Native range
Native plants of Virginia
206 wild species and 19 plant groups in the BloomsEye library grow wild somewhere in Virginia, read from Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS. The 171 garden forms of them are listed apart below, each naming its wild parent.
Showing 1 to 60 of 225 plants
How this list is made
Derived from each plant's native-range record, checked against Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS with every decision on a ledger; Virginia is read off the record's own range, and the order is how many of the state's counties record each plant, as stored in the BloomsEye library, which was written with AI assistance. Of these 225 plants, 210 have been checked against outside sources (6 fully verified); the rest have not been checked yet, and each plant's own page says which. The cards are AI-generated illustrations.
Range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 4.0, adapted) and USDA PLANTS. How the native range is credited.
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Full sunZones 3–98.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Full sunZones 4–940 ftModerate
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Full sunZones 3–92 ftLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Part sunZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
FoliageChristmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Full shadeZones 3–91.5 ftModerate
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Part shadeZones 5–923 ftModerate
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
FoliageRed Maple
Acer rubrum
Full sunZones 3–949 ftModerate
FoliageRoyal Fern
Osmunda regalis
Part shadeZones 3–94 ftHigh
FoliageSensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Part shadeZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Full sunZones 4–93 ftHigh
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Part shadeZones 4–99.5 ftModerate
Tulip Tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
Full sunZones 4–966 ftModerate
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Full sunZones 3–940 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
White Oak
Quercus alba
Full sunZones 3–965 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
FoliageCinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Part shadeZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
FoliageLady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Part shadeZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Part shadeZones 3–925 ftModerate
Blackhaw
Viburnum prunifolium
Full sunZones 3–913 ftModerate
Common Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Part sunZones 4–920 ftModerate
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Part shadeZones 5–99 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Full sunZones 3–863 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
FoliageEastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Full sunZones 2–945 ftModerate
False Solomon's Seal
Maianthemum racemosum
Part shadeZones 3–82.5 ftModerate
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Smooth Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum biflorum
Part shadeZones 3–83.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Smooth Sumac
Rhus glabra
Full sunZones 3–912 ftModerate
Pinxterbloom Azalea
Rhododendron periclymenoides
Part shadeZones 4–95.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Silky Dogwood
Cornus amomum
Part shadeZones 4–88.5 ftModerate
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Common Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Full sunZones 4–935 ftModerate
Flava (Yellow Trumpet)
Campsis radicans f. flava
Full sunZones 4–926 ftModerate
Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans
Full sunZones 4–926 ftModerate
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Full sunZones 3–96.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Common Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Full sunZones 5–817 ftModerate
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Part sunZones 4–923 ftModerate
Blue Mistflower
Conoclinium coelestinum
Part shadeZones 5–102 ftModerate
Carolina Rose
Rosa carolina
Full sunZones 4–93.5 ftModerate
Golden Ragwort
Packera aurea
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftLow
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Part shadeZones 3–94 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Common Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Full sunZones 3–817 ftModerate
Mapleleaf Viburnum
Viburnum acerifolium
Part shadeZones 3–84.5 ftModerate
Hollow Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium fistulosum
Full sunZones 4–86 ftModerate
New York Ironweed
Vernonia noveboracensis
Full sunZones 5–96 ftModerate
Eastern Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Part shadeZones 3–82 ftModerate
FoliageHay Scented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Part shadeZones 3–82 ftModerate
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Full sunZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
Possumhaw Viburnum
Viburnum nudum
Full sunZones 5–98.5 ftModerate
White Fringetree
Chionanthus virginicus
Full sunZones 3–917 ftModerate
FoliageMaidenhair Fern
Adiantum
Full shadeZones 3–81.5 ftHigh
Red Chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia
Full sunZones 4–99 ftModerate
Rosy Sedge
Carex rosea
Part shadeZones 4–812 inModerate
American Alumroot
Heuchera americana
Part shadeZones 4–92 ftModerate
White Turtlehead
Chelone glabra
Part shadeZones 3–83 ftHigh
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
Full sunZones 4–910 ftModerate
Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod
Solidago caesia
Part shadeZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Full sunZones 5–98.5 ftModerate
Common Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
Full sunZones 2–957 ftModerate
Recorded across Virginia
How many of the state's 133 counties record each wild species growing wild, from USDA PLANTS: a plant recorded in many counties is widespread in Virginia; one recorded in few may be local, or simply under-recorded. A county's absence is not evidence a plant is absent. 198 of the wild species carry a county record here.
