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Native plants · Washington

Native plants of Whatcom County

469 plant species are recorded as native to Washington in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Whatcom County by USDA PLANTS. 303 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Whatcom County, Washington

Native species
469 Typical Washington county: 300 (median of 39 counties)
Garden-ready natives
303 Typical Washington county: 219
Share by type (all 469 native species)
Percent of the 469 native species in each growth type
Tree 11% (51)
Shrub 11% (53)
Wildflower (forb) 48% (226)
Grass or grass-like 22% (104)
Vine 2% (9)
Fern 6% (26)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (48%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (22%).

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 8b (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 303

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

Garden-ready native plants of Whatcom County, Washington
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
Alaska brome Bromus sitchensis Grass or grass-like 5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
Alaska cedar Callitropsis nootkatensis Tree 75 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
alpine bistort Polygonum viviparum Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 3b
alpine laurel Kalmia microphylla Shrub 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
alpine leafybract aster Symphyotrichum foliaceum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
alpine mountainsorrel Oxyria digyna Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
alpine timothy Phleum alpinum Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
American alpine speedwell Veronica wormskjoldii Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
American bistort Polygonum bistortoides Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
American dunegrass Leymus mollis Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 4a
American red raspberry Rubus idaeus Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 1a
American speedwell Veronica americana Wildflower (forb) 10 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American vetch Vicia americana Vine 1.3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
American water horehound Lycopus americanus Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
arctic bluegrass Poa arctica Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun — Zone 1a
arctic pearlwort Sagina saginoides Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
arctic sweet coltsfoot Petasites frigidus Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
arrowleaf ragwort Senecio triangularis Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
awl-leaf lilaea Lilaea scilloides Grass or grass-like 10 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
Barclay's willow Salix barclayi Tree 15 ft Sun High Zone 3a
beach pea Lathyrus japonicus Vine 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
beaked sedge Carex rostrata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
bearded fescue Festuca subulata Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata Tree 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
bigleaf maple Acer macrophyllum Tree 60 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
bitter cherry Prunus emarginata Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
black crowberry Empetrum nigrum Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
black hawthorn Crataegus douglasii Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 2b
blue wildrye Elymus glaucus Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
bog birch Betula pumila Shrub 20 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
bog blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
bog Labrador tea Ledum groenlandicum Shrub 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Booth's willow Salix boothii Shrub 24 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
broadleaf arnica Arnica latifolia Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
broadleaf lupine Lupinus latifolius Wildflower (forb) 25 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
broadlipped twayblade Listera convallarioides Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis Shrub 6 in Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
California blackberry Rubus ursinus Shrub 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
California brome Bromus carinatus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun Low Zone 9a
California oatgrass Danthonia californica Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 9a
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
Cascade azalea Rhododendron albiflorum Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 8a
Cascade barberry Mahonia nervosa Shrub 2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
Cascara buckthorn Frangula purshiana Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
chamisso sedge Carex pachystachya Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
chokecherry Prunus virginiana Tree 25 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
clasping arnica Arnica amplexicaulis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
cluster rose Rosa pisocarpa Shrub 3 ft Sun — Zone 5a
coastal monkeyflower Mimulus dentatus Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7b
Columbian monkshood Aconitum columbianum Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
Columbian sedge Carex aperta Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 5b
common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
common duckweed Lemna minor Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
common juniper Juniperus communis Tree 10 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
common mare's-tail Hippuris vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
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 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 threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum Wildflower (forb) — Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
copperbush Elliottia pyroliflora Shrub 5 ft — — Zone 5a
cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
cows clover Trifolium wormskioldii Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
cutleaf daisy Erigeron compositus Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
darkthroat shootingstar Dodecatheon pulchellum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
deer fern Blechnum spicant Fern 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6b
Dewey sedge Carex deweyana Grass or grass-like 3.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
diamondleaf willow Salix planifolia Tree 8 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Douglas aster Symphyotrichum subspicatum Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade High Zone 6b
Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Tree 200 ft Sun–part shade 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
Drummond's rush Juncus drummondii Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
dwarf bilberry Vaccinium cespitosum Shrub 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
dwarf rose Rosa gymnocarpa Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
elephanthead lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Engelmann spruce Picea engelmannii Tree 120 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2a
Engelmann's aster Eucephalus engelmannii Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Eschscholtz's buttercup Ranunculus eschscholtzii Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
field horsetail Equisetum arvense Fern 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
