YardNatives

Native plants for Carter County, Montana

290 native plants recorded in Carter County, Montana

The USDA plant database has 454 plants recorded growing wild in Carter County. 290 of them are native to the lower 48, and 55 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 174 wildflowers and herbs, 33 grasses and sedges, 22 shrubs, 37 low woody plants, 19 trees, 5 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 111 of them (38%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Biennial wormwood (Artemisia biennis), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 10 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Carter County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1110179
Half shade9912179
Under trees6744179
Heavy clay6447179
Sandy, drains fast7635179
Never watered6843179
Stays soggy4170179

Sun all day in Carter County: 111 rated natives

42 wildflowers and herbs, 19 grasses and sedges, 17 shrubs, 16 trees, 15 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Holboell's rockcress (Arabis holboellii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Carter County: 99 rated natives

37 wildflowers and herbs, 17 grasses and sedges, 15 shrubs, 14 low woody plants, 14 trees, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  5. 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
  6. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Carter County: 67 rated natives

25 wildflowers and herbs, 13 grasses and sedges, 10 low woody plants, 9 shrubs, 9 trees, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Carter County: 64 rated natives

26 wildflowers and herbs, 15 grasses and sedges, 10 trees, 8 shrubs, 5 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. 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

Sandy, drains fast in Carter County: 76 rated natives

24 wildflowers and herbs, 14 trees, 13 low woody plants, 12 shrubs, 11 grasses and sedges, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Holboell's rockcress (Arabis holboellii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Carter County: 68 rated natives

17 shrubs, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 13 low woody plants, 11 trees, 9 grasses and sedges, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  4. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  5. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  6. 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
  7. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  8. Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Carter County: 41 rated natives

20 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 8 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. American licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. 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
  4. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Purple milkvetch (Astragalus agrestis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
  7. Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
  8. Colorado rush (Juncus confusus) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Carter County has that most of Montana does not

21 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Montana's 56 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Carter County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Carter County gives you the most rated choice (111 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 41 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 179 unrated natives too.