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
Tree 8% (50)
Shrub 7% (48)
Wildflower (forb) 55% (366)
Grass or grass-like 21% (142)
Vine 3% (22)
Fern 6% (37)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (55%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (21%).

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 4a to 4b (2023 map).

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 278

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

Garden-ready native plants of Polk County, Wisconsin
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy 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

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.

  • 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.

Native species counts, Polk County and Wisconsin
MeasurePolk CountyTypical countyStatewide
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.

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
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

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