YardNatives

Native plants for Butler County, Missouri

889 native plants recorded in Butler County, Missouri

The USDA plant database has 1,250 plants recorded growing wild in Butler County. 889 of them are native to the lower 48, and 95 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 458 wildflowers and herbs, 214 grasses and sedges, 24 shrubs, 39 low woody plants, 113 trees, 41 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 328 of them (37%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Bride's feathers (Aruncus dioicus) and 12 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Butler County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day3280561
Half shade217111561
Under trees114214561
Heavy clay24088561
Sandy, drains fast200128561
Never watered119209561
Stays soggy178150561

Sun all day in Butler County: 328 rated natives

106 wildflowers and herbs, 94 grasses and sedges, 91 trees, 15 vines, 14 shrubs, 8 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Butler County: 217 rated natives

67 wildflowers and herbs, 67 grasses and sedges, 61 trees, 8 vines, 8 shrubs, 6 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  5. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  6. Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. Missouri ironweed (Vernonia missurica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Butler County: 114 rated natives

38 grasses and sedges, 37 trees, 29 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Missouri ironweed (Vernonia missurica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Butler County: 240 rated natives

82 wildflowers and herbs, 76 grasses and sedges, 59 trees, 9 shrubs, 8 vines, 6 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Butler County: 200 rated natives

69 trees, 57 wildflowers and herbs, 52 grasses and sedges, 10 vines, 9 shrubs, 3 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Butler County: 119 rated natives

44 trees, 30 wildflowers and herbs, 24 grasses and sedges, 11 shrubs, 6 vines, 4 low woody plants. 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. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  4. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Butler County: 178 rated natives

71 grasses and sedges, 58 wildflowers and herbs, 35 trees, 5 vines, 5 shrubs, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. American water plantain (Alisma subcordatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Bluntleaf bedstraw (Galium obtusum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. 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
  7. Sharpwing monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Butler County has that most of Missouri does not

55 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Missouri's 115 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Butler County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Butler County gives you the most rated choice (328 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 114 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 561 unrated natives too.