Native plants for Anne Arundel County, Maryland

250 native plants recorded in Anne Arundel County, Maryland

The USDA plant database has 280 plants recorded growing wild in Anne Arundel County. 250 of them are native to the lower 48, and 8 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 114 wildflowers and herbs, 94 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 8 low woody plants, 10 trees, 15 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 68 of them (27%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), Common reed (Phragmites australis) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Anne Arundel County

Sun all day in Anne Arundel County: 68 rated natives

31 grasses and sedges, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 10 trees, 7 shrubs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Beach plum (Prunus maritima) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 12 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Beaked spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Anne Arundel County: 39 rated natives

13 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 9 trees, 6 shrubs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
3. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Beach plum (Prunus maritima) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 12 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Beaked spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
8. Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Anne Arundel County: 17 rated natives

7 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 1 vines, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Beach plum (Prunus maritima) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 12 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Beaked spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
7. Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial
8. Giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Anne Arundel County: 49 rated natives

27 grasses and sedges, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 4 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Beaked spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Blister sedge (Carex vesicaria) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Crested sedge (Carex cristatella) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Crested woodfern (Dryopteris cristata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Anne Arundel County: 35 rated natives

11 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 8 trees, 6 shrubs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Beach plum (Prunus maritima) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 12 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Beaked spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Blister sedge (Carex vesicaria) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Anne Arundel County: 20 rated natives

8 trees, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Beach plum (Prunus maritima) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 12 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
4. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Oval-leaf sedge (Carex cephalophora) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Anne Arundel County: 48 rated natives

30 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 3 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. Beach plum (Prunus maritima) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 12 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Blister sedge (Carex vesicaria) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. Bristlystalked sedge (Carex leptalea) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. Broom sedge (Carex scoparia) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Cattail sedge (Carex typhina) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Crested sedge (Carex cristatella) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Anne Arundel County has that most of Maryland does not

7 natives here are on file in no more than 1 of Maryland's 24 counties. A few of them:

• Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata): only here
• Matricary grapefern (Botrychium matricariifolium): only here
• Coastal sedge (Carex exilis): only here
• Rough panicgrass (Dichanthelium leucothrix): only here
• Woodfern (Dryopteris ×triploidea): only here
• Box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera): only here
• Spiked crested coralroot (Hexalectris spicata): only here

Where to start in Anne Arundel County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Anne Arundel County gives you the most rated choice (68 plants), and Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 17 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 182 unrated natives too.