Click below to view our selection:

• Perennials (including Grasses, Sedges, and Vines)
• Trees and Shrubs​

About the Maps

For each species, we feature an image of a Virginia map showing the distribution of its wild populations, broken down by county and region. Each species is found in areas of suitable habitat throughout its marked range. The frequency at which it is found is shown in red, as seen in the key above. While looking at the maps, it's important to remember that these show the natural dispersal of each species, and when species are shown as less frequent, this is typically from a natural lack of suitable habitat in the area. For example, if a species is shown as very infrequent on its map, it is likely because this species prefers a specialized habitat that isn't found often throughout Virginia (such as high elevation rock cliffs, etc.). This same species may be common in another state that has more of an abundance of this habitat, where as Virginia is just not meant to support larger populations of this plant.
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Info credit for all maps: Digital Atlas of the Flora of Virginia, vaplantatlas.org

References:
-Flora of Virginia (2012)
-Peterson Field Guides: Wildflowers Northeastern/Northcentral North America, Roger Tory Peterson, Margaret McKenny
-Piedmont Native Plants: A Guide for Landscapes and Gardens
-National Wildlife Federation: Field Guide to Trees of North America, Kershner, Mathews, Nelson, Spellenberg
-Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, Lawrence Newcomb
-Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora, vaplantatlas.org
-Illinois Wildflowers, illinoiswildflowers.info
-Virginia Native Plant Society, vnps.org
-The Xerces Society, xerces.org


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Wet Soil, Sun

This group includes natives that naturally thrive in areas with direct sunlight for 3 or more hours a day and soil that stays wet. Many of these species are taller, bushier plants, as they have ample amounts of moisture for growth. The different species that dwell in this type of landscape typically bloom throughout summer, with the major flowering time arriving in late summer and early fall. Sedges and rushes play a key role in wet environments.