Rare here. Secure there.
Conservation status is local. PlantKey carries NatureServe's global ranks for 1,015 critically imperiled, 1,251 imperiled, and 2,310 vulnerable plants — plus per-state ranks, so a plant that's globally secure can still be at risk where you live.
Species hanging on
NatureServe's rarest global ranks, G1 first. Grow these from nursery stock raised from local seed — it helps them recover. Never dig them from the wild.
Imperiled in your state
9,908 plants are ranked critically imperiled or imperiled (S1/S2) in at least one state where they're native — a plant can be safe globally (G5) yet at risk in your state. Set your location to see which ones (NatureServe per-state S-ranks).
Don't plant these
Browse, hiding invasives →1,406 plants are on the US Register of Introduced & Invasive Species (US-RIIS). They spread aggressively and crowd out natives — pick a native instead.
What the ranks mean
Global (G) ranks from NatureServe (CC BY); per-state (S) ranks drive the live in-your-state overlay. Invasive status from US-RIIS (USGS). Methodology + citations on the Data & sources page · 31,673 taxa.