Native plants · Minnesota

Native plants of Dakota County

632 plant species are recorded as native to Minnesota in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Dakota County by USDA PLANTS. 254 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 5 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Dakota County, Minnesota

Native species: 632 Typical Minnesota county: 435 (median of 87 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 254 Typical Minnesota county: 193
Share by type (all 632 native species): Percent of the 632 native species in each growth type

Tree 8% (50)
Shrub 6% (38)
Wildflower (forb) 59% (372)
Grass or grass-like 21% (130)
Vine 4% (23)
Fern 3% (19)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (59%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).

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 4b to 5a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 254

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

Garden-ready native plants of Dakota County, Minnesota
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
alderleaf buckthorn Rhamnus alnifolia	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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 bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Vine	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American black currant Ribes americanum	Shrub	3 ft	—	—	Zone 2b
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American 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
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
Bicknell's sedge Carex bicknellii	Grass or grass-like	3.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	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
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black ash Fraxinus nigra	Tree	65 ft	Sun	High	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 9b
black raspberry Rubus occidentalis	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blanketflower Gaillardia aristata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
blue grama Bouteloua gracilis	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
bog birch Betula pumila	Shrub	20 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
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
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
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	—
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
butternut Juglans cinerea	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada germander Teucrium canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
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 milkvetch Astragalus canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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 duckweed Lemna minor	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common hackberry Celtis occidentalis	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 2b
common juniper Juniperus communis	Tree	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
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
creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
crested sedge Carex cristatella	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
cup plant Silphium perfoliatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 2b
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
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 blazing star Liatris punctata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
downy paintedcup Castilleja sessiliflora	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
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
eggleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium ovale	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
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
flatstem spikerush Eleocharis compressa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
fringed brome Bromus ciliatus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
golden ragwort Packera aurea	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
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
great St. Johnswort Hypericum ascyron	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
greater creeping spearwort Ranunculus flammula	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 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 grama Bouteloua hirsuta	Grass or grass-like	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
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
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
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
inland sedge Carex interior	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus	Wildflower (forb)	9.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
leadplant Amorpha canescens	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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 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
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
mat muhly Muhlenbergia richardsonis	Grass or grass-like	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 4b
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
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 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 lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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 maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
northern red oak Quercus rubra	Tree	81 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
old man's whiskers Geum triflorum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides	Tree	60 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
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
pinnate prairie coneflower Ratibida pinnata	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata	Shrub	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
plains muhly Muhlenbergia cuspidata	Grass or grass-like	1.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
porcupinegrass Hesperostipa spartea	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	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 Junegrass Koeleria macrantha	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
prairie sandreed Calamovilfa longifolia	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
prairie willow Salix humilis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purple prairie clover Dalea purpurea	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
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
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
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
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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
roadside agrimony Agrimonia striata	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
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 serviceberry Amelanchier sanguinea	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
sageleaf willow Salix candida	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
sand lovegrass Eragrostis trichodes	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
sandbar willow Salix interior	Tree	30 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
sandcherry Prunus pumila	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
small white violet Viola macloskeyi	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Shade-tolerant	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
smooth hedgenettle Stachys tenuifolia	Wildflower (forb)	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum	Fern	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
spiked muhly Muhlenbergia glomerata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
spotted joe pye weed Eutrochium maculatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
spreading yellowcress Rorippa sinuata	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
star duckweed Lemna trisulca	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun	High	Zone 3b
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
sugar maple Acer saccharum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
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
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
tufted bulrush Trichophorum cespitosum	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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
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 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
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
western snowberry Symphoricarpos occidentalis	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
white avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
white prairie clover Dalea candida	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
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
wild sweetwilliam Phlox maculata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
woodland muhly Muhlenbergia sylvatica	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	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
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
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 378

