Native plants · State

Native plants of Illinois

1,909 species are recorded as native to Illinois in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS and recorded in the state by USDA PLANTS, 652 of them with growing traits. County lists cover 102 of the state’s 102 counties; the typical county has 641.

State summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Illinois at a glance

Native species statewide: 1,909 Of 2,322 species Kew’s World Checklist records as native to Illinois (before this site’s scope)
Garden-ready natives: 652 With PLANTS growing records
Typical county: 641 Median native species per county; 272 garden-ready
Share by type (all 1,909 native species): Percent of the 1,909 native species in each growth type

Tree 10% (187)
Shrub 5% (96)
Wildflower (forb) 53% (1,015)
Grass or grass-like 23% (444)
Vine 4% (79)
Fern 5% (88)

Wildflowers: 1,015 · grasses and grass-like: 444 · trees: 187 · shrubs: 96 · vines: 79 · ferns: 88.

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.

Native plants by county

102 Illinois counties with PLANTS county records
County	Native species	Garden-ready	Hardiness zones
Adams County	729	309	6a
Alexander County	772	327	7a
Bond County	441	207	6b
Boone County	669	282	5b
Brown County	538	228	6a
Bureau County	395	177	5b
Calhoun County	642	273	6a–6b
Carroll County	566	224	5a–5b
Cass County	824	336	6a
Champaign County	768	321	6a
Christian County	590	269	6a–6b
Clark County	607	272	6a–6b
Clay County	461	219	6b
Clinton County	372	188	6b
Coles County	743	308	6a
Cook County	1,185	462	5b–6b
Crawford County	722	316	6b
Cumberland County	512	218	6b
De Witt County	435	193	6a
DeKalb County	666	280	5b
Douglas County	512	240	6a
DuPage County	838	362	5b–6a
Edgar County	510	228	6a
Edwards County	429	208	6b
Effingham County	544	240	6b
Fayette County	677	301	6b
Ford County	335	172	5b–6a
Franklin County	505	233	6b–7a
Fulton County	702	300	5b–6a
Gallatin County	640	261	7a
Greene County	616	263	6a–6b
Grundy County	729	305	5b
Hamilton County	487	232	6b–7a
Hancock County	830	328	6a
Hardin County	692	277	7a
Henderson County	724	285	5b–6a
Henry County	652	271	5b
Iroquois County	605	249	5b–6a
Jackson County	1,117	419	7a
Jasper County	434	217	6b
Jefferson County	501	214	6b
Jersey County	617	272	6b
Jo Daviess County	726	286	5a
Johnson County	889	357	7a
Kane County	823	360	5b
Kankakee County	878	352	5b
Kendall County	653	293	5b
Knox County	490	217	5b
Lake County	994	413	5b–6a
LaSalle County	745	303	5b
Lawrence County	683	314	6b
Lee County	705	271	5b
Livingston County	393	186	5b–6a
Logan County	515	223	6a
Macon County	686	287	6a
Macoupin County	743	299	6a–6b
Madison County	566	246	6b–7a
Marion County	594	247	6b
Marshall County	456	206	5b
Mason County	802	335	6a
Massac County	783	328	7a
McDonough County	713	304	5b–6a
McHenry County	798	339	5b
McLean County	529	222	5b–6a
Menard County	803	322	6a
Mercer County	379	169	5b
Monroe County	639	262	7a
Montgomery County	468	208	6a–6b
Morgan County	626	252	6a
Moultrie County	442	196	6a
Ogle County	750	294	5a–5b
Peoria County	941	367	5b–6a
Perry County	616	276	6b–7a
Piatt County	614	271	6a
Pike County	659	283	6a–6b
Pope County	1,030	395	7a
Pulaski County	628	292	7a
Putnam County	423	182	5b
Randolph County	775	315	7a
Richland County	679	307	6b
Rock Island County	509	211	5b
Saline County	652	270	7a
Sangamon County	681	293	6a
Schuyler County	547	222	6a
Scott County	560	231	6a
Shelby County	536	239	6a–6b
St. Clair County	990	381	6b–7a
Stark County	523	215	5b
Stephenson County	485	209	5a–5b
Tazewell County	659	273	5b–6a
Union County	1,000	384	7a
Vermilion County	736	301	6a
Wabash County	829	347	6b
Warren County	301	146	5b
Washington County	520	245	6b
Wayne County	466	220	6b
White County	475	221	6b–7a
Whiteside County	497	197	5b
Will County	933	372	5b–6a
Williamson County	744	323	7a
Winnebago County	939	368	5b
Woodford County	490	212	5b–6a

