Native plants for Boyd County, Nebraska
182 native plants recorded in Boyd County, Nebraska
The USDA plant database has 265 plants recorded growing wild in Boyd County. 182 of them are native to the lower 48, and 23 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 96 wildflowers and herbs, 39 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 15 low woody plants, 16 trees, 8 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 68 of them (37%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), White sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Boyd County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 68 | 0 | 114 |
| Half shade | 58 | 10 | 114 |
| Under trees | 38 | 30 | 114 |
| Heavy clay | 45 | 23 | 114 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 49 | 19 | 114 |
| Never watered | 37 | 31 | 114 |
| Stays soggy | 36 | 32 | 114 |
Sun all day in Boyd County: 68 rated natives
20 wildflowers and herbs, 20 grasses and sedges, 15 trees, 6 low woody plants, 5 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 - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Boyd County: 58 rated natives
18 wildflowers and herbs, 17 grasses and sedges, 11 trees, 6 low woody plants, 4 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 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 - Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade 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 shade tolerance - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Boyd County: 38 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 4 low woody plants, 3 shrubs, 1 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 - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Crested pricklypoppy (Argemone polyanthemos) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate - Purple locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: severe
Heavy clay in Boyd County: 45 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 11 trees, 3 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 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 - Prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Boyd County: 49 rated natives
13 wildflowers and herbs, 13 grasses and sedges, 12 trees, 5 low woody plants, 4 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 - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Boyd County: 37 rated natives
10 trees, 9 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 5 low woody plants, 5 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 - 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 - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought 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 - Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Crested pricklypoppy (Argemone polyanthemos) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance · toxicity: moderate
Stays soggy in Boyd County: 36 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 7 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 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 - Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · toxicity: moderate - Cloaked bulrush (Scirpus pallidus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 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
Natives Boyd County has that most of Nebraska does not
3 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Nebraska's 93 counties. A few of them:
- Common ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina): 2 counties
- Dwarf false indigo (Amorpha nana): 3 counties
- Common ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius): 5 counties
Where to start in Boyd County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Boyd County gives you the most rated choice (68 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 36 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 114 unrated natives too.