Native plants · Vermont

Native plants of Orange County

542 plant species are recorded as native to Vermont in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Orange County by USDA PLANTS. 236 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

Orange County, Vermont

Native species: 542 Typical Vermont county: 567 (median of 14 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 236 Typical Vermont county: 254
Share by type (all 542 native species): Percent of the 542 native species in each growth type

Tree 11% (61)
Shrub 7% (40)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (274)
Grass or grass-like 20% (111)
Vine 2% (13)
Fern 8% (43)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (20%).

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 4b to 5a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 236

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

Garden-ready native plants of Orange County, Vermont
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
alderleaf buckthorn Rhamnus alnifolia	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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 bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Vine	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
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 mountain ash Sorbus americana	Tree	40 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
American speedwell Veronica americana	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American water horehound Lycopus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	1.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
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
arctic brome Bromus kalmii	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	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
Bailey's sedge Carex baileyi	Grass or grass-like	2.1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
balsam fir Abies balsamea	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
balsam poplar Populus balsamifera	Tree	80 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1a
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla	Wildflower (forb)	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata	Tree	65 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black ash Fraxinus nigra	Tree	65 ft	Sun	High	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 9b
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
black raspberry Rubus occidentalis	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
black spruce Picea mariana	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 1a
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blister sedge Carex vesicaria	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bluebead Clintonia borealis	Wildflower (forb)	1.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
bog goldenrod Solidago uliginosa	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	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
broadlipped twayblade Listera convallarioides	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
broom sedge Carex scoparia	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
butternut Juglans cinerea	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
Canada yew Taxus canadensis	Shrub	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
Carolina rose Rosa carolina	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
chokecherry Prunus virginiana	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common duckweed Lemna minor	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common juniper Juniperus communis	Tree	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
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 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
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
creeping snowberry Gaultheria hispidula	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata	Fern	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
cucumberleaf sunflower Helianthus debilis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 9b
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
Dewey sedge Carex deweyana	Grass or grass-like	3.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
drooping woodreed Cinna latifolia	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
Drummond's rockcress Arabis drummondii	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis	Tree	105 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern rough sedge Carex scabrata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
field pussytoes Antennaria neglecta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
flatstem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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 brome Bromus ciliatus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
fringed sedge Carex crinita	Grass or grass-like	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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
golden sedge Carex aurea	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
graceful sedge Carex gracillima	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
gray alder Alnus incana	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
gray birch Betula populifolia	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens	Grass or grass-like	5.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2a
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
hairy sedge Carex lacustris	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
hobblebush Viburnum lantanoides	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
hooded lady's tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
inland sedge Carex interior	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
jointleaf rush Juncus articulatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	Shrub	6 in	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
knotted rush Juncus nodosus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
largeleaf avens Geum macrophyllum	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
lesser panicled sedge Carex diandra	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
longhair sedge Carex comosa	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	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 maple Acer spicatum	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
nannyberry Viburnum lentago	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
necklace sedge Carex projecta	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
nerveless woodland sedge Carex leptonervia	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis	Fern	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
nodding waternymph Najas flexilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
northern bedstraw Galium boreale	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
northern bush honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera	Shrub	2.4 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
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
Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus	Grass or grass-like	5.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
paper birch Betula papyrifera	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1a
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
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prickly currant Ribes lacustre	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 1a
purple avens Geum rivale	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
purplestem aster Symphyotrichum puniceum	Wildflower (forb)	8.1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
pussy willow Salix discolor	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides	Tree	65 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1a
quill sedge Carex tenera	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
red elderberry Sambucus racemosa	Tree	18 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
red pine Pinus resinosa	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
red spruce Picea rubens	Tree	110 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
riverbank grape Vitis riparia	Vine	45 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
roadside agrimony Agrimonia striata	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
rough avens Geum laciniatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.1 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
rough bedstraw Galium asprellum	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
roundleaf dogwood Cornus rugosa	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
roundleaf serviceberry Amelanchier sanguinea	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
sageleaf willow Salix candida	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
sandcherry Prunus pumila	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
shallow sedge Carex lurida	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
shining willow Salix lucida	Tree	13 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa	Shrub	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
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
silver maple Acer saccharinum	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
slippery elm Ulmus rubra	Tree	85 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina	Wildflower (forb)	11 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
small white violet Viola macloskeyi	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
smallhead rush Juncus brachycephalus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
softleaf sedge Carex disperma	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
spike trisetum Trisetum spicatum	Grass or grass-like	1.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
spiked muhly Muhlenbergia glomerata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
spotted joe pye weed Eutrochium maculatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina	Tree	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
star sedge Carex echinata	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
stiff clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum	Fern	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
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 milkweed Asclepias incarnata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
sweet fern Comptonia peregrina	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
sweetgale Myrica gale	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
sweetgrass Hierochloe odorata	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
tall cinquefoil Potentilla arguta	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
tall hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
tamarack Larix laricina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 1a
tawny cottongrass Eriophorum virginicum	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum	Vine	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
toad rush Juncus bufonius	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
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
upright sedge Carex stricta	Grass or grass-like	4.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile	Fern	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 5a
wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
white ash Fraxinus americana	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
white avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white edge sedge Carex debilis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
white spruce Picea glauca	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 1a
whitestem pondweed Potamogeton praelongus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
woodland horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum	Fern	11 in	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3a
woodland muhly Muhlenbergia sylvatica	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
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
yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
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 306

