Native plants · Oregon
Native plants of Sherman County
168 plant species are recorded as native to Oregon in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Sherman County by USDA PLANTS. 134 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
Sherman County, Oregon
- Native species
- 168 Typical Oregon county: 432 (median of 36 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 134 Typical Oregon county: 311
- Share by type (all 168 native species)
-
Percent of the 168 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (60%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (18%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 134
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| American licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| American vetch Vicia americana | Vine | 1.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| antelope bitterbrush Purshia tridentata | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| arrowleaf balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| ballhead waterleaf Hydrophyllum capitatum | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| basalt milkvetch Astragalus filipes | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| basin wildrye Leymus cinereus | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| beardless wildrye Leymus triticoides | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata | Tree | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| bigflower agoseris Agoseris grandiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 1.8 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| bigseed biscuitroot Lomatium macrocarpum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| blanketflower Gaillardia aristata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Blue Mountain buckwheat Eriogonum strictum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| 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 snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| California brome Bromus carinatus | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9a |
| Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Canby's biscuitroot Lomatium canbyi | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| Carey's balsamroot Balsamorhiza careyana | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus | Grass or grass-like | 1.7 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Columbia needlegrass Achnatherum nelsonii | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| common reed Phragmites australis | Shrub | 13 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| cows clover Trifolium wormskioldii | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| curvepod milkvetch Astragalus curvicarpus | Wildflower (forb) | 5 in | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| curvepod yellowcress Rorippa curvisiliqua | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 12b |
| darkthroat shootingstar Dodecatheon pulchellum | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| desert centaury Centaurium exaltatum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| desert yellow fleabane Erigeron linearis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Douglas' dustymaiden Chaenactis douglasii | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| Douglas' sedge Carex douglasii | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa | Shrub | 15 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| fernleaf biscuitroot Lomatium dissectum | Wildflower (forb) | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 8a |
| freckled milkvetch Astragalus lentiginosus | Shrub | 1.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| golden currant Ribes aureum | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12b |
| Greene's mountain ash Sorbus scopulina | Tree | 12 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| Idaho fescue Festuca idahoensis | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| largeflower hawksbeard Crepis occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 11 in | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| largeflower triteleia Triteleia grandiflora | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| Leiberg's bluegrass Poa leibergii | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| Lewis' mock orange Philadelphus lewisii | Shrub | 12 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| low pussytoes Antennaria dimorpha | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| MacKenzie's willow Salix prolixa | Tree | 45 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2a |
| mat muhly Muhlenbergia richardsonis | Grass or grass-like | 6 in | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus | Grass or grass-like | 10 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 12b |
| mountain brome Bromus marginatus | Grass or grass-like | 4 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 |
| needle and thread Hesperostipa comata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| nineleaf biscuitroot Lomatium triternatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| northern bedstraw Galium boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| northwest sandbar willow Salix sessilifolia | Tree | 20 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Oregon checkerbloom Sidalcea oregana | Wildflower (forb) | 4.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| Oregon white oak Quercus garryana | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| pale evening primrose Oenothera pallida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| pinkfairies Clarkia pulchella | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12a |
| prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata | Grass or grass-like | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| redosier dogwood Cornus sericea | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| Rocky Mountain iris Iris missouriensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| rough bugleweed Lycopus asper | Wildflower (forb) | 2.1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| roundleaf alumroot Heuchera cylindrica | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| royal penstemon Penstemon speciosus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| rush pussytoes Antennaria luzuloides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Rydberg's penstemon Penstemon rydbergii | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| sagebrush buttercup Ranunculus glaberrimus | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| sagebrush mariposa lily Calochortus macrocarpus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.8 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| salt heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda | Grass or grass-like | 1.4 ft | Sun–part shade | 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 |
| scabland penstemon Penstemon deustus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| scabland sagebrush Artemisia rigida | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| Scouler's woollyweed Hieracium scouleri | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| seep monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| sharpleaf penstemon Penstemon acuminatus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| shiny chickweed Stellaria nitens | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 12a |
| showy milkweed Asclepias speciosa | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| silky lupine Lupinus sericeus | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| silverleaf phacelia Phacelia hastata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| slender cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis | Wildflower (forb) | 2.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| slenderbeak sedge Carex athrostachya | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | 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 |
| spineless horsebrush Tetradymia canescens | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 9a |
| spreading phlox Phlox diffusa | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| squirreltail Elymus elymoides | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| sticky purple geranium Geranium viscosissimum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| tapertip onion Allium acuminatum | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| tarweed fiddleneck Amsinckia lycopsoides | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| thickspike wheatgrass Elymus lanceolatus | Grass or grass-like | 2.3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| thinleaved owl's-clover Orthocarpus tenuifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
| threadleaf fleabane Erigeron filifolius | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| Thurber's needlegrass Achnatherum thurberianum | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi | Grass or grass-like | 3.1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| water birch Betula occidentalis | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 1a |
| water knotweed Polygonum amphibium | Wildflower (forb) | 1 in | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| wax currant Ribes cereum | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| western columbine Aquilegia formosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| western goldentop Euthamia occidentalis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| western juniper Juniperus occidentalis | Tree | 33 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| western stoneseed Lithospermum ruderale | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| western white clematis Clematis ligusticifolia | Vine | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white alder Alnus rhombifolia | Tree | 65 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| whitebark raspberry Rubus leucodermis | Vine | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8a |
| whitestem gooseberry Ribes inerme | Shrub | 8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Woods' rose Rosa woodsii | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| woolly groundsel Packera cana | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| woolly plantain Plantago patagonica | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
| woollypod milkvetch Astragalus purshii | Wildflower (forb) | 7 in | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| yellow fritillary Fritillaria pudica | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12a |
| yellow rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| yellow spiderflower Cleome lutea | Wildflower (forb) | 2.7 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 12a |
| yellow wildrye Leymus flavescens | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 34
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 bird's-foot trefoil Lotus unifoliolatus
- arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
- bigleaf lupine Lupinus polyphyllus
- brittle pricklypear Opuntia fragilis
- cutleaf nightshade Solanum triflorum
- Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
- flatspine bur ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa
- fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
- grand redstem Ammannia robusta
- hoary tansyaster Machaeranthera canescens
- lemon scurfpea Psoralidium lanceolatum
- manyflowered monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus
- mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
- muskflower Mimulus moschatus
- needleleaf navarretia Navarretia intertexta
- oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
- Oregon cliff fern Woodsia oregana
- povertyweed Iva axillaris
- prairie sunflower Helianthus petiolaris
- ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
- shaggy fleabane Erigeron pumilus
- slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
- spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
- starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
- tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- veiny dock Rumex venosus
- water mudwort Limosella aquatica
- wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum
- western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
- western poison ivy Toxicodendron rydbergii
- western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
- woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
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.
- Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
- white sagebrushArtemisia ludoviciana
Compared with Oregon
The typical county is the median of the 36 Oregon 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 | Sherman County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 168 | 432 | 1,058 |
| Garden-ready natives | 134 | 311 | 683 |
| Tree | 15 | — | 87 |
| Shrub | 15 | — | 115 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 100 | — | 567 |
| Grass or grass-like | 31 | — | 232 |
| Vine | 5 | — | 18 |
| Fern | 2 | — | 39 |
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
- Sherman County (county FIPS 41055), Oregon. 168 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