Vascular Plants
Includes all flowering plants, conifers, ferns and fern-allies.
Browse by scientific name:
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Scientific names beginning with N:
25 genera
53 species, 12 subspecies and varieties
53 species, 12 subspecies and varieties
Show only taxa with photos
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Index to genera:
Nabalus, Najas, Nama, Nanozostera, Narcissus, Nassella, Nasturtium, Navarretia, Nemophila, Neoholmgrenia, Neottia, Nepeta, Nephrophyllidium, Neslia, Nestotus, Nicandra, Nicotiana, Nigella, Noccaea, Nothocalais, Nothochelone, Nuphar, Nuttallanthus, Nymphaea, NymphoidesNabalus alatus – western rattlesnake root
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska, south to Oregon, east to Alberta, Idaho, and Montana.
Habitat: Streambanks and other moist, shaded places.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska, south to Oregon, east to Alberta, Idaho, and Montana.
Habitat: Streambanks and other moist, shaded places.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Najas flexilis – or slender naias, slender nymph, wavy water nymph
Distribution: Distributed on both sides of the Cascades in Washington; Alaska south to California, east to Arizona, and across the northern half of North America.
Habitat: Fresh to slightly brackish water.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-August
Distribution: Distributed on both sides of the Cascades in Washington; Alaska south to California, east to Arizona, and across the northern half of North America.
Habitat: Fresh to slightly brackish water.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-August
Najas guadalupensis – Guadalupe water-nymph
Distribution: Oregon south to Baja California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Fresh water.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Distribution: Oregon south to Baja California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Fresh water.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
• ssp. guadalupensis – Guadalupe naias, common water nymph, Guadalupe nymph
Nama densa – leafy nama, matted nama
Distribution: Adams County, Washington, south to California and east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry, sandy places in the deserts and foothills.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Distribution: Adams County, Washington, south to California and east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry, sandy places in the deserts and foothills.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
• var. parviflora – matted nama
Narcissus ×incomparabilis – nonesuch daffodil, hybrid daffofil
Origin: Introduced to gardens from Europe
Origin: Introduced to gardens from Europe
Narcissus poeticus – pheasant's eye narcissus, poet's narcissus
Distribution: Occasional escape in lowland western Washington; occasional escape in areas throughout much of North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields and waste places.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: April-May
Distribution: Occasional escape in lowland western Washington; occasional escape in areas throughout much of North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields and waste places.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: April-May
Narcissus pseudonarcissus – daffofil
Distribution: Escaped and naturalized over much of eastern United States; occasional in western Washington, especially Island County.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields and waste places.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: April - May
Distribution: Escaped and naturalized over much of eastern United States; occasional in western Washington, especially Island County.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields and waste places.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: April - May
Nasturtium officinale – watercress
Distribution: Distributed on both sides of the Cascades in Washington; widely distributed throughout North America.
Habitat: Riparian zones and other wet areas.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: May-September
Distribution: Distributed on both sides of the Cascades in Washington; widely distributed throughout North America.
Habitat: Riparian zones and other wet areas.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: May-September
Navarretia breweri – Brewer's navarretia, yellow-flowered navarretia, yellow pincushion-plant
Distribution: East of the Cascades, Douglas County, Washington, south to California, east to Wyoming and Arizona
Habitat: Dry, open areas and meadows, from the foothills to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Distribution: East of the Cascades, Douglas County, Washington, south to California, east to Wyoming and Arizona
Habitat: Dry, open areas and meadows, from the foothills to moderate elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Navarretia divaricata
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Montana and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry, open places from the foothills to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Montana and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry, open places from the foothills to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
• ssp. divaricata – mountain navarretia
Navarretia intertexta – needleleaf navarretia
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains in the U.S.
Habitat: Open slopes, meadows and margins of pools, from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains in the U.S.
Habitat: Open slopes, meadows and margins of pools, from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Navarretia leucocephala – least navarretia
Distribution: East of the Cascades in Klickitat County, Washington, and Oregon, south to northern California.
Habitat: Moist meadows and vernal pools, and other moist, open places in the foothills and lowlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Distribution: East of the Cascades in Klickitat County, Washington, and Oregon, south to northern California.
Habitat: Moist meadows and vernal pools, and other moist, open places in the foothills and lowlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
• ssp. diffusa – diffuse navarretia
• ssp. minima – least navarretia
Navarretia linearifolia
Distribution: Occurring in the southeastern corner of Washington; southeastern Washington south, in East Cascades, to California, east to Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.
Habitat: Open, dry, seasonally moist soils at low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Distribution: Occurring in the southeastern corner of Washington; southeastern Washington south, in East Cascades, to California, east to Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.
Habitat: Open, dry, seasonally moist soils at low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
• ssp. linearifolia – linear-leaved pincushion-plant
Navarretia squarrosa – skunkweed
Distribution: West of the Cascades, from southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to California.
