Native plants for Boone County, Iowa
104 native plants recorded in Boone County, Iowa
USDA has only 146 plant records of any kind for Boone County, against 1,728 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 104 below as a floor.
By type: 37 wildflowers and herbs, 60 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 3 trees, 1 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 42 of them (40%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and 2 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Boone County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 42 | 0 | 62 |
| Half shade | 30 | 12 | 62 |
| Under trees | 20 | 22 | 62 |
| Heavy clay | 32 | 10 | 62 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 24 | 18 | 62 |
| Never watered | 16 | 26 | 62 |
| Stays soggy | 21 | 21 | 62 |
Sun all day in Boone County: 42 rated natives
29 grasses and sedges, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 2 low woody plants, 2 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · 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 - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Boone County: 30 rated natives
20 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Rough bentgrass (Agrostis scabra) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 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 - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Boone County: 20 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Rough bentgrass (Agrostis scabra) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 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 - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Boone County: 32 rated natives
23 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Boone County: 24 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 1 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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 - 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
Never watered in Boone County: 16 rated natives
13 grasses and sedges, 1 wildflowers and herbs, 1 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.3 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 - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Boone County: 21 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Upland bentgrass (Agrostis perennans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.5 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 - Scratchgrass (Muhlenbergia asperifolia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 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 - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Boone County has that most of Iowa does not
5 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata): 2 counties
- Purplerocket (Iodanthus pinnatifidus): 2 counties
- Early meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum): 2 counties
- Buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides): 5 counties
- Spotted geranium (Geranium maculatum): 5 counties
Where to start in Boone County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Boone County gives you the most rated choice (42 plants), and Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 16 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 62 unrated natives too.