Native plants · New Jersey

Native plants of Cape May County

935 plant species are recorded as native to New Jersey in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Cape May County by USDA PLANTS. 358 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 8 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Cape May County, New Jersey

Native species
935 Typical New Jersey county: 935 (median of 21 counties)
Garden-ready natives
358 Typical New Jersey county: 367
Share by type (all 935 native species)
Percent of the 935 native species in each growth type
Tree 10% (90)
Shrub 6% (57)
Wildflower (forb) 52% (487)
Grass or grass-like 26% (239)
Vine 4% (36)
Fern 3% (26)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (52%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (26%).

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 7a to 8a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Cold hardiness is estimated from each plant’s PLANTS minimum temperature. How we estimate it.

Garden-ready natives 358

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

Garden-ready native plants of Cape May County, New Jersey
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American beech Fagus grandifolia Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
American bur-reed Sparganium americanum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
American chestnut Castanea dentata Tree 115 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5b
American holly Ilex opaca Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American plum Prunus americana Tree 24 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana Wildflower (forb) 7.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium 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 wisteria Wisteria frutescens Vine 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
annual wildrice Zizania aquatica Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 10b
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Atlantic mannagrass Glyceria obtusa Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
Atlantic white cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
beach pea Lathyrus japonicus Vine 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
beach plum Prunus maritima Shrub 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun High Zone 4b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Grass or grass-like 6 ft Sun Low Zone 2b
big cordgrass Spartina cynosuroides Grass or grass-like 8 ft Sun High Zone 7a
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla Wildflower (forb) 4.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 3a
bitter panicgrass Panicum amarum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis Tree 75 ft Sun Medium Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 9b
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
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica Tree 95 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium Tree 16 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica Tree 25 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
bog muhly Muhlenbergia uniflora Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun High Zone 4a
bog rush Juncus biflorus Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
bottle gentian Gentiana clausa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus Shrub 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High 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
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
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low —
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
bushy St. Johnswort Hypericum densiflorum Shrub 6.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8a
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 canadensis Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
Canadian rush Juncus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis Tree 23 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
Carolina redroot Lachnanthes caroliana Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
Carolina rose Rosa carolina Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
chestnut oak Quercus montana Tree 73 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia Tree 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea Fern 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri Grass or grass-like 6.5 ft Sun High Zone 10b
coastal sweetpepperbush Clethra alnifolia Shrub 16 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli Tree 30 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
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 duckweed Lemna minor Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
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 juniper Juniperus communis Tree 10 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana Tree 55 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
common rush Juncus effusus Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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 sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Shrub 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
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
coppery St. Johnswort Hypericum denticulatum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata Fern 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 6a
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum Shrub 16 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12a
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana Vine 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa Tree 20 ft Sun High Zone 4b
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 spikerush Eleocharis parvula Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
eastern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum subulatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
eastern baccharis Baccharis halimifolia Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
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 redcedar Juniperus virginiana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
eastern rough sedge Carex scabrata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
eastern straw sedge Carex straminea Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
eastern white pine Pinus strobus Tree 150 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
eggleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium ovale Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
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
field horsetail Equisetum arvense Fern 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
field paspalum Paspalum laeve Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
field pussytoes Antennaria neglecta Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 5.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
flattened oatgrass Danthonia compressa Grass or grass-like 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
flowering dogwood Cornus florida Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
forked rush Juncus dichotomus Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8b
fowl bluegrass Poa palustris Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata Grass or grass-like 5.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
fringed sedge Carex crinita Grass or grass-like 5.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
frost grape Vitis vulpina Vine 83 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
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
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
gray birch Betula populifolia Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
gray dogwood Cornus racemosa Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens Grass or grass-like 5.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 2a
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
groundnut Apios americana Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun High Zone 8a
hairy sedge Carex lacustris Grass or grass-like 5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata Tree 30 ft Sun High Zone 5a
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Shrub 12 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 7b
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
inkberry Ilex glabra Shrub 8 ft Sun High Zone 6a
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
Jesuit's bark Iva frutescens Wildflower (forb) 9 ft Sun High Zone 7b
jewelweed Impatiens capensis Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
jointleaf rush Juncus articulatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Shrub 6 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 6b
