Native range
Native plants of West Virginia
168 wild species and 18 plant groups in the BloomsEye library grow wild somewhere in West Virginia, read from Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS. The 146 garden forms of them are listed apart below, each naming its wild parent.
Showing 1 to 60 of 186 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; West 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 186 plants, 173 have been checked against outside sources (2 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.
FoliageChristmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Full shadeZones 3–91.5 ftModerate
Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Part sunZones 4–920 ftModerate
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Part shadeZones 5–923 ftModerate
FoliageSugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Full sunZones 3–859 ftModerate
FoliageRed Maple
Acer rubrum
Full sunZones 3–949 ftModerate
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Part shadeZones 3–94 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Part shadeZones 4–99.5 ftModerate
White Oak
Quercus alba
Full sunZones 3–965 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Woodland Stonecrop
Sedum ternatum
Part shadeZones 4–88 inModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
American Linden
Tilia americana
Full sunZones 3–870 ftModerate
Common Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Common Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Full sunZones 3–817 ftModerate
False Solomon's Seal
Maianthemum racemosum
Part shadeZones 3–82.5 ftModerate
FoliageMarginal Wood Fern
Dryopteris marginalis
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Full sunZones 3–863 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Common Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Full sunZones 5–817 ftModerate
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Part sunZones 4–923 ftModerate
FoliageMaidenhair Fern
Adiantum
Full shadeZones 3–81.5 ftHigh
Tulip Tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
Full sunZones 4–966 ftModerate
FoliageWild Ginger
Asarum
Full shadeZones 4–86 inModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
Full sunZones 4–910 ftModerate
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Full sunZones 4–940 ftModerate
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Mapleleaf Viburnum
Viburnum acerifolium
Part shadeZones 3–84.5 ftModerate
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Part shadeZones 5–99 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Full sunZones 3–98.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Full sunZones 3–92 ftLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Carolina Rose
Rosa carolina
Full sunZones 4–93.5 ftModerate
Smooth Sumac
Rhus glabra
Full sunZones 3–912 ftModerate
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Part shadeZones 3–812 inModerate
Goatsbeard
Aruncus dioicus
Part shadeZones 3–74 ftModerate
FoliageLady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Part shadeZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Full sunZones 4–93 ftHigh
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Full sunZones 3–940 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
White Wood Aster
Eurybia divaricata
Part shadeZones 3–82 ftModerate
Bottlebrush Grass
Elymus hystrix
Part shadeZones 5–93 ftModerate
FoliageSensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Part shadeZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
FoliageEastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Part shadeZones 3–749 ftModerate
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Part shadeZones 4–92.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
Full sunZones 3–939 ftModerate
Smooth Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum biflorum
Part shadeZones 3–83.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
American Alumroot
Heuchera americana
Part shadeZones 4–92 ftModerate
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Roundleaf Ragwort
Packera obovata
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhina
Full sunZones 4–820 ftLow
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Sweet Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium purpureum
Full sunZones 4–96 ftModerate
Hollow Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium fistulosum
Full sunZones 4–86 ftModerate
Pinxterbloom Azalea
Rhododendron periclymenoides
Part shadeZones 4–95.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Rosebay Rhododendron
Rhododendron maximum
Part shadeZones 3–711 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
American Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
Part shadeZones 3–88 inModerate
Listed as toxic to cats
Black Cohosh
Actaea racemosa
Part shadeZones 3–85 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Cucumbertree Magnolia
Magnolia acuminata
Full sunZones 4–865 ftModerate
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Full sunZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
Eastern Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Part shadeZones 3–82 ftModerate
Blackhaw
Viburnum prunifolium
Full sunZones 3–913 ftModerate
Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod
Solidago caesia
Part shadeZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
Pagoda Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
Part shadeZones 3–720 ftModerate
Common Hackberry
Celtis occidentalis
Full sunZones 2–957 ftModerate
Recorded across West Virginia
How many of the state's 55 counties record each wild species growing wild, from USDA PLANTS: a plant recorded in many counties is widespread in West Virginia; one recorded in few may be local, or simply under-recorded. A county's absence is not evidence a plant is absent. 163 of the wild species carry a county record here.
