Native plants · New Mexico

Native plants of Socorro County

373 plant species are recorded as native to New Mexico in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Socorro County by USDA PLANTS. 211 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

Socorro County, New Mexico

Native species: 373 Typical New Mexico county: 258 (median of 33 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 211 Typical New Mexico county: 160
Share by type (all 373 native species): Percent of the 373 native species in each growth type

Tree 11% (40)
Shrub 12% (45)
Wildflower (forb) 52% (194)
Grass or grass-like 21% (80)
Vine 3% (10)
Fern 1% (4)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (52%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).

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 7b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 211

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

Garden-ready native plants of Socorro County, New Mexico
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
alkali sacaton Sporobolus airoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
alpine leafybract aster Symphyotrichum foliaceum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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 tarwort Flourensia cernua	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
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 cottontop Digitaria californica	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
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
Arizona walnut Juglans major	Tree	50 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
banana yucca Yucca baccata	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
bastardsage Eriogonum wrightii	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
beardless wildrye Leymus triticoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
beechleaf frangula Frangula betulifolia	Tree	7 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
big sacaton Sporobolus wrightii	Grass or grass-like	5.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
Bigelow's tansyaster Machaeranthera bigelovii	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 10b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black grama Bouteloua eriopoda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
blue grama Bouteloua gracilis	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
blue spruce Picea pungens	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
broom sedge Carex scoparia	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae	Shrub	1.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
bush muhly Muhlenbergia porteri	Grass or grass-like	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8b
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
cane bluestem Bothriochloa barbinodis	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7b
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
cliff fendlerbush Fendlera rupicola	Shrub	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
Colorado four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
common sotol Dasylirion wheeleri	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 10a
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
cows clover Trifolium wormskioldii	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
creeping barberry Mahonia repens	Shrub	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
creosote bush Larrea tridentata	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
crested pricklypoppy Argemone polyanthemos	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
deerbrush Ceanothus integerrimus	Shrub	13 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
desert willow Chilopsis linearis	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
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
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
featherplume Dalea formosa	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
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
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
freckled milkvetch Astragalus lentiginosus	Shrub	1.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
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
gooseberryleaf globemallow Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
gray alder Alnus incana	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
greater creeping spearwort Ranunculus flammula	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green prairie coneflower Ratibida tagetes	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta	Grass or grass-like	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
honey mesquite Prosopis glandulosa	Tree	50 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
Hooker's evening primrose Oenothera elata	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
Illinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
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
James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
lemonscent Pectis angustifolia	Wildflower (forb)	8 in	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Lewis flax Linum lewisii	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
littleleaf sumac Rhus microphylla	Tree	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
longleaf jointfir Ephedra trifurca	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
longstalk starwort Stellaria longipes	Wildflower (forb)	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
lyreleaf greeneyes Berlandiera lyrata	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
mesa dropseed Sporobolus flexuosus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus	Grass or grass-like	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
Missouri gourd Cucurbita foetidissima	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
mormon tea Ephedra viridis	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
mountain muhly Muhlenbergia montana	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
mountain pepperweed Lepidium montanum	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
mule-fat Baccharis salicifolia	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
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
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
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
Nuttall's alkaligrass Puccinellia nuttalliana	Grass or grass-like	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
ocotillo Fouquieria splendens	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7a
oneseed juniper Juniperus monosperma	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
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
peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides	Tree	60 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Pennsylvania buttercup Ranunculus pensylvanicus	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
pine dropseed Blepharoneuron tricholepis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
plains pricklypear Opuntia polyacantha	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
poverty threeawn Aristida divaricata	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6b
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 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
red elderberry Sambucus racemosa	Tree	18 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
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 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
rough menodora Menodora scabra	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9a
roving sailor Maurandella antirrhiniflora	Vine	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
sacahuista Nolina microcarpa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
salt heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
salt spring checkerbloom Sidalcea neomexicana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
saltgrass Distichlis spicata	Grass or grass-like	1.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
sandhill muhly Muhlenbergia pungens	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
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
scratchgrass Muhlenbergia asperifolia	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
screwbean mesquite Prosopis pubescens	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
seep monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
silver sagebrush Artemisia cana	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	Low	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
singlewhorl burrobrush Hymenoclea monogyra	Shrub	2 ft	—	—	Zone 10a
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
smallwing sedge Carex microptera	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum	Fern	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
soaptree yucca Yucca elata	Tree	20 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
soapweed yucca Yucca glauca	Shrub	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
southwestern pricklypoppy Argemone pleiacantha	Wildflower (forb)	7 in	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
spike muhly Muhlenbergia wrightii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
spineless horsebrush Tetradymia canescens	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 9a
spreading alkaliweed Cressa truxillensis	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
spreading yellowcress Rorippa sinuata	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
tanseyleaf tansyaster Machaeranthera tanacetifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum	Vine	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
toad rush Juncus bufonius	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
Torrey's jointfir Ephedra torreyana	Shrub	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Medium	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
upright prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera	Wildflower (forb)	3.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
Utah serviceberry Amelanchier utahensis	Tree	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
velvet ash Fraxinus velutina	Tree	40 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
vine mesquite Panicum obtusum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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
western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
western white clematis Clematis ligusticifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
whitebark raspberry Rubus leucodermis	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
whitestem gooseberry Ribes inerme	Shrub	8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
whitethorn acacia Vachellia constricta	Tree	9 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
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 locoweed Astragalus mollissimus	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
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
Wright's silktassel Garrya wrightii	Tree	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
yerba mansa Anemopsis californica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9b

