Native plants · New Mexico
Native plants of Los Alamos County
335 plant species are recorded as native to New Mexico in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Los Alamos County by USDA PLANTS. 190 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
Los Alamos County, New Mexico
- Native species
- 335 Typical New Mexico county: 258 (median of 33 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 190 Typical New Mexico county: 160
- Share by type (all 335 native species)
-
Percent of the 335 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (55%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 190
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| alderleaf mountain mahogany Cercocarpus montanus | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| alpine timothy Phleum alpinum | Grass or grass-like | 1.4 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| American licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| American red raspberry Rubus idaeus | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 1a |
| 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 |
| American water horehound Lycopus americanus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.8 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| Apache plume Fallugia paradoxa | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Arizona fescue Festuca arizonica | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Arizona threeawn Aristida arizonica | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 7a |
| Bigelow's tansyaster Machaeranthera bigelovii | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 10b |
| black grama Bouteloua eriopoda | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| blue grama Bouteloua gracilis | Grass or grass-like | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| blue wildrye Elymus glaucus | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| bluntseed sweetroot Osmorhiza depauperata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| California false hellebore Veratrum californicum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis | Wildflower (forb) | 5.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| cerro hawthorn Crataegus erythropoda | Tree | 16 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2a |
| chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| cliff fendlerbush Fendlera rupicola | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| Colorado barberry Berberis fendleri | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| Colorado blue columbine Aquilegia coerulea | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Colorado four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| Colorado rush Juncus confusus | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| Columbian monkshood Aconitum columbianum | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| common duckweed Lemna minor | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| common juniper Juniperus communis | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| common reed Phragmites australis | Shrub | 13 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 spikerush Eleocharis palustris | Grass or grass-like | 1.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| creeping barberry Mahonia repens | Shrub | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 12b |
| cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens | Grass or grass-like | 4.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 9b |
| Dewey sedge Carex deweyana | Grass or grass-like | 3.8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| dewystem willow Salix irrorata | Shrub | 6 ft | — | — | Zone 2a |
| dotted blazing star Liatris punctata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii | Tree | 200 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Douglas' sedge Carex douglasii | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| Engelmann spruce Picea engelmannii | Tree | 120 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2a |
| false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa | Shrub | 15 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| featherplume Dalea formosa | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| field horsetail Equisetum arvense | Fern | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| fireweed Chamerion angustifolium | Wildflower (forb) | 5.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| fivepetal cliffbush Jamesia americana | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| freckled milkvetch Astragalus lentiginosus | Shrub | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| fringed brome Bromus ciliatus | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| Gambel oak Quercus gambelii | Tree | 40 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| golden crownbeard Verbesina encelioides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| Goodding's willow Salix gooddingii | Tree | 40 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| gooseberry currant Ribes montigenum | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| gray alder Alnus incana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| green prairie coneflower Ratibida tagetes | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| green sprangletop Leptochloa dubia | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| grouse whortleberry Vaccinium scoparium | Shrub | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta | Grass or grass-like | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| Hooker's evening primrose Oenothera elata | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| Indian blanket Gaillardia pulchella | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| inland rush Juncus interior | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Shrub | 6 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| largeleaf avens Geum macrophyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| leadplant Amorpha canescens | Shrub | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| limber pine Pinus flexilis | Tree | 66 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| littleleaf mock orange Philadelphus microphyllus | Shrub | 15 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| longleaf jointfir Ephedra trifurca | Shrub | 15 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| lyreleaf greeneyes Berlandiera lyrata | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Macoun's buttercup Ranunculus macounii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | — | Zone 1a |
| marsh muhly Muhlenbergia racemosa | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| mountain muhly Muhlenbergia montana | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| mountain snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus | Shrub | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| muttongrass Poa fendleriana | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| narrowleaf cottonwood Populus angustifolia | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| New Mexico locust Robinia neomexicana | Tree | 25 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| nodding beggartick Bidens cernua | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12a |
| nodding brome Bromus anomalus | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| northern bedstraw Galium boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| old man's whiskers Geum triflorum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| orange agoseris Agoseris aurantiaca | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| pale agoseris Agoseris glauca | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| pale desert-thorn Lycium pallidum | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| pale evening primrose Oenothera pallida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| pine dropseed Blepharoneuron tricholepis | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 5a |
| pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| plains pricklypear Opuntia polyacantha | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| poverty rush Juncus tenuis | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| prairie sagewort Artemisia frigida | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| prickly rose Rosa acicularis | Shrub | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| purple avens Geum rivale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| purple locoweed Oxytropis lambertii | Wildflower (forb) | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| purple prairie clover Dalea purpurea | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| purple threeawn Aristida purpurea | Grass or grass-like | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | 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 elderberry Sambucus racemosa | Tree | 18 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| redosier dogwood Cornus sericea | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| Richardson's geranium Geranium richardsonii | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| roadside agrimony Agrimonia striata | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| Rocky Mountain iris Iris missouriensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum | Tree | 50 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum | Tree | 30 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| russet buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 1a |
| sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| sawsepal penstemon Penstemon glaber | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana | Tree | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 6a |
| seep monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa | Shrub | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| silvery sedge Carex canescens | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| skunkbush sumac Rhus trilobata | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 2a |
| slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina | Wildflower (forb) | 11 in | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| smallflowered woodrush Luzula parviflora | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| smallwing sedge Carex microptera | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum | Fern | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| smooth sumac Rhus glabra | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| softleaf sedge Carex disperma | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| spike muhly Muhlenbergia wrightii | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| spike trisetum Trisetum spicatum | Grass or grass-like | 1.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| spineless horsebrush Tetradymia canescens | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9a |
| squirreltail Elymus elymoides | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa | Tree | 90 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2a |
| sugarberry Celtis laevigata | Tree | 80 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| tailcup lupine Lupinus caudatus | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| tanseyleaf tansyaster Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| textile onion Allium textile | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| thickspike wheatgrass Elymus lanceolatus | Grass or grass-like | 2.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| Thurber's fescue Festuca thurberi | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa | Grass or grass-like | 3.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| twoneedle pinyon Pinus edulis | Tree | 50 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Whipple's penstemon Penstemon whippleanus | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| white fir Abies concolor | Tree | 120 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| white prairie clover Dalea candida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| whitestem gooseberry Ribes inerme | Shrub | 8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| winterfat Krascheninnikovia lanata | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2a |
| Woods' rose Rosa woodsii | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| woolly plantain Plantago patagonica | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
| Wright's deervetch Lotus wrightii | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 7a |
| yellow owl's-clover Orthocarpus luteus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 145
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.
