Native plants · Missouri

Native plants of Morgan County

528 plant species are recorded as native to Missouri in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Morgan County by USDA PLANTS. 203 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 4 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Morgan County, Missouri

Native species: 528 Typical Missouri county: 557 (median of 114 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 203 Typical Missouri county: 219
Share by type (all 528 native species): Percent of the 528 native species in each growth type

Tree 13% (67)
Shrub 3% (16)
Wildflower (forb) 60% (315)
Grass or grass-like 18% (96)
Vine 4% (21)
Fern 2% (13)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (60%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (18%).

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 6b to 7a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 203

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

Garden-ready native plants of Morgan County, Missouri
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 bur-reed Sparganium americanum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American 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-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
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black maple Acer nigrum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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
broom sedge Carex scoparia	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
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
butternut Juglans cinerea	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
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
Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 4b
Carolina rose Rosa carolina	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
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 blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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 hoptree Ptelea trifoliata	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
common serviceberry Amelanchier arborea	Tree	36 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
cup plant Silphium perfoliatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 2b
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
downy arrowwood Viburnum rafinesqueanum	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3a
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 redbud Cercis canadensis	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern 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
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
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
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
fringed sedge Carex crinita	Grass or grass-like	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
fringeleaf wild petunia Ruellia humilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
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
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
greater straw sedge Carex normalis	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	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
Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium	Grass or grass-like	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
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
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
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
leadplant Amorpha canescens	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	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
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
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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 fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Low	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
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
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
pecan Carya illinoinensis	Tree	120 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
perplexed ticktrefoil Desmodium perplexum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
pin oak Quercus palustris	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
pinnate prairie coneflower Ratibida pinnata	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	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
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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 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 wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	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
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
riverbank grape Vitis riparia	Vine	45 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
sandbar willow Salix interior	Tree	30 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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
shallow sedge Carex lurida	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria	Tree	45 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
Short's sedge Carex shortiana	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum	Shrub	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
silver maple Acer saccharinum	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
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 sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
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
sugar maple Acer saccharum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp 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
tall cinquefoil Potentilla arguta	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus	Wildflower (forb)	5 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
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 spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana	Wildflower (forb)	1.1 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 prairie clover Dalea candida	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
woodland bluegrass Poa sylvestris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 325