- Christmas Fern
- Downy Serviceberry
- Flowering Dogwood
- Sugar Maple
- Red Maple
- Smooth Hydrangea
- Spicebush
- White Oak
- Woodland Stonecrop
- American Linden
- Common Black-Eyed Susan
- Common Witch Hazel
- False Solomon's Seal
- Marginal Wood Fern
- Northern Red Oak
- Common Pawpaw
- Eastern Redbud
- Maidenhair Fern
- Tulip Tree
- Wild Ginger
- American Hazelnut
- Black Gum
- Wild Geranium
- Common Milkweed
- Mapleleaf Viburnum
- Mountain Laurel
- American Elderberry
- Butterfly Weed
- Carolina Rose
- Smooth Sumac
- Woodland Phlox
- Goatsbeard
- Lady Fern
- Soft Rush
- Virginia Creeper
- White Wood Aster
- Bottlebrush Grass
- Sensitive Fern
- Eastern Hemlock
- Great Blue Lobelia
- Silver Maple
- Smooth Solomon's Seal
- American Alumroot
- Mayapple
- Roundleaf Ragwort
- Staghorn Sumac
- Swamp Milkweed
- Sweet Joe Pye Weed
- Hollow Joe Pye Weed
- Pinxterbloom Azalea
- Rosebay Rhododendron
- American Wintergreen
- Black Cohosh
- Cucumbertree Magnolia
- New Jersey Tea
- Eastern Red Columbine
- Blackhaw
- Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod
- Pagoda Dogwood
- Common Hackberry
- Creeping Jacob's Ladder
- Garden Phlox
- Common Persimmon
- Eastern Red Cedar
- Silky Dogwood
- Zigzag Goldenrod
- Cardinal Flower
- Golden Ragwort
- American Hophornbeam
- Blue Mistflower
- Honeylocust
- Virginia Bluebells
- White Turtlehead
- Eastern White Pine
- False Sunflower
- Hay Scented Fern
- Buttonbush
- River Birch
- Shrubby St. John's Wort
- Cinnamon Fern
- Flava (Yellow Trumpet)
- Nodding Onion
- Trumpet Vine
- Creeping Woodland Phlox
- Dwarf Crested Iris
- Wild Bee Balm
- Dutchman's Pipe
- Indiangrass
- Ninebark
- Royal Fern
- Chinkapin Oak
- Winterberry
- New York Ironweed
- American Holly
- Little Bluestem
- Pin Oak
- Common Sneezeweed
- Creeping Phlox
- Golden Alexanders
- Switchgrass
- Black Chokeberry
- Red Elderberry
- Pennsylvania Sedge
- Celandine Poppy
- Culver's Root
- Sweetgum
- Blue Wood Aster
- Brown-Eyed Susan
- Chokecherry
- Green and Gold
- Eastern Star Sedge
- New England Aster
- Possumhaw Viburnum
- Seersucker Sedge
- Smooth Blue Aster
- White Fringetree
- Fragrant Sumac
- Hardy Hibiscus
- Northern Bush Honeysuckle
- Perennial Black-Eyed Susan
- Rosy Sedge
- Allegheny Serviceberry
- American Hornbeam
- Kentucky Coffeetree
- Swamp White Oak
- Adam's Needle
- Aromatic Aster
- Carolina Allspice
- Crossvine
- Purple Lovegrass
- Quaking Aspen
- Redosier Dogwood
- Southern Blue Flag
- Whorled Milkweed
- Bunchberry
- Bur Oak
- Dense Blazing Star
- Nannyberry Viburnum
- Brome-Like Sedge
- Coral Honeysuckle
- Blue Indigo
- Canby's Mountain Lover
- Queen of the Prairie
- Tufted Hairgrass
- Arborvitae
- Arrowwood
- Bristleleaf Sedge
- Common Pussy Willow
- Clustered Mountain Mint
- Sideoats Grama
- Common Snowberry
- Ostrich Fern
- Paper Birch
- Spotted Joe Pye Weed
- American Cranberrybush Viburnum
- Red Buckeye
- White-Tinged Sedge
- Appalachian Sedge
- Kinnikinnick
- New York Aster
- Pink Muhly Grass
- Stiff Goldenrod
- Swamp Sunflower
Garden forms of West Virginia natives
146 garden forms, each a named selection of a species that grows wild in West 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
- 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
- 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
- Color Guard Yucca
- Columnar White Pine
- Coppertina
- Coral Flame
- Crème Brûlée
- Crimson Comet Buttonbush
- Crimson Trumpet
- Danica
- David
- DeGroot's Spire
- 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
- Fire Chief
- Fireworks Goldenrod
- Flame Thrower
- Forest Pansy
- Gentsch White
- Golden Globe
- Goldilocks
- Goldsturm
- Grand Marshall
- Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac
- Hearts of Gold
- Heavy Metal
- Holmstrup
- Incrediball Hydrangea
- Indian Summer
- Invincibelle Spirit II Hydrangea
- Jeana
- Jeddeloh Hemlock
- Laura
- Lavender Twist
- Lemony Lace Elderberry
- Little Devil
- Luminary Ultraviolet
- Luna Pink Swirl
- Luna White
- 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
- Prairie Sun
- Professor Kippenberg
- Purple Beauty
- Purple Dome
- Purple Phlox
- Purple Rooster
- Raydon's Favorite
- Red Sprite
- Red Wings
- Rheingold
- River Mist
- Robert Poore
- Route 66
- Royal White Redbud
- Ruby Falls
- Sarah Mountain Laurel
- Scarlet Flame
- Shenandoah
- Sienna Sunset
- 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
- Weeping Hemlock
- Weeping White Pine
- White Delight
- White Flame
- Winter Gold
- Winter Red
- Zagreb
Plant groups native to West Virginia
18 plant groups sold under one name whose wild species grow in West 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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