Native plants · Missouri

Native plants of Cass County

538 plant species are recorded as native to Missouri in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Cass County by USDA PLANTS. 201 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

Cass County, Missouri

Native species: 538 Typical Missouri county: 557 (median of 114 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 201 Typical Missouri county: 219
Share by type (all 538 native species): Percent of the 538 native species in each growth type

Tree 10% (52)
Shrub 2% (12)
Wildflower (forb) 66% (356)
Grass or grass-like 17% (89)
Vine 4% (24)
Fern <1% (5)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (66%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (17%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 201

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

Garden-ready native plants of Cass County, Missouri
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American basswood Tilia americana	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
American bellflower Campanulastrum americanum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 12b
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Vine	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American 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 lotus Nelumbo lutea	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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
American water-willow Justicia americana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
Atlantic camas Camassia scilloides	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
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
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black raspberry Rubus occidentalis	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium	Tree	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
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
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
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
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	—
Bush's sedge Carex bushii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada germander Teucrium canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
climbing rose Rosa setigera	Vine	16 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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 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 spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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
cupseed Calycocarpum lyonii	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
disk waterhyssop Bacopa rotundifolia	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata	Grass or grass-like	5.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
Frank's sedge Carex frankii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
fringeleaf wild petunia Ruellia humilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Georgia bulrush Scirpus georgianus	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Gray's sedge Carex grayi	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
halberdleaf rosemallow Hibiscus laevis	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata	Vine	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	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
Illinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
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 rush Juncus interior	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	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
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
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
limestone wild petunia Ruellia strepens	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
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
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Maryland senna Senna marilandica	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
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 ironweed Vernonia missurica	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Muskingum sedge Carex muskingumensis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra	Tree	68 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	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
pawpaw Asimina triloba	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 oak Quercus palustris	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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
possumhaw Ilex decidua	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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 crab apple Malus ioensis	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	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
prairie willow Salix humilis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
pride of Ohio Dodecatheon meadia	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
ravenfoot sedge Carex crus-corvi	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
roughfruit amaranth Amaranthus tuberculatus	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roughleaf dogwood Cornus drummondii	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
sandbar willow Salix interior	Tree	30 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
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
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria	Tree	45 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
shoreline sedge Carex hyalinolepis	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
Short's sedge Carex shortiana	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
silver maple Acer saccharinum	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
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
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
spring avens Geum vernum	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
stalkless yellowcress Rorippa sessiliflora	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
swamp white oak Quercus bicolor	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides	Grass or grass-like	4 in	Sun	High	Zone 3b
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
troublesome sedge Carex molesta	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
white ash Fraxinus americana	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
white avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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
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
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 337

