Native plants · New York

Native plants of Seneca County

388 plant species are recorded as native to New York in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Seneca County by USDA PLANTS. 156 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Seneca County, New York

Native species: 388 Typical New York county: 699 (median of 62 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 156 Typical New York county: 299
Share by type (all 388 native species): Percent of the 388 native species in each growth type

Tree 5% (21)
Shrub 5% (18)
Wildflower (forb) 47% (183)
Grass or grass-like 32% (126)
Vine 2% (8)
Fern 8% (32)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (47%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (32%).

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 6a to 6b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 156

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

Garden-ready native plants of Seneca County, New York
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
alderleaf buckthorn Rhamnus alnifolia	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American black currant Ribes americanum	Shrub	3 ft	—	—	Zone 2b
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American water horehound Lycopus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	1.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
arborvitae Thuja occidentalis	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	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
black maple Acer nigrum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
black spruce Picea mariana	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 1a
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
bog willowherb Epilobium leptophyllum	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	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
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa	Wildflower (forb)	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
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
Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Carolina rose Rosa carolina	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
chestnut oak Quercus montana	Tree	73 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common mare's-tail Hippuris vulgaris	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common reed Phragmites australis	Shrub	13 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
crested sedge Carex cristatella	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
cypressknee sedge Carex decomposita	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana	Vine	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
drooping woodreed Cinna latifolia	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
eastern rough sedge Carex scabrata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
eastern white pine Pinus strobus	Tree	150 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
field pussytoes Antennaria neglecta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
fineleaf pondweed Stuckenia filiformis	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
flatstem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
fringed brome Bromus ciliatus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
golden sedge Carex aurea	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
graceful sedge Carex gracillima	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens	Grass or grass-like	5.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2a
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
hairy sedge Carex lacustris	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
hairyfruit sedge Carex trichocarpa	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
hooded lady's tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
hop sedge Carex lupulina	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
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
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
knotted rush Juncus nodosus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 3a
lesser panicled sedge Carex diandra	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
longhair sedge Carex comosa	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
longleaf starwort Stellaria longifolia	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
mud sedge Carex limosa	Grass or grass-like	1.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis	Fern	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
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 fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
nodding waternymph Najas flexilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
northern bayberry Morella pensylvanica	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
Pennsylvania buttercup Ranunculus pensylvanicus	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	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
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica	Grass or grass-like	1.8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purplestem aster Symphyotrichum puniceum	Wildflower (forb)	8.1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
rattlesnake mannagrass Glyceria canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
red goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 12b
red pine Pinus resinosa	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
river bulrush Bolboschoenus fluviatilis	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum	Shrub	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
silky dogwood Cornus amomum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
slimstem reedgrass Calamagrostis stricta	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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 horsetail Equisetum laevigatum	Fern	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
softleaf sedge Carex disperma	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
stalked bulrush Scirpus pedicellatus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
star duckweed Lemna trisulca	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun	High	Zone 3b
star sedge Carex echinata	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus	Shrub	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
tall cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
tamarack Larix laricina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 1a
tawny cottongrass Eriophorum virginicum	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides	Grass or grass-like	4 in	Sun	High	Zone 3b
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
tufted loosestrife Lysimachia thyrsiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	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
water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile	Fern	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
water sedge Carex aquatilis	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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 232

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.