- American Elderberry
- Black Gum
- Butterfly Weed
- Cardinal Flower
- Christmas Fern
- Flowering Dogwood
- Mayapple
- Red Maple
- Royal Fern
- Sensitive Fern
- Soft Rush
- Spicebush
- Tulip Tree
- Virginia Creeper
- White Oak
- Cinnamon Fern
- Lady Fern
- American Hornbeam
- Blackhaw
- Common Black-Eyed Susan
- Downy Serviceberry
- Mountain Laurel
- Northern Red Oak
- Eastern Red Cedar
- False Solomon's Seal
- Swamp Milkweed
- Smooth Solomon's Seal
- Smooth Sumac
- Pinxterbloom Azalea
- Silky Dogwood
- Common Milkweed
- Common Persimmon
- Flava (Yellow Trumpet)
- Trumpet Vine
- Winterberry
- Common Pawpaw
- Eastern Redbud
- Blue Mistflower
- Carolina Rose
- Golden Ragwort
- Little Bluestem
- Smooth Hydrangea
- Common Witch Hazel
- Mapleleaf Viburnum
- Hollow Joe Pye Weed
- New York Ironweed
- Eastern Red Columbine
- Hay Scented Fern
- New Jersey Tea
- Possumhaw Viburnum
- White Fringetree
- Maidenhair Fern
- Red Chokeberry
- Rosy Sedge
- American Alumroot
- White Turtlehead
- American Hazelnut
- Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod
- Buttonbush
- Common Hackberry
- Wild Ginger
- Common Sneezeweed
- Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
- American Holly
- Indiangrass
- Black Cohosh
- Purple Lovegrass
- White-Tinged Sedge
- Bottlebrush Grass
- Great Blue Lobelia
- Adam's Needle
- White Wood Aster
- Wild Geranium
- River Birch
- Honeylocust
- American Hophornbeam
- American Wintergreen
- Arrowwood
- Coral Honeysuckle
- American Linden
- Marginal Wood Fern
- Goatsbeard
- Silver Maple
- Sweet Joe Pye Weed
- Hardy Hibiscus
- Pennsylvania Sedge
- Sweetgum
- Woodland Stonecrop
- Northern Sea Oats
- Shrubby St. John's Wort
- Willow Oak
- Eastern Hemlock
- Swamp Azalea
- Brown-Eyed Susan
- Green and Gold
- Blue Wood Aster
- False Sunflower
- Garden Phlox
- Whorled Milkweed
- Eastern White Pine
- Wild Bee Balm
- Blue Wood Sedge
- Ninebark
- Pin Oak
- Virginia Bluebells
- Roundleaf Ragwort
- Black Chokeberry
- Pagoda Dogwood
- Sugar Maple
- Sweetbay Magnolia
- Switchgrass
- Zigzag Goldenrod
- Heartleaf Foamflower
- Virginia Sweetspire
- Chinkapin Oak
- Dwarf Crested Iris
- Rosebay Rhododendron
- Shadblow Serviceberry
- Staghorn Sumac
- Crossvine
- Nodding Onion
- Smooth Blue Aster
- Woodland Phlox
- Perennial Black-Eyed Susan
- Fragrant Sumac
- Southern Wax Myrtle
- Cucumbertree Magnolia
- Golden Alexanders
- Summersweet
- Southern Blue Flag
- Creeping Phlox
- New England Aster
- Possumhaw Holly
- Swamp White Oak
- Brome-Like Sedge
- Chokecherry
- Dutchman's Pipe
- Culver's Root
- Red Elderberry
- Creeping Jacob's Ladder
- Bald Cypress
- Gray's Sedge
- Dense Blazing Star
- Arborvitae
- Carolina Jessamine
- American Beautyberry
- Swamp Sunflower
- Clustered Mountain Mint
- Northern Bush Honeysuckle
- Pink Muhly Grass
- Aromatic Aster
- Inkberry Holly
- New York Aster
- Rattlesnake Master
- Seersucker Sedge
- Blue Indigo
- Creeping Woodland Phlox
- Stiff Goldenrod
- Bristleleaf Sedge
- Sideoats Grama
- Eastern Bluestar
- Purple Coneflower
- Quaking Aspen
- Canby's Mountain Lover
- Common Snowberry
- Northern Bayberry
- Carolina Allspice
- Spotted Joe Pye Weed
- Coast Leucothoe
- Northern Blue Flag Iris
- Paper Birch
- Annual Phlox
- Bur Oak
- Celandine Poppy
- Lavender Annual Phlox
- Live Oak
- Mountain Stewartia
- Peach Annual Phlox
- Purple Annual Phlox
- Red Annual Phlox
- White Annual Phlox
- Kentucky Coffeetree
- Queen of the Prairie
- Drooping Leucothoe
- Nannyberry Viburnum
- Yaupon Holly
- Bunchberry
- Ostrich Fern
- Pale Purple Coneflower
- Tufted Hairgrass
- Carolina Lupine
- Kinnikinnick
- Redosier Dogwood
- Allegheny Serviceberry
- Buffalograss
- Cherokee Sedge
- Prairie Dropseed Grass
- White Wild Indigo
Garden forms of Virginia natives
171 garden forms, each a named selection of a species that grows wild in Virginia and each naming its wild parent. A garden form is not the wild plant, so it is listed here and never counted above.
