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Native plants · Virginia

Native plants of Lancaster County

532 plant species are recorded as native to Virginia in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Lancaster County by USDA PLANTS. 240 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 5 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Lancaster County, Virginia

Native species
532 Typical Virginia county: 687 (median of 102 counties)
Garden-ready natives
240 Typical Virginia county: 288
Share by type (all 532 native species)
Percent of the 532 native species in each growth type
Tree 13% (69)
Shrub 7% (38)
Wildflower (forb) 49% (260)
Grass or grass-like 21% (110)
Vine 6% (34)
Fern 4% (21)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (49%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zone 8a (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 240

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

Garden-ready native plants of Lancaster County, Virginia
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
American beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
American beautyberry Callicarpa americana Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6b
American beech Fagus grandifolia Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
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 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 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 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
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
bald cypress Taxodium distichum Tree 130 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
big cordgrass Spartina cynosuroides Grass or grass-like 8 ft Sun High Zone 7a
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 3a
bitter panicgrass Panicum amarum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis Tree 75 ft Sun Medium Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata Shrub 4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia Tree 60 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica Tree 95 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium Tree 16 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica Tree 25 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High 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
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus Grass or grass-like 6.3 ft Sun High Zone 5a
bushy seaside tansy Borrichia frutescens Shrub 2.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 9a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low 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 altissima Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
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
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus Wildflower (forb) 2.7 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Carolina rose Rosa carolina Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
chestnut oak Quercus montana Tree 73 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia Tree 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
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
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana Tree 55 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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 threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
coral greenbrier Smilax walteri Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 6a
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
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
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa Tree 20 ft Sun High Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
dwarf huckleberry Gaylussacia dumosa Shrub 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
dwarf spikerush Eleocharis parvula Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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 cottonwood Populus deltoides Tree 190 ft Sun High Zone 3a
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 5a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
eastern white pine Pinus strobus Tree 150 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
field horsetail Equisetum arvense Fern 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
field paspalum Paspalum laeve Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
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 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
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
frost grape Vitis vulpina Vine 83 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
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
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
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 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
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 7b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus Wildflower (forb) 9.8 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
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
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 6b
lavender thrift Limonium carolinianum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 6b
little barley Hordeum pusillum Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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
loblolly pine Pinus taeda Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 6b
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina Shrub 9 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 5a
manyflower flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun High Zone 8a
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 4a
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
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia Vine 30 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
needlegrass rush Juncus roemerianus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 9a
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 7a
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
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa Tree 60 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
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
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
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata Wildflower (forb) 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
pawpaw Asimina triloba Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
pignut hickory Carya glabra Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
pin oak Quercus palustris Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4a
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
poorland flatsedge Cyperus compressus Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
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 fleabane Erigeron strigosus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
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
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
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Fern 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia Shrub 5 ft Sun High Zone 5b
red maple Acer rubrum Tree 68 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra Tree 70 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
river birch Betula nigra Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 4a
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
sand blackberry Rubus cuneifolius Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox Vine 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus Shrub 8.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
seaside goldenrod Solidago sempervirens Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
shaggy blazing star Liatris pilosa Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
shallow sedge Carex lurida Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
silver maple Acer saccharinum Tree 90 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
slippery elm Ulmus rubra Tree 85 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
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
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum Tree 8 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 5a
southern red oak Quercus falcata Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
southern waxy sedge Carex glaucescens Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6a
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
stiff dogwood Cornus foemina Tree 16 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
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 chestnut oak Quercus michauxii Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
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
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
sweetbay Magnolia virginiana Tree 60 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 9a
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
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
toad rush Juncus bufonius Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans Vine 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Tree 120 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana Wildflower (forb) 1 in Sun High Zone 4a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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 pine Pinus virginiana Tree 70 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
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 oak Quercus nigra Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 5a
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
wax myrtle Morella cerifera Tree 10 ft Sun High Zone 7a
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 fringetree Chionanthus virginicus Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant High 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
willow oak Quercus phellos Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
winged sumac Rhus copallinum Tree 8 ft Sun Low 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 marsh marigold Caltha palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 292

