Native plants · Minnesota
Native plants of Nicollet County
327 plant species are recorded as native to Minnesota in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Nicollet County by USDA PLANTS. 137 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 1 more species is listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Nicollet County, Minnesota
- Native species
- 327 Typical Minnesota county: 435 (median of 87 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 137 Typical Minnesota county: 193
- Share by type (all 327 native species)
-
Percent of the 327 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (65%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (23%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 137
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| American vetch Vicia americana | Vine | 1.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| arumleaf arrowhead Sagittaria cuneata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Bicknell's sedge Carex bicknellii | Grass or grass-like | 3.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis | Tree | 75 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 2b |
| blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| 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 willowherb Epilobium leptophyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | 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 |
| bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa | Wildflower (forb) | 1.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | Tree | 100 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| bur-reed sedge Carex sparganioides | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus | Grass or grass-like | 1.7 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| common blue violet Viola sororia | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum | Wildflower (forb) | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common duckweed Lemna minor | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| common rivergrass Scolochloa festucacea | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | 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 spikerush Eleocharis palustris | Grass or grass-like | 1.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana | Vine | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| downy paintedcup Castilleja sessiliflora | Wildflower (forb) | 1.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| golden ragwort Packera aurea | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| graceful sedge Carex gracillima | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | 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 |
| 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 |
| Illinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| inland sedge Carex interior | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| jewelweed Impatiens capensis | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 10b |
| knotted rush Juncus nodosus | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| leadplant Amorpha canescens | Shrub | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| little barley Hordeum pusillum | Grass or grass-like | 1.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| 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 |
| marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus | Shrub | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| northern bedstraw Galium boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum | Fern | 1.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | 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 |
| partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| 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 |
| pinnate prairie coneflower Ratibida pinnata | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | 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 wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| purple locoweed Oxytropis lambertii | Wildflower (forb) | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| quaking aspen Populus tremuloides | Tree | 65 ft | Sun | High | Zone 1a |
| rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum | Fern | 1.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| river bulrush Bolboschoenus fluviatilis | Grass or grass-like | 6.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| sageleaf willow Salix candida | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| sandbar willow Salix interior | Tree | 30 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| slimstem reedgrass Calamagrostis stricta | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 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 |
| 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 |
| swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| tall hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala | Wildflower (forb) | 5.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus | Grass or grass-like | 1.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum | Vine | 10 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus | Wildflower (forb) | 5 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12b |
| tufted loosestrife Lysimachia thyrsiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| upright prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera | Wildflower (forb) | 3.1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Virginia iris Iris virginica | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8b |
| water knotweed Polygonum amphibium | Wildflower (forb) | 1 in | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| water sedge Carex aquatilis | Grass or grass-like | 2.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| wheat sedge Carex atherodes | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| white avens Geum canadense | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| white doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides | Wildflower (forb) | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white meadowsweet Spiraea alba | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| white prairie clover Dalea candida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| whitegrass Leersia virginica | Grass or grass-like | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| woolly plantain Plantago patagonica | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
| yellow marsh marigold Caltha palustris | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 190
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.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
- amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
- American bird's-foot trefoil Lotus unifoliolatus
- American dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum
- American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
- American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
- American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
- American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
- American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
- Aunt Lucy Ellisia nyctelea
- Back's sedge Carex backii
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
- beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
- blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
- bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
- blue giant hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
- bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
- brittle pricklypear Opuntia fragilis
- bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
- button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
- Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
- Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
- Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
- Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
- Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
- candle anemone Anemone cylindrica
- Carolina anemone Anemone caroliniana
- Carolina draba Draba reptans
- Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
- Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
- Carolina puccoon Lithospermum caroliniense
- clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
- clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
- Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
- clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
- Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
- common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
- common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- common moonseed Menispermum canadense
- common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
- cream pea Lathyrus ochroleucus
- Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
- downy phlox Phlox pilosa
- dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
- dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
- early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
- early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
- eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
- eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
- eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
- eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
- eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
- fall rosette grass Dichanthelium wilcoxianum
- falsegold groundsel Packera pseudaurea
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fen grass of Parnassus Parnassia glauca
- flatleaf bladderwort Utricularia intermedia
- fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
- fourflower yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadriflora
- foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
- Fries' pondweed Potamogeton friesii
- fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
- fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
- giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
- golden zizia Zizia aurea
- great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
- Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
- green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
- grooved flax Linum sulcatum
- groovestem Indian plantain Arnoglossum plantagineum
- hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
- hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
- harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
- heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
- hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
- Hitchcock's sedge Carex hitchcockiana
- hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
- inflated narrow-leaf sedge Carex grisea
- large Indian breadroot Pediomelum esculentum
- largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
- Laxmann's milkvetch Astragalus laxmannii
- Leiberg's panicum Dichanthelium leibergii
- lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
- limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
- longbract spiderwort Tradescantia bracteata
- longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
- longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
- longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
- manyfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia polycarpa
- marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
- marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
- mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
- Mead's sedge Carex meadii
- meadow garlic Allium canadense
- meadow willow Salix petiolaris
- Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
- mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
- narrowleaf purple coneflower Echinacea angustifolia
- narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
- northern bog aster Symphyotrichum boreale
- northern bog bedstraw Galium labradoricum
- northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
- northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
- Northern Idaho biscuitroot Lomatium orientale
- northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
- northern water plantain Alisma triviale
- obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
- Ontario lobelia Lobelia kalmii
- palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
- parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
- Peck's sedge Carex peckii
- Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
- Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
- pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
- pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
- poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
- prairie blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium campestre
- prairie rose Rosa arkansana
- prairie sedge Carex prairea
- prairie violet Viola pedatifida
- puffsheath dropseed Sporobolus neglectus
- purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
- Richardson's alumroot Heuchera richardsonii
- Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
- richwoods sedge Carex oligocarpa
- rosy sedge Carex rosea
- rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
- rusty woodsia Woodsia ilvensis
- Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
- shining bedstraw Galium concinnum
- shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
- showy lady's slipper Cypripedium reginae
- showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
- showy ticktrefoil Desmodium canadense
- silverleaf Indian breadroot Pediomelum argophyllum
- sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
- sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
- slickseed fuzzybean Strophostyles leiosperma
- small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
- small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
- smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
- smooth rose Rosa blanda
- smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
- snow trillium Trillium nivale
- soft-hair marbleseed Onosmodium bejariense
- southwestern waterwort Elatine rubella
- 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 tickseed Coreopsis palmata
- stiffstem flax Linum rigidum
- sunbright Phemeranthus parviflorus
- swamp lousewort Pedicularis lanceolata
- swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
- swamp verbena Verbena hastata
- sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
- threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
- upland brittle bladderfern Cystopteris tenuis
- veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
- violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
- Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
- Virginia mountainmint Pycnanthemum virginianum
- Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
- western rockjasmine Androsace occidentalis
- white fawnlily Erythronium albidum
- white lady's slipper Cypripedium candidum
- white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
- white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
- white turtlehead Chelone glabra
- whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
- whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
- whorl-leaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum verticillatum
- whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
- whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
- winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
- Wolf's spikerush Eleocharis wolfii
- wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
- woodland draba Draba nemorosa
- woolly sedge Carex pellita
- yellow avens Geum aleppicum
- yellow water buttercup Ranunculus flabellaris
Also listed as native and introduced here 1
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.
- hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
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.
| Measure | Nicollet County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 327 | 435 | 1,506 |
| Garden-ready natives | 137 | 193 | 550 |
| Tree | 10 | — | 105 |
| Shrub | 11 | — | 96 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 213 | — | 824 |
| Grass or grass-like | 75 | — | 361 |
| Vine | 11 | — | 43 |
| Fern | 7 | — | 77 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Nicollet County.
- Blue Earth County, MN 261 garden-ready
- Brown County, MN 148 garden-ready
- Le Sueur County, MN 172 garden-ready
- Renville County, MN 83 garden-ready
- Sibley County, MN 55 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
- Nicollet County (county FIPS 27103), Minnesota. 327 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