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
American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
American dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum
American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
American wintergreen Pyrola americana
Apocynum ×floribundum Apocynum ×floribundum
aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
Aunt Lucy Ellisia nyctelea
autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
autumn onion Allium stellatum
autumn willow Salix serissima
balsam groundsel Packera paupercula
bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
blackseed ricegrass Patis racemosa
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue giant hyssop Agastache foeniculum
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia
bog willow Salix pedicellaris
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
bottomland aster Symphyotrichum ontarionis
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
Buxbaum's sedge Carex buxbaumii
Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
candle anemone Anemone cylindrica
carelessweed Cyclachaena xanthiifolia
Carolina anemone Anemone caroliniana
Carolina draba Draba reptans
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
Carolina puccoon Lithospermum caroliniense
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
Cleland's evening primrose Oenothera clelandii
clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common woodrush Luzula multiflora
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
compassplant Silphium laciniatum
cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
Crawford's sedge Carex crawfordii
cream pea Lathyrus ochroleucus
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cypress-like sedge Carex pseudocyperus
desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
dioecious sedge Carex sterilis
dotted hawthorn Crataegus punctata
downy gentian Gentiana puberulenta
downy hawthorn Crataegus mollis
downy phlox Phlox pilosa
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
dryspike sedge Carex siccata
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
earlyleaf brome Bromus latiglumis
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
eastern swamp saxifrage Saxifraga pensylvanica
eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
Emory's sedge Carex emoryi
Equisetum ×ferrissii Equisetum ×ferrissii
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fall phlox Phlox paniculata
fall rosette grass Dichanthelium wilcoxianum
fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
false melic Schizachne purpurascens
falsegold groundsel Packera pseudaurea
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fen grass of Parnassus Parnassia glauca
feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
field thistle Cirsium discolor
fire on the mountain Euphorbia cyathophora
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
flatleaf bladderwort Utricularia intermedia
fleshy hawthorn Crataegus succulenta
Flodman's thistle Cirsium flodmanii
forked threeawn Aristida basiramea
fourflower yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadriflora
fourpoint evening primrose Oenothera rhombipetala
foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
fragile rockbrake Cryptogramma stelleri
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
Fraser's marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum fraseri
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
Geyer's sandmat Chamaesyce geyeri
giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
golden zizia Zizia aurea
great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
greater fringed gentian Gentianopsis crinita
greater water dock Rumex orbiculatus
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
grooved flax Linum sulcatum
groundplum milkvetch Astragalus crassicarpus
hairy four o'clock Mirabilis hirsuta
hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
hairy hawkweed Hieracium longipilum
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
Hayden's sedge Carex haydenii
hazel dodder Cuscuta coryli
heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
heavy sedge Carex gravida
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
hoary verbena Verbena stricta
hookedspur violet Viola adunca
Illinois ticktrefoil Desmodium illinoense
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
Jersey tea Ceanothus herbaceus
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
Kalm's hawkweed Hieracium kalmii
kinnickinnick dewberry Rubus multifer
knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
large beardtongue Penstemon grandiflorus
largebract ticktrefoil Desmodium cuspidatum
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
largepod pinweed Lechea intermedia
Laxmann's milkvetch Astragalus laxmannii
leathery knotweed Polygonum achoreum
Leiberg's panicum Dichanthelium leibergii
lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
lilac penstemon Penstemon gracilis
limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
longbract spiderwort Tradescantia bracteata
longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
low nutrush Scleria verticillata
lyrate rockcress Arabis lyrata
manyfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia polycarpa
mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
marsh arrowgrass Triglochin palustris
marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow horsetail Equisetum pratense
meadow willow Salix petiolaris
meadow zizia Zizia aptera
Mexican Mosquito Fern Azolla microphylla
Michaux's stitchwort Minuartia michauxii
Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
Missouri gooseberry Ribes missouriense
mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
mountain ricegrass Piptatheropsis pungens
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
narrowleaf purple coneflower Echinacea angustifolia
narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
neckweed Veronica peregrina
needle beaksedge Rhynchospora capillacea
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
nodding onion Allium cernuum
nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
northern bog aster Symphyotrichum boreale
northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
northern sweetgrass Hierochloe hirta
northern wildrice Zizania palustris
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
Ontario blazing star Liatris cylindracea
Ontario lobelia Lobelia kalmii
openfield sedge Carex conoidea
orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
pale dock Rumex altissimus
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
parasol sedge Carex umbellata
parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
Peck's sedge Carex peckii
Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium campestre
prairie false dandelion Nothocalais cuspidata
prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
prairie ironweed Vernonia fasciculata
prairie milkweed Asclepias sullivantii
prairie rose Rosa arkansana
prairie sedge Carex prairea
prairie spiderwort Tradescantia occidentalis
prairie sunflower Helianthus petiolaris
prairie violet Viola pedatifida
purple giant hyssop Agastache scrophulariifolia
purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
purple rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes racemosa
purplestem angelica Angelica atropurpurea
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
ramp Allium tricoccum
red baneberry Actaea rubra
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
Richardson's alumroot Heuchera richardsonii
Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
rigid sedge Carex tetanica
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
Sartwell's sedge Carex sartwellii
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
Schweinitz's flatsedge Cyperus schweinitzii
scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
seaside threeawn Aristida tuberculosa
Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
sessilefruit arrowhead Sagittaria rigida
sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
shining bedstraw Galium concinnum
shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa
showy lady's slipper Cypripedium reginae
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
showy ticktrefoil Desmodium canadense
shy wallflower Erysimum inconspicuum
sicklepod Arabis canadensis
silky prairie clover Dalea villosa
silverleaf Indian breadroot Pediomelum argophyllum
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender rosette grass Dichanthelium xanthophysum
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
slimpod Venus' looking-glass Triodanis leptocarpa
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
smallflower fumewort Corydalis micrantha
smooth cliffbrake Pellaea glabella
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth rose Rosa blanda
smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
snow trillium Trillium nivale
soft-hair marbleseed Onosmodium bejariense
spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
Sprengel's sedge Carex sprengelii
starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
stiff sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus
stiff tickseed Coreopsis palmata
swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
swamp lousewort Pedicularis lanceolata
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
tall blazing star Liatris aspera
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
Texas goldentop Euthamia gymnospermoides
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
threeleaf false lily of the valley Maianthemum trifolium
tobacco root Valeriana edulis
tower rockcress Arabis glabra
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
upright carrionflower Smilax ecirrhata
veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
velvetleaf huckleberry Vaccinium myrtilloides
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia mountainmint Pycnanthemum virginianum
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
western poison ivy Toxicodendron rydbergii
western silver aster Symphyotrichum sericeum
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white bear sedge Carex albursina
white fawnlily Erythronium albidum
white lady's slipper Cypripedium candidum
white rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes alba
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
winged pigweed Cycloloma atriplicifolium
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
woolly sedge Carex pellita
yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

Also listed as native and introduced here 5

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 pepperweedLepidium densiflorum
common reedPhragmites australis
hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
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, Dakota County and Minnesota
Measure	Dakota County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	632	435	1,506
Garden-ready natives	254	193	550
Tree	50	—	105
Shrub	38	—	96
Wildflower (forb)	372	—	824
Grass or grass-like	130	—	361
Vine	23	—	43
Fern	19	—	77

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Dakota County.

Goodhue County, MN 275 garden-ready
Ramsey County, MN 274 garden-ready
Rice County, MN 197 garden-ready
Scott County, MN 209 garden-ready
Washington County, MN 337 garden-ready

Source & data date

Source: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).; Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.; USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.; Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date: Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope: Dakota County (county FIPS 27037), Minnesota. 632 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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