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 alumroot Heuchera americana
American bluehearts Buchnera americana
American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
annual fimbry Fimbristylis annua
annual marsh elder Iva annua
aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
Aunt Lucy Ellisia nyctelea
autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
autumn onion Allium stellatum
bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
Baldwin's ironweed Vernonia baldwinii
bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
blue sedge Carex glaucodea
blue waxweed Cuphea viscosissima
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
buffalo clover Trifolium reflexum
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carolina anemone Anemone caroliniana
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common dittany Cunila origanoides
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
compassplant Silphium laciniatum
Crawe's sedge Carex crawei
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
diamond-flowers Stenaria nigricans
dotted hawthorn Crataegus punctata
downy carrionflower Smilax pulverulenta
downy gentian Gentiana puberulenta
downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
downy phlox Phlox pilosa
downy ragged goldenrod Solidago petiolaris
Drummond's aster Symphyotrichum drummondii
Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
dwarf plantain Plantago pusilla
early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
early wildrye Elymus macgregorii
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
fewleaf sunflower Helianthus occidentalis
field pansy Viola bicolor
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
golden zizia Zizia aurea
goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
grape honeysuckle Lonicera reticulata
gravelweed Verbesina helianthoides
great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
groovestem Indian plantain Arnoglossum plantagineum
groundplum milkvetch Astragalus crassicarpus
gum bully Sideroxylon lanuginosum
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
hairy hawkweed Hieracium longipilum
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
heavy sedge Carex gravida
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
Hitchcock's sedge Carex hitchcockiana
hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
hogwort Croton capitatus
honeyvine Cynanchum laeve
Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
inflated narrow-leaf sedge Carex grisea
James' sedge Carex jamesii
lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
lanceleaf buckthorn Rhamnus lanceolata
lanceleaf ragweed Ambrosia bidentata
largebract ticktrefoil Desmodium cuspidatum
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
largeflower tickseed Coreopsis grandiflora
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
limestone adderstongue Ophioglossum engelmannii
limestone calamint Clinopodium arkansanum
longflower beeblossom Oenothera filiformis
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
Lucretia dewberry Rubus roribaccus
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
Mead's sedge Carex meadii
meadow garlic Allium canadense
Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
Missouri gooseberry Ribes missouriense
Missouri violet Viola missouriensis
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
mullein foxglove Dasistoma macrophylla
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
Nuttall's sensitive-briar Mimosa nuttallii
oldfield milkvine Matelea decipiens
oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
Ontario blazing star Liatris cylindracea
orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
pasture heliotrope Heliotropium tenellum
Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
pitcher's stitchwort Minuartia patula
pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
plain gentian Gentiana alba
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poorjoe Diodia teres
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium campestre
prairie goldenrod Oligoneuron album
prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
prairie rose Rosa arkansana
prairie rosinweed Silphium terebinthinaceum
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
prairie violet Viola pedatifida
prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
purple milkweed Asclepias purpurascens
purplerocket Iodanthus pinnatifidus
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
Richardson's alumroot Heuchera richardsonii
richwoods sedge Carex oligocarpa
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rock muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera
rose mock vervain Glandularia canadensis
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
roundseed St. Johnswort Hypericum sphaerocarpum
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sand grape Vitis rupestris
sand violet Viola affinis
scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shining bedstraw Galium concinnum
Short's rockcress Arabis shortii
shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
shortstalk chickweed Cerastium brachypodum
shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
Skinner's false foxglove Agalinis skinneriana
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender lipfern Cheilanthes feei
slender looseflower sedge Carex gracilescens
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slimflower scurfpea Psoralidium tenuiflorum
slimleaf milkweed Asclepias stenophylla
slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
smooth cliffbrake Pellaea glabella
smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
soft fox sedge Carex conjuncta
soft-hair marbleseed Onosmodium bejariense
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spreading chervil Chaerophyllum procumbens
spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
stiff tickseed Coreopsis palmata
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
striped cream violet Viola striata
swamp lousewort Pedicularis lanceolata
sweet coneflower Rudbeckia subtomentosa
sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
tall blazing star Liatris aspera
tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
tasselflower brickellbush Brickellia grandiflora
Tennessee bladderfern Cystopteris tennesseensis
Texas goldentop Euthamia gymnospermoides
thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
three-lobe violet Viola triloba
threeflower melicgrass Melica nitens
tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
toadshade Trillium sessile
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
upright carrionflower Smilax ecirrhata
violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
waterpurslane Didiplis diandra
waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
western rough goldenrod Solidago radula
western silver aster Symphyotrichum sericeum
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white arrowleaf aster Symphyotrichum urophyllum
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white four o'clock Mirabilis albida
white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
wholeleaf rosinweed Silphium integrifolium
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
whorled mountainmint Pycnanthemum verticillatum
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
willowleaf aster Symphyotrichum praealtum
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens
zigzag spiderwort Tradescantia subaspera

Also listed as native and introduced here 4

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
bride's feathersAruncus dioicus
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, Morgan County and Missouri
Measure	Morgan County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	528	557	1,678
Garden-ready natives	203	219	558
Tree	67	—	149
Shrub	16	—	59
Wildflower (forb)	315	—	936
Grass or grass-like	96	—	395
Vine	21	—	79
Fern	13	—	60

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Morgan County.

Benton County, MO 225 garden-ready
Camden County, MO 221 garden-ready
Cooper County, MO 195 garden-ready
Miller County, MO 195 garden-ready
Moniteau County, MO 157 garden-ready
Pettis County, MO 203 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: Morgan County (county FIPS 29141), Missouri. 528 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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