Native plants · Virginia
Native plants of Richmond County
499 plant species are recorded as native to Virginia in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Richmond County by USDA PLANTS. 240 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 6 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Richmond County, Virginia
- Native species
- 499 Typical Virginia county: 687 (median of 102 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 240 Typical Virginia county: 288
- Share by type (all 499 native species)
-
Percent of the 499 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (47%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (26%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 240
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 beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| American beech Fagus grandifolia | Tree | 80 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| American 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 cupscale Sacciolepis striata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| American hazelnut Corylus americana | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| American holly Ilex opaca | Tree | 40 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| American pokeweed Phytolacca americana | Wildflower (forb) | 7.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| American sycamore Platanus occidentalis | Tree | 100 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| annual wildrice Zizania aquatica | Grass or grass-like | 9.8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 10b |
| arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum | Vine | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| Atlantic mannagrass Glyceria obtusa | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 6b |
| autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6b |
| bald cypress Taxodium distichum | Tree | 130 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| big cordgrass Spartina cynosuroides | Grass or grass-like | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 7a |
| 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 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 |
| blackjack oak Quercus marilandica | Tree | 25 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| blue huckleberry Gaylussacia frondosa | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| broom sedge Carex scoparia | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| 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 |
| butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| butternut Juglans cinerea | Tree | 80 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 |
| Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Canadian rush Juncus canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis | Tree | 23 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis | Wildflower (forb) | 5.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.7 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| Carolina rose Rosa carolina | Shrub | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| cat greenbrier Smilax glauca | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| chestnut oak Quercus montana | Tree | 73 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 serviceberry Amelanchier obovalis | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata | Fern | 1.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos | Wildflower (forb) | 6.6 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 12b |
| cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| deerberry Vaccinium stamineum | Shrub | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| 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 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 narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| 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 |
| field horsetail Equisetum arvense | Fern | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| field paspalum Paspalum laeve | Grass or grass-like | 2.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6a |
| flowering dogwood Cornus florida | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| forked rush Juncus dichotomus | Grass or grass-like | 2.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 8b |
| fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata | Grass or grass-like | 5.7 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| giant cutgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea | Grass or grass-like | 9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 8b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 7b |
| Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium | Grass or grass-like | 4.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| 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 |
| little barley Hordeum pusillum | Grass or grass-like | 1.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| loblolly pine Pinus taeda | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6b |
| longhair sedge Carex comosa | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos | Grass or grass-like | 1.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12a |
| mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 8a |
| marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris | Wildflower (forb) | 2 in | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa | Tree | 85 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia | Tree | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| muscadine Vitis rotundifolia | Vine | 30 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5b |
| narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| nodding beggartick Bidens cernua | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12a |
| nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum | Fern | 1.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| northern red oak Quercus rubra | Tree | 81 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| northern spicebush Lindera benzoin | Tree | 12 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5b |
| possumhaw Viburnum nudum | Tree | 15 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| post oak Quercus stellata | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| poverty rush Juncus tenuis | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata | Grass or grass-like | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| prairie 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| river birch Betula nigra | Tree | 70 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| shaggy blazing star Liatris pilosa | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 8a |
| shallow sedge Carex lurida | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| shingle oak Quercus imbricaria | Tree | 45 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| silky dogwood Cornus amomum | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| silvery sedge Carex canescens | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| slippery elm Ulmus rubra | Tree | 85 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| smooth 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 |
| smooth sumac Rhus glabra | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani | Grass or grass-like | 9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum | Tree | 35 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum | Tree | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 5a |
| southern red oak Quercus falcata | Tree | 75 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6a |
| southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius | Grass or grass-like | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5b |
| squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| 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 doghobble Eubotrys racemosus | Shrub | 13 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus | Shrub | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| swamp rose Rosa palustris | Shrub | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| sweetbay Magnolia virginiana | Tree | 60 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 9a |
| sweetscent Pluchea odorata | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| tall hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala | Wildflower (forb) | 5.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum | Grass or grass-like | 2.6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus | Wildflower (forb) | 5 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12b |
| 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 |
| upright sedge Carex stricta | Grass or grass-like | 4.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| 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 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 |
| 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 fringetree Chionanthus virginicus | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| white oak Quercus alba | Tree | 100 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| whitegrass Leersia virginica | Grass or grass-like | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| willow oak Quercus phellos | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| winged sumac Rhus copallinum | Tree | 8 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens | Wildflower (forb) | 4.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| woodland bluegrass Poa sylvestris | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| 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 259
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 and Eve Aplectrum hyemale
- Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
- amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
- American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
- American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
- anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
- annual fimbry Fimbristylis annua
- Appalachian clubmoss Huperzia appalachiana
- arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
- arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
- Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
- awl-leaf arrowhead Sagittaria subulata
- azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
- bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
- beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
- beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
- bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
- black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
- black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
- blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
- blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
- bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
- Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
- bright green spikerush Eleocharis olivacea
- broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
- broadleaf ironweed Vernonia glauca
- broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
- broadwing sedge Carex alata
- browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
- brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
- bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
- bulltongue arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia
- Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
- Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
- Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
- Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
- Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
- Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
- Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
- Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
- Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
- chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
- Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
- clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
- claspingleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum gymnanthum
- clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
- coastal lovegrass Eragrostis refracta
- coastal plain joe pye weed Eutrochium dubium
- coastal plain sedge Carex crebriflora
- common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
- common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
- compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
- creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
- creeping spikerush Eleocharis fallax
- crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
- cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
- cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
- cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
- cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
- densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
- devil's-tongue Opuntia humifusa
- dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
- downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
- Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
- dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
- early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
- early goldenrod Solidago juncea
- earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
- eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
- eastern grasswort Lilaeopsis chinensis
- eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
- eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
- eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
- eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
- eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
- fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fern flatsedge Cyperus filicinus
- fescue sedge Carex festucacea
- field pansy Viola bicolor
- field thistle Cirsium discolor
- fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
- flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
- Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
- flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
- forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
- fox grape Vitis labrusca
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- giant bristlegrass Setaria magna
- giant sedge Carex gigantea
- grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
- great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
- Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
- great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
- greater marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum walteri
- green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
- hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
- hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
- hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
- hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
- handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
- hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
- hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
- herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
- hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
- hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
- Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
- Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
- intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
- jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
- juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
- king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
- lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
- largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
- lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
- leafy bulrush Scirpus polyphyllus
- leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
- Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
- licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
- lined sedge Carex striatula
- lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
- log fern Dryopteris celsa
- 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 garlic Allium canadense
- moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
- Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
- nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
- narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
- northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
- Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
- oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
- partridgeberry Mitchella repens
- perennial saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum tenuifolium
- perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
- piedmont staggerbush Lyonia mariana
- pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
- poorjoe Diodia teres
- potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
- poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
- prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
- procession flower Polygala incarnata
- purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
- queendevil Hieracium gronovii
- rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
- rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
- red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- red turtlehead Chelone obliqua
- reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
- rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
- rose of Plymouth Sabatia stellaris
- rosepink Sabatia angularis
- rosy sedge Carex rosea
- rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
- rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
- roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
- roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
- salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
- saltmeadow rush Juncus gerardii
- sand hickory Carya pallida
- sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
- scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
- seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
- sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
- sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
- shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
- Short's hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula
- shortstalk chickweed Cerastium brachypodum
- showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
- showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
- sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
- silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
- silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
- sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
- slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
- slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
- slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
- slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
- slender waternymph Najas gracillima
- slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
- slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
- slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
- slim amaranth Amaranthus hybridus
- Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
- smartweed dodder Cuscuta polygonorum
- smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
- smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
- smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
- smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
- southern cattail Typha domingensis
- Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
- spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
- spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
- spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
- spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
- spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
- spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
- spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
- St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
- starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
- stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
- striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
- swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
- swamp verbena Verbena hastata
- tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
- tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
- tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
- tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
- thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
- tidalmarsh amaranth Amaranthus cannabinus
- toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
- trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
- trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
- trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
- turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
- Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
- Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
- Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
- Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
- Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
- Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
- Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
- Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
- Virginia saltmarsh mallow Kosteletzkya virginica
- Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
- Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- wand lythrum Lythrum lineare
- warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
- wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
- weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
- western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
- white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
- white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
- white vervain Verbena urticifolia
- white wood aster Eurybia divaricata
- whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
- whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
- whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
- whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
- wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
- wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
- wild yam Dioscorea villosa
- witchgrass Panicum capillare
- woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
- yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
Also listed as native and introduced here 6
PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.
- annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
- common reedPhragmites australis
- hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
- Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
- Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides
- 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 | Richmond County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 499 | 687 | 1,985 |
| Garden-ready natives | 240 | 288 | 660 |
| Tree | 61 | — | 198 |
| Shrub | 32 | — | 109 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 234 | — | 1,023 |
| Grass or grass-like | 128 | — | 483 |
| Vine | 23 | — | 80 |
| Fern | 21 | — | 92 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Richmond County.
- Northumberland County, VA 229 garden-ready
- Westmoreland County, VA 242 garden-ready
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
- Richmond County (county FIPS 51159), Virginia. 499 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