Native plants · Virginia

Native plants of Roanoke County

643 plant species are recorded as native to Virginia in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Roanoke County by USDA PLANTS. 257 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 5 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Roanoke County, Virginia

Native species
643 Typical Virginia county: 687 (median of 102 counties)
Garden-ready natives
257 Typical Virginia county: 288
Share by type (all 643 native species)
Percent of the 643 native species in each growth type
Tree 13% (85)
Shrub 6% (36)
Wildflower (forb) 56% (361)
Grass or grass-like 15% (99)
Vine 4% (27)
Fern 5% (35)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (56%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (15%).

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 zones 7a to 7b (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 257

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

Garden-ready native plants of Roanoke County, Virginia
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American basswood Tilia americana Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American beech Fagus grandifolia Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
American bellflower Campanulastrum americanum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens Vine 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American bur-reed Sparganium americanum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
American chestnut Castanea dentata Tree 115 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana Tree 120 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana Wildflower (forb) 7.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
American water horehound Lycopus americanus Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American water plantain Alisma subcordatum Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun High Zone 4a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
arborvitae Thuja occidentalis Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla Wildflower (forb) 4.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
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
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica Tree 25 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
bottle gentian Gentiana clausa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
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
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
broadleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium latifolium Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
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
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
bur-reed sedge Carex sparganioides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low —
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade 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
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun Medium Zone 3b
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 hemlock Tsuga caroliniana Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7b
Carolina rose Rosa carolina Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
chestnut oak Quercus montana Tree 73 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia Tree 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana Tree 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea Fern 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli Tree 30 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common duckweed Lemna minor Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
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 sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Shrub 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
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
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
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
dense blazing star Liatris spicata Wildflower (forb) 4.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana Vine 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa Tree 20 ft Sun High Zone 4b
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
downy arrowwood Viburnum rafinesqueanum Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3a
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
drooping sedge Carex prasina Grass or grass-like 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis Tree 105 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
eastern purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
eastern white pine Pinus strobus Tree 150 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
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
fowl bluegrass Poa palustris Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
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
fringed sedge Carex crinita Grass or grass-like 5.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
frost grape Vitis vulpina Vine 83 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
golden ragwort Packera aurea Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
great laurel Rhododendron maximum Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
green hawthorn Crataegus viridis Tree 30 ft Sun High Zone 5a
groundnut Apios americana Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata Tree 30 ft Sun High Zone 5a
hobblebush Viburnum lantanoides Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
hop sedge Carex lupulina Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana Tree 45 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 7b
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans Grass or grass-like 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana Fern 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus Wildflower (forb) 9.8 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
longleaf starwort Stellaria longifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Shrub 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
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
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala Tree 52 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
moss phlox Phlox subulata Wildflower (forb) 6 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia Tree 6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
mountain maple Acer spicatum Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
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
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis Fern 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
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
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa Tree 60 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum Fern 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
northern red oak Quercus rubra Tree 81 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
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
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6a
pawpaw Asimina triloba Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
pignut hickory Carya glabra Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
pitch pine Pinus rigida Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
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
purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
purplestem aster Symphyotrichum puniceum Wildflower (forb) 8.1 ft Sun High Zone 3b
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Fern 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
red maple Acer rubrum Tree 68 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra Tree 70 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 4a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 4a
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
riverbank grape Vitis riparia Vine 45 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
rough bedstraw Galium asprellum Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
shagbark hickory Carya ovata Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
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
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria Tree 45 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
Short's sedge Carex shortiana Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum Shrub 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
silky willow Salix sericea Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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 blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
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
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
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
striped maple Acer pensylvanicum Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 2b
sugar maple Acer saccharum Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
summer grape Vitis aestivalis Vine 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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 white oak Quercus bicolor Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
sweet birch Betula lenta Tree 60 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
sweet fern Comptonia peregrina Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
Table Mountain pine Pinus pungens Tree 50 ft Sun Low Zone 5b
tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides Grass or grass-like 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
thinfruit sedge Carex flaccosperma Grass or grass-like 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
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
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Tree 120 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
twisted sedge Carex torta Grass or grass-like 2.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia iris Iris virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana Tree 70 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
Virginia spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
white ash Fraxinus americana Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 4a
white avens Geum canadense Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
white oak Quercus alba Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
wild sweetwilliam Phlox maculata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
winged sumac Rhus copallinum Tree 8 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
yellow buckeye Aesculus flava Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
yellow marsh marigold Caltha palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun High Zone 3b
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 386

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.

