Native plants · Montana
Native plants of Lewis and Clark County
256 plant species are recorded as native to Montana in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Lewis and Clark County by USDA PLANTS. 161 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
Lewis and Clark County, Montana
- Native species
- 256 Typical Montana county: 161 (median of 56 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 161 Typical Montana county: 104
- Share by type (all 256 native species)
-
Percent of the 256 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (75%), followed by shrubs (13%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 161
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta beardtongue Penstemon albertinus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 10a |
| alderleaf buckthorn Rhamnus alnifolia | Shrub | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| alpine leafybract aster Symphyotrichum foliaceum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| American alpine speedwell Veronica wormskjoldii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| American bistort Polygonum bistortoides | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| American plum Prunus americana | Tree | 24 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| American speedwell Veronica americana | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| American vetch Vicia americana | Vine | 1.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentata | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| arrowleaf balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| arrowleaf ragwort Senecio triangularis | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| ballhead waterleaf Hydrophyllum capitatum | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| balsam poplar Populus balsamifera | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | High | Zone 1a |
| beaked sedge Carex rostrata | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata | Tree | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| bigseed biscuitroot Lomatium macrocarpum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| black hawthorn Crataegus douglasii | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 2b |
| blanketflower Gaillardia aristata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| broadleaf arnica Arnica latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis | Shrub | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| bush penstemon Penstemon fruticosus | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| 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 |
| Cascade azalea Rhododendron albiflorum | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 8a |
| chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum | Wildflower (forb) | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common evening primrose Oenothera biennis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| common juniper Juniperus communis | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| common 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 |
| cous biscuitroot Lomatium cous | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| creeping barberry Mahonia repens | Shrub | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| curl-leaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius | Tree | 20 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 2b |
| cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 12b |
| curvepod yellowcress Rorippa curvisiliqua | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 12b |
| cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| cutleaf daisy Erigeron compositus | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| darkthroat shootingstar Dodecatheon pulchellum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| dotted blazing star Liatris punctata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Douglas' dustymaiden Chaenactis douglasii | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| Drummond's willow Salix drummondiana | Shrub | 12 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides | Tree | 190 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| elephanthead lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| fiddleleaf hawksbeard Crepis runcinata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| fireweed Chamerion angustifolium | Wildflower (forb) | 5.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| fowl bluegrass Poa palustris | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| giant mountain aster Canadanthus modestus | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| golden currant Ribes aureum | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| gray alder Alnus incana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| greater creeping spearwort Ranunculus flammula | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| green alder Alnus viridis | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 1a |
| Greene's mountain ash Sorbus scopulina | Tree | 12 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| grouse whortleberry Vaccinium scoparium | Shrub | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| hairy false goldenaster Heterotheca villosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| heartleaf arnica Arnica cordifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| high northern buttercup Ranunculus hyperboreus | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Shrub | 6 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| lambstongue ragwort Senecio integerrimus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| largeflower hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 11 in | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| largeflower triteleia Triteleia grandiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| limber pine Pinus flexilis | Tree | 66 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| little western bittercress Cardamine oligosperma | Wildflower (forb) | 1.7 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| lodgepole pine Pinus contorta | Tree | 99 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 1a |
| longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| longleaf starwort Stellaria longifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| longstalk clover Trifolium longipes | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 8a |
| longstalk starwort Stellaria longipes | Wildflower (forb) | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| low pussytoes Antennaria dimorpha | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| Lyall's angelica Angelica arguta | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| Macoun's buttercup Ranunculus macounii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| maiden blue eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| mallow ninebark Physocarpus malvaceus | Shrub | 15 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| narrowleaf willow Salix exigua | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| Nebraska sedge Carex nebrascensis | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| nettleleaf giant hyssop Agastache urticifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| nineleaf biscuitroot Lomatium triternatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| nodding beggartick Bidens cernua | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12a |
| northern bedstraw Galium boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Nuttall's sunflower Helianthus nuttallii | Wildflower (forb) | 10 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| oceanspray Holodiscus discolor | Shrub | 12 ft | Sun | High | Zone 8a |
| old man's whiskers Geum triflorum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| oneflower helianthella Helianthella uniflora | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 5a |
| orange agoseris Agoseris aurantiaca | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Pacific anemone Anemone multifida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| pale agoseris Agoseris glauca | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| plains pricklypear Opuntia polyacantha | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| prairie sagewort Artemisia frigida | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| prickly currant Ribes lacustre | Shrub | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 1a |
| purple avens Geum rivale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| purple milkvetch Astragalus agrestis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| quaking aspen Populus tremuloides | Tree | 65 ft | Sun | High | Zone 1a |
| Rainier pleated gentian Gentiana calycosa | Wildflower (forb) | 7 in | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 8a |
| 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 |
| Richardson's geranium Geranium richardsonii | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| Rocky Mountain beeplant Cleome serrulata | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum | Tree | 30 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| roundleaf alumroot Heuchera cylindrica | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| russet buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 1a |