fineleaf pondweed Stuckenia filiformis Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 5.5 ft Sun–part shade High 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
fringed grass of Parnassus Parnassia fimbriata Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
giant mountain aster Canadanthus modestus Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
glaucous bluegrass Poa glauca Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun — Zone 3a
glaucus willowherb Epilobium glaberrimum Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6b
golden sedge Carex aurea Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
grayleaf willow Salix glauca Tree 4 ft — — Zone 9b
greater creeping spearwort Ranunculus flammula Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
green alder Alnus viridis Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 1a
Greene's mountain ash Sorbus scopulina Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
greenleaf fescue Festuca viridula Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
grouse whortleberry Vaccinium scoparium Shrub 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
hairy arnica Arnica mollis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
hairy manzanita Arctostaphylos columbiana Tree 6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8a
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun High Zone 3b
harsh Indian paintbrush Castilleja hispida Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
heartleaf arnica Arnica cordifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Henderson's sedge Carex hendersonii Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6b
hooded lady's tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Idaho blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium idahoense Wildflower (forb) 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
Indian plum Oemleria cerasiformis Tree 5 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 10a
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
lambstongue ragwort Senecio integerrimus Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
lanceleaf grapefern Botrychium lanceolatum Fern 11 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 3a
Lewis' mock orange Philadelphus lewisii Shrub 12 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
little green sedge Carex viridula Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
little western bittercress Cardamine oligosperma Wildflower (forb) 1.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
littleleaf pussytoes Antennaria microphylla Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Tree 99 ft Sun Medium Zone 1a
longleaf phlox Phlox longifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6a
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
longleaf starwort Stellaria longifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
longstalk starwort Stellaria longipes Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Lyall's angelica Angelica arguta Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
Lyngbye's sedge Carex lyngbyei Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun — Zone 2a
MacKenzie's willow Salix prolixa Tree 45 ft Sun Low Zone 2a
marsh bluegrass Poa leptocoma Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 4a
mat muhly Muhlenbergia richardsonis Grass or grass-like 6 in Sun High Zone 4b
meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
Mertens' rush Juncus mertensianus Grass or grass-like 11 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Mertens' sedge Carex mertensii Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
mountain brome Bromus marginatus Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun High Zone 4b
mountain hemlock Tsuga mertensiana Tree 125 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
mountain sedge Carex scopulorum Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
mud sedge Carex limosa Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
nodding beggartick Bidens cernua Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
nodding microseris Microseris nutans Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
nodding waternymph Najas flexilis Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
Nootka rose Rosa nutkana Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
northern singlespike sedge Carex scirpoidea Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
northwest sandbar willow Salix sessilifolia Tree 20 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun High Zone 3a
oceanspray Holodiscus discolor Shrub 12 ft Sun High Zone 8a
oneflower helianthella Helianthella uniflora Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5a
orange agoseris Agoseris aurantiaca Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Oregon crab apple Malus fusca Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 10a
Oregon white oak Quercus garryana Tree 80 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
oval-leaf blueberry Vaccinium ovalifolium Shrub 8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Pacific anemone Anemone multifida Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
Pacific bleeding heart Dicentra formosa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
Pacific dogwood Cornus nuttallii Tree 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 8b
Pacific ninebark Physocarpus capitatus Shrub 8 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
Pacific silver fir Abies amabilis Tree 165 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Pacific yew Taxus brevifolia Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5b
pale agoseris Agoseris glauca Shrub 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
Parry's rush Juncus parryi Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Pennsylvania buttercup Ranunculus pensylvanicus Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata Shrub 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa Tree 223 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
poverty rush Juncus tenuis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
prickly currant Ribes lacustre Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 1a
primrose monkeyflower Mimulus primuloides Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
purple oniongrass Melica spectabilis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 1a
Rainier pleated gentian Gentiana calycosa Wildflower (forb) 7 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 8a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Fern 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
rayless arnica Arnica ×diversifolia Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
red alder Alnus rubra Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 5a
red currant Ribes triste Shrub 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 1a
red elderberry Sambucus racemosa Tree 18 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
red goosefoot Chenopodium rubrum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun High Zone 12b
red huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium Shrub 12 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
redflower currant Ribes sanguineum Shrub 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 8a
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea Tree 12 ft Sun High Zone 3b
redstem ceanothus Ceanothus sanguineus Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6a
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
ribbonleaf pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
Robbins' pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
Rocky Mountain goldenrod Solidago multiradiata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun — Zone 1a