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
lavender thrift Limonium carolinianum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 6b
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 3a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
longhair sedge Carex comosa Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
lopsided rush Juncus secundus Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina Shrub 9 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 5a
manyflower flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 4a
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala Tree 52 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa Tree 85 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
moss phlox Phlox subulata Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia Tree 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis Grass or grass-like 8 in Sun Medium Zone 5a
needleleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium aciculare Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 7b
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 7a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
New York aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun High Zone 4a
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis Fern 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
nodding beggartick Bidens cernua Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
northern bayberry Morella pensylvanica Tree 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
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
northern St. Johnswort Hypericum boreale Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Nuttall's reedgrass Calamagrostis coarctata Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 12a
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata Wildflower (forb) 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
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
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 5a
pignut hickory Carya glabra Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
pin oak Quercus palustris Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4a
pine barren goldenrod Solidago fistulosa Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
pitch pine Pinus rigida Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
pond pine Pinus serotina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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 cordgrass Spartina pectinata Grass or grass-like 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
prairie 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
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
pumpkin ash Fraxinus profunda Tree 120 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun Low Zone 3a
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
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
pussy willow Salix discolor Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 1a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Fern 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia Shrub 5 ft Sun High Zone 5b
red goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun High Zone 12b
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
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 4a
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
ribbonleaf pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
river birch Betula nigra Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 4a
rough avens Geum laciniatum Wildflower (forb) 3.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
saltgrass Distichlis spicata Grass or grass-like 1.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
saltmeadow cordgrass Spartina patens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 7a
sand blackberry Rubus cuneifolius Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus Shrub 8.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
seaside goldenrod Solidago sempervirens Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
shagbark hickory Carya ovata Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
shaggy blazing star Liatris pilosa Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
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
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
silky willow Salix sericea Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
silvery sedge Carex canescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
small beggarticks Bidens discoidea Wildflower (forb) 5.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
smallfruit beggarticks Bidens mitis Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
smallhead rush Juncus brachycephalus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
smooth beggartick Bidens laevis Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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
southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum Tree 8 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 5a
southern bayberry Morella caroliniensis Tree 7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
southern red oak Quercus falcata Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun High Zone 4b
St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
star sedge Carex echinata Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa Shrub 4 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
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
sturdy bulrush Bolboschoenus robustus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 8a
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
summer grape Vitis aestivalis Vine 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum Shrub 16 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
swamp doghobble Eubotrys racemosus Shrub 13 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus Shrub 8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
swamp rose Rosa palustris Shrub 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides Wildflower (forb) — Sun Medium Zone 10b
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius Wildflower (forb) 5.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
sweet fern Comptonia peregrina Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
sweetbay Magnolia virginiana Tree 60 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 9a
sweetscent Pluchea odorata Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
tawny cottongrass Eriophorum virginicum Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 6b
thicket sedge Carex abscondita Grass or grass-like 8 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 7a
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
threeseeded sedge Carex trisperma Grass or grass-like 1.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
toad rush Juncus bufonius Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans Vine 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Tree 120 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
upright sedge Carex stricta Grass or grass-like 4.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana Tree 70 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
Virginia rose Rosa virginiana Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
Virginia spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
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
water oak Quercus nigra Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 5a
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
wax myrtle Morella cerifera Tree 10 ft Sun High Zone 7a
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade 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 edge sedge Carex debilis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
whitegrass Leersia virginica Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 7a
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
wild sweetwilliam Phlox maculata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
willow oak Quercus phellos Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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
wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
woodland rush Juncus subcaudatus Grass or grass-like 2.2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
woolly beachheather Hudsonia tomentosa Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
wrinkled jointtail grass Coelorachis rugosa Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
yellow marsh marigold Caltha palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b

Other native species recorded here 577

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.

