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Native range

Native plants of Wisconsin

147 wild species and 18 plant groups in the BloomsEye library grow wild somewhere in Wisconsin, read from Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS. The 118 garden forms of them are listed apart below, each naming its wild parent.

Showing 1 to 60 of 165 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; Wisconsin 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 165 plants, 154 have been checked against outside sources (1 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.

Foliage
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Part shadeZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
Common Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Foliage
Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Part shadeZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
Foliage
Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Part shadeZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
White Turtlehead
Chelone glabra
Part shadeZones 3–83 ftHigh
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Full sunZones 2–625 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Foliage
Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum
Full shadeZones 3–81.5 ftHigh
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Part shadeZones 3–88 inLow
Spotted Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Full sunZones 4–85.5 ftModerate
Wild Bee Balm
Monarda fistulosa
Full sunZones 3–93 ftModerate
American Linden
Tilia americana
Full sunZones 3–870 ftModerate
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Eastern Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Part shadeZones 3–82 ftModerate
False Solomon's Seal
Maianthemum racemosum
Part shadeZones 3–82.5 ftModerate
Pagoda Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
Part shadeZones 3–720 ftModerate
Redosier Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Full sunZones 3–78 ftModerate
Northern Bush Honeysuckle
Diervilla lonicera
Part shadeZones 3–73 ftModerate
Foliage
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Part shadeZones 3–74 ftHigh
Foliage
Royal Fern
Osmunda regalis
Part shadeZones 3–94 ftHigh
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
Full sunZones 4–910 ftModerate
Bottlebrush Grass
Elymus hystrix
Part shadeZones 5–93 ftModerate
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Part shadeZones 2–732 ftModerate
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Full sunZones 3–98.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Full sunZones 3–863 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Blue Wood Aster
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
Part shadeZones 3–83 ftModerate
Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis
Part shadeZones 2–68 inModerate
False Sunflower
Heliopsis
Full sunZones 3–94 ftModerate
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Nannyberry Viburnum
Viburnum lentago
Full sunZones 3–716 ftModerate
Rosy Sedge
Carex rosea
Part shadeZones 4–812 inModerate
Foliage
Wild Ginger
Asarum
Full shadeZones 4–86 inModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Full sunZones 3–96.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
Full sunZones 3–870 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Foliage
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Full sunZones 3–859 ftModerate
American Hophornbeam
Ostrya virginiana
Part shadeZones 3–932 ftModerate
Common Sneezeweed
Helenium autumnale
Full sunZones 3–84 ftHigh
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Full sunZones 4–93 ftHigh
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Part shadeZones 4–92.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Foliage
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Full sunZones 3–949 ftModerate
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhina
Full sunZones 4–820 ftLow
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftLow
Smooth Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum biflorum
Part shadeZones 3–83.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Carolina Rose
Rosa carolina
Full sunZones 4–93.5 ftModerate
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Full sunZones 3–85 ftModerate
Red Elderberry
Sambucus racemosa
Full sunZones 3–710 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Smooth Blue Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve
Full sunZones 4–83 ftModerate
Foliage
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Full sunZones 3–859 ftModerate
Allegheny Serviceberry
Amelanchier laevis
Part shadeZones 4–825 ftModerate
American Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
Part shadeZones 3–88 inModerate
Listed as toxic to cats
Eastern Star Sedge
Carex radiata
Part shadeZones 4–81.5 ftModerate
Southern Blue Flag
Iris virginica
Full sunZones 5–92.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Golden Ragwort
Packera aurea
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Long-Beaked Sedge
Carex sprengelii
Part shadeZones 3–72.5 ftModerate
Mapleleaf Viburnum
Viburnum acerifolium
Part shadeZones 3–84.5 ftModerate
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Full sunZones 3–82 ftModerate
American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Viburnum opulus var. americanum
Full sunZones 2–710 ftModerate
Prairie Junegrass
Koeleria macrantha
Full sunZones 3–91.5 ftLow
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Part shadeZones 3–812 inModerate
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Full sunZones 3–84 ftModerate

Recorded across Wisconsin

How many of the state's 72 counties record each wild species growing wild, from USDA PLANTS: a plant recorded in many counties is widespread in Wisconsin; one recorded in few may be local, or simply under-recorded. A county's absence is not evidence a plant is absent. 145 of the wild species carry a county record here.

