Native plants · Wisconsin
Native plants of Polk County
665 plant species are recorded as native to Wisconsin in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Polk County by USDA PLANTS. 278 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
Polk County, Wisconsin
- Native species
- 665 Typical Wisconsin county: 653 (median of 71 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 278 Typical Wisconsin county: 272
- Share by type (all 665 native species)
-
Percent of the 665 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (55%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 278
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis | Tree | 35 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 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 black currant Ribes americanum | Shrub | 3 ft | — | — | Zone 2b |
| American bur-reed Sparganium americanum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| American eelgrass Vallisneria americana | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | High | 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 lotus Nelumbo lutea | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Bicknell's sedge Carex bicknellii | Grass or grass-like | 3.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| big bluestem Andropogon gerardii | Grass or grass-like | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2b |
| bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla | Wildflower (forb) | 4.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 raspberry Rubus occidentalis | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa | Grass or grass-like | 1.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11a |
| bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| bog birch Betula pumila | Shrub | 20 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| bog Labrador tea Ledum groenlandicum | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| bog laurel Kalmia polifolia | Shrub | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| bog willowherb Epilobium leptophyllum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| boxelder Acer negundo | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| broom sedge Carex scoparia | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa | Wildflower (forb) | 1.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis | Shrub | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| bur oak Quercus macrocarpa | Tree | 100 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| butternut Juglans cinerea | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Canada germander Teucrium canadense | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | 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 |
| Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Canadian plum Prunus nigra | Tree | 9 ft | Sun | — | Zone 9b |
| Canadian rush Juncus canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis | Wildflower (forb) | 5.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri | Grass or grass-like | 6.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 10b |
| common blue violet Viola sororia | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis | Tree | 15 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| common duckweed Lemna minor | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common evening primrose Oenothera biennis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| common hackberry Celtis occidentalis | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 2b |
| common juniper Juniperus communis | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| 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 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 threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| common winterberry Ilex verticillata | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| creeping snowberry Gaultheria hispidula | Shrub | 6 in | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| crested sedge Carex cristatella | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata | Fern | 1.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides | Wildflower (forb) | 2.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| dotted blazing star Liatris punctata | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| 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 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 |
| 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 |
| false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa | Shrub | 15 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| field horsetail Equisetum arvense | Fern | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| 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 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 |
| fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11b |
| 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 |
| 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 dogwood Cornus racemosa | Shrub | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| great St. Johnswort Hypericum ascyron | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| greater straw sedge Carex normalis | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Tree | 80 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| 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 grama Bouteloua hirsuta | Grass or grass-like | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| hairy sedge Carex lacustris | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus | Grass or grass-like | 9.8 ft | Sun | High | 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 |
| 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 |
| jack pine Pinus banksiana | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2a |
| 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 |
| 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 pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| leadplant Amorpha canescens | Shrub | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| longhair sedge Carex comosa | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| marsh muhly Muhlenbergia racemosa | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | 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 goldenrod Solidago missouriensis | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus | Shrub | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| nodding beggartick Bidens cernua | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12a |
| 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 |
| northern St. Johnswort Hypericum boreale | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora | Grass or grass-like | 2.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | 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 |
| 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 |
| pickerelweed Pontederia cordata | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica | Tree | 30 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata | Shrub | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| porcupinegrass Hesperostipa spartea | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| poverty rush Juncus tenuis | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata | Grass or grass-like | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| prairie dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis | Grass or grass-like | 2.3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| prairie sandreed Calamovilfa longifolia | Grass or grass-like | 4.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| prairie willow Salix humilis | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis | Grass or grass-like | 11 in | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| purple prairie clover Dalea purpurea | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | 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 |
| purplestem beggarticks Bidens connata | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12a |
| rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum | Fern | 1.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| rattlesnake mannagrass Glyceria canadensis | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| 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 maple Acer rubrum | Tree | 68 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 2b |
| red pine Pinus resinosa | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| redosier dogwood Cornus sericea | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11a |
| 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 |
| river bulrush Bolboschoenus fluviatilis | Grass or grass-like | 6.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| riverbank grape Vitis riparia | Vine | 45 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Robbins' pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| rock elm Ulmus thomasii | Tree | 90 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 2b |
| rough bedstraw Galium asprellum | Wildflower (forb) | 5.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| roughfruit amaranth Amaranthus tuberculatus | Wildflower (forb) | 6.6 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| roundleaf dogwood Cornus rugosa | Tree | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| roundleaf serviceberry Amelanchier sanguinea | Tree | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea | Wildflower (forb) | 1.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| silvery sedge Carex canescens | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| slender bulrush Schoenoplectus heterochaetus | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| small beggarticks Bidens discoidea | Wildflower (forb) | 5.2 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 12b |
| 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 |
| smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | High | 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 |
| stalked bulrush Scirpus pedicellatus | Grass or grass-like | 6.6 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| star duckweed Lemna trisulca | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa | Shrub | 4 ft | Sun | 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 |
| sugar maple Acer saccharum | Tree | 100 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides | Grass or grass-like | 4 in | Sun | High | 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 |
| threeseeded sedge Carex trisperma | Grass or grass-like | 1.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa | Grass or grass-like | 3.4 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| Virginia iris Iris virginica | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8b |
| Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile | Fern | 3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| water knotweed Polygonum amphibium | Wildflower (forb) | 1 in | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| water sedge Carex aquatilis | Grass or grass-like | 2.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| western snowberry Symphoricarpos occidentalis | Shrub | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3b |
| wheat sedge Carex atherodes | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | High | 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 doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides | Wildflower (forb) | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 prairie clover Dalea candida | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| whitegrass Leersia virginica | Grass or grass-like | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| whitestem pondweed Potamogeton praelongus | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| woodland horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum | Fern | 11 in | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3a |
| woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| woolly beachheather Hudsonia tomentosa | Shrub | 1 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| woolly plantain Plantago patagonica | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | Low | Zone 12b |
| 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 |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 387
PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
- allegheny vine Adlumia fungosa
- alpine violet Viola labradorica
- American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
- American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
- American dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum
- American fly honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
- American golden saxifrage Chrysosplenium americanum
- American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
- American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
- American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
- American marshpennywort Hydrocotyle americana
- American spikenard Aralia racemosa
- American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
- American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
- arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
- arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
- autumn onion Allium stellatum
- bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
- bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
- bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
- bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
- Beck's water-marigold Bidens beckii
- beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
- Bicknell's cranesbill Geranium bicknellii
- big devils beggartick Bidens vulgata
- birdfoot violet Viola pedata
- blackseed ricegrass Patis racemosa
- bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
- blue giant hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
- bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
- bluntleaf sandwort Moehringia lateriflora
- bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
- bog bluegrass Poa paludigena
- bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia
- bog white violet Viola lanceolata
- bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
- boreal bog sedge Carex magellanica
- bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
- bottomland aster Symphyotrichum ontarionis
- branched bur-reed Sparganium androcladum
- bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
- bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
- brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
- brittle pricklypear Opuntia fragilis
- brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
- brownfruit rush Juncus pelocarpus
- brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
- bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
- bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
- Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
- Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
- Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
- Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
- Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
- Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
- Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
- Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
- Carolina puccoon Lithospermum caroliniense
- clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
- clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
- Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
- climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
- clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
- coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
- Columbian watermeal Wolffia columbiana
- common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
- common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
- common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
- common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
- common woodrush Luzula multiflora