  • Aaron's rod Thermopsis villosa
  • agueweed Gentianella quinquefolia
  • Allegheny hawkweed Hieracium paniculatum
  • Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
  • Allegheny Mountain buttercup Ranunculus allegheniensis
  • Allegheny stonecrop Hylotelephium telephioides
  • alpine violet Viola labradorica
  • American alumroot Heuchera americana
  • American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American cancer-root Conopholis americana
  • American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
  • American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
  • American golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • American marshpennywort Hydrocotyle americana
  • American wintergreen Pyrola americana
  • anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
  • Apocynum ×floribundum Apocynum ×floribundum
  • Appalachian gooseberry Ribes rotundifolium
  • Appalachian quillwort Isoetes engelmannii
  • arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
  • Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
  • Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
  • Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
  • autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
  • azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
  • bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
  • bashful bulrush Trichophorum planifolium
  • bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
  • beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
  • bear oak Quercus ilicifolia
  • biennial beeblossom Oenothera gaura
  • bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
  • birdfoot violet Viola pedata
  • black baneberry Actaea racemosa
  • blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
  • blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
  • Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
  • Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
  • Bowman's root Gillenia trifoliata
  • bristly locust Robinia hispida
  • broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
  • broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
  • broadleaf ironweed Vernonia glauca
  • broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
  • brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
  • browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
  • brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
  • Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
  • Canadian licorice-root Ligusticum canadense
  • Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
  • Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
  • Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
  • cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
  • Carolina bugbane Trautvetteria caroliniensis
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
  • Carolina lily Lilium michauxii
  • Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
  • Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
  • carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
  • chinquapin Castanea pumila
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
  • coastal plain blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium fuscatum
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
  • common dittany Cunila origanoides
  • common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
  • common moonseed Menispermum canadense
  • cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
  • creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
  • Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
  • cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
  • cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
  • cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
  • densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
  • devil's bite Liatris scariosa
  • Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
  • downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
  • downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
  • dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
  • dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
  • dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
  • dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
  • dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
  • dwarf violet iris Iris verna
  • early azalea Rhododendron prinophyllum
  • early blue violet Viola ×palmata
  • early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
  • eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
  • eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
  • eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
  • eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
  • eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
  • eastern milkpea Galactia regularis
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
  • eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
  • eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
  • eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
  • fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
  • fall phlox Phlox paniculata
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
  • feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
  • fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
  • field pansy Viola bicolor
  • field thistle Cirsium discolor
  • fire pink Silene virginica
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • flame azalea Rhododendron calendulaceum
  • floating marshpennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
  • flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
  • flypoison Amianthium muscitoxicum
  • fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
  • fox grape Vitis labrusca
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
  • fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
  • fringed nutrush Scleria ciliata
  • gall of the earth Prenanthes trifoliolata
  • gaywings Polygala paucifolia
  • globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
  • globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
  • golden zizia Zizia aurea
  • goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
  • Goldie's woodfern Dryopteris goldieana
  • great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
  • great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
  • great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
  • greater tickseed Coreopsis major
  • green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
  • green and gold Chrysogonum virginianum
  • green dragon Arisaema dracontium
  • grooved flax Linum sulcatum
  • hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
  • hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
  • hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
  • hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
  • hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
  • hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
  • hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
  • hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
  • halberdleaf yellow violet Viola hastata
  • heartleaf foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
  • heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
  • hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
  • Heller's cudweed Pseudognaphalium helleri
  • hirsute sedge Carex complanata
  • Hitchcock's sedge Carex hitchcockiana
  • hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
  • hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
  • hornleaf riverweed Podostemum ceratophyllum
  • husk tomato Physalis pubescens
  • Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
  • lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
  • large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
  • lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
  • Leggett's pinweed Lechea pulchella
  • lesser rattlesnake plantain Goodyera repens
  • licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
  • lined sedge Carex striatula
  • lobed spleenwort Asplenium pinnatifidum
  • longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
  • longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
  • longspur violet Viola rostrata
  • longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
  • low false bindweed Calystegia spithamaea
  • low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
  • lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
  • Lowrie's blue wood aster Symphyotrichum lowrieanum
  • maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
  • mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
  • marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
  • Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
  • Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • meadow zizia Zizia aptera
  • moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
  • mountain deathcamas Zigadenus elegans
  • mountain holly Ilex montana
  • mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
  • narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
  • narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
  • nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
  • nodding onion Allium cernuum
  • northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
  • northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
  • northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
  • northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
  • Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
  • Nuttall's ticktrefoil Desmodium nuttallii
  • oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
  • orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
  • pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
  • paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
  • palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
  • partridgeberry Mitchella repens
  • pasture thistle Cirsium pumilum
  • Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
  • perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
  • pipevine Aristolochia macrophylla
  • pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
  • poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
  • Porter's reedgrass Calamagrostis porteri
  • poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
  • pretty sedge Carex woodii
  • purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
  • purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
  • purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
  • rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
  • rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
  • red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
  • red trillium Trillium erectum
  • redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
  • reflexed flatsedge Cyperus refractus
  • ribbed sedge Carex virescens
  • rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
  • richweed Collinsonia canadensis
  • robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
  • rock harlequin Corydalis sempervirens
  • rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
  • rosepink Sabatia angularis
  • rosy sedge Carex rosea
  • rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
  • roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
  • roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
  • roundleaf yellow violet Viola rotundifolia
  • roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
  • rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
  • running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
  • sanddune sandbur Cenchrus tribuloides
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
  • showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
  • showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
  • showy skullcap Scutellaria serrata
  • sicklepod Arabis canadensis
  • sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
  • silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
  • singlehead pussytoes Antennaria solitaria
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
  • slender looseflower sedge Carex gracilescens
  • slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
  • slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
  • slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
  • slimflower muhly Muhlenbergia tenuiflora
  • small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
  • Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
  • smallflower phacelia Phacelia dubia
  • smooth cliffbrake Pellaea glabella
  • smooth rock skullcap Scutellaria saxatilis
  • smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
  • smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
  • sneezeweed Helenium amarum
  • soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
  • southern blue monkshood Aconitum uncinatum
  • southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
  • spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
  • spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
  • star chickweed Stellaria pubera
  • starflower Trientalis borealis
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • sticky catchfly Silene caroliniana
  • stout goldenrod Solidago squarrosa
  • striped cream violet Viola striata
  • striped gentian Gentiana villosa
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
  • tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
  • tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
  • tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
  • tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
  • thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
  • tinted woodland spurge Euphorbia commutata
  • toothed whitetop aster Sericocarpus asteroides
  • trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
  • tumble windmill grass Chloris verticillata
  • turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
  • twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
  • twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
  • upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
  • upland brittle bladderfern Cystopteris tenuis
  • vasevine Clematis viorna
  • veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
  • Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
  • violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
  • violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
  • Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
  • wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
  • weakstalk bulrush Schoenoplectiella purshiana
  • whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
  • white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
  • white colicroot Aletris farinosa
  • white rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes alba
  • white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
  • white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
  • white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
  • white wood aster Eurybia divaricata
  • whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
  • whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
  • whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
  • whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
  • whorled tickseed Coreopsis verticillata
  • whorled wood aster Oclemena acuminata
  • whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
  • wideflower phlox Phlox latifolia
  • widowsfrill Silene stellata
  • wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
  • wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
  • wild Job's tears Onosmodium virginianum
  • wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
  • wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
  • woodland bulrush Scirpus expansus
  • woodland flax Linum virginianum
  • woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
  • yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
  • yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
  • yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
  • yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
Also listed as native and introduced here 5

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

  • annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
  • bride's feathersAruncus dioicus
  • climbing false buckwheatPolygonum scandens
  • hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
  • Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

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, Roanoke County and Virginia
MeasureRoanoke CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 643 687 1,985
Garden-ready natives 257 288 660
Tree 85 — 198
Shrub 36 — 109
Wildflower (forb) 361 — 1,023
Grass or grass-like 99 — 483
Vine 27 — 80
Fern 35 — 92

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Roanoke County.

Look up another ZIP

Matches your ZIP to the county it mostly lies in, then lists the plants recorded as native to your state (Kew’s World Checklist and USDA PLANTS) and recorded in that county by USDA PLANTS.

Source & data date

Source
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).
Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.
USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation
USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.
Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date
Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope
Roanoke County (county FIPS 51161), Virginia. 643 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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