Other native species recorded here 162

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

American bugseed Corispermum americanum
American dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum
annual buckwheat Eriogonum annuum
annual marsh elder Iva annua
annual muhly Muhlenbergia minutissima
aridland goosefoot Chenopodium desiccatum
bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
beautiful cinquefoil Potentilla pulcherrima
Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
bluntleaf yellowcress Rorippa curvipes
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
carelessweed Cyclachaena xanthiifolia
carelessweed Amaranthus palmeri
Carruth's sagewort Artemisia carruthii
catchfly prairie gentian Eustoma exaltatum
chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
chickenthief Mentzelia oligosperma
coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
crested anoda Anoda cristata
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
Dakota mock vervain Glandularia bipinnatifida
desert horsepurslane Trianthema portulacastrum
Drummond's false pennyroyal Hedeoma drummondii
dryspike sedge Carex siccata
Emory's sedge Carex emoryi
Engelmann's daisy Engelmannia peristenia
erect spiderling Boerhavia erecta
false buffalograss Munroa squarrosa
feather fingergrass Chloris virgata
fetid marigold Dyssodia papposa
fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
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
grassleaf lettuce Lactuca graminifolia
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
groundplum milkvetch Astragalus crassicarpus
hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
Hopi tea greenthread Thelesperma megapotamicum
horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
ivyleaf groundcherry Physalis hederifolia
James' cryptantha Cryptantha cinerea
lacy tansyaster Machaeranthera pinnatifida
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
lemon scurfpea Psoralidium lanceolatum
lesser spikemoss Selaginella densa
lesser wirelettuce Stephanomeria minor
Louisiana broomrape Orobanche ludoviciana
Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
Macoun's cudweed Pseudognaphalium macounii
mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
matted sandmat Chamaesyce serpens
mealy goosefoot Chenopodium incanum
Mojave seablite Suaeda moquinii
mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
narrowleaf four o'clock Mirabilis linearis
narrowleaf goosefoot Chenopodium leptophyllum
narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
nodding onion Allium cernuum
northern water plantain Alisma triviale
painted milkvetch Astragalus ceramicus
pale dock Rumex altissimus
pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
Pennsylvania cinquefoil Potentilla pensylvanica
Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
plains bluegrass Poa arida
plains springparsley Cymopterus acaulis
pleated gentian Gentiana affinis
pony beebalm Monarda pectinata
Porter brome Bromus porteri
povertyweed Iva axillaris
Powell's amaranth Amaranthus powellii
prairie sandmat Chamaesyce missurica
prairie sunflower Helianthus petiolaris
Pursh seepweed Suaeda calceoliformis
pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis
redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
River Broom-Rape Orobanche riparia
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
rusty lupine Lupinus pusillus
sacred thorn-apple Datura wrightii
sand sagebrush Artemisia filifolia
scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
shy wallflower Erysimum inconspicuum
silkcotton purslane Portulaca halimoides
silverleaf Indian breadroot Pediomelum argophyllum
silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
silverscale saltbush Atriplex argentea
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sixweeks threeawn Aristida adscensionis
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender lipfern Cheilanthes feei
slimflower scurfpea Psoralidium tenuiflorum
small-leaf pussytoes Antennaria parvifolia
snowball sand verbena Abronia fragrans
southern cattail Typha domingensis
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
spike dropseed Sporobolus contractus
spinystar Escobaria vivipara
spiral ditchgrass Ruppia cirrhosa
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens
spreading sandwort Arenaria lanuginosa
starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
stemless four-nerve daisy Tetraneuris acaulis
stemless Townsend daisy Townsendia exscapa
summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
tasselflower brickellbush Brickellia grandiflora
Texas croton Croton texensis
Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threenerve goldenrod Solidago velutina
tobacco root Valeriana edulis
trailing fleabane Erigeron flagellaris
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
tumble windmill grass Chloris verticillata
tumblegrass Schedonnardus paniculatus
twistspine pricklypear Opuntia macrorhiza
velvetweed Oenothera curtiflora
velvety goldenrod Solidago mollis
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
warty caltrop Kallstroemia parviflora
wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
western poison ivy Toxicodendron rydbergii
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
western wallflower Erysimum asperum
white four o'clock Mirabilis albida
white prairie aster Symphyotrichum falcatum
whitest evening primrose Oenothera albicaulis
whitestem blazingstar Mentzelia albicaulis
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
winged pigweed Cycloloma atriplicifolium
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
woolly cinquefoil Potentilla hippiana
woolly tidestromia Tidestromia lanuginosa
wormseed sandmat Chamaesyce vermiculata
Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens

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
common pepperweedLepidium densiflorum
common reedPhragmites australis
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.

Native species counts, Socorro County and New Mexico
Measure	Socorro County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	373	258	1,103
Garden-ready natives	211	160	570
Tree	40	—	81
Shrub	45	—	95
Wildflower (forb)	194	—	602
Grass or grass-like	80	—	275
Vine	10	—	22
Fern	4	—	28

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Socorro County.

Catron County, NM 194 garden-ready
Lincoln County, NM 190 garden-ready
Sierra County, NM 160 garden-ready
Torrance County, NM 114 garden-ready
Valencia County, NM 102 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: Socorro County (county FIPS 35053), New Mexico. 373 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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