Native plants for Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
48 native plants recorded in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
USDA has only 63 plant records of any kind for Cerro Gordo County, against 1,728 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 48 below as a floor.
By type: 26 wildflowers and herbs, 18 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 2 trees, 1 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 27 of them (56%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and Hedge false bindweed (Calystegia sepium) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Cerro Gordo County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 27 | 0 | 21 |
| Half shade | 20 | 7 | 21 |
| Under trees | 12 | 15 | 21 |
| Heavy clay | 17 | 10 | 21 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 18 | 9 | 21 |
| Never watered | 8 | 19 | 21 |
| Stays soggy | 14 | 13 | 21 |
Sun all day in Cerro Gordo County: 27 rated natives
14 grasses and sedges, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) 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 - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Crested sedge (Carex cristatella) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mexican muhly (Muhlenbergia mexicana) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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
Half shade in Cerro Gordo County: 20 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - 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 - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Cerro Gordo County: 12 rated natives
9 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Cerro Gordo County: 17 rated natives
9 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Crested sedge (Carex cristatella) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Crowned beggarticks (Bidens coronata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.4 ft mature · rapid growth - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Cerro Gordo County: 18 rated natives
8 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) 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 - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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 - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Crowned beggarticks (Bidens coronata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.4 ft mature · rapid growth - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth
Never watered in Cerro Gordo County: 8 rated natives
7 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. 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 - 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 - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Porcupinegrass (Hesperostipa spartea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Cerro Gordo County: 14 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Mexican muhly (Muhlenbergia mexicana) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Crowned beggarticks (Bidens coronata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.4 ft mature · rapid growth
Natives Cerro Gordo 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:
- Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides): 4 counties
- American white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata): 5 counties
- Marsh fleabane (Senecio congestus): 5 counties
Where to start in Cerro Gordo County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Cerro Gordo County gives you the most rated choice (27 plants), and Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 8 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 21 unrated natives too.