Native plants for Carroll County, Iowa
89 native plants recorded in Carroll County, Iowa
USDA has only 136 plant records of any kind for Carroll County, against 1,728 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 89 below as a floor.
By type: 46 wildflowers and herbs, 35 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 2 trees, 1 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 39 of them (44%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), Toothed spurge (Euphorbia dentata) and 4 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Carroll County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 39 | 0 | 50 |
| Half shade | 30 | 9 | 50 |
| Under trees | 22 | 17 | 50 |
| Heavy clay | 28 | 11 | 50 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 24 | 15 | 50 |
| Never watered | 20 | 19 | 50 |
| Stays soggy | 19 | 20 | 50 |
Sun all day in Carroll County: 39 rated natives
22 grasses and sedges, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Pennsylvania buttercup (Ranunculus pensylvanicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American water horehound (Lycopus americanus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.8 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 - Crested sedge (Carex cristatella) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Carroll County: 30 rated natives
17 grasses and sedges, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - 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 - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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 - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Canadian horseweed (Conyza canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Carroll County: 22 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 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 - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 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 - Canadian horseweed (Conyza canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth
Heavy clay in Carroll County: 28 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pennsylvania buttercup (Ranunculus pensylvanicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 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 - Rough bugleweed (Lycopus asper) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.1 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 - American bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth - American water horehound (Lycopus americanus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Carroll County: 24 rated natives
13 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 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 - 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 bugleweed (Lycopus asper) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Carroll County: 20 rated natives
13 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Carroll County: 19 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - American water horehound (Lycopus americanus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Crested sedge (Carex cristatella) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Rough bugleweed (Lycopus asper) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - Broadfruit bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum) wildflowers and herbs
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 - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Carroll County has that most of Iowa does not
3 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- Pennsylvania buttercup (Ranunculus pensylvanicus): 4 counties
- Smartweed dodder (Cuscuta polygonorum): 5 counties
- Illinois pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis): 5 counties
Where to start in Carroll County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Carroll County gives you the most rated choice (39 plants), and Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 19 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 50 unrated natives too.