Native plants · Wisconsin

Native plants of Rusk County

501 plant species are recorded as native to Wisconsin in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Rusk County by USDA PLANTS. 216 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

Rusk County, Wisconsin

Native species: 501 Typical Wisconsin county: 653 (median of 71 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 216 Typical Wisconsin county: 272
Share by type (all 501 native species): Percent of the 501 native species in each growth type

Tree 7% (35)
Shrub 8% (40)
Wildflower (forb) 52% (263)
Grass or grass-like 22% (110)
Vine 3% (15)
Fern 8% (38)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (52%), 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 4a to 4b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 216

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

Garden-ready native plants of Rusk County, Wisconsin
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 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 red raspberry Rubus idaeus	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 1a
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
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
arctic sweet coltsfoot Petasites frigidus	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
balsam fir Abies balsamea	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
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 spruce Picea mariana	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 1a
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
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 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 goldenrod Solidago uliginosa	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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 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
buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
bur oak Quercus macrocarpa	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
butternut Juglans cinerea	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
Canadian plum Prunus nigra	Tree	9 ft	Sun	—	Zone 9b
Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	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
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 cowparsnip Heracleum maximum	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common duckweed Lemna minor	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
common 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 spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
creeping snowberry Gaultheria hispidula	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata	Fern	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
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
eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis	Tree	105 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
eastern white pine Pinus strobus	Tree	150 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
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 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 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
hairy sedge Carex lacustris	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
hooded lady's tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
hop sedge Carex lupulina	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana	Fern	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
knotted rush Juncus nodosus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
longhair sedge Carex comosa	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
moss phlox Phlox subulata	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
mountain maple Acer spicatum	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
mud sedge Carex limosa	Grass or grass-like	1.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
nannyberry Viburnum lentago	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
necklace sedge Carex projecta	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
nerveless woodland sedge Carex leptonervia	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
nodding beggartick Bidens cernua	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
nodding 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
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus	Grass or grass-like	5.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
paper birch Betula papyrifera	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1a
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie willow Salix humilis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
purple avens Geum rivale	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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
quill sedge Carex tenera	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
ribbonleaf pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roadside agrimony Agrimonia striata	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
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
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
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
slender cottongrass Eriophorum gracile	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
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 enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina	Wildflower (forb)	11 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
small white violet Viola macloskeyi	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
smooth hedgenettle Stachys tenuifolia	Wildflower (forb)	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	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
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
squashberry Viburnum edule	Shrub	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 1a
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina	Tree	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
star sedge Carex echinata	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
stiff clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum	Fern	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
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
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus	Shrub	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
sweet fern Comptonia peregrina	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
sweetgale Myrica gale	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
tall cinquefoil Potentilla arguta	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
tall hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
tamarack Larix laricina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 1a
tawny cottongrass Eriophorum virginicum	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
tufted loosestrife Lysimachia thyrsiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
upright sedge Carex stricta	Grass or grass-like	4.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Virginia 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
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
western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
white avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba	Shrub	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
white 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
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
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 285

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.

