Native plants · Rhode Island

Native plants of Washington County

668 plant species are recorded as native to Rhode Island in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Washington County by USDA PLANTS. 283 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

Washington County, Rhode Island

Native species
668 Typical Rhode Island county: 501 (median of 5 counties)
Garden-ready natives
283 Typical Rhode Island county: 236
Share by type (all 668 native species)
Percent of the 668 native species in each growth type
Tree 11% (72)
Shrub 7% (47)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (340)
Grass or grass-like 22% (149)
Vine 3% (23)
Fern 6% (37)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (22%).

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 6b to 7b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Cold hardiness is estimated from each plant’s PLANTS minimum temperature. How we estimate it.

Garden-ready natives 283

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

Garden-ready native plants of Washington County, Rhode Island
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American basswood Tilia americana Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
American beech Fagus grandifolia Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens Vine 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
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 eelgrass Vallisneria americana Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High 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 holly Ilex opaca Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American plum Prunus americana Tree 24 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana Wildflower (forb) 7.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
American water horehound Lycopus americanus Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
annual wildrice Zizania aquatica Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 10b
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Atlantic mannagrass Glyceria obtusa Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
Atlantic white cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
beach pea Lathyrus japonicus Vine 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
beach plum Prunus maritima Shrub 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
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
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla Wildflower (forb) 4.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 3a
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis Tree 75 ft Sun Medium Zone 2b
black ash Fraxinus nigra Tree 65 ft Sun High 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 huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata Shrub 4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
black oak Quercus velutina Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
black walnut Juglans nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 1b
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica Tree 95 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
blister sedge Carex vesicaria Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
bluebead Clintonia borealis Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
bog muhly Muhlenbergia uniflora Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun High Zone 4a
bog willowherb Epilobium leptophyllum Wildflower (forb) 3.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus Shrub 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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
broom sedge Carex scoparia Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
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 goldenrod Solidago canadensis Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
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
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
Carolina redroot Lachnanthes caroliana Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
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
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea Fern 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri Grass or grass-like 6.5 ft Sun High Zone 10b
coastal sweetpepperbush Clethra alnifolia Shrub 16 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli Tree 30 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
common hackberry Celtis occidentalis Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 2b
common reed Phragmites australis Shrub 13 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
common winterberry Ilex verticillata Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
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
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12a
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana Vine 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
eastern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum subulatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 7a
eastern baccharis Baccharis halimifolia Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
eastern straw sedge Carex straminea Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High 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
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
flattened oatgrass Danthonia compressa Grass or grass-like 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
flowering dogwood Cornus florida Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
forked rush Juncus dichotomus Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8b
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
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
fringed sedge Carex crinita Grass or grass-like 5.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
golden ragwort Packera aurea Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
gray birch Betula populifolia Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
gray dogwood Cornus racemosa Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
great laurel Rhododendron maximum Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
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
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens Grass or grass-like 5.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 2a
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
groundnut Apios americana Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
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
hazel alder Alnus serrulata Tree 30 ft Sun High Zone 5a
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Shrub 12 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana Tree 45 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 7b
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
inkberry Ilex glabra Shrub 8 ft Sun High Zone 6a
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
Jesuit's bark Iva frutescens Wildflower (forb) 9 ft Sun High Zone 7b
jewelweed Impatiens capensis Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
jointleaf rush Juncus articulatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Shrub 6 in Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
lavender thrift Limonium carolinianum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 6b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
little green sedge Carex viridula Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
lopsided rush Juncus secundus Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Shrub 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina Shrub 9 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 5a
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
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala Tree 52 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa Tree 85 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia Tree 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
nannyberry Viburnum lentago Tree 28 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis Grass or grass-like 8 in Sun Medium Zone 5a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
New York aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun High Zone 4a
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis Fern 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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 red oak Quercus rubra Tree 81 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
northern St. Johnswort Hypericum boreale Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Nuttall's reedgrass Calamagrostis coarctata Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 12a
paper birch Betula papyrifera Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 1a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata Wildflower (forb) 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 5a
pignut hickory Carya glabra Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica Tree 30 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
pin oak Quercus palustris Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4a
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
pitch pine Pinus rigida Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
post oak Quercus stellata Tree 60 ft Sun 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
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
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
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun Low Zone 3a
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
pussy willow Salix discolor Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 1a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Fern 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
rattlesnake mannagrass Glyceria canadensis Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia Shrub 5 ft Sun High Zone 5b
red maple Acer rubrum Tree 68 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 4a
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
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
Robbins' pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
saltgrass Distichlis spicata Grass or grass-like 1.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
saltmeadow cordgrass Spartina patens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 7a
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus Shrub 8.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
sea milkwort Glaux maritima Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun High Zone 4a
seaside goldenrod Solidago sempervirens Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
shallow sedge Carex lurida Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
silky willow Salix sericea Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
silvery sedge Carex canescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
small beggarticks Bidens discoidea Wildflower (forb) 5.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun High Zone 5a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra Tree 12 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Grass or grass-like 9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
spiked muhly Muhlenbergia glomerata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa Shrub 4 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum Wildflower (forb) 3.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sturdy bulrush Bolboschoenus robustus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 8a
summer grape Vitis aestivalis Vine 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum Shrub 16 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
swamp doghobble Eubotrys racemosus Shrub 13 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus Shrub 8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
swamp rose Rosa palustris Shrub 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides Wildflower (forb) — Sun Medium Zone 10b
swamp white oak Quercus bicolor Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
sweet birch Betula lenta Tree 60 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
sweet fern Comptonia peregrina Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
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
sweetgrass Hierochloe odorata Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
sweetscent Pluchea odorata Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
tall hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
tawny cottongrass Eriophorum virginicum Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
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
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa Grass or grass-like 3.4 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
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
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
Virginia rose Rosa virginiana Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
white ash Fraxinus americana Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 4a
white avens Geum canadense Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
white edge sedge Carex debilis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
white oak Quercus alba Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
whitegrass Leersia virginica Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 7a
wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
winged sumac Rhus copallinum Tree 8 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
woodland horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum Fern 11 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3a
woodland muhly Muhlenbergia sylvatica Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
woolly beachheather Hudsonia tomentosa Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
yellow marsh marigold Caltha palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b

