Native plants for Archuleta County, Colorado
448 native plants recorded in Archuleta County, Colorado
The USDA plant database has 651 plants recorded growing wild in Archuleta County. 448 of them are native to the lower 48, and 22 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 237 wildflowers and herbs, 72 grasses and sedges, 36 shrubs, 70 low woody plants, 25 trees, 8 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 153 of them (34%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common pepperweed (Lepidium densiflorum), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 5 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Archuleta County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 152 | 0 | 296 |
| Half shade | 122 | 30 | 296 |
| Under trees | 70 | 82 | 296 |
| Heavy clay | 78 | 75 | 295 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 104 | 49 | 295 |
| Never watered | 82 | 71 | 295 |
| Stays soggy | 57 | 95 | 296 |
Sun all day in Archuleta County: 152 rated natives
51 wildflowers and herbs, 42 grasses and sedges, 23 low woody plants, 20 trees, 13 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Drummond's rockcress (Arabis drummondii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Archuleta County: 122 rated natives
36 grasses and sedges, 35 wildflowers and herbs, 20 low woody plants, 19 trees, 9 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Gray aster (Eurybia glauca) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Archuleta County: 70 rated natives
22 wildflowers and herbs, 21 grasses and sedges, 11 low woody plants, 9 trees, 6 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Gray aster (Eurybia glauca) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Archuleta County: 78 rated natives
29 wildflowers and herbs, 27 grasses and sedges, 9 low woody plants, 8 trees, 3 shrubs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mountain pepperweed (Lepidium montanum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Silverweed cinquefoil (Argentina anserina) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Western white clematis (Clematis ligusticifolia) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Archuleta County: 104 rated natives
31 wildflowers and herbs, 24 grasses and sedges, 19 trees, 17 low woody plants, 10 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Drummond's rockcress (Arabis drummondii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Gray aster (Eurybia glauca) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Archuleta County: 82 rated natives
19 wildflowers and herbs, 18 low woody plants, 18 grasses and sedges, 14 trees, 11 shrubs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Old man's whiskers (Geum triflorum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Banana yucca (Yucca baccata) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Cliff fendlerbush (Fendlera rupicola) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Archuleta County: 57 rated natives
23 wildflowers and herbs, 22 grasses and sedges, 7 trees, 3 low woody plants, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Heartleaf bittercress (Cardamine cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Marsh grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Western polemonium (Polemonium occidentale) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - American licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Arrowleaf ragwort (Senecio triangularis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Archuleta County has that most of Colorado does not
17 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Colorado's 63 counties. A few of them:
- Violet milkvetch (Astragalus iodopetalus): only here
- Pagosa ipomopsis (Ipomopsis polyantha): only here
- Pagosa Springs bladderpod (Lesquerella pruinosa): only here
- Fendler's penstemon (Penstemon fendleri): only here
- Clove phlox (Phlox caryophylla): only here
- Bearded cinquefoil (Potentilla crinita): only here
- Arboles milkvetch (Astragalus oocalycis): 2 counties
- Aztec milkvetch (Astragalus proximus): 2 counties
- Marshmeadow Indian paintbrush (Castilleja lineata): 2 counties
- Whipple cholla (Cylindropuntia whipplei): 3 counties
Where to start in Archuleta County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Archuleta County gives you the most rated choice (152 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 57 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 296 unrated natives too.