Rocky Mountain juniper Juniperus scopulorum Tree 50 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum Tree 30 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
rose spirea Spiraea douglasii Shrub 7 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
Ross' sedge Carex rossii Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
roundleaf alumroot Heuchera cylindrica Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6a
russet buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1a
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
salal Gaultheria shallon Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
salmonberry Rubus spectabilis Vine 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
saltgrass Distichlis spicata Grass or grass-like 1.1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
Sandberg bluegrass Poa secunda Grass or grass-like 1.4 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia Tree 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1a
scarlet gilia Ipomopsis aggregata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 5b
Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana Tree 50 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6a
sea milkwort Glaux maritima Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun High Zone 4a
seep monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
shining willow Salix lucida Tree 13 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
shortfruit willow Salix brachycarpa Shrub 3.6 ft — — Zone 5a
shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa Shrub 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Siberian springbeauty Claytonia sibirica Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
silvery sedge Carex canescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis Tree 200 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Sitka willow Salix sitchensis Tree 23 ft Sun High Zone 5b
slender cottongrass Eriophorum gracile Grass or grass-like 1.7 ft Sun High Zone 3a
slender hairgrass Deschampsia elongata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
slimstem reedgrass Calamagrostis stricta Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
slough sedge Carex obnupta Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
small camas Camassia quamash Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
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
smallflowered woodrush Luzula parviflora Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
smallwing sedge Carex microptera Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 4a
spearleaf arnica Arnica longifolia Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
spike trisetum Trisetum spicatum Grass or grass-like 1.9 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
spiked woodrush Luzula spicata Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
spotted joe pye weed Eutrochium maculatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
spreading phlox Phlox diffusa Wildflower (forb) 6 in Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
spreadingpod rockcress Arabis ×divaricarpa Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
squashberry Viburnum edule Shrub 2 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 1a
squirreltail Elymus elymoides Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 3a
star duckweed Lemna trisulca Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
star sedge Carex echinata Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
sticky currant Ribes viscosissimum Shrub 3.5 ft Sun — Zone 3b
stiff clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum Fern 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa Tree 90 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2a
subalpine fleabane Erigeron peregrinus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
subalpine larch Larix lyallii Tree 40 ft Sun Low Zone 1b
sulphur-flower buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum Shrub 1 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides Wildflower (forb) — Sun Medium Zone 10b
sweetgale Myrica gale Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
swordleaf rush Juncus ensifolius Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
tall trisetum Trisetum canescens Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
tapertip onion Allium acuminatum Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
tarweed fiddleneck Amsinckia lycopsoides Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus Shrub 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
thinleaf huckleberry Vaccinium membranaceum Shrub 4.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3b
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
thrift seapink Armeria maritima Wildflower (forb) 11 in Sun Medium Zone 4b
Tilesius' wormwood Artemisia tilesii Wildflower (forb) 36 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 1a
timber oatgrass Danthonia intermedia Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
tinker's penny Hypericum anagalloides Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus Wildflower (forb) 5 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
toad rush Juncus bufonius Grass or grass-like 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 12a
tufted bulrush Trichophorum cespitosum Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa Grass or grass-like 3.4 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
tufted loosestrife Lysimachia thyrsiflora Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
twinberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
undergreen willow Salix commutata Shrub 3 ft — — Zone 3b
Utah honeysuckle Lonicera utahensis Shrub 5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 3b
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun Medium Zone 4a
vine maple Acer circinatum Tree 20 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
Virginia glasswort Salicornia depressa Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8b
water birch Betula occidentalis Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 1a
water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile Fern 3 ft Sun High Zone 4a
water sedge Carex aquatilis Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun High Zone 3b
western columbine Aquilegia formosa Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla Tree 170 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
western Labrador tea Ledum glandulosum Shrub 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
western mountain ash Sorbus sitchensis Tree 15 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
western redcedar Thuja plicata Tree 150 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
western swordfern Polystichum munitum Fern 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
western water hemlock Cicuta douglasii Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun High Zone 4b
western white pine Pinus monticola Tree 200 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Wheeler bluegrass Poa nervosa Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
white arctic mountain heather Cassiope tetragona Shrub 5 in Sun Medium Zone 3a
white hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4a
white marsh marigold Caltha leptosepala Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun High Zone 4a
white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
whitebark pine Pinus albicaulis Tree 65 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 1b
whitebark raspberry Rubus leucodermis Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 8a
widgeongrass Ruppia maritima Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 7a
woodrush sedge Carex luzulina Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun High Zone 4a
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a

