Native plants · New York

Native plants of Steuben County

412 plant species are recorded as native to New York in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Steuben County by USDA PLANTS. 179 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 3 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Steuben County, New York

Native species: 412 Typical New York county: 699 (median of 62 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 179 Typical New York county: 299
Share by type (all 412 native species): Percent of the 412 native species in each growth type

Tree 10% (43)
Shrub 9% (37)
Wildflower (forb) 41% (168)
Grass or grass-like 28% (115)
Vine 3% (13)
Fern 9% (36)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (41%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (28%).

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 5b to 6a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 179

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

Garden-ready native plants of Steuben County, New York
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
alderleaf buckthorn Rhamnus alnifolia	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
American black currant Ribes americanum	Shrub	3 ft	—	—	Zone 2b
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 elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American plum Prunus americana	Tree	24 ft	Sun	Medium	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 sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
arborvitae Thuja occidentalis	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
arctic brome Bromus kalmii	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
arctic sweet coltsfoot Petasites frigidus	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
balsam fir Abies balsamea	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla	Wildflower (forb)	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
bog Labrador tea Ledum groenlandicum	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	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
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
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
butternut Juglans cinerea	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	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 wildrye Elymus canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Canada yew Taxus canadensis	Shrub	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
cattail sedge Carex typhina	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
chestnut oak Quercus montana	Tree	73 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	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 duckweed Lemna minor	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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 spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
creeping snowberry Gaultheria hispidula	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata	Fern	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
crookedstem aster Symphyotrichum prenanthoides	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
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 darning needles Clematis virginiana	Vine	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
Dewey sedge Carex deweyana	Grass or grass-like	3.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
downy arrowwood Viburnum rafinesqueanum	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3a
drooping sedge Carex prasina	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	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
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
flatstem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans	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
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
fringed sedge Carex crinita	Grass or grass-like	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
graceful sedge Carex gracillima	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
great laurel Rhododendron maximum	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
great St. Johnswort Hypericum ascyron	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
greater straw sedge Carex normalis	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
inland sedge Carex interior	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana	Fern	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
jointleaf rush Juncus articulatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
knotted rush Juncus nodosus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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
longhair sedge Carex comosa	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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
melic mannagrass Glyceria melicaria	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana	Grass or grass-like	3 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
mountain maple Acer spicatum	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
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 bush honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera	Shrub	2.4 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra	Tree	68 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
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
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
pitch pine Pinus rigida	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
pride of Ohio Dodecatheon meadia	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
pussy willow Salix discolor	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
quill sedge Carex tenera	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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 currant Ribes triste	Shrub	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 1a
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
red pine Pinus resinosa	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
sageleaf willow Salix candida	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
shallow sedge Carex lurida	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
shining willow Salix lucida	Tree	13 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
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
silky dogwood Cornus amomum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
silvery sedge Carex canescens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
slender bulrush Schoenoplectus heterochaetus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
southern arrowwood Viburnum recognitum	Tree	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
stalked bulrush Scirpus pedicellatus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
stiff clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum	Fern	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus	Shrub	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
swamp rose Rosa palustris	Shrub	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
sweetgale Myrica gale	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
tamarack Larix laricina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 1a
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides	Grass or grass-like	4 in	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum	Vine	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
threeseeded sedge Carex trisperma	Grass or grass-like	1.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
whitestem pondweed Potamogeton praelongus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
woodland horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum	Fern	11 in	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3a
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b

Other native species recorded here 233

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.