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.

agueweed Gentianella quinquefolia
Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
allegheny vine Adlumia fungosa
alpine bulrush Trichophorum alpinum
alpine pondweed Potamogeton alpinus
alpine violet Viola labradorica
American fly honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
American golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
American milletgrass Milium effusum
American senna Senna hebecarpa
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
Appalachian barren strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
autumn willow Salix serissima
azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
balsam groundsel Packera paupercula
bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
Bebb willow Salix bebbiana
beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
Bicknell's cranesbill Geranium bicknellii
blackseed ricegrass Patis racemosa
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
blue wild indigo Baptisia australis
bluntleaf pondweed Potamogeton obtusifolius
bluntleaved orchid Platanthera obtusata
bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
boreal starwort Stellaria borealis
bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
brown beaksedge Rhynchospora fusca
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
Canada lily Lilium canadense
Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carolina springbeauty Claytonia caroliniana
catberry Ilex mucronata
checkered rattlesnake plantain Goodyera tesselata
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
claspingleaf pondweed Potamogeton perfoliatus
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
Clinton's woodfern Dryopteris clintoniana
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common marsh bedstraw Galium palustre
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
Crawford's sedge Carex crawfordii
creeping phlox Phlox stolonifera
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
cypress-like sedge Carex pseudocyperus
desert goosefoot Chenopodium pratericola
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
dotted hawthorn Crataegus punctata
downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
drooping woodland sedge Carex arctata
Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
dwarf scouringrush Equisetum scirpoides
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
earlyleaf brome Bromus latiglumis
earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
eastern swamp saxifrage Saxifraga pensylvanica
eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
fall phlox Phlox paniculata
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fen grass of Parnassus Parnassia glauca
fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
field thistle Cirsium discolor
fragile rockbrake Cryptogramma stelleri
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
gaywings Polygala paucifolia
giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
golden zizia Zizia aurea
Goldie's woodfern Dryopteris goldieana
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
greater purple fringed orchid Platanthera grandiflora
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green false hellebore Veratrum viride
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
groundcedar Lycopodium complanatum
grove bluegrass Poa alsodes
hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
hairystem gooseberry Ribes hirtellum
harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
heartleaf twayblade Listera cordata
hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
hookedspur violet Viola adunca
Hooker's orchid Platanthera hookeri
horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
lanceleaf wild licorice Galium lanceolatum
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
largepod pinweed Lechea intermedia
leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
lesser purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes
lesser roundleaved orchid Platanthera orbiculata
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
little grapefern Botrychium simplex
liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
long beechfern Phegopteris connectilis
longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
matricary grapefern Botrychium matricariifolium
matted spikerush Eleocharis intermedia
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow horsetail Equisetum pratense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
meadow willow Salix petiolaris
Michaux's stitchwort Minuartia michauxii
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mountain woodsorrel Oxalis montana
muskflower Mimulus moschatus
naked miterwort Mitella nuda
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowpanicle rush Juncus brevicaudatus
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nodding stickseed Hackelia deflexa
northern adderstongue Ophioglossum pusillum
northern bog aster Symphyotrichum boreale
northern bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus
northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
northern panicgrass Dichanthelium boreale
