Native plants · Virginia
Native plants of Northampton County
545 plant species are recorded as native to Virginia in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Northampton County by USDA PLANTS. 242 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 7 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Northampton County, Virginia
- Native species
- 545 Typical Virginia county: 687 (median of 102 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 242 Typical Virginia county: 288
- Share by type (all 545 native species)
-
Percent of the 545 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (50%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (23%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 242
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 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 pokeweed Phytolacca americana | Wildflower (forb) | 7.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| American spongeplant Limnobium spongia | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum | Vine | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| 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 |
| 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 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 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 |
| 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 |
| coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana | Tree | 33 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 7b |
| coastal sweetpepperbush Clethra alnifolia | Shrub | 16 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| common evening primrose Oenothera biennis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 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 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 |
| coral greenbrier Smilax walteri | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 6b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| dwarf azalea Rhododendron atlanticum | Shrub | 2.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| 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 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| golden ragwort Packera aurea | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| graceful sedge Carex gracillima | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 8a |
| 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 |
| Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| inkberry Ilex glabra | Shrub | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| 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 |
| late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| needleleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium aciculare | Grass or grass-like | 1.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 7b |
| 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 |
| nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| northern bayberry Morella pensylvanica | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| northern spicebush Lindera benzoin | Tree | 12 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5a |
| orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 12a |
| oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora | Grass or grass-like | 2.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6a |
| 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 |
| pignut hickory Carya glabra | Tree | 80 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| pine barren goldenrod Solidago fistulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 6.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5b |
| pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| seaoats Uniola paniculata | Grass or grass-like | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| 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 |
| silver maple Acer saccharinum | Tree | 90 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 2b |
| slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 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 |
| 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 waternymph Najas guadalupensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides | Vine | — | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 9b |
| 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. Augustine grass Stenotaphrum secundatum | Grass or grass-like | 11 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 7b |
| 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 |
| sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum | Grass or grass-like | 9.8 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 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 |
| taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 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 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 ash Fraxinus americana | Tree | 90 ft | Sun | High | 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 |
| 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 elm Ulmus alata | Tree | 65 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| 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 flatsedge Cyperus flavescens | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11b |
| yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea | Vine | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 303
PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- Adam's needle Yucca filamentosa
- Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
- Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
- amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
- American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
- American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
- American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
- American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
- American searocket Cakile edentula
- anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
- annual fimbry Fimbristylis annua
- annual phlox Phlox drummondii
- annual seepweed Suaeda linearis
- Appalachian clubmoss Huperzia appalachiana
- Appalachian quillwort Isoetes engelmannii
- arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
- arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
- Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
- autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
- beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
- bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
- big carpetgrass Axonopus furcatus
- bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
- bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
- blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
- Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
- blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
- bog fern Thelypteris simulata
- bog white violet Viola lanceolata
- bog yelloweyed grass Xyris difformis
- Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
- bright green spikerush Eleocharis olivacea
- broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
- broadwing sedge Carex alata
- brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
- bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
- bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
- camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
- camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
- Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
- Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
- Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
- cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
- Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
- Carolina fimbry Fimbristylis caroliniana
- Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
- Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
- Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
- Carolina ponysfoot Dichondra carolinensis
- Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
- chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
- Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
- clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
- clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
- clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
- claspingleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum gymnanthum
- climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
- clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
- clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
- coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
- coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
- common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
- common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
- compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
- cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
- cream avens Geum virginianum
- creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
- crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
- crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
- 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
- downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
- downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
- downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
- downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
- drumheads Polygala cruciata
- dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
- dwarf saltwort Salicornia bigelovii
- eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
- eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
- eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
- eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
- eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
- eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
- Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
- Elliott's goldenrod Solidago latissimifolia
- Engelmann's spikerush Eleocharis engelmannii
- erect centella Centella erecta
- erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
- eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fern flatsedge Cyperus filicinus
- fewflower ticktrefoil Desmodium pauciflorum
- fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
- flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
- floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
- Florida mudmidget Wolffiella gladiata
- Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
- forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
- fox grape Vitis labrusca
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- Fraser's marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum fraseri
- giant bristlegrass Setaria magna
- giant sedge Carex gigantea
- globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
- Gray's flatsedge Cyperus grayi
- green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
- green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
- greenvein lady's tresses Spiranthes praecox
- Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
- hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
- hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
- hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
- hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
- handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
- harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
- Heller's cudweed Pseudognaphalium helleri
- hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
- herb of grace Bacopa monnieri
- herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
- hirsute sedge Carex complanata
- hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
- Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
- Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
- Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
- juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
- lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
- lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
- 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
- little floating bladderwort Utricularia radiata
- lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
- Long's sedge Carex longii
- longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
- low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
- lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
- man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
- 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
- mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
- mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
- minute duckweed Lemna perpusilla
- moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
- mudbabies Echinodorus tenellus
- narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
- netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
- nodding beaksedge Rhynchospora inexpansa
- northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
- northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
- northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
- northern watermeal Wolffia borealis
- pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
- paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
- partridgeberry Mitchella repens
- pasture thistle Cirsium pumilum
- perennial saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium
- perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
- pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
- pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
- pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
- Plukenet's flatsedge Cyperus plukenetii
- poison sumac Toxicodendron vernix
- poorjoe Diodia teres
- potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
- poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
- poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
- prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
- procession flower Polygala incarnata
- purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
- purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
- purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
- purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
- 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
- rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
- rough Mexican clover Richardia scabra
- roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
- roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
- roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
- salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
- saltmarsh false foxglove Agalinis maritima
- sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
- seaside sandmat Chamaesyce polygonifolia
- seaside threeawn Aristida tuberculosa
- seawrack Zostera marina
- seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
- sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
- shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
- showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
- sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
- sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
- sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
- slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
- slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
- slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
- slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
- slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
- slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
- slender seapurslane Sesuvium maritimum
- slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
- slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
- slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
- small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
- small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
- Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
- smallfruit agrimony Agrimonia 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
- southern bladderwort Utricularia juncea
- southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
- southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
- 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
- squirreltail fescue Vulpia elliotea
- St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
- stiff ticktrefoil Desmodium obtusum
- stiff yellow flax Linum medium
- stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
- striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
- Swan's sedge Carex swanii
- tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
- tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
- Texas signalgrass Urochloa texana
- thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
- thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
- tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
- toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
- trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
- trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
- turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
- twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
- velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
- Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
- Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
- violet lespedeza Lespedeza 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 strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
- wand lythrum Lythrum lineare
- wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
- weak rush Juncus debilis
- white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
- white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
- white turtlehead Chelone glabra
- white vervain Verbena urticifolia
- whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
- whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
- whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
- wild yam Dioscorea villosa
- wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
- woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
- woodland flax Linum virginianum
- woollysheath threeawn Aristida lanosa
- Wright's plantain Plantago wrightiana
- yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
- yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
- yellow spikerush Eleocharis flavescens
- yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
- yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
- zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata
Also listed as native and introduced here 7
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
- common reedPhragmites australis
- hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
- Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
- 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.
| Measure | Northampton County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 545 | 687 | 1,985 |
| Garden-ready natives | 242 | 288 | 660 |
| Tree | 62 | — | 198 |
| Shrub | 32 | — | 109 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 273 | — | 1,023 |
| Grass or grass-like | 125 | — | 483 |
| Vine | 34 | — | 80 |
| Fern | 19 | — | 92 |
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
- Northampton County (county FIPS 51131), Virginia. 545 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