alpine violet Viola labradorica
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American fly honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American mannagrass Glyceria grandis
American marshpennywort Hydrocotyle americana
American milletgrass Milium effusum
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
American spurred gentian Halenia deflexa
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
balsam groundsel Packera paupercula
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
Bicknell's cranesbill Geranium bicknellii
big devils beggartick Bidens vulgata
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
blackgirdle bulrush Scirpus atrocinctus
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
blite goosefoot Chenopodium capitatum
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue giant hyssop Agastache foeniculum
bluntlobe grapefern Botrychium oneidense
bog rosemary Andromeda polifolia
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
boreal bog sedge Carex magellanica
box knotweed Polygonum buxiforme
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida
brittle bladderfern Cystopteris fragilis
brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
brownfruit rush Juncus pelocarpus
brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
bulblet-bearing water hemlock Cicuta bulbifera
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canada mayflower Maianthemum canadense
Canadian anemone Anemone canadensis
Canadian gooseberry Ribes oxyacanthoides
Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
catberry Ilex mucronata
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
coastal jointweed Polygonella articulata
common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon
Crawford's sedge Carex crawfordii
cream pea Lathyrus ochroleucus
creeping sedge Carex chordorrhiza
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
dotted hawthorn Crataegus punctata
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
drooping woodland sedge Carex arctata
dryspike sedge Carex siccata
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf red blackberry Rubus pubescens
dwarf scouringrush Equisetum scirpoides
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
earlyleaf brome Bromus latiglumis
earth loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
eastern purple bladderwort Utricularia purpurea
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
eastern swamp saxifrage Saxifraga pensylvanica
eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
false melic Schizachne purpurascens
false mermaidweed Floerkea proserpinacoides
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
fewflower sedge Carex pauciflora
fewleaf sunflower Helianthus occidentalis
fewseed sedge Carex oligosperma
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
field thistle Cirsium discolor
flat-top goldentop Euthamia graminifolia
fleshy hawthorn Crataegus succulenta
floating bur-reed Sparganium fluctuans
Flodman's thistle Cirsium flodmanii
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
Fraser's marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum fraseri
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
fringed willowherb Epilobium ciliatum
giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
groundcedar Lycopodium complanatum
grove bluegrass Poa alsodes
hairy four o'clock Mirabilis hirsuta
hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
hairystem gooseberry Ribes hirtellum
halberdleaf tearthumb Polygonum arifolium
harlequin blueflag Iris versicolor
heartleaf four o'clock Mirabilis nyctaginea
hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
hookedspur violet Viola adunca
Howell's pussytoes Antennaria howellii
hybrid cattail Typha ×glauca
Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
Kalm's hawkweed Hieracium kalmii
knotsheath sedge Carex retrorsa
lanceleaf figwort Scrophularia lanceolata
lanceleaf wild licorice Galium lanceolatum
large St. Johnswort Hypericum majus
largepod pinweed Lechea intermedia
lavender bladderwort Utricularia resupinata
leathery grapefern Botrychium multifidum
lesser purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes
lesser rattlesnake plantain Goodyera repens
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
little grapefern Botrychium simplex
long beechfern Phegopteris connectilis
longbract frog orchid Dactylorhiza viridis
longflower beeblossom Oenothera filiformis
longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
low false bindweed Calystegia spithamaea
mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
marsh skullcap Scutellaria galericulata
Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
matricary grapefern Botrychium matricariifolium
meadow horsetail Equisetum pratense
Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
Mingan moonwort Botrychium minganense
Missouri gooseberry Ribes missouriense
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mosquito bulrush Scirpus hattorianus
naked miterwort Mitella nuda
narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
narrowleaf hawkweed Hieracium umbellatum
narrowleaf wild leek Allium burdickii
narrowpanicle rush Juncus brevicaudatus
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
nodding sedge Carex gynandra
northern sedge Carex deflexa
northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
northern shorthusk Brachyelytrum aristosum
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
northern sweetgrass Hierochloe hirta
northern wildrice Zizania palustris
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
pale St. Johnswort Hypericum ellipticum
paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Peck's sedge Carex peckii
Pennsylvania clubmoss Lycopodium hickeyi
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
plantainleaf sedge Carex plantaginea
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
pretty sedge Carex woodii
pubescent sedge Carex hirtifolia
purple chokeberry Aronia ×prunifolia
purple giant hyssop Agastache scrophulariifolia
purple marshlocks Comarum palustre
purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
purple pitcherplant Sarracenia purpurea
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
ramp Allium tricoccum
rannoch-rush Scheuchzeria palustris
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
Richardson's pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii
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
running serviceberry Amelanchier stolonifera
rusty woodsia Woodsia ilvensis
scrambled eggs Corydalis aurea
Selkirk's violet Viola selkirkii
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sessilefruit arrowhead Sagittaria rigida
sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
sevenangle pipewort Eriocaulon aquaticum
shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
shortspike watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum
sicklepod Arabis canadensis
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
single delight Moneses uniflora
skullcap speedwell Veronica scutellata
skunk currant Ribes glandulosum
skyblue aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense
slender rosette grass Dichanthelium xanthophysum
slender watermilfoil Myriophyllum tenellum
small bur-reed Sparganium natans
small cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
smooth blackberry Rubus canadensis
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth rose Rosa blanda
snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
Sprengel's sedge Carex sprengelii
starflower Trientalis borealis
stiff sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus
summer coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
threeleaf false lily of the valley Maianthemum trifolium
tiny trumpet Collomia linearis
Torrey's bulrush Schoenoplectus torreyi
tree groundpine Lycopodium dendroideum
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
turion duckweed Lemna turionifera
tussock cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum
twinflower Linnaea borealis
twistedstalk Streptopus lanceolatus
twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
umbrella flatsedge Cyperus diandrus
upland brittle bladderfern Cystopteris tenuis
veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
velvetleaf huckleberry Vaccinium myrtilloides
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
water arum Calla palustris
watershield Brasenia schreberi
waxflower shinleaf Pyrola elliptica
weakstalk bulrush Schoenoplectiella purshiana
western oakfern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
western waterweed Elodea nuttallii
whip-poor-will flower Trillium cernuum
white beaksedge Rhynchospora alba
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
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
winged pigweed Cycloloma atriplicifolium
wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
woodbine Parthenocissus vitacea
woodfern Dryopteris ×uliginosa
woollyfruit sedge Carex lasiocarpa
yellow avens Geum aleppicum
yellow coralroot Corallorhiza trifida
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens

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, Rusk County and Wisconsin
Measure	Rusk County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	501	653	1,568
Garden-ready natives	216	272	551
Tree	35	—	125
Shrub	40	—	102
Wildflower (forb)	263	—	853
Grass or grass-like	110	—	361
Vine	15	—	46
Fern	38	—	81

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Rusk County.

Barron County, WI 226 garden-ready
Chippewa County, WI 261 garden-ready
Price County, WI 209 garden-ready
Sawyer County, WI 270 garden-ready
Taylor County, WI 263 garden-ready
Washburn County, WI 252 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: Rusk County (county FIPS 55107), Wisconsin. 501 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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