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's needle Yucca filamentosa
  • alpine violet Viola labradorica
  • amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
  • American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
  • American golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • American searocket Cakile edentula
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
  • annual fimbry Fimbristylis annua
  • Appalachian clubmoss Huperzia appalachiana
  • arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
  • arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
  • Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
  • Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
  • Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
  • azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
  • Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
  • beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
  • beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
  • beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
  • birdfoot violet Viola pedata
  • black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
  • black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
  • Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
  • bright green spikerush Eleocharis olivacea
  • broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
  • broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
  • broadleaf ironweed Vernonia glauca
  • brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
  • brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
  • bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
  • bulltongue arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
  • Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
  • Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
  • cheerful sunflower Helianthus ×laetiflorus
  • chinquapin Castanea pumila
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
  • claspingleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum gymnanthum
  • clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
  • coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
  • common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
  • compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
  • cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
  • creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
  • crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
  • crossvine Bignonia capreolata
  • cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
  • cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
  • devil's-tongue Opuntia humifusa
  • Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
  • dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
  • downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
  • downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
  • downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
  • Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
  • dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
  • dwarf ginseng Panax trifolius
  • early blue violet Viola ×palmata
  • eastern grasswort Lilaeopsis chinensis
  • eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
  • eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
  • eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
  • fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fern flatsedge Cyperus filicinus
  • fescue sedge Carex festucacea
  • field pansy Viola bicolor
  • field thistle Cirsium discolor
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
  • floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
  • Florida mudmidget Wolffiella gladiata
  • Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
  • flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
  • forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
  • fox grape Vitis labrusca
  • globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
  • goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
  • Gray's flatsedge Cyperus grayi
  • Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
  • green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green false hellebore Veratrum viride
  • Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
  • hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
  • hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
  • hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
  • halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
  • handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
  • hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • hirsute sedge Carex complanata
  • hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
  • hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
  • Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
  • Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
  • juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
  • king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
  • lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
  • large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
  • leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
  • Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
  • lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
  • lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
  • lined sedge Carex striatula
  • little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
  • lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
  • man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
  • manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
  • marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
  • maroon Carolina milkvine Matelea carolinensis
  • marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
  • marsh fimbry Fimbristylis castanea
  • Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
  • Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
  • Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
  • narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
  • narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
  • needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
  • netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
  • nodding beaksedge Rhynchospora inexpansa
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
  • Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
  • oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
  • pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
  • partridgeberry Mitchella repens
  • pasture thistle Cirsium pumilum
  • perennial saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium
  • piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
  • pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
  • pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
  • poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • procession flower Polygala incarnata
  • prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
  • purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
  • rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
  • redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
  • rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
  • rose of Plymouth Sabatia stellaris
  • rosepink Sabatia angularis
  • rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
  • rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
  • roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
  • roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
  • roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
  • rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
  • saltmeadow rush Juncus gerardii
  • sand hickory Carya pallida
  • sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
  • scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
  • seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
  • shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
  • shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
  • showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
  • sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
  • slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
  • slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
  • slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
  • slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
  • slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
  • slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
  • small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
  • Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
  • smallfruit spikerush Eleocharis microcarpa
  • smooth elephantsfoot Elephantopus nudatus
  • smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
  • smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
  • sneezeweed Helenium amarum
  • soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
  • Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
  • spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
  • spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
  • spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
  • spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
  • St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
  • stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
  • stiff yellow flax Linum medium
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
  • swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
  • swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
  • sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
  • tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
  • tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • threadleaf false foxglove Agalinis setacea
  • thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
  • tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
  • tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
  • toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
  • umbrella flatsedge Cyperus diandrus
  • Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
  • Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
  • violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
  • Virginia bunchflower Veratrum virginicum
  • Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
  • Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
  • Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
  • wand lythrum Lythrum lineare
  • warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
  • weak rush Juncus debilis
  • white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
  • whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
  • whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
  • widowsfrill Silene stellata
  • wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
  • woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
  • yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
Also listed as native and introduced here 5

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
  • hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
  • Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
  • Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides

Compared with Virginia

The typical county is the median of the 102 Virginia 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, Lancaster County and Virginia
MeasureLancaster CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 532 687 1,985
Garden-ready natives 240 288 660
Tree 69 — 198
Shrub 38 — 109
Wildflower (forb) 260 — 1,023
Grass or grass-like 110 — 483
Vine 34 — 80
Fern 21 — 92

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Lancaster County.

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
Lancaster County (county FIPS 51103), Virginia. 532 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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