| sagebrush buttercup Ranunculus glaberrimus | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| salt heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 1a |
| scarlet gilia Ipomopsis aggregata | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| scarlet globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| sea milkwort Glaux maritima | Wildflower (forb) | 11 in | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| seep monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| showy locoweed Oxytropis splendens | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| silky lupine Lupinus sericeus | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| silver buffaloberry Shepherdia argentea | Tree | 18 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| silverberry Elaeagnus commutata | Shrub | 12 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| silvery primrose Primula incana | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| skunkbush sumac Rhus trilobata | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 2a |
| slender cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis | Wildflower (forb) | 2.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| small camas Camassia quamash | Wildflower (forb) | 2.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani | Grass or grass-like | 9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| spreading yellowcress Rorippa sinuata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| sticky currant Ribes viscosissimum | Shrub | 3.5 ft | Sun | — | Zone 3b |
| sticky purple geranium Geranium viscosissimum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| streambank wild hollyhock Iliamna rivularis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| sulphur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| tall cinquefoil Potentilla arguta | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| tall fringed bluebells Mertensia ciliata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| tapertip hawksbeard Crepis acuminata | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| thinleaved owl's-clover Orthocarpus tenuifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
| threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum | Vine | 10 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| tufted evening primrose Oenothera caespitosa | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| upright prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera | Wildflower (forb) | 3.1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Utah sweetvetch Hedysarum boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| water birch Betula occidentalis | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 1a |
| wax currant Ribes cereum | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| western goldentop Euthamia occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 stoneseed Lithospermum ruderale | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| western water hemlock Cicuta douglasii | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| western white clematis Clematis ligusticifolia | Vine | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white prairie clover Dalea candida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white sweetvetch Hedysarum sulphurescens | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| Wilcox's penstemon Penstemon wilcoxii | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| woolly groundsel Packera cana | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| woollypod milkvetch Astragalus purshii | Wildflower (forb) | 7 in | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| yellow fritillary Fritillaria pudica | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12a |
| yellow owl's-clover Orthocarpus luteus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
| yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 95
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.
- Aunt Lucy Ellisia nyctelea
- autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- beautiful sandwort Minuartia rubella
- bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
- bitter fleabane Erigeron acris
- blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
- bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
- Canadian gooseberry Ribes oxyacanthoides
- candle anemone Anemone cylindrica
- carelessweed Cyclachaena xanthiifolia
- clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata
- common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- common starlily Leucocrinum montanum
- curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
- curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
- desert biscuitroot Lomatium foeniculaceum
- Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
- elkweed Frasera speciosa
- entireleaved thelypody Thelypodium integrifolium
- falsegold groundsel Packera pseudaurea
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fetid marigold Dyssodia papposa
- fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius
- flatspine stickseed Lappula occidentalis
- fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
- giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
- Gmelin's buttercup Ranunculus gmelinii
- groundplum milkvetch Astragalus crassicarpus
- hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
- hookedspur violet Viola adunca
- lanceleaf sage Salvia reflexa
- large Indian breadroot Pediomelum esculentum
- Laxmann's milkvetch Astragalus laxmannii
- lesser wirelettuce Stephanomeria minor
- liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
- longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
- manyflower stickseed Hackelia floribunda
- meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
- Menzies' campion Silene menziesii
- mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
- mountain tarweed Madia glomerata
- muskflower Mimulus moschatus
- naked miterwort Mitella nuda
- narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- nodding onion Allium cernuum
- northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
- Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
- Pennsylvania cinquefoil Potentilla pensylvanica
- Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
- pimpernel willowherb Epilobium anagallidifolium
- povertyweed Iva axillaris
- prairie false dandelion Nothocalais cuspidata
- purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
- Pursh seepweed Suaeda calceoliformis
- pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis
- redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
- redwool plantain Plantago eriopoda
- ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
- Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
- rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
- roughfruit fairybells Prosartes trachycarpa
- rush skeletonplant Lygodesmia juncea
- scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
- scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
- seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
- shortray fleabane Erigeron lonchophyllus
- sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
- silverscale saltbush Atriplex argentea
- single delight Moneses uniflora
- small-leaf pussytoes Antennaria parvifolia
- snowline wintergreen Pyrola minor
- spiny phlox Phlox hoodii
- spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
- starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
- stemless four-nerve daisy Tetraneuris acaulis
- stiffstem flax Linum rigidum
- strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
- swamp verbena Verbena hastata
- tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- tasselflower brickellbush Brickellia grandiflora
- tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
- tobacco root Valeriana edulis
- tower rockcress Arabis glabra
- velvetweed Oenothera curtiflora
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
- wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
- western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
- white prairie aster Symphyotrichum falcatum
- whitest evening primrose Oenothera albicaulis
- woodland draba Draba nemorosa
- woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
- yellow avens Geum aleppicum
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.
- biennial wormwoodArtemisia biennis
- common pepperweedLepidium densiflorum
- Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
- white sagebrushArtemisia ludoviciana
Compared with Montana
The typical county is the median of the 56 Montana 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 | Lewis and Clark County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 256 | 161 | 1,086 |
| Garden-ready natives | 161 | 104 | 606 |
| Tree | 21 | — | 71 |
| Shrub | 33 | — | 98 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 191 | — | 609 |
| Grass or grass-like | 7 | — | 246 |
| Vine | 4 | — | 18 |
| Fern | 0 | — | 44 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Lewis and Clark County.
- Broadwater County, MT 73 garden-ready
- Cascade County, MT 191 garden-ready
- Jefferson County, MT 104 garden-ready
- Teton County, MT 101 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
- Lewis and Clark County (county FIPS 30049), Montana. 256 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