Garden-ready natives of Illinois

Statewide list. A species native somewhere in Illinois may not be native in your county: use the county lists above to narrow it.

Tree 145

Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis
alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia
American basswood Tilia americana
American beech Fagus grandifolia
American chestnut Castanea dentata
American elm Ulmus americana
American holly Ilex opaca
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana
American mountain ash Sorbus americana
American plum Prunus americana
American snowbell Styrax americanus
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana
arborvitae Thuja occidentalis
bald cypress Taxodium distichum
balsam poplar Populus balsamifera
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta
bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolius
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis
black ash Fraxinus nigra
black cherry Prunus serotina
black maple Acer nigrum
black oak Quercus velutina
black spruce Picea mariana
black walnut Juglans nigra
black willow Salix nigra
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica
boxelder Acer negundo
buckthorn bully Sideroxylon lycioides
bur oak Quercus macrocarpa
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus
butternut Juglans cinerea
Canadian plum Prunus nigra
Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana
cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda
chestnut oak Quercus montana
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii
chokecherry Prunus virginiana
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
common hackberry Celtis occidentalis
common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata
common juniper Juniperus communis
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana
common serviceberry Amelanchier arborea
common winterberry Ilex verticillata
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana
eastern swampprivet Forestiera acuminata
eastern white pine Pinus strobus
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum
flowering dogwood Cornus florida
gray alder Alnus incana
gray birch Betula populifolia
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica
green hawthorn Crataegus viridis
hazel alder Alnus serrulata
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana
jack pine Pinus banksiana
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus
Kentucky yellowwood Cladrastis kentukea
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa
nannyberry Viburnum lentago
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa
northern mountain ash Sorbus decora
northern red oak Quercus rubra
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin
Nuttall oak Quercus texana
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra
overcup oak Quercus lyrata
paper birch Betula papyrifera
parsley hawthorn Crataegus marshallii
pawpaw Asimina triloba
peachleaf willow Salix amygdaloides
pecan Carya illinoinensis
pignut hickory Carya glabra
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica
pin oak Quercus palustris
planertree Planera aquatica
possumhaw Ilex decidua
post oak Quercus stellata
prairie crab apple Malus ioensis
pumpkin ash Fraxinus profunda
pussy willow Salix discolor
quaking aspen Populus tremuloides
red buckeye Aesculus pavia
red elderberry Sambucus racemosa
red maple Acer rubrum
red mulberry Morus rubra
red pine Pinus resinosa
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea
river birch Betula nigra
rock elm Ulmus thomasii
roughleaf dogwood Cornus drummondii
roundleaf dogwood Cornus rugosa
roundleaf serviceberry Amelanchier sanguinea
sandbar willow Salix interior
sassafras Sassafras albidum
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea
shagbark hickory Carya ovata
shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria
shining willow Salix lucida
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii
silky willow Salix sericea
silver maple Acer saccharinum
slippery elm Ulmus rubra
smooth sumac Rhus glabra
southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum
southern arrowwood Viburnum recognitum
southern red oak Quercus falcata
southern sugar maple Acer floridanum
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina
stiff dogwood Cornus foemina
sugar maple Acer saccharum
sugarberry Celtis laevigata
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii
swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla
swamp tupelo Nyssa biflora
swamp white oak Quercus bicolor
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua
tamarack Larix laricina
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera
Washington hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum
water hickory Carya aquatica
water locust Gleditsia aquatica
water tupelo Nyssa aquatica
white ash Fraxinus americana
white oak Quercus alba
willow oak Quercus phellos
winged elm Ulmus alata
winged sumac Rhus copallinum
yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis
yellow buckeye Aesculus flava