Other native species recorded here 385

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.

  • Allegheny hawkweed Hieracium paniculatum
  • Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
  • alpine violet Viola labradorica
  • American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
  • American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
  • American featherfoil Hottonia inflata
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • American marshpennywort Hydrocotyle americana
  • American searocket Cakile edentula
  • American waterwort Elatine americana
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
  • annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
  • Apocynum ×floribundum Apocynum ×floribundum
  • Appalachian stitchwort Minuartia glabra
  • arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
  • arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
  • arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
  • balm-of-Gilead Populus ×jackii
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • bayonet rush Juncus militaris
  • bear oak Quercus ilicifolia
  • Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
  • beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
  • birdfoot violet Viola pedata
  • blackfruit spikerush Eleocharis melanocarpa
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
  • bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
  • bog fern Thelypteris simulata
  • bog white violet Viola lanceolata
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
  • bright green spikerush Eleocharis olivacea
  • bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida
  • broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
  • broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
  • brown beaksedge Rhynchospora fusca
  • brownfruit rush Juncus pelocarpus
  • brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
  • bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
  • bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
  • button sedge Carex bullata
  • buttonbush dodder Cuscuta cephalanthi
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada lily Lilium canadense
  • Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
  • Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
  • cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
  • Carey's smartweed Polygonum careyi
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • catberry Ilex mucronata
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • cheerful sunflower Helianthus ×laetiflorus
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • clasping water horehound Lycopus amplectens
  • claspingleaf pondweed Potamogeton perfoliatus
  • Clinton's woodfern Dryopteris clintoniana
  • clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
  • coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
  • coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
  • Collins' sedge Carex collinsii
  • combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
  • common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
  • compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
  • cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
  • cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
  • creeping mannagrass Glyceria acutiflora
  • creeping spikerush Eleocharis fallax
  • creeping St. Johnswort Hypericum adpressum
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
  • cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
  • devil's bite Liatris scariosa
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • Dortmann's cardinalflower Lobelia dortmanna
  • downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
  • downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
  • dragon's mouth Arethusa bulbosa
  • dwarf chinquapin oak Quercus prinoides
  • dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
  • dwarf ginseng Panax trifolius
  • dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
  • earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
  • eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
  • eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
  • eastern showy aster Eurybia spectabilis
  • eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
  • Eaton's rosette grass Dichanthelium spretum
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • Elliott's goldenrod Solidago latissimifolia
  • Engelmann's arrowhead Sagittaria engelmanniana
  • fall phlox Phlox paniculata
  • fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fern flatsedge Cyperus filicinus
  • feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
  • fewnerved cottongrass Eriophorum tenellum
  • fireberry hawthorn Crataegus chrysocarpa
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • flatleaf bladderwort Utricularia intermedia
  • floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
  • forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
  • fox grape Vitis labrusca
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • gall of the earth Prenanthes trifoliolata
  • globefruit primrose-willow Ludwigia sphaerocarpa
  • golden hedgehyssop Gratiola aurea
  • goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
  • grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
  • Gray's flatsedge Cyperus grayi
  • Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green false hellebore Veratrum viride
  • Greene's rush Juncus greenei
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
  • hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
  • hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
  • hairystem gooseberry Ribes hirtellum
  • halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
  • handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
  • harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
  • hay sedge Carex argyrantha
  • hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
  • hiddenfruit bladderwort Utricularia geminiscapa
  • hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
  • horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • hyssopleaf hedgenettle Stachys hyssopifolia
  • hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
  • Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • inundated clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata
  • jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
  • Kalm's hawkweed Hieracium kalmii
  • king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
  • lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
  • large St. Johnswort Hypericum majus
  • large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • largepod pinweed Lechea intermedia
  • lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
  • Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
  • lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
  • lesser purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes
  • limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
  • little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
  • little floating bladderwort Utricularia radiata
  • little floatingheart Nymphoides cordata
  • little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
  • long beechfern Phegopteris connectilis
  • longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
  • longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
  • low frostweed Helianthemum propinquum
  • low rough aster Eurybia radula
  • low watermilfoil Myriophyllum humile
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
  • maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
  • manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
  • mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
  • marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
  • marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
  • marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
  • marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
  • marsh willowherb Epilobium palustre
  • Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • matricary grapefern Botrychium matricariifolium
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • narrowfruit horned beaksedge Rhynchospora inundata
  • narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
  • narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
  • narrowpanicle rush Juncus brevicaudatus
  • netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
  • netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
  • northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
  • northern long sedge Carex folliculata
  • northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • Nuttall's milkwort Polygala nuttallii
  • Oakes' pondweed Potamogeton oakesianus
  • oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
  • oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
  • openfield sedge Carex conoidea
  • pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
  • pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
  • pale St. Johnswort Hypericum ellipticum
  • palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
  • paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
  • parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
  • pasture thistle Cirsium pumilum
  • Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
  • perennial saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium
  • perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
  • Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
  • poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
  • purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
  • purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
  • purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
  • rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
  • red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
  • red trillium Trillium erectum
  • Reznicek's sedge Carex reznicekii
  • ribbed sedge Carex virescens
  • rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
  • Robbins' spikerush Eleocharis robbinsii
  • rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
  • rose of Plymouth Sabatia stellaris
  • rosy sedge Carex rosea
  • rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
  • rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
  • roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
  • running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
  • salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
  • saltmarsh false foxglove Agalinis maritima
  • saltmeadow rush Juncus gerardii
  • sandplain flax Linum intercursum
  • scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
  • seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
  • seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
  • seawrack Zostera marina
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • Sesquehana sandcherry Prunus susquehanae
  • sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
  • setose blackberry Rubus setosus
  • sevenangle pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum
  • sheep laurel Kalmia angustifolia
  • shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
  • shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
  • showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa
  • shrubby fivefingers Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
  • silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
  • sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
  • skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender blue iris Iris prismatica
  • slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
  • slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
  • slender watermilfoil Myriophyllum tenellum
  • slender waternymph Najas gracillima
  • slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
  • slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
  • small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • small waterwort Elatine minima
  • Small's yelloweyed grass Xyris smalliana
  • smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
  • Smith's bulrush Schoenoplectiella smithii
  • smooth sawgrass Cladium mariscoides
  • smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
  • smooth winterberry Ilex laevigata
  • smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
  • smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
  • snailseed pondweed Potamogeton bicupulatus
  • snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
  • spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
  • spiral pondweed Potamogeton spirillus
  • spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
  • spoonleaf sundew Drosera intermedia
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
  • starflower Trientalis borealis
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • sticky catchfly Silene caroliniana
  • stiff yellow flax Linum medium
  • stout smartweed Polygonum robustius
  • strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
  • swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • Swan's sedge Carex swanii
  • sweet white violet Viola blanda
  • sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
  • tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
  • tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
  • tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
  • threeleaf goldthread Coptis trifolia
  • thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
  • tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
  • toothed flatsedge Cyperus dentatus
  • toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • triangle orache Atriplex prostrata
  • tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
  • Tuckerman's pondweed Potamogeton confervoides
  • turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
  • twinflower Linnaea borealis
  • twining screwstem Bartonia paniculata
  • umbrella flatsedge Cyperus diandrus
  • upland brittle bladderfern Cystopteris tenuis
  • velvet sedge Carex vestita
  • Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
  • Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
  • Virginia mountainmint Pycnanthemum virginianum
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
  • water arum Calla palustris
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
  • waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
  • Welsh mudwort Limosella australis
  • western oakfern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
  • whip-poor-will flower Trillium cernuum
  • white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
  • white colicroot Aletris farinosa
  • white fringed orchid Platanthera blephariglottis
  • white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
  • whorled mountainmint Pycnanthemum verticillatum
  • whorled wood aster Oclemena acuminata
  • whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
  • widowsfrill Silene stellata
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
  • wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
  • woodland flax Linum virginianum
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • woollyfruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa
  • yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
  • yellow loosestrife Lysimachia ×producta
  • yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
  • yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
  • zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata
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
  • climbing false buckwheatPolygonum scandens
  • hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
  • Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with Rhode Island

The typical county is the median of the 5 Rhode Island 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, Washington County and Rhode Island
MeasureWashington CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 668 501 1,165
Garden-ready natives 283 236 440
Tree 72 — 110
Shrub 47 — 78
Wildflower (forb) 340 — 608
Grass or grass-like 149 — 270
Vine 23 — 34
Fern 37 — 65

Look up another ZIP

Matches your ZIP to the county it mostly lies in, then lists the plants recorded as native to your state (Kew’s World Checklist and USDA PLANTS) and recorded in that county by USDA PLANTS.

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
Washington County (county FIPS 44009), Rhode Island. 668 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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