North American Range Plants has established itself as an essential source in the identification of important range plants. The fifth edition, which includes fifteen new plants, reflects increased interest in wetland plants as well as changes in nomenclature and refinement of distribution information. The two hundred plants described were selected on the basis of their abundance, desirability, or poisonous properties. These plants comprise the Master Plant List for the International Range Plant Identification contest, sponsored by the Society for Range Management.

Each plant description includes characteristics for identification, an illustration of the plant with enlarged plant parts, and a general distribution map for North America. Each species description includes nomenclature, life span, origin, season of growth, inflorescence, flower or other reproductive parts, vegetative parts, and habitat.