northern sedge Carex deflexa
northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
northern shorthusk Brachyelytrum aristosum
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
northern water plantain Alisma triviale
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
Oakes' pondweed Potamogeton oakesianus
oldpasture bluegrass Poa saltuensis
Ontario lobelia Lobelia kalmii
painted trillium Trillium undulatum
pale sedge Carex pallescens
pale St. Johnswort Hypericum ellipticum
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
pasture thistle Cirsium pumilum
plantainleaf sedge Carex plantaginea
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
queen of the prairie Filipendula rubra
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
ramp Allium tricoccum
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
red baneberry Actaea rubra
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
red trillium Trillium erectum
Robert geranium Geranium robertianum
robin runaway Dalibarda repens
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rock harlequin Corydalis sempervirens
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
roundleaf yellow violet Viola rotundifolia
running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
rusty woodsia Woodsia ilvensis
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sandbar lovegrass Eragrostis frankii
scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
Schreber's aster Eurybia schreberi
Selkirk's violet Viola selkirkii
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
sevenangle pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum
sheep laurel Kalmia angustifolia
shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
shining lady's tresses Spiranthes lucida
shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
showy lady's slipper Cypripedium reginae
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
showy ticktrefoil Desmodium canadense
shrubby fivefingers Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
single delight Moneses uniflora
skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
skunk currant Ribes glandulosum
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender watermilfoil Myriophyllum tenellum
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
spineless hornwort Ceratophyllum echinatum
spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
Sprengel's sedge Carex sprengelii
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
stout goldenrod Solidago squarrosa
strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
sweet white violet Viola blanda
sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
thinleaf cottonsedge Eriophorum viridicarinatum
thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
threadleaf crowfoot Ranunculus trichophyllus
threeleaf goldthread Coptis trifolia
trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
Tuckerman's sedge Carex tuckermanii
twinflower Linnaea borealis
twistedstalk Streptopus lanceolatus
twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
variegated scouringrush Equisetum variegatum
Vasey's pondweed Potamogeton vaseyi
velvetleaf huckleberry Vaccinium myrtilloides
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
water arum Calla palustris
waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
western blue virginsbower Clematis occidentalis
western oakfern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
western poison ivy Toxicodendron rydbergii
western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
white violet Viola renifolia
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorled wood aster Oclemena acuminata
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
witchgrass Panicum capillare
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
woodland bulrush Scirpus expansus
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
woollyfruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa
yellow avens Geum aleppicum
yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
yellow sedge Carex flava
yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

Also listed as native and introduced here 5

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

American red raspberryRubus idaeus
annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
common reedPhragmites australis
hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with Vermont

The typical county is the median of the 14 Vermont 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, Orange County and Vermont
Measure	Orange County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	542	567	1,321
Garden-ready natives	236	254	484
Tree	61	—	123
Shrub	40	—	95
Wildflower (forb)	274	—	670
Grass or grass-like	111	—	318
Vine	13	—	31
Fern	43	—	84

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Orange County.

Caledonia County, VT 221 garden-ready
Washington County, VT 219 garden-ready
Windsor County, VT 311 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: Orange County (county FIPS 50017), Vermont. 542 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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