Native plants for Baltimore County, Maryland

280 native plants recorded in Baltimore County, Maryland

The USDA plant database has 318 plants recorded growing wild in Baltimore County. 280 of them are native to the lower 48, and 10 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 138 wildflowers and herbs, 109 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 10 low woody plants, 9 trees, 5 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 79 of them (28%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), Robert geranium (Geranium robertianum) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Baltimore County

Sun all day in Baltimore County: 79 rated natives

38 grasses and sedges, 26 wildflowers and herbs, 8 trees, 5 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. 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
6. Tall cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Baltimore County: 48 rated natives

19 wildflowers and herbs, 17 grasses and sedges, 7 trees, 3 shrubs, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. 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. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade 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 · high shade tolerance
5. Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. 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
8. Tall cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Baltimore County: 17 rated natives

6 wildflowers and herbs, 5 trees, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 1 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. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid 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. Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) 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. Torrey's rush (Juncus torreyi) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial

Heavy clay in Baltimore County: 58 rated natives

31 grasses and sedges, 19 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. 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
4. Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Coppery St. Johnswort (Hypericum denticulatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
8. Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Baltimore County: 35 rated natives

14 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 6 trees, 4 shrubs, 1 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. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) 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. Coppery St. Johnswort (Hypericum denticulatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
8. Sandcherry (Prunus pumila) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial

Never watered in Baltimore County: 28 rated natives

12 wildflowers and herbs, 7 trees, 4 shrubs, 4 grasses and sedges, 1 vines. 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. Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Baltimore County: 55 rated natives

36 grasses and sedges, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. 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
3. Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Tall cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Coppery St. Johnswort (Hypericum denticulatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
8. 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

Natives Baltimore County has that most of Maryland does not

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

• Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata): only here
• Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata): only here
• American barberry (Berberis canadensis): only here
• Long Beach primrose-willow (Ludwigia brevipes): only here
• Carolina canarygrass (Phalaris caroliniana): only here
• Bashful wakerobin (Trillium catesbaei): only here

Where to start in Baltimore County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Baltimore County gives you the most rated choice (79 plants), and Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) 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 201 unrated natives too.