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Native plants · Virginia

Native plants of Mathews County

536 plant species are recorded as native to Virginia in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Mathews County by USDA PLANTS. 258 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

Mathews County, Virginia

Native species
536 Typical Virginia county: 687 (median of 102 counties)
Garden-ready natives
258 Typical Virginia county: 288
Share by type (all 536 native species)
Percent of the 536 native species in each growth type
Tree 15% (78)
Shrub 6% (31)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (275)
Grass or grass-like 19% (101)
Vine 6% (33)
Fern 3% (18)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (19%).

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 258

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

Garden-ready native plants of Mathews 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 elm Ulmus americana Tree 120 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
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 water horehound Lycopus americanus Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American water plantain Alisma subcordatum Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun High Zone 4a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
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
bald cypress Taxodium distichum Tree 130 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
big cordgrass Spartina cynosuroides Grass or grass-like 8 ft Sun High Zone 7a
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 raspberry Rubus occidentalis Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
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
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
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium 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
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
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 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 rush Juncus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
Carolina ash Fraxinus caroliniana Tree 39 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 7b
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus Wildflower (forb) 2.7 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
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
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii Tree 70 ft Sun 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
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 hackberry Celtis occidentalis Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 2b
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 sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria Tree 20 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 5a
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
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
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
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum Shrub 16 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12a
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa Tree 20 ft Sun High Zone 4b
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
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
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
Frank's sedge Carex frankii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
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
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
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
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High 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
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
hop sedge Carex lupulina Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana Tree 45 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans Grass or grass-like 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
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
laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
lavender thrift Limonium carolinianum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 6b
lesser creeping rush Juncus repens Grass or grass-like 6.8 ft Sun High Zone 8b
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
live oak Quercus virginiana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8a
loblolly pine Pinus taeda Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 6b
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina Shrub 9 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 5a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 4a
Maryland senna Senna marilandica Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5b
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
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia Wildflower (forb) 2.8 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 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
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
overcup oak Quercus lyrata Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
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 bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
pine barren goldenrod Solidago fistulosa Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
possumhaw Ilex decidua Tree 33 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
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
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun Low Zone 3a
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
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
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft 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
river birch Betula nigra Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 4a
riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant 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
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
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
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
silver maple Acer saccharinum Tree 90 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
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 beggartick Bidens laevis Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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 bayberry Morella caroliniensis Tree 7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
southern red oak Quercus falcata Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium 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
St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
stiff dogwood Cornus foemina Tree 16 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium Wildflower (forb) 10 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
sugarberry Celtis laevigata Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
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
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides Wildflower (forb) — Sun Medium Zone 10b
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius Wildflower (forb) 5.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
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
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus Wildflower (forb) 5 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
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
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade 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 dayflower Commelina virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
Virginia iris Iris virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High 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 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 hickory Carya aquatica Tree 85 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
water oak Quercus nigra Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 5a
wax myrtle Morella cerifera Tree 10 ft Sun High Zone 7a
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 oak Quercus alba Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
whitegrass Leersia virginica Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 7a
willow oak Quercus phellos Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
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
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
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
yaupon Ilex vomitoria Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8a
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 278

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 monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
  • amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • American searocket Cakile edentula
  • American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
  • angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
  • anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
  • annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
  • Appalachian clubmoss Huperzia appalachiana
  • ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
  • axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
  • azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
  • Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
  • beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
  • beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
  • big carpetgrass Axonopus furcatus
  • bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
  • black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
  • Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
  • broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
  • broadwing sedge Carex alata
  • brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
  • brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
  • bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
  • bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
  • camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
  • cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
  • Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
  • Carolina ponysfoot Dichondra carolinensis
  • Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
  • Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
  • chinquapin Castanea pumila
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
  • claspingleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum gymnanthum
  • clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
  • clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
  • coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
  • coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
  • common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
  • common moonseed Menispermum canadense
  • common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
  • compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
  • creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
  • creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
  • crested yellow orchid Platanthera cristata
  • crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
  • crossvine Bignonia capreolata
  • cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
  • cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
  • cylindricfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia glandulosa
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
  • devil's-tongue Opuntia humifusa
  • dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
  • downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
  • downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
  • downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
  • downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
  • downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
  • downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
  • dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
  • dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
  • early blue violet Viola ×palmata
  • eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
  • eastern grasswort Lilaeopsis chinensis
  • eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • erect centella Centella erecta
  • eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
  • fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fern flatsedge Cyperus filicinus
  • fewflower ticktrefoil Desmodium pauciflorum
  • field pansy Viola bicolor
  • field thistle Cirsium discolor
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
  • Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
  • globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
  • Gray's flatsedge Cyperus grayi
  • Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
  • Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
  • hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
  • hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
  • halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
  • handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
  • herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
  • hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • hyssopleaf hedgenettle Stachys hyssopifolia
  • 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
  • kidneyleaf mudplantain Heteranthera reniformis
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
  • lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
  • lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
  • leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
  • lesser Canadian St. Johnswort Hypericum canadense
  • lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
  • lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
  • licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
  • lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
  • loosehead beaksedge Rhynchospora chalarocephala
  • low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
  • low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
  • marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
  • marsh fimbry Fimbristylis castanea
  • marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
  • Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
  • Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
  • Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
  • narrowleaf lespedeza Lespedeza angustifolia
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia linearis
  • narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
  • netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
  • nodding beaksedge Rhynchospora inexpansa
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern watermeal Wolffia borealis
  • Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
  • Nuttall's ticktrefoil Desmodium nuttallii
  • oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
  • pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
  • partridgeberry Mitchella repens
  • perennial saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium
  • pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
  • pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
  • purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
  • red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
  • red turtlehead Chelone obliqua
  • Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
  • 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
  • running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
  • salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
  • saltmarsh false foxglove Agalinis maritima
  • sand hickory Carya pallida
  • sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
  • scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
  • seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
  • seawrack Zostera marina
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
  • shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
  • showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
  • sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
  • slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
  • slender seapurslane Sesuvium maritimum
  • slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
  • slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
  • small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
  • Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
  • smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
  • smooth elephantsfoot Elephantopus nudatus
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • sneezeweed Helenium amarum
  • soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
  • southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
  • Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
  • sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
  • spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
  • spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
  • spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
  • spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
  • St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
  • stiff ticktrefoil Desmodium obtusum
  • stiff yellow flax Linum medium
  • stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
  • swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
  • Swan's sedge Carex swanii
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
  • tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
  • tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
  • toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
  • violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
  • violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
  • Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
  • Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
  • Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
  • weak rush Juncus debilis
  • white turtlehead Chelone glabra
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
  • whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
  • whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
  • whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
  • wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
  • wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
  • woolly ragwort Packera tomentosa
  • yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
  • yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
  • yellow spikerush Eleocharis flavescens
  • yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
  • 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
  • Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides
  • switchcaneArundinaria tecta

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, Mathews County and Virginia
MeasureMathews CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 536 687 1,985
Garden-ready natives 258 288 660
Tree 78 — 198
Shrub 31 — 109
Wildflower (forb) 275 — 1,023
Grass or grass-like 101 — 483
Vine 33 — 80
Fern 18 — 92

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Mathews 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
Mathews County (county FIPS 51115), Virginia. 536 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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