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
Tree 11% (62)
Shrub 6% (32)
Wildflower (forb) 50% (273)
Grass or grass-like 23% (125)
Vine 6% (34)
Fern 3% (19)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (50%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (23%).

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 242

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

Garden-ready native plants of Northampton County, Virginia
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy 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

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.

  • 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.

Native species counts, Northampton County and Virginia
MeasureNorthampton CountyTypical countyStatewide
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

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
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

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