Native plants for Allamakee County, Iowa
90 native plants recorded in Allamakee County, Iowa
USDA has only 118 plant records of any kind for Allamakee County, against 1,728 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 90 below as a floor.
By type: 49 wildflowers and herbs, 30 grasses and sedges, 4 low woody plants, 4 trees, 3 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 38 of them (42%), and only those can be matched to a spot below.
What fits each kind of spot in Allamakee County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 38 | 0 | 52 |
| Half shade | 26 | 12 | 52 |
| Under trees | 12 | 26 | 52 |
| Heavy clay | 23 | 15 | 52 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 24 | 14 | 52 |
| Never watered | 18 | 20 | 52 |
| Stays soggy | 17 | 21 | 52 |
Sun all day in Allamakee County: 38 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 2 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Devil's darning needles (Clematis virginiana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · perennial
Half shade in Allamakee County: 26 rated natives
11 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Allamakee County: 12 rated natives
8 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Allamakee County: 23 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 2 vines, 2 low woody plants, 2 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Devil's darning needles (Clematis virginiana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · perennial - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth
Sandy, drains fast in Allamakee County: 24 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding fescue (Festuca subverticillata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Northern maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Allamakee County: 18 rated natives
9 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 2 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Devil's darning needles (Clematis virginiana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · perennial
Stays soggy in Allamakee County: 17 rated natives
8 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Stalkless yellowcress (Rorippa sessiliflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · takes saturated soil - Water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - False daisy (Eclipta prostrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Mexican muhly (Muhlenbergia mexicana) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Allamakee County has that most of Iowa does not
12 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- Scaldweed (Cuscuta gronovii): 2 counties
- Bluebell bellflower (Campanula rotundifolia): 3 counties
- Smoothcone sedge (Carex laeviconica): 3 counties
- Marginal woodfern (Dryopteris marginalis): 3 counties
- Greater water dock (Rumex orbiculatus): 3 counties
- Longbract frog orchid (Dactylorhiza viridis): 4 counties
- Purple cliffbrake (Pellaea atropurpurea): 4 counties
- Pleatleaf knotweed (Polygonum tenue): 4 counties
- Swamp smartweed (Polygonum hydropiperoides): 5 counties
- Nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua): 5 counties
Where to start in Allamakee County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Allamakee County gives you the most rated choice (38 plants), and Groundnut (Apios americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 12 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 52 unrated natives too.