Garden forms of Wisconsin natives

118 garden forms, each a named selection of a species that grows wild in Wisconsin and each naming its wild parent. A garden form is not the wild plant, so it is listed here and never counted above.

  • Abbotswood

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Abbotswood' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Alba Gayfeather

    Liatris spicata 'Alba' · Garden form of Dense Blazing Star

  • Alma Pötschke

    Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Alma Pötschke' · Garden form of New England Aster

  • Alpine Carpet Juniper

    Juniperus communis 'Mondap' · Garden form of Juniperus communis

  • Amazing Grace

    Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • Amber Jubilee

    Physocarpus opulifolius 'Jefam' · Garden form of Ninebark

  • Appalachian Red

    Cercis canadensis 'Appalachian Red' · Garden form of Eastern Redbud

  • Aquavita Juniper

    Juniperus virginiana 'FARROWJVBF' · Garden form of Eastern Red Cedar

  • Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood

    Cornus sericea 'Farrow' · Garden form of Redosier Dogwood

  • Arctic Fire Yellow Dogwood

    Cornus sericea 'SMNCSBD' · Garden form of Redosier Dogwood

  • Athena Gold False Sunflower

    Heliopsis helianthoides 'Inhelsogia' · Garden form of False Sunflower

  • Autumn Colors

    Rudbeckia hirta 'Autumn Colors' · Garden form of Common Black-Eyed Susan

  • Baby Joe Dwarf Joe Pye Weed

    Eutrochium purpureum 'Baby Joe' · Garden form of Sweet Joe Pye Weed

  • Bailey Compact American Cranberrybush

    Viburnum opulus var. americanum 'Bailey Compact' · Garden form of American Cranberrybush Viburnum

  • Bar Harbor Juniper

    Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor' · Garden form of Juniperus horizontalis

  • Berry Heavy

    Ilex verticillata 'Spravy' · Garden form of Winterberry

  • Berry Poppins

    Ilex verticillata 'FarrowBPop' · Garden form of Winterberry

  • Black Hills Spruce

    Picea glauca 'Densata' · Garden form of Picea laxa

  • Blackhawks Big Bluestem

    Andropogon gerardi 'Blackhawks' · Garden form of Big Bluestem

  • Blackjack Gold Black-Eyed Susan

    Rudbeckia triloba 'Blackjack Gold' · Garden form of Brown-Eyed Susan

  • Blaze

    Schizachyrium scoparium 'Blaze' · Garden form of Little Bluestem

  • Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass

    Bouteloua gracilis 'Blonde Ambition' · Garden form of Common Blue Grama Grass

  • Blue Chip Juniper

    Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip' · Garden form of Juniperus horizontalis

  • Blue Moon Woodland Phlox

    Phlox divaricata 'Blue Moon' · Garden form of Woodland Phlox

  • Blue Rug Juniper

    Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii' · Garden form of Juniperus horizontalis