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
annual marsh elder Iva annua
aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
Aunt Lucy Ellisia nyctelea
azure blue sage Salvia azurea
Baldwin's ironweed Vernonia baldwinii
balsam groundsel Packera paupercula
bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
big devils beggartick Bidens vulgata
bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
blue waxweed Cuphea viscosissima
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
buffalo clover Trifolium reflexum
buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
Bush oak Quercus ×bushii
bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carolina anemone Anemone caroliniana
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina draba Draba reptans
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
clustered fescue Festuca paradoxa
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
compassplant Silphium laciniatum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
cusp dodder Cuscuta cuspidata
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
Davis' sedge Carex davisii
desert biscuitroot Lomatium foeniculaceum
downy gentian Gentiana puberulenta
downy hawthorn Crataegus mollis
downy phlox Phlox pilosa
Drummond's aster Symphyotrichum drummondii
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf chinquapin oak Quercus prinoides
dwarf horseweed Conyza ramosissima
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
earleaf false foxglove Agalinis auriculata
eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
false spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum pseudomaculatum
feather fingergrass Chloris virgata
fescue sedge Carex festucacea
fetid marigold Dyssodia papposa
feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
field pansy Viola bicolor
field thistle Cirsium discolor
fire on the mountain Euphorbia cyathophora
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
floating primrose-willow Ludwigia peploides
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
foxtail prairie clover Dalea leporina
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
golden zizia Zizia aurea
grape honeysuckle Lonicera reticulata
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green antelopehorn Asclepias viridis
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
green milkweed Asclepias hirtella
groovestem Indian plantain Arnoglossum plantagineum
hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
hairy hawkweed Hieracium longipilum
hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
heavy sedge Carex gravida
hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
hoary verbena Verbena stricta
hogwort Croton capitatus
honeyvine Cynanchum laeve
Illinois ticktrefoil Desmodium illinoense
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
James' sedge Carex jamesii
Jersey tea Ceanothus herbaceus
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
lanceleaf buckthorn Rhamnus lanceolata
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
lanceleaf sage Salvia reflexa
largebract ticktrefoil Desmodium cuspidatum
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
Leiberg's panicum Dichanthelium leibergii
lesser duckweed Lemna aequinoctialis
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
limestone adderstongue Ophioglossum engelmannii
longbract spiderwort Tradescantia bracteata
longflower beeblossom Oenothera filiformis
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
manyfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia polycarpa
mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
matted sandmat Chamaesyce serpens
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
minute duckweed Lemna perpusilla
Missouri gooseberry Ribes missouriense
Missouri violet Viola missouriensis
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
mullein foxglove Dasistoma macrophylla
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
neckweed Veronica peregrina
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
Nuttall's prairie parsley Polytaenia nuttallii
Nuttall's sensitive-briar Mimosa nuttallii
oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
pale dock Rumex altissimus
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
pinkladies Oenothera speciosa
pitcher's stitchwort Minuartia patula
plain gentian Gentiana alba
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poorjoe Diodia teres
prairie blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium campestre
prairie broomweed Amphiachyris dracunculoides
prairie false dandelion Nothocalais cuspidata
prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
prairie ironweed Vernonia fasciculata
prairie milkweed Asclepias sullivantii
prairie rose Rosa arkansana
prairie sandmat Chamaesyce missurica
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
prairie violet Viola pedatifida
procession flower Polygala incarnata
prostrate sandmat Chamaesyce prostrata
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple giant hyssop Agastache scrophulariifolia
purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
purple milkweed Asclepias purpurascens
purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
purplerocket Iodanthus pinnatifidus
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
Red River scaleseed Spermolepis inermis
redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
richwoods sedge Carex oligocarpa
rock muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera
rose mock vervain Glandularia canadensis
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
roundseed St. Johnswort Hypericum sphaerocarpum
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sand violet Viola affinis
scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa
scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sessileleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium sessilifolium
shining bedstraw Galium concinnum
Short's rockcress Arabis shortii
shortbeak arrowhead Sagittaria brevirostra
shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
shortstalk false bindweed Calystegia silvatica
shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
sicklepod Arabis canadensis
silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
skyblue aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender snakecotton Froelichia gracilis
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slickseed fuzzybean Strophostyles leiosperma
slimflower scurfpea Psoralidium tenuiflorum
slimpod Venus' looking-glass Triodanis leptocarpa
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
smallflower fumewort Corydalis micrantha
smallhead doll's daisy Boltonia diffusa
smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
soft goldenaster Chrysopsis pilosa
soft-hair marbleseed Onosmodium bejariense
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading chervil Chaerophyllum procumbens
spreading sandmat Chamaesyce humistrata
spring blue eyed Mary Collinsia verna
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
Standley's goosefoot Chenopodium standleyanum
stiff sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus
stiff tickseed Coreopsis palmata
stout rush Juncus nodatus
sunbright Phemeranthus parviflorus
swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
sweet coneflower Rudbeckia subtomentosa
sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
tall blazing star Liatris aspera
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
Texas goldentop Euthamia gymnospermoides
threeflower melicgrass Melica nitens
toadshade Trillium sessile
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
twistspine pricklypear Opuntia macrorhiza
violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia bunchflower Veratrum virginicum
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
waterpurslane Didiplis diandra
waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
western rockjasmine Androsace occidentalis
western silver aster Symphyotrichum sericeum
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white fawnlily Erythronium albidum
white four o'clock Mirabilis albida
white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
white wand beardtongue Penstemon tubaeflorus
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
wholeleaf rosinweed Silphium integrifolium
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
whorled mountainmint Pycnanthemum verticillatum
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
willowleaf aster Symphyotrichum praealtum
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
winged pigweed Cycloloma atriplicifolium
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
wood bluegrass Poa nemoralis
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woolly sedge Carex pellita
yellow giant hyssop Agastache nepetoides
yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

Also listed as native and introduced here 3

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
climbing false buckwheatPolygonum scandens
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with Missouri

The typical county is the median of the 114 Missouri 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, Cass County and Missouri
Measure	Cass County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	538	557	1,678
Garden-ready natives	201	219	558
Tree	52	—	149
Shrub	12	—	59
Wildflower (forb)	356	—	936
Grass or grass-like	89	—	395
Vine	24	—	79
Fern	5	—	60

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Cass County.

Bates County, MO 191 garden-ready
Henry County, MO 216 garden-ready
Jackson County, MO 339 garden-ready
Johnson County, MO 249 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: Cass County (county FIPS 29037), Missouri. 538 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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