Other native species recorded here 166

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.

  • Aleutian maidenhair Adiantum aleuticum
  • alpine bluegrass Poa alpina
  • alpine fescue Festuca brachyphylla
  • alpine milkvetch Astragalus alpinus
  • alpine pondweed Potamogeton alpinus
  • American black nightshade Solanum americanum
  • American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
  • American rockbrake Cryptogramma acrostichoides
  • American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
  • American yellowrocket Barbarea orthoceras
  • Apocynum ×floribundum Apocynum ×floribundum
  • autumn dwarf gentian Gentianella amarella
  • bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
  • beautiful sandwort Minuartia rubella
  • bigleaf lupine Lupinus polyphyllus
  • bitter fleabane Erigeron acris
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bluntleaf pondweed Potamogeton obtusifolius
  • bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
  • bluntleaf yellowcress Rorippa curvipes
  • bluntleaved orchid Platanthera obtusata
  • bog willow Salix pedicellaris
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • boreal bog sedge Carex magellanica
  • boreal starwort Stellaria borealis
  • brightgreen spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum
  • brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
  • brittle pricklypear Opuntia fragilis
  • brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
  • bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
  • bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
  • buttonbush dodder Cuscuta cephalanthi
  • Buxbaum's sedge Carex buxbaumii
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • chairmaker's bulrush Schoenoplectus americanus
  • chickenclaws Sarcocornia perennis
  • clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
  • claspleaf twistedstalk Streptopus amplexifolius
  • coast tarweed Madia sativa
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • cottonbatting plant Pseudognaphalium stramineum
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • Dortmann's cardinalflower Lobelia dortmanna
  • Douglas' knotweed Polygonum douglasii
  • dune willow Salix hookeriana
  • European bur-reed Sparganium emersum
  • fairy slipper Calypso bulbosa
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fewflower sedge Carex pauciflora
  • foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
  • fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
  • giant red Indian paintbrush Castilleja miniata
  • Gmelin's buttercup Ranunculus gmelinii
  • grassleaf mudplantain Heteranthera dubia
  • green false hellebore Veratrum viride
  • greenflowered wintergreen Pyrola chlorantha
  • hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
  • heartleaf twayblade Listera cordata
  • hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
  • hooded coralroot Corallorhiza striata
  • hookedspur violet Viola adunca
  • horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
  • Hornemann's willowherb Epilobium hornemannii
  • Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • inundated clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata
  • large St. Johnswort Hypericum majus
  • largeleaf sandwort Moehringia macrophylla
  • leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
  • lesser roundleaved orchid Platanthera orbiculata
  • little grapefern Botrychium simplex
  • liverleaf wintergreen Pyrola asarifolia
  • long beechfern Phegopteris connectilis
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
  • marsh horsetail Equisetum palustre
  • marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
  • marsh violet Viola palustris
  • meadow deathcamas Zigadenus venenosus
  • meadow sedge Carex praticola
  • Menzies' campion Silene menziesii
  • Menzies' fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii
  • milkflower willowherb Epilobium lactiflorum
  • Mingan moonwort Botrychium minganense
  • moss campion Silene acaulis
  • mountain tarweed Madia glomerata
  • muskflower Mimulus moschatus
  • narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium
  • narrowleaf hawkweed Hieracium umbellatum
  • narrowleaf minerslettuce Montia linearis