- American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
- American sloughgrass Beckmannia syzigachne
- annual buckwheat Eriogonum annuum
- autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- beautiful cinquefoil Potentilla pulcherrima
- Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
- bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
- bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
- brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
- brook cinquefoil Potentilla rivalis
- buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
- Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
- carelessweed Cyclachaena xanthiifolia
- Carruth's sagewort Artemisia carruthii
- clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
- cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
- curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
- curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
- Dakota mock vervain Glandularia bipinnatifida
- desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
- Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
- Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
- elkweed Frasera speciosa
- Emory's sedge Carex emoryi
- false buffalograss Munroa squarrosa
- false melic Schizachne purpurascens
- falsegold groundsel Packera pseudaurea
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fetid marigold Dyssodia papposa
- fineleaf hymenopappus Hymenopappus filifolius
- flatspine bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa
- flatspine stickseed Lappula occidentalis
- foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
- foxtail prairie clover Dalea leporina
- Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii
- fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
- Geyer's sandmat Chamaesyce geyeri
- giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
- grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
- green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
- greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
- hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
- hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium
- hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
- hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
- hookedspur violet Viola adunca
- Hopi tea greenthread Thelesperma megapotamicum
- horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
- James' cryptantha Cryptantha cinerea
- lacy tansyaster Machaeranthera pinnatifida
- lanceleaf sage Salvia reflexa
- largeleaf sandwort Moehringia macrophylla
- lemon beebalm Monarda citriodora
- lemon scurfpea Psoralidium lanceolatum
- lesser rattlesnake plantain Goodyera repens
- lesser wirelettuce Stephanomeria minor
- lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
- liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
- longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
- Louisiana broomrape Orobanche ludoviciana
- male fern Dryopteris filix-mas
- manyflower stickseed Hackelia floribunda
- Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
- mealy goosefoot Chenopodium incanum
- mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
- mountain tansymustard Descurainia incana
- narrowleaf four o'clock Mirabilis linearis
- narrowleaf goosefoot Chenopodium leptophyllum
- narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- nodding onion Allium cernuum
- northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
- Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
- pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
- Pennsylvania cinquefoil Potentilla pensylvanica
- pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
- pleated gentian Gentiana affinis
- pony beebalm Monarda pectinata
- Porter brome Bromus porteri
- poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
- prairie sunflower Helianthus petiolaris
- prairie violet Viola pedatifida
- pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis
- red baneberry Actaea rubra
- redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
- Rocky Mountain rush Juncus saximontanus
- rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
- roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
- rusty lupine Lupinus pusillus
- sacred thorn-apple Datura wrightii
- sand sagebrush Artemisia filifolia
- sanddune cryptantha Cryptantha fendleri
- scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
- scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
- shaggy dwarf morning-glory Evolvulus nuttallianus
- shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
- sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
- silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
- sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
- sixweeks threeawn Aristida adscensionis
- slimflower scurfpea Psoralidium tenuiflorum
- small-leaf pussytoes Antennaria parvifolia
- snowline wintergreen Pyrola minor
- spiny milkvetch Astragalus kentrophyta
- spinystar Escobaria vivipara
- spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
- spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
- spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
- spreading sandwort Arenaria lanuginosa
- starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
- stemless Townsend daisy Townsendia exscapa
- stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
- stretchberry Forestiera pubescens
- strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
- summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
- swamp verbena Verbena hastata
- tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
- tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- tasselflower brickellbush Brickellia grandiflora
- Texas croton Croton texensis
- threenerve goldenrod Solidago velutina
- tower rockcress Arabis glabra
- trailing fleabane Erigeron flagellaris
- tumblegrass Schedonnardus paniculatus
- twinflower Linnaea borealis
- twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
- velvetweed Oenothera curtiflora
- Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
- wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
- western rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
- western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
- white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
- white prairie aster Symphyotrichum falcatum
- whitest evening primrose Oenothera albicaulis
- whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
- witchgrass Panicum capillare
- wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
- woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
- woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
- woolly cinquefoil Potentilla hippiana
- woolly sedge Carex pellita
- 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.
- annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
- claspleaf twistedstalkStreptopus amplexifolius
- common pepperweedLepidium densiflorum
- Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
Compared with New Mexico
The typical county is the median of the 33 New Mexico 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 | Los Alamos County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 335 | 258 | 1,103 |
| Garden-ready natives | 190 | 160 | 570 |
| Tree | 31 | — | 81 |
| Shrub | 45 | — | 95 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 183 | — | 602 |
| Grass or grass-like | 69 | — | 275 |
| Vine | 2 | — | 22 |
| Fern | 5 | — | 28 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Los Alamos County.
- Sandoval County, NM 332 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
- Los Alamos County (county FIPS 35028), New Mexico. 335 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