Native plants · Montana
Native plants of Silver Bow County
117 plant species are recorded as native to Montana in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Silver Bow County by USDA PLANTS. 79 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Silver Bow County, Montana
- Native species
- 117 Typical Montana county: 161 (median of 56 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 79 Typical Montana county: 104
- Share by type (all 117 native species)
-
Percent of the 117 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (76%), followed by shrubs (15%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 79
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American bistort Polygonum bistortoides | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| American black currant Ribes americanum | Shrub | 3 ft | — | — | Zone 2b |
| American licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | 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 |
| balsam poplar Populus balsamifera | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | High | Zone 1a |
| blanketflower Gaillardia aristata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| bush penstemon Penstemon fruticosus | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| common evening primrose Oenothera biennis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| common selfheal Prunella vulgaris | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | 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 |
| 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 |
| Douglas aster Symphyotrichum subspicatum | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 6b |
| Douglas' dustymaiden Chaenactis douglasii | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| Douglas' sedge Carex douglasii | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| elephanthead lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| Geyer's sedge Carex geyeri | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| longstyle rush Juncus longistylis | Grass or grass-like | 1.8 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| Lyall's angelica Angelica arguta | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| MacKenzie's willow Salix prolixa | Tree | 45 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2a |
| maiden blue eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| nineleaf biscuitroot Lomatium triternatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| northern bedstraw Galium boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Nuttall's povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 12a |
| oceanspray Holodiscus discolor | Shrub | 12 ft | Sun | High | Zone 8a |
| pale agoseris Agoseris glauca | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | 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 |
| 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 goldenrod Solidago multiradiata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| 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 |
| sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| scarlet globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa | Shrub | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| silky lupine Lupinus sericeus | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| silverleaf phacelia Phacelia hastata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| silvery lupine Lupinus argenteus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| 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 white violet Viola macloskeyi | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| spiny hopsage Grayia spinosa | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| sulphur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| tall fringed bluebells Mertensia ciliata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| thickstem aster Eurybia integrifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| threadleaf sedge Carex filifolia | Grass or grass-like | 1.2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| toad rush Juncus bufonius | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12a |
| 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 honeysuckle Lonicera utahensis | Shrub | 5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| water knotweed Polygonum amphibium | Wildflower (forb) | 1 in | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| western Labrador tea Ledum glandulosum | Shrub | 4.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| western polemonium Polemonium occidentale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| western stoneseed Lithospermum ruderale | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| white marsh marigold Caltha leptosepala | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| woolly groundsel Packera cana | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| 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 38
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.
- alpine milkvetch Astragalus alpinus
- autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
- Drummond's false pennyroyal Hedeoma drummondii
- fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
- giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
- groundplum milkvetch Astragalus crassicarpus
- hairy hedgenettle Stachys pilosa
- hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
- hookedspur violet Viola adunca
- lesser wirelettuce Stephanomeria minor
- liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
- manyflower stickseed Hackelia floribunda
- Menzies' campion Silene menziesii
- moss campion Silene acaulis
- needleleaf sedge Carex duriuscula
- northern bog aster Symphyotrichum boreale
- northern woodland violet Viola septentrionalis
- Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
- pleated gentian Gentiana affinis
- povertyweed Iva axillaris
- redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
- rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
- rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
- scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
- spiny phlox Phlox hoodii
- spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
- starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
- sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
- tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- tower rockcress Arabis glabra
- twinflower Linnaea borealis
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
- white prairie aster Symphyotrichum falcatum
- woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
- woolly cinquefoil Potentilla hippiana
Also listed as native and introduced here 2
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.
- 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 | Silver Bow County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 117 | 161 | 1,086 |
| Garden-ready natives | 79 | 104 | 606 |
| Tree | 4 | — | 71 |
| Shrub | 17 | — | 98 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 89 | — | 609 |
| Grass or grass-like | 6 | — | 246 |
| Vine | 1 | — | 18 |
| Fern | 0 | — | 44 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Silver Bow County.
- Beaverhead County, MT 194 garden-ready
- Deer Lodge County, MT 51 garden-ready
- Jefferson County, MT 104 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
- Silver Bow County (county FIPS 30093), Montana. 117 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