Native plants for Cecil County, Maryland
239 native plants recorded in Cecil County, Maryland
The USDA plant database has 268 plants recorded growing wild in Cecil County. 239 of them are native to the lower 48, and 3 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 113 wildflowers and herbs, 102 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 11 trees, 7 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 76 of them (32%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) is also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Cecil County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 76 | 0 | 163 |
| Half shade | 43 | 33 | 163 |
| Under trees | 17 | 59 | 163 |
| Heavy clay | 51 | 25 | 163 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 31 | 45 | 163 |
| Never watered | 18 | 58 | 163 |
| Stays soggy | 56 | 20 | 163 |
Sun all day in Cecil County: 76 rated natives
38 grasses and sedges, 25 wildflowers and herbs, 9 trees, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate 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 - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
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
Half shade in Cecil County: 43 rated natives
18 wildflowers and herbs, 14 grasses and sedges, 7 trees, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants, 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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
Under trees in Cecil County: 17 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 2 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Flatstem spikerush (Eleocharis compressa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Manyflower flatsedge (Cyperus lancastriensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sandbar willow (Salix interior) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Common juniper (Juniperus communis) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 10 ft mature · perennial - Pitch pine (Pinus rigida) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Cecil County: 51 rated natives
28 grasses and sedges, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 7 trees, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate 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 - Bog willowherb (Epilobium leptophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · perennial - Crested sedge (Carex cristatella) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Cecil County: 31 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 7 trees, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants, 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 - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Roadside agrimony (Agrimonia striata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 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 - Flatstem spikerush (Eleocharis compressa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 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
Never watered in Cecil County: 18 rated natives
9 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate 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 - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roadside agrimony (Agrimonia striata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Cecil County: 56 rated natives
34 grasses and sedges, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 5 trees, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roadside agrimony (Agrimonia striata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bog willowherb (Epilobium leptophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil - American spongeplant (Limnobium spongia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 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
Natives Cecil County has that most of Maryland does not
7 natives here are on file in no more than 1 of Maryland's 24 counties. A few of them:
- Flatstem spikerush (Eleocharis compressa): only here
- Water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile): only here
- Shining willow (Salix lucida): only here
- Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis): only here
- American white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata): only here
- Bush oak (Quercus ×bushii): only here
- Pine barren deathcamas (Zigadenus leimanthoides): only here
Where to start in Cecil County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Cecil County gives you the most rated choice (76 plants), and Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 17 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 163 unrated natives too.