex deflexa
northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
northern sweetgrass Hierochloe hirta
northern water plantain Alisma triviale
northern wildrice Zizania palustris
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
oakfern Gymnocarpium ×brittonianum
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
oldpasture bluegrass Poa saltuensis
Ontario lobelia Lobelia kalmii
Oregon cliff fern Woodsia oregana
pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
pale St. Johnswort Hypericum ellipticum
parasol sedge Carex umbellata
parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Peck's sedge Carex peckii
Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
plaitleaf dewberry Rubus plicatifolius
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie goldenrod Oligoneuron album
prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
prairie sedge Carex prairea
purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
purple reedgrass Calamagrostis purpurascens
rannoch-rush Scheuchzeria palustris
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
red baneberry Actaea rubra
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
Richardson's alumroot Heuchera richardsonii
Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
rock harlequin Corydalis sempervirens
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
Rocky Mountain woodsia Woodsia scopulina
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
rusty woodsia Woodsia ilvensis
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
Selkirk's violet Viola selkirkii
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sessilefruit arrowhead Sagittaria rigida
sevenangle pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum
shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
shortray fleabane Erigeron lonchophyllus
shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
shrubby fivefingers Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
single delight Moneses uniflora
skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
skunk currant Ribes glandulosum
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender rosette grass Dichanthelium xanthophysum
slender watermilfoil Myriophyllum tenellum
slender waternymph Najas gracillima
slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
small bur-reed Sparganium natans
small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
smooth rose Rosa blanda
snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
snowline wintergreen Pyrola minor
spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
spiral pondweed Potamogeton spirillus
spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
starflower Trientalis borealis
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
stiff sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus
strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
swaying bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis
tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
thread rush Juncus filiformis
threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
threeleaf false lily of the valley Maianthemum trifolium
threeleaf goldthread Coptis trifolia
tower rockcress Arabis glabra
trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
tree groundpine Lycopodium dendroideum
Tuckerman's sedge Carex tuckermanii
tussock cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum
twinflower Linnaea borealis
twistedstalk Streptopus lanceolatus
upland brittle bladderfern Cystopteris tenuis
variegated scouringrush Equisetum variegatum
Vasey's rush Juncus vaseyi
veiny meadow-rue Thalictrum venulosum
veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
velvetleaf huckleberry Vaccinium myrtilloides
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
water arum Calla palustris
waterawlwort Subularia aquatica
watershield Brasenia schreberi
waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
western blue virginsbower Clematis occidentalis
western oakfern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
western poison ivy Toxicodendron rydbergii
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
whip-poor-will flower Trillium cernuum
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
white rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes alba
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white violet Viola renifolia
Wiegand's wildrye Elymus wiegandii
wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
wood bluegrass Poa nemoralis
wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
woodfern Dryopteris ×triploidea
woodland draba Draba nemorosa
woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
woollyfruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa
yellow avens Geum aleppicum
yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
yellow sedge Carex flava
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.

common pepperweedLepidium densiflorum
common reedPhragmites australis
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with Minnesota

The typical county is the median of the 87 Minnesota 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, Cook County and Minnesota
Measure	Cook County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	569	435	1,506
Garden-ready natives	243	193	550
Tree	42	—	105
Shrub	55	—	96
Wildflower (forb)	285	—	824
Grass or grass-like	128	—	361
Vine	18	—	43
Fern	41	—	77

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: Cook County (county FIPS 27031), Minnesota. 569 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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