- Alba Gayfeather
- Alma Pötschke
- Alpine Carpet Juniper
- Amazing Grace
- Amber Jubilee
- Amethyst Falls Wisteria
- Annabelle
- Appalachian Red
- Aquavita Juniper
- Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood
- Arctic Fire Yellow Dogwood
- Athena Gold False Sunflower
- Autumn Bride Coral Bells
- Autumn Colors
- Baby Joe Dwarf Joe Pye Weed
- Bailey Compact American Cranberrybush
- Balmy Purple
- Barbara Ann Climbing Hydrangea
- Bayside Bonito Southern Wax Myrtle
- Berry Heavy
- Berry Poppins
- Berry Scape Aronia
- Blackhawks Big Bluestem
- Blackjack Gold Black-Eyed Susan
- Blaze
- Blue Blaze Viburnum
- Blue Moon Woodland Phlox
- Blue Muffin Viburnum
- Blue Paradise
- Bobee Northern Bayberry
- Bordeaux Dwarf Yaupon Holly
- Brandywine Viburnum
- Bridesmaid Mountain Laurel
- Bright Eyes
- Bronze Wave Coral Bells
- Bubblegum Pink Garden Phlox
- Bunny Blue Sedge
- Candy Stripe
- Caramel
- Carol Mountain Laurel
- Carousel Mountain Laurel
- Cheer Drops Arborvitae
- Cherokee Brave
- Cherokee Chief
- Cherokee Princess
- Cherry Berries Wintergreen
- Cherry Brandy
- Citronelle
- Claire Grace
- Cloud Nine
- Coconut Lime
- Color Guard Yucca
- Columnar White Pine
- Coppertina
- Coral Flame
- Crème Brûlée
- Crimson Comet Buttonbush
- Crimson Trumpet
- Danica
- David
- DeGroot's Spire
- Densa Inkberry
- Denver Daisy
- Deschampsia Goldtau Grass
- Designer Threads Golden Needles Coreopsis
- Designer Threads Heartstrings Coreopsis
- Designer Threads Scarlet Ribbons Coreopsis
- Diabolo
- DreamScape Hydrangea
- Dressed To Thrill Crossvine
- Drummond's Pink
- Dwarf White Pine
- Early Sunrise
- Elf Mountain Laurel
- Emerald Blue
- Emerald Green
- Emerald Pink
- Eye Candy Moss Phlox
- Eye Shadow Moss Phlox
- Falling Waters
- Fire Chief
- Fireworks Goldenrod
- Flame Thrower
- Forest Pansy
- Gentsch White
- Golden Globe
- Goldilocks
- Goldsturm
- Grand Marshall
- Green Jewel
- Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac
- Hearts of Gold
- Heavy Metal
- Henry's Garnet Sweetspire
- Holmstrup
- Hummingbird
- Incrediball Hydrangea
- Indian Summer
- Invincibelle Spirit II Hydrangea
- Jeana
- Jeddeloh Hemlock
- Laura
- Lavender Twist
- Lemony Lace Elderberry
- Little Devil
- Little Henry Sweetspire
- Luminary Ultraviolet
- Luna Pink Swirl
- Luna White
- Magnus
- Major Wheeler
- Moonbeam
- New England Aster 'Barr's Pink'
- New England Aster 'Harrington's Pink'
- Nicky
- Northwind
- Nugget
- October Skies
- Orange Perfection
- Pardon My Purple
- Patricia Ballard
- Peve Minaret
- Pink Double Delight
- Pink Spire
- PowWow Wild Berry
- Prairie Sun
- Professor Kippenberg
- Purple Beauty
- Purple Dome
- Purple Phlox
- Purple Rooster
- Rainbow Leucothoe
- Rainbow Pillar
- Raydon's Favorite
- Red Sprite
- Red Wings
- Rheingold
- River Mist
- Robert Poore
- Route 66
- Royal White Redbud
- Ruby Falls
- Ruby Spice
- Sarah Mountain Laurel
- Scarlet Flame
- Scarletta Leucothoe
- Shamrock Inkberry Holly
- Shawnee Brave
- Shenandoah
- Sienna Sunset
- Sixteen Candles
- Snow Flurry
- Starfire
- Sugar Buzz Cherry Pops
- Sugar Shack Buttonbush
- Summer Wine
- Techny
- The Rising Sun
- Tiger Eyes Sumac
- Tiny Wine
- Toto Gold
- Twilight Zone
- Vanilla Spice
- Weeping Hemlock
- Weeping White Pine
- White Delight
- White Flame
- White Swan
- Winter Gold
- Winter Red
- Zagreb
Plant groups native to Virginia
19 plant groups sold under one name whose wild species grow in Virginia; the count beside each is how many of its wild species the record finds in the state.
Keep exploring
Native to your own county
This page is the whole state. In the free garden planner, enter your ZIP and Garden Check lists these same plants for your location, marks the ones recorded growing wild in your county, and places any of them in your plan; its Browse tab answers for any of the 65 states, provinces and territories with no account.
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