Native plants for Buena Vista County, Iowa
36 native plants recorded in Buena Vista County, Iowa
USDA has only 57 plant records of any kind for Buena Vista County, against 1,728 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 36 below as a floor.
By type: 9 wildflowers and herbs, 26 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 17 of them (47%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and Common reed (Phragmites australis) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Buena Vista County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 17 | 0 | 19 |
| Half shade | 14 | 3 | 19 |
| Under trees | 12 | 5 | 19 |
| Heavy clay | 12 | 5 | 19 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 10 | 7 | 19 |
| Never watered | 9 | 8 | 19 |
| Stays soggy | 7 | 10 | 19 |
Sun all day in Buena Vista County: 17 rated natives
14 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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 - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Wirestem muhly (Muhlenbergia frondosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Buena Vista County: 14 rated natives
11 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 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 - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Buena Vista County: 12 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 1 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 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 - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Buena Vista County: 12 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 1 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) 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 - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wirestem muhly (Muhlenbergia frondosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Buena Vista County: 10 rated natives
7 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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 - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) 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 - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Never watered in Buena Vista County: 9 rated natives
8 grasses and sedges, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Buena Vista County: 7 rated natives
5 grasses and sedges, 1 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 7, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 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 - 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 - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate - Common reed (Phragmites australis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 13 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · also listed as introduced in this region
Where to start in Buena Vista County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Buena Vista County gives you the most rated choice (17 plants), and Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 7 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 19 unrated natives too.