  • Bunny Blue Sedge

    Carex laxiculmis 'Hobb' · Garden form of Carex laxiculmis

  • Candy Stripe

    Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • Cheer Drops Arborvitae

    Thuja occidentalis 'Smntdgt' · Garden form of Arborvitae

  • Cherry Berries Wintergreen

    Gaultheria procumbens 'Gaulsidh5' · Garden form of American Wintergreen

  • Cherry Brandy

    Rudbeckia hirta 'Cherry Brandy' · Garden form of Common Black-Eyed Susan

  • Claire Grace

    Monarda fistulosa 'Claire Grace' · Garden form of Wild Bee Balm

  • Cobalt-n-Gold Hypericum

    Hypericum kalmianum 'Piihyp-I' · Garden form of Kalm's St. John's Wort

  • Coconut Lime

    Echinacea 'Coconut Lime' · Garden form of Purple Coneflower

  • Columnar White Pine

    Pinus strobus 'Fastigiata' · Garden form of Eastern White Pine

  • Compact Andorra Juniper

    Juniperus horizontalis 'Youngstown' · Garden form of Juniperus horizontalis

  • Coppertina

    Physocarpus opulifolius 'Mindia' · Garden form of Ninebark

  • Crimson Comet Buttonbush

    Cephalanthus occidentalis 'Smcbm' · Garden form of Buttonbush

  • Crimson Trumpet

    Campsis radicans 'Crimson Trumpet' · Garden form of Trumpet Vine

  • Dakota Burgundy Beardtongue

    Penstemon digitalis 'Tnpendb' · Garden form of Foxglove Beardtongue

  • Danica

    Thuja occidentalis 'Danica' · Garden form of Arborvitae

  • DeGroot's Spire

    Thuja occidentalis 'DeGroot's Spire' · Garden form of Arborvitae

  • Denver Daisy

    Rudbeckia hirta 'Denver Daisy' · Garden form of Common Black-Eyed Susan

  • Deschampsia Goldtau Grass

    Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldtau' · Garden form of Tufted Hairgrass

  • Diabolo

    Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo' · Garden form of Ninebark

  • Drummond's Pink

    Phlox subulata 'Drummond's Pink' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • Dwarf Alberta Spruce

    Picea glauca 'Conica' · Garden form of Picea laxa

  • Dwarf White Pine

    Pinus strobus 'Nana' · Garden form of Eastern White Pine

  • Early Sunrise

    Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' · Garden form of Coreopsis grandiflora

  • Emerald Blue

    Phlox subulata 'Emerald Blue' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • Emerald Green

    Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' · Garden form of Arborvitae

  • Emerald Pink

    Phlox subulata 'Emerald Pink' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • Eye Candy Moss Phlox

    Phlox subulata 'Eye Candy' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • Eye Shadow Moss Phlox

    Phlox subulata 'Eye Shadow' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • Fire Chief

    Thuja occidentalis 'Fire Chief' · Garden form of Arborvitae

  • Fireworks Goldenrod

    Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' · Garden form of Solidago rugosa

  • Flame Thrower

    Cercis canadensis 'Flame Thrower' · Garden form of Eastern Redbud

  • Forest Pansy

    Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' · Garden form of Eastern Redbud

  • Gentsch White

    Tsuga canadensis 'Gentsch White' · Garden form of Eastern Hemlock

  • Golden Globe

    Thuja occidentalis 'Golden Globe' · Garden form of Arborvitae

  • Goldfinger

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Goldfinger' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Goldilocks

    Rudbeckia hirta 'Goldilocks' · Garden form of Common Black-Eyed Susan

  • Goldsturm

    Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' · Garden form of Perennial Black-Eyed Susan

  • Green Jewel

    Echinacea purpurea 'Green Jewel' · Garden form of Purple Coneflower

  • Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac

    Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low' · Garden form of Fragrant Sumac

  • Happy Face Yellow

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Happy Face Yellow' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Hearts of Gold

    Cercis canadensis 'Hearts of Gold' · Garden form of Eastern Redbud

  • Heavy Metal

    Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' · Garden form of Switchgrass

  • Holmstrup

    Thuja occidentalis 'Holmstrup' · Garden form of Arborvitae

  • Indian Summer

    Rudbeckia hirta 'Indian Summer' · Garden form of Common Black-Eyed Susan

  • Jeddeloh Hemlock

    Tsuga canadensis 'Jeddeloh' · Garden form of Eastern Hemlock

  • Lavender Twist

    Cercis canadensis 'Covey' · Garden form of Eastern Redbud

  • Lemony Lace Elderberry

    Sambucus racemosa 'SMNSRD4' · Garden form of Red Elderberry

  • Little Devil

    Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May' · Garden form of Ninebark