- common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
- cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Crawford's sedge Carex crawfordii
- cream pea Lathyrus ochroleucus
- cuckoo flower Cardamine pratensis
- Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
- curlycup gumweed Grindelia squarrosa
- curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
- cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
- densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
- downy phlox Phlox pilosa
- downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
- drooping woodland sedge Carex arctata
- Drummond's halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha drummondii
- dryspike sedge Carex siccata
- dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
- dwarf scouringrush Equisetum scirpoides
- early goldenrod Solidago juncea
- earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
- eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
- eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
- eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
- eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
- eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
- Emory's sedge Carex emoryi
- Equisetum ×ferrissii Equisetum ×ferrissii
- erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
- eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
- false melic Schizachne purpurascens
- false mermaidweed Floerkea proserpinacoides
- fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fernleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pedicularia
- field thistle Cirsium discolor
- fireberry hawthorn Crataegus chrysocarpa
- flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
- fleshy hawthorn Crataegus succulenta
- flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
- fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
- forked threeawn Aristida basiramea
- foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
- fragile rockbrake Cryptogramma stelleri
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- Fraser's marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum fraseri
- Fries' pondweed Potamogeton friesii
- fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
- fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
- Geyer's sandmat Chamaesyce geyeri
- giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
- golden zizia Zizia aurea
- grassleaf mudplantain Heteranthera dubia
- great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
- Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
- great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
- greater water dock Rumex orbiculatus
- green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
- green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
- green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
- green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
- hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
- hairy four o'clock Mirabilis hirsuta
- hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
- hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
- hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
- hairystem gooseberry Ribes hirtellum
- halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
- harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
- hazel dodder Cuscuta coryli
- heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
- Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
- hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
- hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
- hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
- hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
- hoary verbena Verbena stricta
- hookedspur violet Viola adunca
- Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
- hybrid cattail Typha ×glauca
- Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
- Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
- Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
- inflated narrow-leaf sedge Carex grisea
- intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
- jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
- Kalm's hawkweed Hieracium kalmii
- knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
- lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
- lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
- large beardtongue Penstemon grandiflorus
- large St. Johnswort Hypericum majus
- largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
- largepod pinweed Lechea intermedia
- leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
- Leiberg's panicum Dichanthelium leibergii
- lesser clearweed Pilea fontana
- lesser purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes
- lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
- lilac penstemon Penstemon gracilis
- limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
- Lindley's aster Symphyotrichum ciliolatum
- little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
- long beechfern Phegopteris connectilis
- longbranch frostweed Helianthemum canadense
- longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
- longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
- longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
- lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
- lyrate rockcress Arabis lyrata
- manyfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia polycarpa
- mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
- marsh pea Lathyrus palustris
- marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
- marsh willowherb Epilobium palustre
- Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
- mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
- matricary grapefern Botrychium matricariifolium
- meadow garlic Allium canadense
- meadow horsetail Equisetum pratense
- Michaux's stitchwort Minuartia michauxii
- Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
- Missouri gooseberry Ribes missouriense
- moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
- mountain ricegrass Piptatheropsis pungens
- narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium
- narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
- narrowleaf hawkweed Hieracium umbellatum
- narrowleaf wild leek Allium burdickii
- narrowpanicle rush Juncus brevicaudatus
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- nodding stickseed Hackelia deflexa
- nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
- northern bog aster Symphyotrichum boreale
- northern bog violet Viola nephrophylla
- northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
- northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
- northern shorthusk Brachyelytrum aristosum
- northern water plantain Alisma triviale
- northern watermeal Wolffia borealis
- northern wildrice Zizania palustris
- Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
- obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
- Ontario blazing star Liatris cylindracea
- Ontario lobelia Lobelia kalmii
- orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
- Oregon cliff fern Woodsia oregana
- pale dock Rumex altissimus
- pale St. Johnswort Hypericum ellipticum
- paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
- palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
- parasol sedge Carex umbellata
- parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
- Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
- partridgeberry Mitchella repens
- pear hawthorn Crataegus calpodendron
- Peck's sedge Carex peckii
- Pennsylvania clubmoss Lycopodium hickeyi
- Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
- Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
- pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
- plain gentian Gentiana alba
- plaitleaf dewberry Rubus plicatifolius
- pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
- pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
- poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
- poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
- poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
- prairie blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium campestre
- prairie ironweed Vernonia fasciculata
- prairie rose Rosa arkansana
- prairie spiderwort Tradescantia occidentalis
- prairie violet Viola pedatifida
- purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
- purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
- purple giant hyssop Agastache scrophulariifolia
- purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
- purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
- purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
- purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
- purplestem angelica Angelica atropurpurea
- rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
- racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
- ramp Allium tricoccum
- rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
- red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
- ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
- Richardson's alumroot Heuchera richardsonii
- Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
- Robbins' spikerush Eleocharis robbinsii
- rock harlequin Corydalis sempervirens
- rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
- rosy sedge Carex rosea
- rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
- rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
- rough hawkweed Hieracium scabrum
- roughleaf ricegrass Oryzopsis asperifolia
- roundleaf sundew Drosera rotundifolia
- running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
- rusty woodsia Woodsia ilvensis
- sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
- sand violet Viola affinis
- scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
- scentbottle Platanthera dilatata
- Schuette's hawthorn Crataegus schuettei
- Schweinitz's flatsedge Cyperus schweinitzii
- scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
- Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
- sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
- sessilefruit arrowhead Sagittaria rigida
- sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
- sevenangle pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum
- shaved sedge Carex tonsa
- shining bedstraw Galium concinnum
- shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
- Short's rockcress Arabis shortii
- shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
- showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa
- showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
- showy ticktrefoil Desmodium canadense
- sicklepod Arabis canadensis
- sidebells wintergreen Orthilia secunda
- silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
- silky prairie clover Dalea villosa
- silverleaf Indian breadroot Pediomelum argophyllum
- skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
- skunk currant Ribes glandulosum
- skyblue aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
- sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
- slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
- slender snakecotton Froelichia gracilis
- slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
- slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
- slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
- small bur-reed Sparganium natans
- small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos
- small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
- small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
- small waterwort Elatine minima
- smallflower false foxglove Agalinis paupercula
- smooth cliffbrake Pellaea glabella
- smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
- smooth rose Rosa blanda
- smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
- soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
- southwestern waterwort Elatine rubella
- spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
- spiral pondweed Potamogeton spirillus
- spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
- spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
- spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
- spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
- spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
- Sprengel's sedge Carex sprengelii
- starflower Trientalis borealis
- starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
- stiff sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus
- stiff tickseed Coreopsis palmata
- strict blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium montanum
- sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
- swamp lousewort Pedicularis lanceolata
- swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
- swamp verbena Verbena hastata
- sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
- tall blazing star Liatris aspera
- tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- Torrey's bulrush Schoenoplectus torreyi
- tower rockcress Arabis glabra
- tree groundpine Lycopodium dendroideum
- tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
- Tuckerman's sedge Carex tuckermanii
- tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
- turion duckweed Lemna turionifera
- twistedstalk Streptopus lanceolatus
- twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
- upland brittle bladderfern Cystopteris tenuis
- upright carrionflower Smilax ecirrhata
- Vasey's pondweed Potamogeton vaseyi
- veiny meadow-rue Thalictrum venulosum
- veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
- violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
- Virginia mountainmint Pycnanthemum virginianum
- Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
- water arum Calla palustris
- watershield Brasenia schreberi
- waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
- weakstalk bulrush Schoenoplectiella purshiana
- western oakfern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
- western rockjasmine Androsace occidentalis
- western silver aster Symphyotrichum sericeum
- western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
- whip-poor-will flower Trillium cernuum
- white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
- white fawnlily Erythronium albidum
- white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
- white rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes alba
- white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
- white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
- white turtlehead Chelone glabra
- white vervain Verbena urticifolia
- whorl-leaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum verticillatum
- Wiegand's wildrye Elymus wiegandii
- wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
- wild yam Dioscorea villosa
- witchgrass Panicum capillare
- wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
- woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
- woolly sedge Carex pellita
- yellow avens Geum aleppicum
- yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
- yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
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.
- annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
- hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
Compared with Wisconsin
The typical county is the median of the 71 Wisconsin counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.
| Measure | Polk County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 665 | 653 | 1,568 |
| Garden-ready natives | 278 | 272 | 551 |
| Tree | 50 | — | 125 |
| Shrub | 48 | — | 102 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 366 | — | 853 |
| Grass or grass-like | 142 | — | 361 |
| Vine | 22 | — | 46 |
| Fern | 37 | — | 81 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Polk County.
- Barron County, WI 226 garden-ready
- Burnett County, WI 231 garden-ready
- Dunn County, WI 211 garden-ready
- St. Croix County, WI 257 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
- Polk County (county FIPS 55095), Wisconsin. 665 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