agueweed Gentianella quinquefolia
Allegheny hawkweed Hieracium paniculatum
Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
allegheny vine Adlumia fungosa
alpine violet Viola labradorica
American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American marshpennywort Hydrocotyle americana
American milletgrass Milium effusum
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
American wintergreen Pyrola americana
Appalachian barren strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides
Appalachian gooseberry Ribes rotundifolium
Appalachian sedge Carex appalachica
bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
balm-of-Gilead Populus ×jackii
bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
bear oak Quercus ilicifolia
Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
Beck's water-marigold Bidens beckii
beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
Bicknell's cranesbill Geranium bicknellii
biennial beeblossom Oenothera gaura
bigfruit hawthorn Crataegus macrosperma
black baneberry Actaea racemosa
blackseed ricegrass Patis racemosa
bluntleaf pondweed Potamogeton obtusifolius
bluntlobe grapefern Botrychium oneidense
bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia
bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
Bowman's root Gillenia trifoliata
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida
brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
Buxbaum's sedge Carex buxbaumii
Canadian burnet Sanguisorba canadensis
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
catberry Ilex mucronata
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
Clinton's woodfern Dryopteris clintoniana
clustered sedge Carex cumulata
common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
Copenhagen hawthorn Crataegus intricata
cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
cypress-like sedge Carex pseudocyperus
deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
dotted hawthorn Crataegus punctata
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
dragon's mouth Arethusa bulbosa
Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
dwarf chinquapin oak Quercus prinoides
dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
earlyleaf brome Bromus latiglumis
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
false hop sedge Carex lupuliformis
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fen grass of Parnassus Parnassia glauca
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
fleshy hawthorn Crataegus succulenta
floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
gall of the earth Prenanthes trifoliolata
gaywings Polygala paucifolia
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
greater water dock Rumex orbiculatus
greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
Hayden's sedge Carex haydenii
hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
Holmes' hawthorn Crataegus holmesiana
horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
Houghton's flatsedge Cyperus houghtonii
Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
largebract ticktrefoil Desmodium cuspidatum
largepod pinweed Lechea intermedia
leafy bulrush Scirpus polyphyllus
leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
lesser purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes
lesser rattlesnake plantain Goodyera repens
long beechfern Phegopteris connectilis
low false bindweed Calystegia spithamaea
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
matricary grapefern Botrychium matricariifolium
meadow zizia Zizia aptera
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mountain woodfern Dryopteris campyloptera
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
nodding onion Allium cernuum
northern adderstongue Ophioglossum pusillum
northern bog bedstraw Galium labradoricum
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
northern shorthusk Brachyelytrum aristosum
pale sedge Carex pallescens
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
pear hawthorn Crataegus calpodendron
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
Porter's reedgrass Calamagrostis porteri
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie sedge Carex prairea
purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
red baneberry Actaea rubra
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
red trillium Trillium erectum
Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
rock harlequin Corydalis sempervirens
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
scarlet hawthorn Crataegus pedicellata
Schreber's aster Eurybia schreberi
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sessilefruit arrowhead Sagittaria rigida
sevenangle pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
showy ticktrefoil Desmodium canadense
sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
slender waternymph Najas gracillima
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth rose Rosa blanda
smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
spiral pondweed Potamogeton spirillus
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
stout goldenrod Solidago squarrosa
summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
sweet white violet Viola blanda
tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
threeleaf goldthread Coptis trifolia
tower rockcress Arabis glabra
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
twinflower Linnaea borealis
twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
umbrella flatsedge Cyperus diandrus
upland brittle bladderfern Cystopteris tenuis
Vasey's pondweed Potamogeton vaseyi
Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
water arum Calla palustris
waterplantain spearwort Ranunculus ambigens
watershield Brasenia schreberi
waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
western blue virginsbower Clematis occidentalis
western oakfern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
Wiegand's wildrye Elymus wiegandii
wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
woodland flax Linum virginianum
woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
yellow sedge Carex flava
yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii

Also listed as native and introduced here 3

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 reedPhragmites australis
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, Steuben County and New York
Measure	Steuben County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	412	699	1,886
Garden-ready natives	179	299	655
Tree	43	—	171
Shrub	37	—	120
Wildflower (forb)	168	—	970
Grass or grass-like	115	—	472
Vine	13	—	56
Fern	36	—	97

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Steuben County.

Allegany County, NY 172 garden-ready
Chemung County, NY 310 garden-ready
Livingston County, NY 204 garden-ready
Ontario County, NY 293 garden-ready
Schuyler County, NY 145 garden-ready
Yates County, NY 209 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: Steuben County (county FIPS 36101), New York. 412 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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