  • Luna Pink Swirl

    Hibiscus moscheutos 'Luna Pink Swirl' · Garden form of Hardy Hibiscus

  • Luna White

    Hibiscus moscheutos 'Luna White' · Garden form of Hardy Hibiscus

  • Magnus

    Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' · Garden form of Purple Coneflower

  • Mango Tango

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Mango Tango' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • McKay's White

    Potentilla fruticosa 'McKay's White' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • New England Aster 'Barr's Pink'

    Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Barr's Pink' · Garden form of New England Aster

  • New England Aster 'Harrington's Pink'

    Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Harrington's Pink' · Garden form of New England Aster

  • Northwind

    Panicum virgatum 'Northwind' · Garden form of Switchgrass

  • Nugget

    Physocarpus opulifolius 'Nugget' · Garden form of Ninebark

  • October Skies

    Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'October Skies' · Garden form of Aromatic Aster

  • Orange Whisper

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Orange Whisper' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Pink Beauty

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Pink Double Delight

    Echinacea 'Pink Double Delight' · Garden form of Purple Coneflower

  • Pink Whisper

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Whisper' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • PowWow Wild Berry

    Echinacea 'PowWow Wild Berry' · Garden form of Purple Coneflower

  • Prairie Sun

    Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun' · Garden form of Common Black-Eyed Susan

  • Purple Beauty

    Phlox subulata 'Purple Beauty' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • Purple Dome

    Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Purple Dome' · Garden form of New England Aster

  • Raydon's Favorite

    Symphyotrichum oblongifolium 'Raydon's Favorite' · Garden form of Aromatic Aster

  • Red Ace

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Red Ace' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Red Sprite

    Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite' · Garden form of Winterberry

  • Red Wings

    Phlox subulata 'Red Wings' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • Rheingold

    Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold' · Garden form of Arborvitae

  • River Mist

    Chasmanthium latifolium 'River Mist' · Garden form of Northern Sea Oats

  • Royal White Redbud

    Cercis canadensis f. alba 'Royal White' · Garden form of Cercis canadensis subsp. canadensis

  • Ruby Falls

    Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls' · Garden form of Eastern Redbud

  • Scarlet Flame

    Phlox subulata 'Scarlet Flame' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • Shenandoah

    Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' · Garden form of Switchgrass

  • Snow Flurry

    Symphyotrichum ericoides 'Snow Flurry' · Garden form of Symphyotrichum ericoides

  • Sugar Shack Buttonbush

    Cephalanthus occidentalis 'SMCOSS' · Garden form of Buttonbush

  • Summer Wine

    Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward' · Garden form of Ninebark

  • Sunny Boulevard St. John's Wort

    Hypericum kalmianum 'Deppe' · Garden form of Kalm's St. John's Wort

  • Tangerine

    Potentilla fruticosa 'Tangerine' · Garden form of Potentilla

  • Techny

    Thuja occidentalis 'Techny' · Garden form of Arborvitae

  • The Rising Sun

    Cercis canadensis 'The Rising Sun' · Garden form of Eastern Redbud

  • Tiger Eyes Sumac

    Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger' · Garden form of Staghorn Sumac

  • Tiny Wine

    Physocarpus opulifolius 'SMNPOTW' · Garden form of Ninebark

  • Toto Gold

    Rudbeckia hirta 'Toto Gold' · Garden form of Common Black-Eyed Susan

  • Twilight Zone

    Schizachyrium scoparium 'Twilight Zone' · Garden form of Little Bluestem

  • Weeping Hemlock

    Tsuga canadensis 'Sargentii' · Garden form of Eastern Hemlock

  • Weeping White Pine

    Pinus strobus 'Pendula' · Garden form of Eastern White Pine

  • White Delight

    Phlox subulata 'White Delight' · Garden form of Creeping Phlox

  • White Swan

    Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan' · Garden form of Purple Coneflower

  • Winter Gold

    Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold' · Garden form of Winterberry

  • Winter Red

    Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red' · Garden form of Winterberry

Plant groups native to Wisconsin

18 plant groups sold under one name whose wild species grow in Wisconsin; the count beside each is how many of its wild species the record finds in the state.

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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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