Habitat: Open places, mostly at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - September
Distribution: West of the Cascades, from southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to California.
Habitat: Open places, mostly at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - September
Navarretia tagetina – marigold navarretia, northern navarretia, marigold pincushion-plant
Distribution: Klickitat County, Washington, south to California.
Habitat: Dry, open places at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - June
Distribution: Klickitat County, Washington, south to California.
Habitat: Dry, open places at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - June
Nemophila breviflora – Great Basin baby-blue-eyes
Distribution: Chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; southern British Columbia to south to California, east to Colorado and Montana.
Habitat: Wooded slopes, thickets, and less often in open places, from the foothills to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Distribution: Chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington; southern British Columbia to south to California, east to Colorado and Montana.
Habitat: Wooded slopes, thickets, and less often in open places, from the foothills to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Nemophila maculata – baby blue eyes, five-spot
Distribution: Known in Washington only as a garden escape in King County; southwestern Oregon to southern California.
Habitat: In our area a garden escape to open areas; in its native range found in meadows, roadbanks, and woodland.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: May-June
Distribution: Known in Washington only as a garden escape in King County; southwestern Oregon to southern California.
Habitat: In our area a garden escape to open areas; in its native range found in meadows, roadbanks, and woodland.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: May-June
Nemophila menziesii – baby blue-eyes
Distribution: Known in Washington only as a garden escape in King County; southwestern Oregon to southern California.
Habitat: In our area a garden escape to open areas; in its native range found in meadows, roadbanks, and woodland.
Origin: Introduced from California and Oregon
Flowers: May-june
Distribution: Known in Washington only as a garden escape in King County; southwestern Oregon to southern California.
Habitat: In our area a garden escape to open areas; in its native range found in meadows, roadbanks, and woodland.
Origin: Introduced from California and Oregon
Flowers: May-june
• var. menziesii – baby blue-eyes
Nemophila parviflora – small-flowered nemophila
Distribution: More common west of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Utah.
Habitat: Shady, wooded slopes, low to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
Distribution: More common west of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Utah.
Habitat: Shady, wooded slopes, low to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-July
• var. austiniae – small-flowered nemophila
• var. parviflora – small-flowered nemophila
Nemophila pedunculata – meadow baby-blue-eyes, spreading nemophila
Distribution: Chiefly west of the Cascades in Washington; southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, south to Baja California, east to Nevada and Idaho.
Habitat: Moist, open places, like meadows and bottom lands, in the foothills and lowlands, occasionally somewhat higher.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Distribution: Chiefly west of the Cascades in Washington; southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, south to Baja California, east to Nevada and Idaho.
Habitat: Moist, open places, like meadows and bottom lands, in the foothills and lowlands, occasionally somewhat higher.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Neoholmgrenia andina – blackfoot river suncup, obscure suncup
Distribution: East of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Montana and Utah.
Habitat: Dry hillsides and sagebrush scablands to the ponderosa pine forests of the foothills.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: East of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Montana and Utah.
Habitat: Dry hillsides and sagebrush scablands to the ponderosa pine forests of the foothills.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Neoholmgrenia hilgardii – Hilgard's suncup
Distribution: East of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington south to Klickitat County, Washington, and in Multanomah County, Oregon.
Habitat: Sagebrush deserts.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: East of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington south to Klickitat County, Washington, and in Multanomah County, Oregon.
Habitat: Sagebrush deserts.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Neottia banksiana – northwestern twayblade
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta and Wyoming.
Habitat: Moist forests and wet meadows, lowlands to subalpine elevations
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta and Wyoming.
Habitat: Moist forests and wet meadows, lowlands to subalpine elevations
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Neottia borealis – northern twayblade
Distribution: Known only from Okanogan County in Washington; Alaska south to Oregon, east to northern Rocky Mountains, east across Canada to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Moist, rich coniferous forest understory.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Distribution: Known only from Okanogan County in Washington; Alaska south to Oregon, east to northern Rocky Mountains, east across Canada to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Moist, rich coniferous forest understory.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Neottia convallarioides – broad-lip twayblade
Distribution: Alaska to California and Arizona, east to Newfoundland to Maine across the northern tier of ststes
Habitat: Moist forests and wet meadows, lowlands to subalpine elevations
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late June - Early August
Distribution: Alaska to California and Arizona, east to Newfoundland to Maine across the northern tier of ststes
Habitat: Moist forests and wet meadows, lowlands to subalpine elevations
Origin: Native
Flowers: Late June - Early August
Neottia cordata – heart-leaf twayblade
Distribution: Alaska to Greenland, south to California to North Carolina
Habitat: Usually in damp places and along streams, but occasionally in drier areas
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Distribution: Alaska to Greenland, south to California to North Carolina
Habitat: Usually in damp places and along streams, but occasionally in drier areas
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Nepeta cataria – catnip
Distribution: Chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington, but in scattered locations on the west side; widely established throughout North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, streambanks, waste places, sometimes in relatively undisturbed areas.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-September
Distribution: Chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington, but in scattered locations on the west side; widely established throughout North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, streambanks, waste places, sometimes in relatively undisturbed areas.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-September
Neslia paniculata – ball mustard
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska south to Washington, east across Canada and the northern U.S. to the Atlantic Ocean.
