Native plants for Carroll County, Maryland
116 native plants recorded in Carroll County, Maryland
USDA has only 137 plant records of any kind for Carroll County, against 2,407 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 116 below as a floor.
By type: 45 wildflowers and herbs, 59 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 3 trees, 4 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 48 of them (41%), and only those can be matched to a spot below.
What fits each kind of spot in Carroll County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 47 | 0 | 69 |
| Half shade | 22 | 25 | 69 |
| Under trees | 5 | 42 | 69 |
| Heavy clay | 34 | 14 | 68 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 19 | 29 | 68 |
| Never watered | 12 | 36 | 68 |
| Stays soggy | 32 | 16 | 68 |
Sun all day in Carroll County: 47 rated natives
25 grasses and sedges, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 2 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Scarlet Indian paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · rapid growth
Half shade in Carroll County: 22 rated natives
8 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 2 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oval-leaf sedge (Carex cephalophora) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Carroll County: 5 rated natives
3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 5, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial - Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - 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 · needs saturated soil (pond or bog), not a regular bed
Heavy clay in Carroll County: 34 rated natives
21 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American black currant (Ribes americanum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial - Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Crested woodfern (Dryopteris cristata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Carroll County: 19 rated natives
9 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 2 vines, 2 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - American black currant (Ribes americanum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial - New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 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
Never watered in Carroll County: 12 rated natives
6 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 2 trees, 1 grasses and sedges, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - American black currant (Ribes americanum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oval-leaf sedge (Carex cephalophora) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial
Stays soggy in Carroll County: 32 rated natives
24 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bristlystalked sedge (Carex leptalea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Broom sedge (Carex scoparia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Crested woodfern (Dryopteris cristata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Greater bladder sedge (Carex intumescens) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Carroll County has that most of Maryland does not
1 natives here are on file in no more than 1 of Maryland's 24 counties. A few of them:
- American black currant (Ribes americanum): only here
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 (47 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 5 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 69 unrated natives too.