  • Allegheny hawkweed Hieracium paniculatum
  • Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
  • alpine violet Viola labradorica
  • American alumroot Heuchera americana
  • American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
  • American featherfoil Hottonia inflata
  • American golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • American searocket Cakile edentula
  • American senna Senna hebecarpa
  • American waterwort Elatine americana
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • American wintergreen Pyrola americana
  • anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
  • annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
  • Apocynum ×floribundum Apocynum ×floribundum
  • arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
  • arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
  • arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
  • Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
  • Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
  • Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
  • autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
  • awl-leaf arrowhead Sagittaria subulata
  • Bartram oak Quercus ×heterophylla
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
  • bayonet rush Juncus militaris
  • beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
  • beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
  • bear oak Quercus ilicifolia
  • bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
  • beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
  • bent sedge Carex styloflexa
  • biennial beeblossom Oenothera gaura
  • bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
  • birdfoot violet Viola pedata
  • black baneberry Actaea racemosa
  • black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
  • black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
  • blackfoot quillwort Isoetes melanopoda
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
  • Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
  • blue sedge Carex glaucodea
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • blue waxweed Cuphea viscosissima
  • bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
  • bog fern Thelypteris simulata
  • bog white violet Viola lanceolata
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
  • branched bur-reed Sparganium androcladum
  • bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
  • broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
  • broadwing sedge Carex alata
  • brown beaksedge Rhynchospora fusca
  • brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
  • brownfruit rush Juncus pelocarpus
  • brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
  • bunched beaksedge Rhynchospora cephalantha
  • bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
  • button sedge Carex bullata
  • camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
  • camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Canadian burnet Sanguisorba canadensis
  • Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
  • cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
  • carelessweed Cyclachaena xanthiifolia
  • Carolina fimbry Fimbristylis caroliniana
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
  • catberry Ilex mucronata
  • chaffseed Schwalbea americana
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • cheerful sunflower Helianthus ×laetiflorus
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
  • clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
  • clasping water horehound Lycopus amplectens
  • claspingleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum gymnanthum
  • clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
  • clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
  • clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
  • clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
  • coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
  • coastal plain blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium fuscatum
  • coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
  • coastal sedge Carex exilis
  • Collins' sedge Carex collinsii
  • combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
  • common dittany Cunila origanoides
  • common moonseed Menispermum canadense
  • common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
  • compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
  • cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
  • Copenhagen hawthorn Crataegus intricata
  • cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
  • cream avens Geum virginianum
  • creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
  • creeping spikerush Eleocharis fallax
  • creeping St. Johnswort Hypericum adpressum
  • crested yellow orchid Platanthera cristata
  • crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
  • Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
  • cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
  • cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • darkgreen sedge Carex venusta
  • denseflower knotweed Polygonum glabrum
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
  • devil's-tongue Opuntia humifusa
  • dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
  • downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
  • downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
  • downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
  • downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
  • downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
  • downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
  • dragon's mouth Arethusa bulbosa
  • dwarf chinquapin oak Quercus prinoides
  • dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
  • dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
  • dwarf plantain Plantago pusilla
  • dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
  • dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
  • early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
  • earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
  • eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
  • eastern grasswort Lilaeopsis chinensis
  • eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
  • eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
  • eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
  • eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
  • eastern showy aster Eurybia spectabilis
  • eastern swamp saxifrage Saxifraga pensylvanica
  • eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
  • Eaton's rosette grass Dichanthelium spretum
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
  • Elliott's goldenrod Solidago latissimifolia
  • Elliott's rush Juncus elliottii
  • Engelmann's arrowhead Sagittaria engelmanniana
  • erect centella Centella erecta
  • erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
  • eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
  • fall phlox Phlox paniculata
  • fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
  • false hop sedge Carex lupuliformis
  • fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fern flatsedge Cyperus filicinus
  • fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
  • fescue sedge Carex festucacea
  • feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
  • fewflower beaksedge Rhynchospora rariflora
  • fewflower milkweed Asclepias lanceolata
  • fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
  • fewnerved cottongrass Eriophorum tenellum
  • field pansy Viola bicolor
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • flattened pipewort Eriocaulon compressum
  • floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
  • Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
  • flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
  • forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
  • fox grape Vitis labrusca
  • foxtail clubmoss Lycopodiella alopecuroides
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
  • gall of the earth Prenanthes trifoliolata
  • giant bristlegrass Setaria magna
  • giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
  • globe beaksedge Rhynchospora recognita
  • globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
  • globefruit primrose-willow Ludwigia sphaerocarpa
  • golden hedgehyssop Gratiola aurea
  • golden zizia Zizia aurea
  • goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
  • Gray's flatsedge Cyperus grayi
  • great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
  • Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
  • greater fringed gentian Gentianopsis crinita
  • greater marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum walteri
  • green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
  • green dragon Arisaema dracontium
  • green false hellebore Veratrum viride
  • green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
  • hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
  • hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
  • hairy lettuce Lactuca hirsuta
  • hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
  • hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
  • hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
  • hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
  • hairystem gooseberry Ribes hirtellum
  • halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
  • handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
  • harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
  • harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
  • hazel dodder Cuscuta coryli
  • hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
  • Heller's cudweed Pseudognaphalium helleri
  • Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
  • hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
  • hirsute sedge Carex complanata
  • hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
  • hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
  • hoary verbena Verbena stricta
  • horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • hybrid cattail Typha ×glauca
  • hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
  • Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
  • Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • intermediate mermaidweed Proserpinaca intermedia
  • inundated clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata
  • jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
  • justiceweed Eupatorium leucolepis
  • king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
  • lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
  • lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • largepod pinweed Lechea intermedia
  • lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
  • lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
  • leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
  • Leavenworth's sedge Carex leavenworthii
  • Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
  • lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
  • lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
  • lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
  • little floating bladderwort Utricularia radiata
  • little floatingheart Nymphoides cordata
  • little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
  • lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
  • longbeak arrowhead Sagittaria australis
  • longbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora scirpoides
  • longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
  • longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
  • loosehead beaksedge Rhynchospora chalarocephala
  • low frostweed Helianthemum propinquum
  • low nutrush Scleria verticillata
  • low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
  • low watermilfoil Myriophyllum humile
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
  • lyrate rockcress Arabis lyrata
  • lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
  • maidencane Panicum hemitomon
  • man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
  • manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
  • marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
  • marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
  • marsh fimbry Fimbristylis castanea
  • marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
  • marsh rose gentian Sabatia dodecandra
  • marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
  • Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
  • Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
  • Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • meadow garlic Allium canadense
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
  • minute duckweed Lemna perpusilla
  • Mitchell's sedge Carex mitchelliana
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • mudbank crowngrass Paspalum dissectum
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • narrowfruit horned beaksedge Rhynchospora inundata
  • narrowleaf bluecurls Trichostema setaceum
  • narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
  • narrowleaf lespedeza Lespedeza angustifolia
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia linearis
  • narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
  • narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
  • navel cornsalad Valerianella umbilicata
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
  • netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
  • netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
  • New Jersey blueberry Vaccinium caesariense
  • nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern long sedge Carex folliculata
  • northern panicgrass Dichanthelium boreale
  • northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
  • northern sweetgrass Hierochloe hirta
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
  • Nuttall's milkwort Polygala nuttallii
  • oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
  • Oakes' evening primrose Oenothera oakesiana
  • Oakes' pondweed Potamogeton oakesianus
  • oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
  • orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
  • pale dock Rumex altissimus
  • pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
  • palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
  • paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
  • palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
  • parasol sedge Carex umbellata
  • parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
  • Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
  • perennial saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium
  • perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
  • Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
  • piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
  • pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • pink bogbutton Sclerolepis uniflora
  • pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
  • pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
  • poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
  • poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple fringeless orchid Platanthera peramoena
  • purple milkweed Asclepias purpurascens
  • purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
  • purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
  • purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • ramp Allium tricoccum
  • rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
  • rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
  • red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
  • red hickory Carya ovalis
  • red milkweed Asclepias rubra
  • redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
  • rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
  • Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
  • rigid sedge Carex tetanica
  • Robbins' spikerush Eleocharis robbinsii
  • Robert geranium Geranium robertianum
  • robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
  • rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
  • rose of Plymouth Sabatia stellaris
  • rosepink Sabatia angularis
  • rosy sedge Carex rosea
  • rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
  • rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
  • rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
  • roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
  • roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
  • running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
  • salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
  • saltmeadow rush Juncus gerardii
  • sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
  • sand hickory Carya pallida
  • sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
  • sandplain flax Linum intercursum
  • scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
  • seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
  • seaside sandplant Honckenya peploides
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
  • sevenangle pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum
  • shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
  • sheep laurel Kalmia angustifolia
  • shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
  • shining lady's tresses Spiranthes lucida
  • shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
  • shore quillwort Isoetes riparia
  • shortbeak beaksedge Rhynchospora nitens
  • shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
  • shortleaf skeletongrass Gymnopogon brevifolius
  • shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
  • showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
  • sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
  • sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
  • sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
  • slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
  • slender blue iris Iris prismatica
  • slender clubmoss Lycopodiella caroliniana
  • slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
  • slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
  • slender seapurslane Sesuvium maritimum
  • slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
  • slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
  • slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
  • slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
  • slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
  • slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
  • slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
  • slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
  • small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • Small's yelloweyed grass Xyris smalliana
  • smallfruit spikerush Eleocharis microcarpa
  • smartweed dodder Cuscuta polygonorum
  • Smith's bulrush Schoenoplectiella smithii
  • smooth blackberry Rubus canadensis
  • smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
  • smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • smooth winterberry Ilex laevigata
  • smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
  • smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
  • snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
  • snowy orchid Platanthera nivea
  • soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
  • southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
  • southern bladderwort Utricularia juncea
  • southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
  • southern twayblade Listera australis
  • Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
  • spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
  • spineless hornwort Ceratophyllum echinatum
  • spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
  • spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
  • spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
  • spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
  • spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
  • squirreltail fescue Vulpia elliotea
  • St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
  • Standley's goosefoot Chenopodium standleyanum
  • starflower Trientalis borealis
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • sticky catchfly Silene caroliniana
  • stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
  • stiff ticktrefoil Desmodium obtusum
  • stiff yellow flax Linum medium
  • stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
  • stout smartweed Polygonum robustius
  • striped bladderwort Utricularia striata
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
  • swamp lousewort Pedicularis lanceolata
  • swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
  • Swan's sedge Carex swanii
  • swaying bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis
  • sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
  • tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
  • tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
  • thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
  • three-angle spikerush Eleocharis tricostata
  • three-lobe violet Viola triloba
  • thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
  • tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
  • toothed flatsedge Cyperus dentatus
  • toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
  • Tuckerman's pondweed Potamogeton confervoides
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
  • twining screwstem Bartonia paniculata
  • twisted spikerush Eleocharis tortilis
  • twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
  • twoleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum
  • umbrella flatsedge Cyperus diandrus
  • upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
  • velvet sedge Carex vestita
  • Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
  • violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
  • Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
  • Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
  • Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
  • Walter's sedge Carex striata
  • wand lythrum Lythrum lineare
  • warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
  • wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
  • waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
  • waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
  • waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
  • weak rush Juncus debilis
  • weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
  • Welsh mudwort Limosella australis
  • whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
  • whip-poor-will flower Trillium cernuum
  • white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
  • white colicroot Aletris farinosa
  • white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
  • white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
  • white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
  • white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
  • whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
  • whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
  • whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
  • whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
  • widowsfrill Silene stellata
  • wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
  • wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
  • wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
  • woodfern Dryopteris ×boottii
  • woodland flax Linum virginianum
  • woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • woolly ragwort Packera tomentosa
  • woollyfruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa
  • woollysheath threeawn Aristida lanosa
  • wormseed sandmat Chamaesyce vermiculata
  • Wright's rosette grass Dichanthelium wrightianum
  • yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
  • yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
  • yellow spikerush Eleocharis flavescens
  • yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
  • yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
  • zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata
Also listed as native and introduced here 8

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.

Compared with New Jersey

The typical county is the median of the 21 New Jersey 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, Cape May County and New Jersey
MeasureCape May CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 935 935 1,683
Garden-ready natives 358 367 585
Tree 90 — 152
Shrub 57 — 105
Wildflower (forb) 487 — 863
Grass or grass-like 239 — 426
Vine 36 — 53
Fern 26 — 84

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Cape May County.

Look up another ZIP

Matches your ZIP to the county it mostly lies in, then lists the plants recorded as native to your state (Kew’s World Checklist and USDA PLANTS) and recorded in that county by USDA PLANTS.

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
Cape May County (county FIPS 34009), New Jersey. 935 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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