Habitat: Disturbed areas including fields, roadsides, and forest openings.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: May-June
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska south to Washington, east across Canada and the northern U.S. to the Atlantic Ocean.
Habitat: Disturbed areas including fields, roadsides, and forest openings.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: May-June
Nestotus stenophyllus – narrowleaf goldenweed
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington south to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry, rocky soil, often with sagebrush.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington south to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry, rocky soil, often with sagebrush.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Nicotiana acuminata – manyflower
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: August - October
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: August - October
• var. multiflora – wild tobacco
Nicotiana attenuata – coyote tobacco
Distribution: Wholly east of the Cascades, southern British Columbia south to California, east to Idaho and Texas.
Habitat: Dry, open plance, especially dry, sandy bottom lands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - September
Distribution: Wholly east of the Cascades, southern British Columbia south to California, east to Idaho and Texas.
Habitat: Dry, open plance, especially dry, sandy bottom lands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - September
Nigella damascena – devil-in-the-bush
Distribution: Introduced across the northern states in the United States, and parts of southern Canada.
Habitat: Dump sites and waste ground.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: May - September
Distribution: Introduced across the northern states in the United States, and parts of southern Canada.
Habitat: Dump sites and waste ground.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: May - September
Noccaea fendleri – wild candytuft, Fendler's pennycress
Distribution: Occurring in the mountains throughout Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Montana and New Mexico.
Habitat: Common in open, rocky areas at mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Distribution: Occurring in the mountains throughout Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Montana and New Mexico.
Habitat: Common in open, rocky areas at mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
• ssp. glauca – wild candytuft
Nothocalais alpestris – alpine lake agoseris
Distribution: In the Cascades of Washington, mostly from Mt. Rainier south; Washington south to California.
Habitat: Open slopes and meadows from mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Distribution: In the Cascades of Washington, mostly from Mt. Rainier south; Washington south to California.
Habitat: Open slopes and meadows from mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Nothocalais troximoides – weevil prairie dandelion, false agoseris
Distribution: East of the Caascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Montana, Wyoming and Utah.
Habitat: Dry, open areas in lowlands and foothills, especially in lithosol.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Distribution: East of the Caascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Montana, Wyoming and Utah.
Habitat: Dry, open areas in lowlands and foothills, especially in lithosol.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Nothochelone nemorosa – woodland-beardtongue
Distribution: Both sides of the Cascades, British Columbia to California
Habitat: Fairly dense woods to moist, open slopes at mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Distribution: Both sides of the Cascades, British Columbia to California
Habitat: Fairly dense woods to moist, open slopes at mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: July - August
Nuphar polysepala – yellow pond lily, spatterdock
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout Washington; Alaska south to northern California, east to Alberta and Colorado.
Habitat: Ponds, shallow lakes and sluggish streams.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout Washington; Alaska south to northern California, east to Alberta and Colorado.
Habitat: Ponds, shallow lakes and sluggish streams.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Nuttallanthus canadensis – Canada toadflax, old field toadflax
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington. Occurring in scattered locations in Washington; widely distributed in eastern half of North America.
Habitat: Disturbed areas including roadsides, wastelots, and fields.
Origin: Native?
Flowers: May-June
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington. Occurring in scattered locations in Washington; widely distributed in eastern half of North America.
Habitat: Disturbed areas including roadsides, wastelots, and fields.
Origin: Native?
Flowers: May-June
Nuttallanthus texanus – blue toadflax, Texas toadflax
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Sasketchewan and across much of the U.S. except the upper Midwest and Northeast.
Habitat: Prairies, grasslands, and balds.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to Sasketchewan and across much of the U.S. except the upper Midwest and Northeast.
Habitat: Prairies, grasslands, and balds.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Nymphaea odorata – American water-lily, fragrant water-lily
Distribution: Widely distributed west of the Cascades in Washingtond, with scattered localities east of the Cascades; widely distributed througout central and eastern North America where native.
Habitat: Lowland ponds and lakes both sides of the Cascades.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: June-October
Distribution: Widely distributed west of the Cascades in Washingtond, with scattered localities east of the Cascades; widely distributed througout central and eastern North America where native.
Habitat: Lowland ponds and lakes both sides of the Cascades.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: June-October
Nymphoides peltata – yellow floatingheart
Distribution: Introduced as an ornamental, occasionally escaping in the Pacific Northswest.
Habitat: Ponds or sluggish streams.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: June-September
Distribution: Introduced as an ornamental, occasionally escaping in the Pacific Northswest.
Habitat: Ponds or sluggish streams.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: June-September