Shrub 55

alderleaf buckthorn Rhamnus alnifolia
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis
American black currant Ribes americanum
American hazelnut Corylus americana
Bailey's dewberry Rubus baileyanus
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata
black raspberry Rubus occidentalis
bog birch Betula pumila
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus
bunchberry dogwood Cornus canadensis
Canada yew Taxus canadensis
Carolina rose Rosa carolina
common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum
downy arrowwood Viburnum rafinesqueanum
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea
gray dogwood Cornus racemosa
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
leadplant Amorpha canescens
leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata
lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus
northern bush honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera
oldfield blackberry Rubus alumnus
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides
pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata
prairie sagewort Artemisia frigida
prairie willow Salix humilis
prickly rose Rosa acicularis
purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus
red currant Ribes triste
russet buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis
sageleaf willow Salix candida
sandcherry Prunus pumila
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus
shrubby cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum
silky dogwood Cornus amomum
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus
swamp rose Rosa palustris
sweet fern Comptonia peregrina
thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica
western snowberry Symphoricarpos occidentalis
white meadowsweet Spiraea alba
woolly beachheather Hudsonia tomentosa

Wildflower (forb) 223

alkali buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria
American bellflower Campanulastrum americanum
American bur-reed Sparganium americanum
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana
American licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota
American lotus Nelumbo lutea
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana
American speedwell Veronica americana
American spongeplant Limnobium spongia
American water horehound Lycopus americanus
American water plantain Alisma subcordatum
American water-willow Justicia americana
Appalachian blazing star Liatris squarrulosa
arumleaf arrowhead Sagittaria cuneata
Atlantic camas Camassia scilloides
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum
bluebead Clintonia borealis
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum
bog goldenrod Solidago uliginosa
bog willowherb Epilobium leptophyllum
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus
broadfruit bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa
butterweed Packera glabella
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum
Canada germander Teucrium canadense
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis
Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis
Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus
Carolina fanwort Cabomba caroliniana
clasping coneflower Dracopis amplexicaulis
closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii
common blue violet Viola sororia
common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium
common cowparsnip Heracleum maximum
common duckweed Lemna minor
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta
common mare's-tail Hippuris vulgaris
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris
common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum
copper iris Iris fulva
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos
crookedstem aster Symphyotrichum prenanthoides
cup plant Silphium perfoliatum
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata
delta arrowhead Sagittaria platyphylla
dense blazing star Liatris spicata
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa
disk waterhyssop Bacopa rotundifolia
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides
dotted blazing star Liatris punctata
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum
downy paintedcup Castilleja sessiliflora
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum
eastern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum subulatum
eastern purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
false daisy Eclipta prostrata
field pussytoes Antennaria neglecta
fireweed Chamerion angustifolium
flatstem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis
floating pondweed Potamogeton natans
foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis
fringeleaf wild petunia Ruellia humilis
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea
golden crownbeard Verbesina encelioides
golden ragwort Packera aurea
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis
great St. Johnswort Hypericum ascyron
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum
halberdleaf rosemallow Hibiscus laevis
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora
hooded lady's tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria
Illinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus
jewelweed Impatiens capensis
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata
largeleaf pondweed Potamogeton amplifolius
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor
limestone bittercress Cardamine douglassii
limestone wild petunia Ruellia strepens
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus
longbeak buttercup Ranunculus longirostris
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus
longleaf starwort Stellaria longifolia
marsh bellflower Campanula aparinoides
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris
Maryland senna Senna marilandica
meadow evening primrose Oenothera pilosella
Mississippi buttercup Ranunculus laxicaulis
Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis
Missouri ironweed Vernonia missurica
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium
narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa
nodding beggartick Bidens cernua
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua
nodding waternymph Najas flexilis
northern bedstraw Galium boreale
northern spiderlily Hymenocallis occidentalis
northern St. Johnswort Hypericum boreale
northern water-starwort Callitriche hermaphroditica
old man's whiskers Geum triflorum
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides
pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica
Pennsylvania buttercup Ranunculus pensylvanicus
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum
perplexed ticktrefoil Desmodium perplexum
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata
pinnate prairie coneflower Ratibida pinnata
prairie blazing star Liatris pycnostachya
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus
pride of Ohio Dodecatheon meadia
purple avens Geum rivale
purple prairie clover Dalea purpurea
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum
purplestem aster Symphyotrichum puniceum
purplestem beggarticks Bidens connata
ribbonleaf pondweed Potamogeton epihydrus
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum
Robbins' pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii
rough avens Geum laciniatum
rough bedstraw Galium asprellum
rough bugleweed Lycopus asper
roughfruit amaranth Amaranthus tuberculatus
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata
roundleaf goldenrod Solidago patula
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata
sanddune wallflower Erysimum capitatum
sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus
scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus
silverweed cinquefoil Argentina anserina
skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus
small beggarticks Bidens discoidea
small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina
small white violet Viola macloskeyi
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve
smooth hedgenettle Stachys tenuifolia
smooth phlox Phlox glaberrima
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis
spotted joe pye weed Eutrochium maculatum
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum
spreading yellowcress Rorippa sinuata
spring avens Geum vernum
stalkless yellowcress Rorippa sessiliflora
star duckweed Lemna trisulca
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides
sweetscent Pluchea odorata
tall cinquefoil Potentilla arguta
tall hairy agrimony Agrimonia gryposepala
taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum
tufted loosestrife Lysimachia thyrsiflora
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla
upright prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera
valdivia duckweed Lemna valdiviana
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea
variableleaf pondweed Potamogeton gramineus
vernal water-starwort Callitriche palustris
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica
Virginia dayflower Commelina virginica
Virginia iris Iris virginica
Virginia spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana
Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus
water knotweed Polygonum amphibium
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius
western pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea
white avens Geum canadense
white doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum
white prairie clover Dalea candida
white sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana
whitestem pondweed Potamogeton praelongus
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata
wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis
wild sweetwilliam Phlox maculata
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens
woolly plantain Plantago patagonica
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa
yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula
yellow marsh marigold Caltha palustris
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis

Grass or grass-like 196

American beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata
American dunegrass Leymus mollis
annual wildrice Zizania aquatica
arctic brome Bromus kalmii
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata
Bebb's sedge Carex bebbii
Bicknell's sedge Carex bicknellii
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii
blue grama Bouteloua gracilis
blue wildrye Elymus glaucus
bluejoint Calamagrostis canadensis
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa
bog rush Juncus biflorus
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea
broadleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium latifolium
broadleaf signalgrass Urochloa platyphylla
broom sedge Carex scoparia
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus
buffalograss Bouteloua dactyloides
bur-reed sedge Carex sparganioides
Bush's sedge Carex bushii
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis
Canadian rush Juncus canadensis
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus
catchfly grass Leersia lenticularis
cattail sedge Carex typhina
clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri
common rush Juncus effusus
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris
common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus
cosmopolitan bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus
crested sedge Carex cristatella
cypressknee sedge Carex decomposita
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum
Dewey sedge Carex deweyana
drooping sedge Carex prasina
drooping woodreed Cinna latifolia
dwarf spikerush Eleocharis parvula
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola
eastern straw sedge Carex straminea
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda
eggleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium ovale
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum
field paspalum Paspalum laeve
flatstem spikerush Eleocharis compressa
fowl bluegrass Poa palustris
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus
Frank's sedge Carex frankii
fringed brome Bromus ciliatus
fringed sedge Carex crinita
Georgia bulrush Scirpus georgianus
giant cutgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea
golden sedge Carex aurea
graceful sedge Carex gracillima
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus
Gray's sedge Carex grayi
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens
greater straw sedge Carex normalis
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens
green needlegrass Nassella viridula
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris
hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta
hairy sedge Carex lacustris
hairyfruit sedge Carex trichocarpa
hardstem bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus
hop sedge Carex lupulina
horsetail paspalum Paspalum fluitans
Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans
inland rush Juncus interior
inland sedge Carex interior
jointleaf rush Juncus articulatus
knotted rush Juncus nodosus
lesser panicled sedge Carex diandra
little barley Hordeum pusillum
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
little green sedge Carex viridula
longhair sedge Carex comosa
longspike tridens Tridens strictus
lopsided rush Juncus secundus
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca
manyflower flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis
marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus
marsh muhly Muhlenbergia racemosa
meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum
Mexican muhly Muhlenbergia mexicana
mountain brome Bromus marginatus
Muskingum sedge Carex muskingumensis
necklace sedge Carex projecta
needle and thread Hesperostipa comata
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata
Northwest Territory sedge Carex utriculata
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora
panicled bulrush Scirpus microcarpus
plains muhly Muhlenbergia cuspidata
poorland flatsedge Cyperus compressus
porcupinegrass Hesperostipa spartea
poverty rush Juncus tenuis
prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata
prairie dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis
prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha
prairie sandreed Calamovilfa longifolia
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus
quill sedge Carex tenera
rattlesnake mannagrass Glyceria canadensis
ravenfoot sedge Carex crus-corvi
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides
river bulrush Bolboschoenus fluviatilis
riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius
rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra
roundhead rush Juncus validus
rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus
sand bluestem Andropogon hallii
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus
sand lovegrass Eragrostis trichodes
scratchgrass Muhlenbergia asperifolia
shallow sedge Carex lurida
shoreline sedge Carex hyalinolepis
Short's sedge Carex shortiana
shortawn foxtail Alopecurus aequalis
shortbeard plumegrass Saccharum brevibarbe
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula
silvery sedge Carex canescens
slender bulrush Schoenoplectus heterochaetus
slender cottongrass Eriophorum gracile
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus
slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis
slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus
slimstem reedgrass Calamagrostis stricta
small floating mannagrass Glyceria borealis
smallhead rush Juncus brachycephalus
softleaf sedge Carex disperma
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
spiked muhly Muhlenbergia glomerata
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius
squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa
stalked bulrush Scirpus pedicellatus
star sedge Carex echinata
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea
switchgrass Panicum virgatum
tall cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium
tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus
tawny cottongrass Eriophorum virginicum
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides
thickspike wheatgrass Elymus lanceolatus
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum
threeseeded sedge Carex trisperma
toad rush Juncus bufonius
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi
troublesome sedge Carex molesta
tufted bulrush Trichophorum cespitosum
tufted hairgrass Deschampsia cespitosa
twisted sedge Carex torta
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans
upright sedge Carex stricta
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium
vine mesquite Panicum obtusum
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus
water sedge Carex aquatilis
western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii
wheat sedge Carex atherodes
white edge sedge Carex debilis
whitegrass Leersia virginica
whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis
wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa
woodland bluegrass Poa sylvestris
woodland muhly Muhlenbergia sylvatica
woodland rush Juncus subcaudatus
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens

Vine 23

American bittersweet Celastrus scandens
American vetch Vicia americana
American wisteria Wisteria frutescens
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum
beach pea Lathyrus japonicus
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca
catbird grape Vitis palmata
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens
climbing rose Rosa setigera
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana
frost grape Vitis vulpina
graybark grape Vitis cinerea
groundnut Apios americana
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata
peppervine Nekemias arborea
riverbank grape Vitis riparia
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox
summer grape Vitis aestivalis
threepetal bedstraw Galium trifidum
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea

Fern 10

cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea
crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata
field horsetail Equisetum arvense
interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum
smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum
water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile
woodland horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum

Also listed as native and introduced here 7

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

American red raspberryRubus idaeus
annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
bride's feathersAruncus dioicus
climbing false buckwheatPolygonum scandens
common reedPhragmites australis
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
wood bluegrassPoa nemoralis

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: Illinois: 1,909 native species in this site’s scope; county lists for 102 counties.
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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