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • nodding onion Allium cernuum
  • northern cluster sedge Carex arcta
  • northern green orchid Platanthera aquilonis
  • northern green rush Juncus alpinoarticulatus
  • northern hollyfern Polystichum lonchitis
  • northern water plantain Alisma triviale
  • one-cone clubmoss Lycopodium lagopus
  • Oregon cliff fern Woodsia oregana
  • pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
  • pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
  • pimpernel willowherb Epilobium anagallidifolium
  • pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
  • poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
  • pullup muhly Muhlenbergia filiformis
  • purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
  • purple reedgrass Calamagrostis purpurascens
  • Pursh seepweed Suaeda calceoliformis
  • pygmyflower rockjasmine Androsace septentrionalis
  • red baneberry Actaea rubra
  • Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
  • Rocky Mountain fescue Festuca saximontana
  • Rocky Mountain woodsia Woodsia scopulina
  • rosy pussytoes Antennaria rosea
  • roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
  • running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
  • salt sandspurry Spergularia salina
  • saltmeadow rush Juncus gerardii
  • scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
  • seaside arrowgrass Triglochin maritima
  • seaside sandplant Honckenya peploides
  • seawrack Zostera marina
  • shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
  • sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
  • single delight Moneses uniflora
  • skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender bog orchid Platanthera stricta
  • slender phlox Microsteris gracilis
  • slender-spire orchid Piperia unalascensis
  • small bur-reed Sparganium natans
  • small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos
  • small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
  • spearleaf stonecrop Sedum lanceolatum
  • spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
  • spiral ditchgrass Ruppia cirrhosa
  • spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
  • starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
  • stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
  • summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
  • swaying bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis
  • sweetcicely Osmorhiza berteroi
  • tall annual willowherb Epilobium brachycarpum
  • tall blue lettuce Lactuca biennis
  • tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
  • tower rockcress Arabis glabra
  • tree groundpine Lycopodium dendroideum
  • turion duckweed Lemna turionifera
  • twinflower Linnaea borealis
  • twistedstalk Streptopus lanceolatus
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • water pygmyweed Crassula aquatica
  • waterawlwort Subularia aquatica
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre
  • western oakfern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
  • western rattlesnake plantain Goodyera oblongifolia
  • white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
  • wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
  • woodland pinedrops Pterospora andromedea
  • woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca
  • Wright's cudweed Pseudognaphalium canescens
  • yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
Also listed as native and introduced here 2

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.

Compared with Washington

The typical county is the median of the 39 Washington 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, Whatcom County and Washington
MeasureWhatcom CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 469 300 1,015
Garden-ready natives 303 219 621
Tree 51 — 74
Shrub 53 — 99
Wildflower (forb) 226 — 547
Grass or grass-like 104 — 234
Vine 9 — 16
Fern 26 — 45

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Whatcom 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
Whatcom County (county FIPS 53073), Washington. 469 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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