Adam and Eve Aplectrum hyemale
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
autumn willow Salix serissima
bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
Beck's water-marigold Bidens beckii
beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
biennial beeblossom Oenothera gaura
big devils beggartick Bidens vulgata
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
Blue Ridge sedge Carex lucorum
bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia
bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
bright green spikerush Eleocharis olivacea
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broadwing sedge Carex alata
brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
buttonbush dodder Cuscuta cephalanthi
Buxbaum's sedge Carex buxbaumii
Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
Canadian burnet Sanguisorba canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
candle anemone Anemone cylindrica
Carolina mosquitofern Azolla caroliniana
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
Clinton's woodfern Dryopteris clintoniana
Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
common marsh bedstraw Galium palustre
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
creeping sedge Carex chordorrhiza
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
cypress-like sedge Carex pseudocyperus
dioecious sedge Carex sterilis
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
dryspike sedge Carex siccata
earlyleaf brome Bromus latiglumis
earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
false hop sedge Carex lupuliformis
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fen grass of Parnassus Parnassia glauca
fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
fewflower sedge Carex pauciflora
fewflower spikerush Eleocharis quinqueflora
fewflower ticktrefoil Desmodium pauciflorum
fewnerved cottongrass Eriophorum tenellum
flatleaf bladderwort Utricularia intermedia
floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
Fries' pondweed Potamogeton friesii
gaywings Polygala paucifolia
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
Goldie's woodfern Dryopteris goldieana
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
grove bluegrass Poa alsodes
hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
hiddenfruit bladderwort Utricularia geminiscapa
Hitchcock's sedge Carex hitchcockiana
hoary verbena Verbena stricta
Hooker's orchid Platanthera hookeri
horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
hybrid cattail Typha ×glauca
Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
inundated clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
lakecress Neobeckia aquatica
lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
lespedeza Lespedeza ×brittonii
lesser purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes
lesser rattlesnake plantain Goodyera repens
little grapefern Botrychium simplex
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
log fern Dryopteris celsa
long beechfern Phegopteris connectilis
longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
low nutrush Scleria verticillata
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh arrowgrass Triglochin palustris
marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
matricary grapefern Botrychium matricariifolium
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
mosquito bulrush Scirpus hattorianus
narrowleaf pondweed Potamogeton strictifolius
needle beaksedge Rhynchospora capillacea
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
northern bog aster Symphyotrichum boreale
northern bog sedge Carex gynocrates
northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
northern watermeal Wolffia borealis
Nuttall's ticktrefoil Desmodium nuttallii
oldpasture bluegrass Poa saltuensis
Ontario lobelia Lobelia kalmii
painted trillium Trillium undulatum
pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie sedge Carex prairea
purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
rannoch-rush Scheuchzeria palustris
red baneberry Actaea rubra
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
red trillium Trillium erectum
redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
rigid sedge Carex tetanica
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
sand violet Viola affinis
Sartwell's sedge Carex sartwellii
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sessilefruit arrowhead Sagittaria rigida
sheep laurel Kalmia angustifolia
shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
showy ticktrefoil Desmodium canadense
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slimflower muhly Muhlenbergia tenuiflora
small bur-reed Sparganium natans
small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
smallflower false foxglove Agalinis paupercula
smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
southern twayblade Listera australis
spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
spiny naiad Najas marina
spoon pondweed Potamogeton ×spathuliformis
spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
three-angle spikerush Eleocharis tricostata
toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
Tuckerman's sedge Carex tuckermanii
tussock cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum
upland brittle bladderfern Cystopteris tenuis
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
Virginia mountainmint Pycnanthemum virginianum
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
western blue virginsbower Clematis occidentalis
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
witchgrass Panicum capillare
wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
woollyfruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa
yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
yellow sedge Carex flava
yellow water buttercup Ranunculus flabellaris
yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens

Also listed as native and introduced here 2

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with New York

The typical county is the median of the 62 New York 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, Seneca County and New York
Measure	Seneca County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	388	699	1,886
Garden-ready natives	156	299	655
Tree	21	—	171
Shrub	18	—	120
Wildflower (forb)	183	—	970
Grass or grass-like	126	—	472
Vine	8	—	56
Fern	32	—	97

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Seneca County.

Ontario County, NY 293 garden-ready
Schuyler County, NY 145 garden-ready
Tompkins County, NY 379 garden-ready
Wayne County, NY 216 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: Seneca County (county FIPS 36099), New York. 388 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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